A Living Saint Among Us

 A few years ago some people started calling me Saint Clinton. I wrote about it in one of my blogs, so I am not going to repeat it here, as this is about someone that I really should be referred to as a True Living Saint.

 I forget exactly where I was, but I heard about this woman who came into the Episcopal Church in my diocese. The story was really interesting as to her journey into the church, and it her story really shows the work of the Holy Trinity in someone's life.
 I then had the honor of meeting her up at what is called Bishop's Ranch, and even though I already had a feeling that she should be ordained as a Deacon, and the moment that she was introduced to me I knew that calling is where she should be, in fact, I even said so to her. I don't know what it was about her, and I knew very little about the role of a Deacon, but it fit.
 I would run into her from time to time at different events, but rarely spoke to her, as I just watched. I could never get that feeling out of my gut.

 Today I went to the Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of California, I was standing outside talking with one of the Deacons when this person arrived and walked up. My feeling of what I had experienced before came back. This woman has a calling that will be nothing short of a Major Advancement towards bringing more people to the fold of the Holy Trinity.
 A few years ago I was at an event where someone used the term YCMAD, which means “You Can Make A Difference”, and that has stuck with me. I do my best to live within YCMAD and at times I fail. As I thought about this woman during convention, I realized that of what I know about her, she really and truly lives it.
 One of the things that has been on my mind is about the political statements that the parties are talking about how the “Middle Class” will or will not be hurt by something, but yet nobody has mentioned how what they will do will help improve things for those who are living in poverty. I realized that Jesus was within them because he knew that the poor would understand his message, where those who weren't wouldn't, and I see it in the church. But with this woman I realize that she is really living a life in Christ, as she is doing things to help those in poverty reach to higher places.
 As I was on my way home, I began to think about people like the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Theresa, Ghandi and so many others who did what they could to help those in poverty get into a higher place, and I see this in this woman.

 In the church we have a title called Canon. I had thought about writing to the Bishop and suggesting that this woman be given the title “Canon To The Impoverished”, but then I realized that having that title isn't good enough for her. This woman is something special and is really someone that is truly a Living Saint among us. I wish that we could have some kind of service to celebrate this woman and give her the title of Saint, but we don't.
 I strongly think and feel that we should know longer refer to her as Sarah Lawton, but as St Sarah. Yeah I know that there are all of these rules in the church as to whom could be declared a Saint, but the heck with the rules, for she is truly one. I feel that it is an Honor and Pleasure to know her in the small way that I do, but she is not just and Episcopalian, but she is a True Christian and in her works God is smiling upon her.

St Sarah, you are one that is truly blessed by the Holy Trinity, and we are Blessed to have you among us.

