Nominations Wanted by The Diocese of California

Please consider downloading a PDF version of this letter to distribute to your congregation. Click here to download. June 16, 2011 To: Congregations in the Diocese of California, The Episcopal Church Re: Nominations to Convention The diocesan Committee on Nominations is doing a new thing. The job is ages old. This diocesan-wide committee has been charged with finding willing church members with useful experience to be nominated to run for various positions at the diocesan level. At Diocesan Convention this coming October 21 and 22, delegates must elect one clergy and two (usually one; a vacant term must be filled) lay persons to the Standing Committee, two representatives from Convention (one must be lay) to the Executive Council, one Secretary of the Convention and one Treasurer of the Diocese. And it’s a challenge. The 2010 Convention elected to change the make-up of the Nominating Committee. It is now comprised of one clergy and one lay member elected from each of the six deaneries; most deaneries did this at the end of last year. There are twelve members, and two liaisons, from Executive Council and Standing Committee. A process is evolving and has begun. Members of the Committee have been and are attending their spring deanery meetings to spread the word and encourage deanery attendees to find amidst their own congregations people to nominate. You may have attended one of these meetings. Notices from the Committee have appeared in DioBytes. Your help is so important. We know that within the diocese are many good people whose knowledge, talents and experience should be brought to light. This diocese needs the skills and viewpoints of a wide range of Episcopalians — “cradle” to “converted,” “eco” to ecumenical, quiet to querulous — as we work to make our church vibrant in the near and far future. Please assist us in finding these people. Time is of the essence. Go to the diocesan web site, www.diocal.org, and select the “Convention” tab clicking on “Nominations”; you will be able to access the nominating form. And, you can read descriptions of the positions to be filled and the lengths of the term of office. The form should be filled out and submitted on line. Once someone has been nominated, he or she will be contacted by the Registrar of the Nominating Committee to obtain further information about the potential candidacy. The deadline for receiving applications is July 17, 2011. Have you a question? Read the web site material. Consult the members of the Committee on Nominations from your deanery listed under the “2011 Diocesan Convention” tab. Go to “Nominations” and click “Committee on Nominations.” Ask for inspiration and insight. Share the Committee on Nomination’s quest with your congregation and other groups of Episcopalians by announcement and weekly prayer in words of your own choosing. Lord Jesus Christ help us to see the ones you are choosing for diocesan work in your Church and to do our part to make their way easy and their burden light that they may give and receive your Love on earth. 1055 Taylor Street San Francisco, CA 94108 415.673.5015 (phone) 415.673.9268 (fax) convention@diocal.org (email) Click here for a direct link to the online Nomination Form.

But What If?

 In an earlier blog I talked about Howard Camping and the fact that I have learned from him and that I feel that I have actually grown stronger in my spirituality. I also said that I don't believe in his thing about the world coming to an end on October 21, 2011, which is something that he was saying long before much of the world even heard his Rapture words.

 For some reason the story of Noah came to mind a little bit ago, and then the story of the Boy Who Cried Wolf. Why they came to mind is something that I do now, then I began to think about Howard Camping. The story of Noah has been around for centuries, and one of the things that I remember about it was that he tried telling people what God was going to do, but they wouldn't listen. Over and over he told people, but they just wouldn't listen. Then there is the story of the boy, and even though the town did listen to him a few times, when their really was a wolf nobody listened.

 Now I wonder about Howard Camping? Yeah, I know that he was wrong in the 1990s, and that things didn't go as he said that they would this past May, but I wonder if he could be right about what he says is suppose to happen on October 21, 2011? 

 Now I know what the Holy Bible doesn't give an exact date as to when the Rapture will occur, but I am sure that it will happen, but I wonder if we are all missing the real point in that we really need to get our act together and live as though it will happen at any moment? Think about it. If the Bible did give an exact date, why wouldn't we just go out and do the things that we wanted to do, then days before ask God for forgiveness? What real purpose would it serve to live a life in Christ now if we knew that on a certain date it will all end and that we could be forgiven just by asking for forgiveness a few days before?

 Maybe the real message that Howard Camping was trying to get through to us is that we really should be living our life in Christ now? The lessons that I heard today in church seemed to have a theme that was around sin, mainly our own sins. Sit back and think about your life for a moment. Think about the ways that you have treated others. Think about the wrongs that you have done in life. If the Rapture were to come today, and you found yourself standing before God and your ancestors, how would you go about explaining the wrongs that you have done to others in the things that you did to them? Things like Apologizing for YOUR actions. You really can't blame others for the things that YOU choose to do, as they were YOUR actions.

