Rev. Valerie's Reveille

Charles Allen Gilbert’s drawing “All is Vanity” is an eerie optical illusion of a woman sitting in front of a mirror which also looks like a human skull, seen here .  The title of this work is taken from the beginning of the Hebrew Scripture book Koheleth (sometimes spelled Qoheleth), or in most Christian Bibles, the book of Ecclesiastes.  This book is part of the Wisdom literature, such as Proverbs and Job, but it rather unique in its dreary outlook on the human experience. Whereas Job eventually receives restoration of his life and faith in God, Ecclesiastes offers no final redemption, only understanding that God is present in the journey and focusing on an ultimate goal denies the importance of seeking God in the first place. Gilbert’s drawing captures the fleeting pursuit of beauty while summarizing one of Ecclesiastes’ conclusions. Death is inevitable.  No amount of toil trying to avoid it or deny it will make it disappear.  And yet the point is not death, ...

As technology becomes more accessible and user friendly, it is important for us in the Church not to eschew it out-of-hand, but engage with it in appropriate and helpful ways.  Indeed, we have been doing that at St. Barnabas over the past month or so, using our projector to show images relating to the Scripture readings and saving paper by projecting the prayers of the people. The Episcopal Church (that international entity that we are local outlet of) has also embraced a new age of sharing our stories by producing some excellent videos of ministries of the Episcopal Church.  I invite you to take a few minutes and view some of them for yourself and see the creative ways faithful people are engaging in the world today, sharing Christ’s love and hope with all. The videos can be found here. I mentioned reading Bryan Stevenson’s book Just Mercy a couple weeks ago.  You might be interested in a conversation our State Senator, Corey Booker had with him a couple of wee...

Unfortunately, I did not see the video from our Presiding Bishop, The Most Rev. Michael Curry, before worship this past Sunday morning so I was not aware of his request that we offer prayers for our country and ourselves.  While we did pray, it was not quite as elegant as the one suggested by PB Michael.  Granted, God does not judge prayer on style, but because it is so fitting, I’ve reprinted it here for your edification and use: O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP p. 815) It has been an emotional week, first with the initial traumas a...

Christians are no strangers to sacred feasts – in fact we celebrate one every time we gather around the altar for Eucharist.   It is a transcendent time of being in communion with God, with the holy, while grounding our faith in the tangible. Our most sacred feast, Easter, is proceeded by 40 days of fasting, which we call Lent.  It is a period of self-reflection and devotion, usually expressed through a “fast” of some sort.  Many talk about what they “give up” for Lent, such as chocolate or swearing.  Such actions are to help us remember what we are doing, but are only as helpful as we allow them to be . You might be asking why I’m writing about Lent in the middle of summer, when we are in the midst of “Ordinary Time” and Lent does start until March 1, 2017 (mark your calendars now!). I am drawing a connection to our season of Lent and the Muslim tradition of Ramadan, the month of fasting offered in commemoration of the Qur’an being revealed to the prophet M...