You should follow her tweets at https://twitter.com/sarahelawton

Real Angels Of God

 Besides from the ones from Heaven, I have heard other people refer to others as being an Angel. This is generally gone when someone has done something nice for someone else, or generally towards a child. There are people with that name and even sports teams with that name, but I really began to wonder today if we really have Angels in our mist?
 Several years ago I was invited to a church service in San Francisco and decided that I was going to go, then a few days later I received another invitation to another service that same day but was going to be held later. The first service was one of the Spanish celebrations, and even though it was going to be held in Spanish, I felt that it was important to go. The second service is one that I had heard about, but had never gone to, and I figured that since I was going to be in San Francisco anyhow, I would be able to make it since it was going to be held a few hours after the first one ended. I enjoyed the first service, then went to a few places before going to the second service. The second service is referred to as “Open Cathedral”, and is done outside. I went to the service and really felt the Spirit move me. There wasn't a lot of people at the one that I went to (they do it in several locations,) but I found it to be very moving. I knew that we had to start the same style service in the area that I lived. I brought it up to  a number of people, but kept hearing excuses as to why they couldn't get involved (which I seem to hear a lot of within the church, but that is for another blog.) Anyways, finally one of the Deacons took the steps to get it going. We now have what is called Sacred Space here in Oakland, Hayward and are branching out at some point to other places.
 I am sure you must be asking what all of this has to do with Angels, so here it goes.
 Even though I really enjoy my time with Sacred Space, what I have found myself doing every so often is to take some of the lunches that are suppose to go there and giving them out to a homeless encampment located at the administration building for this county. There are about 12 to 15 who live there, and the county is really nice about it, as the encampment will put there stuff out after about 7pm, and will put all of there stuff away about 6am. They cause no problems, and I have found them to be thankful when I have come by with the bagged food. One thing that I have found amazing is that they will not only thank me, but thank me for blessing them with food with a blessing. I have never said anything about it being a Christian ministry that I am doing for them, but just ask if they would like one and pray that things are and will get better for them.
 Even though I had noticed them, as most people would notice this group, there is a woman who sleeps alone right down the street. Even though she is at a busy intersection, I don't feel that most people notice that she is even there, in fact it took me a bit to even notice that she was even there. Once I did notice her, I was a little nervous about approaching her, as I couldn't understand why she wasn't living over at the encampment which she could clearly see from where she was, and figured that she might be crazy, but I went over anyhow.
 I approached her with caution, and asked her is she would like a sandwich. I could tell that she was nervous, so I gave her two of the bags, asked her if she was OK, then left. I did this for a couple of weeks. I was over in the area one day and stopped by and asked her if the meals were OK for her. She gave me a big smile and said that they were and thanked me for bring them to her.
 This past Sunday I stopped by with a couple of bags for her, and we talked for a couple of minutes before I continued on. I had a couple of bags left by the time that I got home and put them into the refrigerator not quite sure what I was going to do with them. When I awoke yesterday morning, I had some errands that I needed to do, and realized that I would be right across the street from her, so I grabbed the bags and put them into a plastic shopping bag and headed out.
 As I approached her, she saw me, smiled and gave the peace sign. I walked up to her and gave her the bag and we talked for a bit. I think that we had a very nice conversation, and I did learn a few things about her. I think that I will stop by and see her more often.
 As I was walking the street after seeing her, for some reason the word Angel came to mind, and I began to wonder what the real meaning of Angel is. I think that most of the time when we thing of Angels, they are living in Heaven playing harps and praising God, which I am sure that there are Angels doing that. I have also heard stories about in order for Angels to get their wings, they have to come and do something good for someone here on earth.
 But then I began to wonder about something. Are some of the people that we see on a daily basis really Angels who have come back in order to earn their wings? Are some of those who die young actually Angels who have come back for a short time in order to earn their wings? The thoughts kept coming over and over about Angels, then something hit me. A question came to mind that I just couldn't come up with any answer to. I was stuck.
 I suddenly began to wonder if when the woman saw me approached her, she has started to think of me as a type of Angel? Then I began to wonder if I thought of her as an Angel? Then that question came to mind. In reality, are we all suppose to be and act like Angels here on Earth in order to gain not only entrance into Heaven, but to earn our wings? Are we the Angels that we hear and talk about, but because we have taught each generation to think more about Self than about others, we don't know that is the real purpose of our life?
 Sit back and think for a few minutes about our life and the strangers that have come into your life and done something good for you at the exact point that you needed it? These aren't people that have stayed long in your life, but the ones that have been their for a few seconds or even for a few minutes. Are these people really Angels that we just don't really notice?
 Then sit back and think about the good things that you have done for others that have taken only a few seconds or minutes, and in reality even though you felt good for helping someone, in reality by helping them you changed and became a better person.
 When it comes to standing before God and explaining your life, will you think that it will be the all of the big things and accomplishments that have done that you will be most proud of, or do you think that the things that you did for the least of God's children that both you and God will be the things that you will be most surprise but yet most proud about?
 I saw a film a few years ago called “Five People You Met In Heaven”, which is a very moving film in that it showed someone who had positive effects on five people that this person had effected in a positive way in there life, but had never realized it, as what the person did seemed like very small things. Wouldn't it be wonderful for God to show you the small positive things that you did for people throughout your life in determining if you deserved to enter into Heaven or not, with it not being something that went for only a few minutes, but went on for hours?
 So sit back and ask yourself who you could do better for the lease of God's children and how by doing it they are making you a better person?

 I ask that you keep Lorraine in your prayers, and thank her for touching me in a way that has made me think...