 Now don't get me wrong, I am not claiming to of never to have done anything wrong to others. Believe me, I have done some stuff that I really regret and feel sorry for that I wish that I could make up to people in some kind of way. But with the help of the Holy Trinity, I think that I am trying my best not to hurt others in any way. Oh I know that I may screw up at some point, but I think that I am a far better person by being able to say that I am sorry to someone when I do error and not blaming things on others. 

 Oh I know that people will say that he should give all of the money back to folks who gave money to him, but I think that in this case if the world doesn't come to an end on October 21, 2011, that he should offer to pay back monies to those who gave it to him if they should request it. The thing is, I don't think that many people will demand any money back. I think that some will look at it like paying the lottery or betting on other things like a business stock, and they will simply accept it as something that didn't work out. I think that some will not want their money back, as they will feel that they gained something in there life. Maybe someone stopped doing drugs and committing crimes because of the words of Howard Camping, and now live a life where they are following the teachings of Jesus and leading a Christian life. Wasn't that money worth it?

 Maybe he does have it right, and we are being like those who didn't believe in what Noah was saying. Maybe God has put the date into the Bible and we are just to ignorant to see it, you know, like when you are looking for the salt shaker all over the table only to discover that it has been right in front of your plate the entire time. 

 Maybe he does have it right, and we are being like the towns people who didn't believe the boy when the wolf really came. Howard Camping has given several dates on things that people believed only for nothing noticeably happen.

 But what if this time he is right, you know like those that you didn't believe who said something would happen and it really did? Are you really ready for the world to come to an end and to face God to explain the wrong things that you have done to his creatures upon this planet? Are you prepared to look the person in the face that you did wrong to only to discover that person is really Christ returned?

False Beliefs

This blog isn't about really about false beliefs in any religion, but more about false beliefs in ones self.

 In my previous blog I talked a little about how people ask me how they can get involved in things in the church like I am. I mentioned the ezine Diobytes which is put out by the diocese that I live in. I am sure that there are other Episcopal and denominations that have there own ezine, and you should check to see if they exist where you live, and subscribe.

 But one of the things that I think causes people to invite me is that I don't spend much time talking about all of the things that I go to nor spend time boosting about the things that I can do. Now the Bible does teach against boosting, and I try not to, but at times I will.

 When I go elsewhere I try and listen to what is needed if something is brought up, and do my best not to insert myself into things because I feel that I have superior knowledge about what is going on. I think that if I were to do that, it would upset people. In the congregation that I am in, most of the time I listen to the people and if there is something that I can help with I do my best to help. When we switched over to using a computer for the music, it was because the organist had found a job that would require him to work some Sundays, and between his skills at being able to play and to put things into Midi format, and my ability to build computer systems, we went that route. It took a few weeks, but the congregation quickly came to love doing the songs via midi because one of the things that I was able to do with some of the traditional stuff is to change the instruments that they could relate to that our organ does not have the ability to do. What started off as an experiment turned into something that the vestry voted to be what is the now the official source for music in the congregation. The only time that they have had no problem with the music is when the now former organist would come back from time to time and I could talk him into playing something, as he knew how the congregation liked how something is played. Others have come in and tried to play either the organ or piano, but because they really lack the knowledge of what the people like, I have heard a ton of complaints. One portion of the congregation told me to NEVER let one of the people EVER play again for them, as they felt that the person was totally clueless as to how something is suppose to be played and did a really bad job with a number of errors. But going back to a non-midi format doesn't appear to ever going to happen again unless someone with top skills comes along.

 I think that another reason that they enjoy having me do it also comes to the music that I play before the service, during the communion and after service. I listened to what they had to say as to what they like, and I play what they like along with listening to what they have to say when it comes to what they don't like. I know that if I didn't listen to them, and played only the things that I liked or thought that they should hear, the church would become more empty than it already is. 

