Notes from the misison field

My apologies for the long delay in new posts.  I've focused most written communication on Facebook and parish e-news. 

Next week, St. Andrew's Church will embark on a mission trip to the Navajo Nation in Arizona and New Mexico.  Our efforts will include:

Remodeling a kitchen in the Parish Hall of Good Shepherd Episcopal Misison in Fort Defiance, Arizona;

Offering a multi-age Vacation Bible School;

Providing veterinary care at the Navajo Nation Veterinary Clinic.  One veterinarian from St. Andrew's and five students from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine have volunteered to provide care.

Stay tuned to hear about our progress.

We're guided by the "5 Marks of Mission":

The Mission of the Church is the mission of Christ

To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
To teach, baptize and nurture new believers
To respond to human need by loving service
To seek to transform unjust structures of society
To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth

Texas around the nation

A minivan in Tennessee; an Aggie in Pittsburgh

Just a few examples of Texas projecting power abroad!

Keep flying

The Rev. Canon Dr. Gordon K. McBride, priest, historian, pilot, author, historian, mentor and friend, died recently. He will be missed.

Flying to Tombstone, Gordon's first novel, is a compelling commentary on border and immigration issues. Set in Tombstone and Tucson, the novel offers a rich perspective on immigrants and ranchers and the land on which they live. A second novel set in England offers the idea that places have their own memory.

Gordon came to Texas last year to offer a Lenten program at St. Andrew's. His voice was strong, his message timely, and his graceful presence unwavering.

Keep flying, Gordon. Thanks for everything; I'll never forget you.

Finding water

I have long been intrigued by the image of exilic people making their way through the desert. Throughout scripture, the experience of traveling through barren lands serves as a literary trope for the human condition. In the desert, the Israelites were as honest with God and each other as they ever had been.

As an itinerant preacher wandering from place to place, I draw strength from reading and reflecting the words of exilic people. Both testaments record the joys and sorrows of searching for meaning while on the move. Yet I asked recently, "what characterizes nomadic people?" As I often do when I have questions, particularly from the Hebrew Bible, I call my Rabbi (everyone should have a Rabbi in their life).

"What sustains people on the move?" I asked. With a slight pause and quick wit, my Rabbi replied, "water".

Of course! I exclaimed, slapping my forehead! Finding water in the desert: that's the stuff of life for nomads AND people in static locations!

Blessed with resources and networks, I am fortunate not to have to seek out food and shelter in my itinerant ministry (unless I count restaurants and hotels); instead I seek out "water" for the journey.

"Water": the substance of life. Most of the human body is composed of it. Our world is filled with it. A symbol of death and life: water greets us when we're born, sustains us in life, and cleanses us when we die. To allegorize water is not a far stretch!

My "water" on this journey might be described as exercise:

Spiritual exercise: reading scripture, prayer, attending services

Physical exercise: making time to run, swim, and work out stress

Mental exercise: reading, stopping in places that promise new insight (there have been many)

This is my "water"; exercise sustains me on this long journey. What's your "water"?

Lessons in hospitality

The root word for "hospital" and "hospitality" are the same: to welcome somebody is an expression of healing.

Last week as I tended to the crew of a Coast Guard cutter that lost a shipmate (a few days later, the daughter of another crew member was trampled by a horse at a 4th of July parade), I was astounded by the hospitality the crew extended to me (a stranger).

On the first day I met the boat while it was still underway, the first question from the Officer in Charge was, "Have you eaten?", followed by, "How about some coffee?" In their grief and pain, they did not neglect hospitality to the stranger. After the cutter had arrived at homeport, I was invited to two barbeques hosted by crew members and allowed to share their stories, hear their hopes and dreams, and witness their support of each other.

Despite their many trials and tribulations, the crew never forgot the divine gift of hospitality. In the moments of meeting each other, true healing could occur. A lesson to take home...and share with others.

4th of July

Chief Machinery Technican's Mate Christopher White, age 32, died in an accident early Thursday morning, leaving behind a wife and two little girls. He was well loved.

I will spend the weekend with his shipmates and co-officiate his memorial service on Tuesday.

Please remember Chris and his family in your prayers. As we celebrate this 4th of July, let's remember the sacrifices our service members make, both home and abroad.

Child friendly service

This morning I worshipped at Calvary Episcopal Church in Cincinnati. The 9:30 family service was delightful; look at the lectern with children's hand prints! The Rector used a monkey puppet with a French accent as children gathered around. We sang a lively mix of traditional and contemporary music, which seemed to appeal to the array of people who participated.

How can we make our worship more welcoming to children?