Just Your Imagination

 I was sitting in a Subway Sandwich store that sits across the street from a nursery school, and I watched as some kids were riding on the toy horses that one sees play on. I then began to wonder what these kids were thinking as they “rode” back and forth, then I began to wonder about something. As an adult, when was the last time that one as used ones imagination for stuff? Think about it. Yes we adults do use our imagination, but not in the same way as kids do, that is the kind of way that I am asking about.

 As I sat and watched the kids, I got to thinking about when I was a child, and realized that some of the things that we did then kids are no longer doing. The Internet and game systems seem to of taken away the ability for children to go out and play. Oh sure it wasn't fun at times when a parent would tell us to go out and play on a Saturday, as we wanted to watch TV, but what we didn't realize is the exercise that we were getting then. We have all heard about the rise in obesity in the youth today, and I am sure that if science were to really look into it, one of the big reasons is that children don't go out and play as much anymore.

 As I sit and write this in the library, there is a woman holding her child in your lap at the table next to me. The child is having fun playing with her keys. I wonder what he is thinking as he plays with them? Oh sure supposed experts can will give an answer to the question, but does one really know what is in the mind of this kid?

 Sit back and wonder how things would be in this world if we all used our mind like children do. Most kids don't really know what racism is, or what sexism or any of the other “isms” of this world. Most kids really don't have an understanding of what war is, and I think the world would be really more happy if war consisted of people pointing fingers at each other and going “Bang, Bang”, knowing that the person that they are “shooting” will get up again and continued to live a full life. 

 Children accept God with no problems, and with few questions. In them they either Believe or Don't Believe in God, and don't down those who believe a different way. Maybe that is part of the reason that Jesus saw the importance of children, but we adults don't. I think that is we knew all of the things that Jesus did, and his interactions with children, I would bet that you would find him to be more of a listener of them than a teacher, as Jesus knew that children see an insight to the world that we adults no longer see. 

 I remember as a child, laying on the ground with my then best friend Michael. As we looked up into the sky and clouds, we saw them as Heaven, and in order for people to get from one cloud to the other, they used rowboats that were invisible and it would make the angels in them invisible. But I am sure that you are thinking about airplanes flying above the clouds, but this is what we thought. We thought that there were two levels of clouds, and in-between them was an invisible shield that prevented the planes from going above the higher clouds where Heaven is.  I know, I know, “but what about Space Rockets, etc...”. Hey, God makes the schedule that NASA uses and makes holes that the spaceships can use, and has special shield that doesn't allow the Astronauts to see Heaven. Yes, God can make it happen...

 Anyways, let's all plan for a day when we will think and imagine like a child. It all doesn't have to be at the same time as everyone else, but think of the fun that you will have like you did as a child.

What God didn’t call you to

I found this on another blog, and felt it was important to post here....

Lots of people are wondering what God is calling them to do. And that is a good question. But on the way to the answer, we fill in many answers. So let me suggest some of the things that God did not call you to.

You are not called to be me.
You are not called to be your mother.
You are not called to be your pastor.
You are not called to be happy all the time.
You are not called to be rich.
You are not called to be as organized as the neighbor on the right.
You are not called to be as disorganized as the neighbor on the left.
You are not called to be as ___ as your uncle dave.
You are not called to be your sister.
You are not called to be the guy in all the ads.
You are not called to be the perfect family.
You are not called to smile every moment.
You are not called to have every answer.
You are not called to say ‘yes’ to every request.
You are not called to work 24/7.
You are not called to read the Bible through every year.
You are not called to measure up.
You are not called to do it all.
You are not called to remember every detail.
You are not called to run their lives.
You are not called to do everything right the first time.
You are not called to be at the church every time the doors open.
(okay, maybe the custodian is, but other than that.)
You are not called to stop everything.
You are not called to save the world.
That was covered.
That’s why we’re called to follow Him.
A step at a time.
And that feeling of relief?
You are called to that.

**

We Need PROPHETS not PROFITS

I was at an event at Grace Cathedral not long ago, and there was someone who was talking about the current situation and future of the church. The person was showing a PowerPoint thing, and in one of them was the statement above. I thought about it for a quick second and realized that the statement was so true.