 With people who think that they have all of this knowledge about stuff and supposed skills, they really turn people off real fast if they don't bother to listen. They forget that the church does not revolve around them. They come upon a self importance that is damaging to the church. They impose what they want and really don't care nor see how they have really hurt the church. I think that the way to find a great Lay Leader in a congregation, or even a Great Clergy person in a congregation is to see how they interact with people. When they spend their time talking about themselves and all that they have done they really don't spend the time listening to learn about the people that they are dealing with, they turn people off real fast. When others come up with ideas and they claim to have knowledge and tell someone how wrong they are, they cause people to leave and go elsewhere. There beliefs can be so false that they not only hurt the church, but Christianity as a whole.

 Oh I can hear people saying something like "But when I was at (insert name of church here,) the people loved this, or it worked this way,) doesn't mean that they people in the congregation you are at now will want it that way, and it could be something that they did in the past and have no interest in doing it. Each congregation is different, and one really needs to get an understanding of the congregation first. 

 For some people they get a title and make more of that title than what they ask for. They ask for a title in order to do one thing, then think that they can do all a number of other things because of the title, but in reality they are claiming powers that they really don't have, then they get upset when it is pointed out to them that they don't have the power that they think they have. I feel sad for them, as many of them end up with hurt feelings and looking really stupid when it is pointed out to them. I'm watching someone now who thinks that the title they have means more than what they were given. It's really sad, as they will get hurt in the end.

 I think that some of the cults that exist today are because people who lead these cults have a false belief in themselves. These people have such self importance that it is really about them, not really about the Holy Trinity. But I also believe that some of these groups that we do refer to as cults really are being lead by the Holy Trinity and are doing the works that are needed.

 Want to get involved in your congregation? Learn to Listen, and if you have ideas on possibly improving things in some way or have something new that you would like to see happen in the congregation, have a conversation with people in the congregation and really hear what they are saying. Before you tell someone that they are wrong, wonder in your head if they can could be right. Open you minds and hearts to new ideas and ways of doing things. Ask where the congregation needs help, and step outside of your comfort zone to help in those things where you think that you can actually learn something new and build upon your skills so if needed you can step in and help. When you limit yourself, you limit the church. Always remember that the person that you think that you have more knowledge and skills than could be Jesus returned. Always remember that what did X number of years ago doesn't always apply to today. Always remember that the church doesn't revolve around you, but you revolve around the church. 

Get Involved

 From time to time someone will ask me about my activities in the diocese and how I find out about the events that I attend. The things that I go to I find out through different ways. For some things, someone will call me, with some an email is sent to me, in others I get invites from people on Facebook, while some come from my congregation's bulletin and others come from The Pacific Church News. But the best source for things is this diocese's ezine DioBytes. Sadly not many people in the diocese is even aware that it exist. In it you will find upcoming events, short blurbs about events that have past, and so much more. You may not find something to go to each week when it is sent out, but from time to time you will see something that will surely interest you in wanting to go to.

 One of the great things about going to many of these events is getting to meet like minded Episcopalians and realizing all of the wonderful things that are going on here. As long as I have been a subscriber, I have found things that I have really enjoyed and makes me want to go to other events. I have met some wonderful people that I wouldn't of met.

 So if you are interested in getting to know others in the diocese and to get involved in things, Subscribe to DioBytes, as it will be worth it. 

 If you would like to subscribe, Click Here.

 If you would like to check out the current DioBytes edition, Click Here.

Voices From The Pews

 The Christian church is interesting in that we go every week and hear clergy give sermons every week. We sit back and listen to the words that are said, and try to gain some insight in what the clergy person is saying. Some clergy spend prat of there time telling you about things that they have done, or some other story where you sit back and wonder what it has to do with the lessons that had been given that day. Others spend a bunch of time talking about the theology of the lessons, and one wonders how the lessons even relate to their life. But many clergy are really good in that they really know how to combine them.

 But one of the things that I seem to notice is that it has been rare in my life where the sermon/homily was given by someone from the pews who wasn't interested in becoming ordained in any way. I wonder how many people who sit in the pews have said to there clergy person that they would be interested in giving a homily at a service, but have been turned down with some reasoning given to them, but the truth of the matter is that the clergy person's real reason is because the person is not interested in having someone speak about the lessons who doesn't have any seminary teaching, or they are scared that the person who say something that the clergy person doesn't like and would feel that they would have to spend weeks trying to get the person to think in the way that the clergy person wants.

