Come, Holy Spirit: do what you do best

June 7, 2019

This Sunday we celebrate Pentecost in a combined 10:00 service in the Historic Church. 

As you know, Pentecost Sunday commemorates Holy Spirit landing upon and inspiring the early church.

While many modern-day Christians, perhaps especially Episcopalians, are somewhat mystified by Holy Spirit -- who Holy Spirit is and what Holy Spirit does -- one simple way to think about Holy Spirit is to remember that Jesus called Holy Spirit the "advocate."

You and I have an advocate. 

Actually, you and I have THE advocate: the comforter, the same animating Holy and Life-Giving Spirit who brooded over creation and who inspired the prophets and who alighted upon Jesus in the river Jordan in the form of a dove and upon the disciples gathered that first Pentecost in the form of wind and fire.

That same Holy and Life-Giving Spirit alights upon on us, individually and as a gathered church. 

And Holy Spirit continues to do what Holy Spirit does best: empower, enliven, animate, becalm, encourage, unify, nourish, and motivate us. 

So come, Holy Spirit, come.

Do what you do best: give us something which everyone hears in common, and something which each of us individually needs to hear.  

Amaze us. 

Shock us. 

In-spire us.

And most important of all, inspired by you, Holy Spirit, help those of us who have gone to church to BE THE CHURCH out in the world -- a world so hungry for your fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

See you Sunday, 

John 

Service and Sacrifice: A Prayer for Memorial Day

May 24, 2019

For today's message, mindful that we are entering Memorial Day weekend, I   want to share with you in its entirety the prayer Service and Sacrifice: A Prayer for Memorial Day, by Rabbi David Wirtschafter. 

"God of Life and Death, Service and Sacrifice, Courage, and Compassion.

On this Sabbath, we gather together to remember those who died while serving our nation.

 And to recognize the veterans who served, whether decades ago or only yesterday.

We are internally conflicted on the cost of our conflicts.

 As idealists, we wish there were never any need for defense forces.

Yet as pragmatists, we know there will always be a need for them.

 As dreamers, we pray for a day when "nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor ever   again study war."

Yet as realists, we accept that there are circumstances where force must be met with force.

 Torah teaches us to "seek peace and pursue it."

Yet, it also declares that there are enemies that must be destroyed.

 We thank our soldiers, sailors, and pilots, for doing that which we wish never needed to be   done.

And we pray for a world where time and talent, strength, and intellect, can be spent in fighting disease, defeating poverty, and defending the downtrodden without having to take up arms.

 God of Peace and War, Concord and Conflict, Hope and Heartbreak; We pray that the sacrifices of our fallen will forever be remembered, and that recognition of   our veterans not merely convey thanks but demonstrate it.

May we not merely "proclaim peace to those near and far" but bring peace by doing the work required to realize it.

 May this be our blessing and let us say:

Amen."

See you Sunday, 

John

p.s. Help! I'm looking for four volunteers to help me set up, and then four other volunteers to help us take back down, our "booth" for the Memorial Day Festival. HERE is a sign-up genius if you're in town Monday and can help. (there are also a few slots left for greeting -- but even if all slots are filled, stop on by!) 

Why each of the next five Sundays are extra special

May 17, 2019

It's an exciting time of year -- just take a look at the extra-special nature of each of the next five Sundays: 

• This Sunday, May 19th - Shrine Mont Sunday. We welcome special guest Kirk Gibson from Shrine Mont (who is bringing a taste of Shrine Mont for coffee hour!) as we launch registrations for our Columbus Day Weekend all-parish retreat;

• Sunday, May 26th - Vacation Bible School Sunday, a chance to visit the magical world of Harry Potter and see how we will integrate it with the spiritual formation of our children;

• Sunday, June 2nd - Congratulations and Thank You Jim Councilor! - Join us for a special Adult Forum/coffee hour to celebrate Jim's (re)retirement and thank him for his years of faithful service to The Falls Church;

• Sunday, June 9th - Pentecost Sunday -- Children and Youth Service - A wonderful service featuring a youth preacher and children's leadership in worship;

• Sunday, June 16th - Bishop's Visitation and welcoming of new members: Bishop Susan Goff will be with us to celebrate Confirmations and Receptions, the welcoming of new members, and -- as part of our 250th Celebration -- bless our new vision statement stone out front of the Historic Church.

I hope you're looking forward as much as I am to each of these opportunities to come together as The Falls Church Episcopal, which is

See you Sunday,  John