As I look around, not only at the Episcopal church, but at other denominations and religions, I am amazed at how many of them seem to get the words confused, and it also seems that not many of them talk about modern day Prophets and how one should aim at becoming one. Yes it is important that religious organizations need money in order to help spread the Good News, but has the goal of money really taken over religion? Think about it.

I will admit that I am one who has been really concerned about the number of people in the seat of the pews, but after reading that statement and thinking about it, it made me realize even more how important the work that Deacons do, and the importance of places like Sacred Space are to the world. Deacons do something that many of us don't do, and that is they go out into the world and bringing Christ to the people that are not only the down trodden, but are also with many material things. Deacons and others are also doing such things as Sacred Space & Open Cathedral not only in Oakland and San Francisco, but in many other cities around the world.

Yes it takes money to keep the churches open and the offices of churches & dioceses running, but it seems as though some have forgotten to put the Holy Trinity at the center of everything. I see a number of churches that have concerts and other things, but rarely do I see them doing any of these events for free.

We seem to of forgotten that the Holy Trinity does not work only through the clergy, but through each and every one of us. Just because one has been ordained a Priest, Deacon or Bishop does not make one more special to the Holy Trinity than the homeless drug addict that we see. If that homeless person is out proclaiming the Good News to people along with acting in a Christian way towards ALL that belongs to the Holy Trinity, does that make them less in the eyes of the Holy Trinity compared the the Clergy person who is treating their congregation in a wrong way and not really getting them to live in Christ?

To me, the true Prophets of the world come in ALL shapes, sizes, colors and backgrounds. At times people will wonder why I will spend time talking with kids, and not chatting with them in a “downward” way. What kids have to say about different things are incredible. By listening to the things that they have to say you will learn and here things that will really make you think.

But at times it seems as though the people of the church and Christianity are not willing to Listen to not only the words of the children, but the words of each other unless it is going to be something that the person wants to hear and already know that they will want to agree with. I often sit in meetings and notice how etiquette seems to of gone away. I'm not talking about hard things, but the simple thing of raising ones hand in order to speak. People seem to feel that it is more important to speak and say what they have to say before giving those who haven't spoken, but have risen their hand, a chance to speak. If these people would simply give others a chance to speak, they might even get the chance to hear a prophet speak. Having degrees and knowledge doesn't make one a Prophet, it mainly means that you have a piece of paper that says that you studied a field and have some knowledge about it, but in truth that doesn't make one a Prophet, but someone with knowledge.

Churches seem to worry about money all of the time, which in other words can be they seem to worry much about the Profits, and they seem to forget that the most important thing is the Prophet. Sometimes I wonder if Money is their real God? Hopefully some of them will stop worrying about the Profits and concentrate more on the Prophets, as I think that the Profits they need to run will then truly come in.

The 21st Century Laity

(I am not sure if I had posted this before or not, and it is something that I wrote a few years ago... Hopefully you will enjoy this)

The 21^st Century Laity

In many ways, they Episcopal Church still operates as though it is the 1950s in the ways of what Clergy and Laity do. In the 1950s if you burnt someone out, because the congregations where full so it was easy for someone else to step up.

But over the recent years the numbers sitting in the pews has fallen, the congregations have had to rely on fewer and fewer people, and when people burn out their isn't a pool of people available to fill in, so those who are brunt out continue to do work that they should of stepped back from.

But is this just an Episcopal Church problem, or a problem in many of the other denominations also? Is this problem even bigger? Are we as a society doing way to much multitasking causing us to burn out much faster? But could also much of this burnout be due to the fact that when many people get a bit of power they have a hard time letting that power go or sharing that power? Are the laity becoming burnt out because they are being asked to do more than they should?

The answer is that in most cases it is a mixture of all of the above, and not just one thing. But what can we as a diocese do to slow the burn that is happening?