  Several years ago, the vestry of the congregation that I am in voted that the pastor had to take a minimum of 3 weeks off from the the church. We weren't trying to get him out to have someone else replace him, only that he hadn't taken time off in a few years, and we all knew that taking time off is something that is healthy for the body. He still hasn't taken that time off these years later with all kinds of reasons for not doing it, but finally this week he actually took this Sunday off. 

 He asked, and I gave him the names of a few clergy people that he should contact to come in to do the services this week, and if he actually ever did is something that I don't know. Last Sunday he handed me and a couple of people a packet that had this weeks service, and it turned out that he wanted us to do Morning Prayer. Jokingly I said to the two that were going to lead the service that they shouldn't use the "sermon" that he provided, but to do there own. How surprised I was today when one of them didn't even use it, but did one on his own, and the other one only used bits of it.

 Even though I don't speak Spanish (but I do understand some of it,) I sat and listened as the person who did the Spanish service gave a homily. I had really expected him to give the sermon that was provided, but he didn't even pick it up. I watched as people seemed to pay really close attention to each and every word that he said, and even got involved in it. I watched as people smiled at the things that he said, and how it seemed as though people could really relate to the things that he was saying like I had never seem before from the people. Here was someone that faithfully sits in the pews every week, really peaking to them.

 Even though we did stumble through parts of the service, I saw something that I had never seem before happen. There is a gentleman who has come to the service for a large number of years, who generally is very quiet, but he surprised me when the service ended and he spoke up and thanked the person for the wonderful job that he did, and the people applauded. They not only applauded him, but stood and applauded him. I have never seem this happen before in a church.

 In both of the English services, the sermon planned for was partly used, people paid attention and even got involved. The person who gave it made some changes and added some stuff, and actually made it better. It was a sermon that the people seem to really relate to.

 I began to wonder, should we stop the clergy from giving sermons at least once a month and have someone from the pews get up and give a homily? Are clergy so out of touch with the people that they can't give strong sermons that the people can relate to, and as I mentioned in an earlier blog that the theology that they learn in seminary has pulled them away from really being able to relate to the people? 

 Could our congregations grow if the laity were to give homilies on the them? I really don't think so, but it would give the laity empowerment in a way I think that they can begin to understand that they are the true power of the church. I think that it would make people really think and live into the teachings of the Holy Bible with a fuller understanding that they wouldn't get by listening to just what the clergy teaches them? Who knows?

 Now I know that coming September when our pastor is suppose to be away for several weeks, that he will use the claim that since it worked so well this time by doing Morning Prayer, so that will be the reason that he won't call in other clergy, but maybe it will mean that they people will realize that they are the church? 

 I really enjoyed today, and was would really like to see the clergy take a back seat when it comes to talking about the lessons of the day form time to time. By doing so, maybe they can hear and learn from us the laity...

 

The Renewal Of Our Baptismal Vows

 A friend of mine is very into the Baptismal Covenant that we use in the Episcopal Church. She has talked about it at different things that we have both been at. She brought forth a new way of doing it which I I find far more fulfilling to me than what is in the Book Of Common Prayer.

 For many people in the different Christian denominations, we are Baptized (also known as Christening) as babies. For me that happened when I was about 2 or 3 months old. and if you were to ask me anything about that day I couldn't tell you a thing other than who my godparents are.

 As I was riding on the bus on my way to a meeting today, I began to think about Baptism. Suddenly I really began to wonder if we should go through the service again as adults? Yeah we go through the words during the Baptism of others, and we call it renewing of our Baptismal Vows, but that day is really about welcoming another into the Christian Family, not really about our own Baptismal awakening.

 Some churches do have a service once a year when the Baptismal service is apart of the service for all, but in a way we aren't welcoming each other into the Christian Family. Yes for some doing it means a lot to them, but I think that for many they really don't think about what they are really saying or getting from those times. I wondered and wondered more and more about about what we should do.

 One of the things that did cross my mind is Confirmation. For many we were confirmed as preteens and teens, and I do look at it as a time when we do confirm ourselves in saying what was said for us many years ago, but if you were to ask people to talk about Confirmation and what it means, one would get many different descriptions from people. 