1. Get people to really think about what they really want to do. we spend time working with people prior to Baptism, Confirmation and Marriage getting people to really think about what they are about to do, but not about many of the activities that go on in the churches.

a) One way to to get Congregation Vocation Committees (CVCs) to think about becoming Congregation Discernment Committees (CDCs). With Area Ministry, people would get involved with their CDCs to figure out what their ministry in the church is. Also get people to go through a CDC every few years and rethink about where there ministry is at that time. (The name change was something that the CoM talked about at it's last retreat.)

b) The Diocese currently does a Vestry Training Day and a couple of other church training things. Maybe the Diocese should find out what committees and commissions that congregations have and do training days for some of the most common ones where possible.

2. Both the Clergy and Lay Leaders need to speak up and let the congregation understand that in order for the church to survive that it takes all to get involved. By getting more involved, it will mean that the work gets spread out amongst more people instead of just a few causing the few to burn out.
3. Getting people to think about transferring to another congregation for a “Fresh Start” is something that they could or should do. By changing congregations from time to time, it permits people to renew their spirits, and congregations will be able to renew themselves and not become stuck in the same mold which doesn't permit it to grow. I am currently seriously discerning how much longer I will remain in the congregation that I am in, and to which congregation I will transfer to once I leave.
4. The diocese should start encouraging Communities of Lay Leadership. For example, get the Lay leaders from St. James, St. Paul's, St. Augustine's and Our Saviour to sit and have a meal together every few months to talk about what is going on in each of the congregations. this would be something that would travel from congregation to congregation with the meal. I have seen some interesting ideas that I have tried to bring back to St. James. Maybe in each month that has a 5^th Sunday,a couple of the leaders from each congregation would go to the service of one of the churches in the group and have this meal after the service. Yes part of the role of Deaneries should be people connecting and having these conversations in my opinion, but in the deanery that I am in, I didn't see that happening much when I was attending deanery meetings, but it has been a while since I have been onto the Deanery. At our last Annual Meeting I was elected onto the deanery as a Delegate, so I will get to see what is going on, but I don't expect to see any changes.
5. Better times need to be chosen for meetings. One of the complaints the Laity has are meeting times. For most of the working members in the diocese, they have jobs during the day and are not able to attend meetings that occur in this diocese for the different committees and commissions that exist. Because of this, those who are able to attend these meeting tend to be retired and/or in a situation where they can attend, and they end up on so many that they become easily burnt out. Here is what I would suggest:

a) Establish certain days when these groups would meet. Let's say the 1^st and 3^rd Thursdays

during the evening, and the 2^nd and 4^th Saturdays during the day.

b) Get people to really think about which and how many commissions and committees, and

which ones that they truly feel called to be on with the maximum being three.

What these will also do will get younger people involved and they will feel apart of the church

in more than just going to church on Sundays. By getting younger folks involved, it means that

those with children will be examples that their kids may follow.

With the clergy, especially those who have congregations, by having them limit the amount of

things on a diocesan level means that they can concentrate more on their congregation, and it

will also give those who aren't doing something on a diocesan level a chance to get involved.

6. With Area Ministry, encourage Lay Leaders in these clusters to have a meeting with a meal every 2 or 3 months. This meeting would rotate amongst the congregations in the clusters. The meetings would be about what is going on in the cluster.

6. Get congregations to establish term/time limits with different the different commissions and committees that they have where possible. This will allow for new ideas to be brought into the group(s) and all of those who would like to do things within the congregation to have a chance. It will also get those who are burnt out because they have been doing so much to actually have a chance to become refreshed.
7. If term/time limits are established, the diocese should designate a Sunday where the those who are dropping out of these committees and commissions are thanked and applauded and those coming on are welcomed. This service would happen in each congregation.
8. The Diocese and Congregations should take advantage of not only DioBytes, but our Facebook group and other resources available in promoting events. The people of the Diocese need to take advantage of these sources also in finding out what is going on. Sometimes I am really frustrated with the congregation that I am in and want to leave the Episcopal Church totally, but I will go to an event at another congregation and become renewed and refreshed knowing that great things are actually happening here. I am currently going to a four week event at St. Paul's Oakland because of an invite sent to me via Facebook.
9. With Area Ministry, let's take advantage of clergy in this diocese who are not in a congregation. With the ones who are willing, let them be kind of a “Arch Layperson” (I really can't think of a good term to use at the moment,) but for like the Advent Series and Lent Series they would have a list of Lay Leaders in an area that they would contact to get them to announce and gather people to come to these events. If it would be possible to move the event around to different congregations, this person would work with these leaders on arranging space and such. These clergy people start off by leading these events, but as they get to know people, they could get them to lead a portion or all of an event.
10. We must have people who know Tai Chi, Meditation Techniques, and other things who would be willing to lead an hour or two a month where lay leaders would gather to do some of these things together. This could be one form of Health and/or Spiritual renewal.

There are many things that the diocese could do that will help to stem the burnout that occurs within the Laity, to renew the laity, but as long as the church continues to think in the 1950s mentality and not really moving truly into a 21^st century thinking and ways, where the clergy realize that they don't have to lead things in the church outside of the service, and the people realize that in order for the church to really survive it must take the lead and the responsibility in a healthy way, burnout will continue.

I would love to know what ideas you have to help in the growth of church congregations and Christianity as a whole...

God's Music

 I was sitting in a church last night for a service which was mostly sung by a choir. Now the service was nice, as it was one that isn't done much. It was some men and boys choir, and was disappointed that the boys didn't do much singing, and even at one point began to wonder why they even had the boys there.

As I was sitting there listening to them sing, I suddenly began to wonder about something and began to laugh about it more inside as I thought about it. Now I won't say that I know what God likes as far as music is concerned, but it became a question and a thought in my head.

Now in the congregation that I am in, we have no playing organist. We do have someone with the title of Organist, but he only has it in order to do some work to repair our organ. For some things he is really good and I enjoy his playing, but as far as being a Church Organist, I have had people inform me that if I am not going to be there, and he will be playing the organ, to inform them so that they could go elsewhere for service. Sadly he just doesn't have the skills that a Church Organist needs, but I have heard him play other things, and he is really good.

As I sat there I really began to wonder what God really likes as far as music goes. The choir was singing this traditional old Latin song, then suddenly I looked up at the priest who was sitting there meditating and picturing him as if he was God. Then Family Radio came to mind when it was suppose to be the rapture and the music that they were playing on the station. I then began to think about things like Gregorian Chants and other types of religious music. Oh I do love religious music, but I also love other types of music.

One of the nice things about the congregation that I am in and using the computer to do the music is the fact that we get to hear a variety of different different styles of Christian music. Some times I will play traditional stuff, and at other times I will play some Country, some Rap, Jazz, Blues, Blue Grass and other types of music. Our former Bishop used to enjoy coming to our congregation because I would play Gospel. He would be in the church while nobody else was, and I would have some Gospel playing and he would be dancing up and down the aisles. The first time that it happened, it shocked me, as I didn't realize that he was even in the church and I was just playing some music for myself until the people started coming in. I happen to look up to see him in the aisle just dancing away. After service was over and the people where in the Parish Hall, I needed to check on the music for the following Sunday, so I put some Gospel on only to look up a little bit later to see him dancing again.

With the way that the priest sits in the congregation that I was in, his chair is against the wall facing the congregation. Now I know that this priest wouldn't do it, but I suddenly imagined him as God and turning to the choir after they had finished one of the songs and turning in a booming voice and telling them thanks, he had heard enough, then picking up a phone and saying that he wanted James Brown to come in and give a concert, followed by the Rolling Stones, the Sex Pistols, then George Clinton.

I don't know why all of this came to mind, but it was like the thing about eating the same thing everyday at every meal. I mean that at a point it gets tiresome and you need a change. Is God sitting there when his desire to hear music with like a radio and he turns the dial to something that he wants to hear at the moment. Oh I am sure that some will say that he will love hearing song giving him praise, but wouldn't get tired of hearing just music praising him after a point? I mean wouldn't God want to hear some Tupac, Biggie Smalls, Madonna, Elton John, Wayne Newton, Sammy Davis, Jr., Cab Calaway, etc at some point just for something different?

Now I could be totally wrong about this, but think about it. If you were God, would you really want to hear the music that is done in the Christian churches all of the time?