 But then I began to wonder, "What would the church think about someone who was Baptized as a child doing it again as an adult? Think about it. You have gone through much in your life and gained much experiences and spiritual growth, why not be Baptized again where you can confirm before God and the people that you truly do believe and desire to do as a Christian? People go and renew vows for Marriage and other things, but how many people do you know who renewed their Baptism Vows where water is poured upon them like it had been when they were a child. How many people stand before their congregation and get it done again letting the people know that they Truly want to follow the teachings of Christ and the teachings of the Bible? Would you do it? How would you feel if someone that you knew did it at a service one day?

But Where's Christ?

 Now this doesn't apply to all clergy, but I am finding it applying to more and more in at least my denomination, and I am sure that it could be applied to just about every denomination. But I am really beginning to wonder more and more where Christ is in the hearts of the the clergy? Do the Religious Order have it right in that many of them basically surround there life in Christ? Should the education curriculum in the seminaries be changed?

 I wonder about these things as I listen more closely to the Episcopal Clergy and the clergy from other denominations when they aren't in a service. In a way their seems to be a disconnect from Christ in talk and actions. I'm seeing and hearing more and more about the Theology and Practice of Christianity, and seeing and hearing less and less about the Actions of Being a Christian. Clergy seem to be so ego driven.

 As I sit in church meetings and listen, and when I listen to sermons, it seems as though I am hearing so much about who they know, the things that they are doing, and how great that they are, but little about Christ and a Christ Centered life. I am seeing more and more clergy with a bunch of "Alphabet Soup" lettering before and after their names, come across as though having all of that is an insurance that they will assure them a place in Heaven. It is though when Judgement Day comes, they can stand before the Holy Triune and show off all of the degrees and talk about all of the Theology that they know, but avoid talking about the Rights and WRONGS that they have done to deserve going to Heaven. 

 I heard a sermon, by someone who won't apologize about anything, including making a joke and/or blaming others to avoid apologizing. talk about how basically the only thing that we have to do is to ask God for Forgiveness. Hmm, I always thought that we should see the face of God in each other, and am of the opinion that for all I know the person that I may have offended could be Christ Returned. 

 But the importance of the clergy (and even the laity) seems to be in levels of education and who one knows. people seem to get impressed that I have a good relationship with my Bishop, but that is something that I didn't aim for with him, it just occurred. A number of things occurred that brought us to be involved in each others lives, and we get along. What I find wonderful with him and his wife is the Love that they have for each other. Yes I respect his title, but it is them as people that I have the most respect for, as I see them living a Christ Centered Life.

 On one of my Twitter accounts, I was surprised when I saw that Father Alberto Cutie was following me. Now I am sure that most everyone (all three people) who read this blog know who he is, so I won't go into his history. But I have heard people talk about how they have had the chance to meet him and talk with him, and they make a big deal of it. I have nothing against him, in fact I have a lot of respect for him. The thing that I really like about him is that he listened to what the Holy Triune was telling him. Sure it took him a while to listen, but he heard the calling of Love and is now happily married and with a child that was born out of Love, but he and his wife are living a Christ Centered Life from what I know. But meeting and/or talking with him seems to be a big thing for people to talk about.

 Why am I calling for a change in the curriculum in the seminaries? It seems as though it seems as though people are coming out knowing the theology of the Bible is more important than Living In Christ. People are coming out knowing how to "Talk The Talk", but not "Walking The Walk". Now this is not true with everyone who goes through a seminary comes out this way, but it seems as though so many do. Christ didn't just talk about the Old Testament, but Lived it. The Seminaries need to start producing more and more people who are leaving as being examples of what it means to Live in Christ. Yes the importance of the theology is something that they need to know, but people need to be living examples of being Christians.

 I sit in a congregation where almost every week it seems as though the sermon has nothing to do with the lessons that are read. It seems to be a lot of "I did this", "I did that", which comes across as "See how important I am and all of my greatness", and I hear it at times at other churches that I go to. Yes one should use one self at times during a sermon, but now when one has to mention self over and over again in a sermon, it becomes boasting, which is something that the Bible speaks against.

 But what do I think that we need to do? I think that we need to get away from the Theology of the Bible and start Living it. We need to start going out and evangelizing and being an example to others as to the greatness that Christ brings to us. We need to go out and not only feed and help those that we can see are hungry and poor, but we need to also need to go out and help those who are also hungry in Spirit. We need to start basing our life around Christ, not just a theology about Christ.

 So what are you doing in your life to make sure that the Holy Trinity is at it's center?