Our BIG 3/4 empty bus (w.bathroom)

I came up with an idea so I don’t have to worry, about my large suitcase or, about messing up my back.  We have placed the suitcase on the last seat of the big bus. I only take the clothes I need for that night, in my small carry on! Plus I have access to all my stuff on the bus during the day.

We drove for four hours today. We visited the Shrine of Rumi.  http://www.sacred-destinations.com/turkey/konya-mevlana-museum.htm  Rumi’s son was the one that created the Whirling Dervishes, based on this father’s philosophies.  I now appreciate  more having seen the dancing ritual yesterday and understand the exhibits in the museum better.

Allan from New Zealand serving The Minister's wife

Here is part of a story about the Holy Spirit.  Our guide made arrangements so that we could celebrate the Eucharist today in the Catholic Church of St. Paul in downtown Konya.  It is the only functional church we have seen so far.  I read Act 14:1-9

¹Now it happened in Iconium (KONYA) that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. ²But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. ³Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.⁴But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. ⁵And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, ⁶they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. ⁷And they were preaching the gospel there.

We are not Jew or Gentile, man or woman, slave or free, we are ONE in Christ Jesus-St. Paul

Sometime during the prayers of the people a group came in about our size and sat down in the last few rows of chairs.  We exchanged the PEACE and when I had seen the members of our group I went to the back of the church and exchanged the Peace with the others.  I noticed Irwin was behind me greeting them as well.  The table was prepared, but before Ken the celebrant could begin, a man from the group came forward and said they were Lutherans and that they had an agreement with the Anglicans, and wanted to know if they could have communion with us!

The celebrant said, the Peace of the Lord Be Always With You, and everyone exchanged the PEACE. We shared out bulletins and stood in a circle which was now complete because we had enough people.  We served each other the bread and the wine, like we do at our Wednesday service.  They said, The Body/Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in German and we said it in English and it was very cool.

The Muslim call to worship also happened during the service.  After the dismissal I started to sing Amen, Amen, Amen, they joined in and we had some wonderful harmony!  Then they started a song, most of our group knew and we sung along.  I think the Anglican Eucharist in a Catholic Church shared with German Lutherans, while the Muslim’s were praying made God very happy today.

The gentleman who came forward was the Luther Minister.  He said to me that if I hadn’t come over and passed the Peace with them that we would have never stood up and asked.  It made me very happy and very sad all at the same time.  All in all a good day for the Kingdom.

Stop, so you can go down Gift Blvd!

Our celebration of the Holy Spirit on this Pentecost Sunday was full of color and joyful music!  The Spirit was flying high.  I thought I was going to be flying high on my way to Turkey today too, but I got grounded! The flight to (JFK) New York was delayed so that I was going to miss my connection to Istanbul.  After looking at all my options-even taking a cab to Dulles. I decide to take the flight to New York as scheduled, spend the night in a hotel, and take the same flight to Istanbul tomorrow.  The best news is that to get me on that flight they had to UPGRADE me to business class! God is so good! The flight will arrive in Ankara, Turkey around 1:00 pm. My class starts at 6:00pm with dinner so no problem. I am staying in a Double Tree hotel that is very nice.  American Airlines gave me vouchers for 3 meals as well.  I am going to continue reading for my class, take a hot bath, and sleep in late so I will be rested and ready to go when I finally arrive. St. Paul’s journeys didn’t always go the way he planned.  Actually most of his trips had some serious ups and downs, so I shouldn’t be surprised that things didn’t go just as planned today.  What a blessing I had an “extra” day because this detour is very peaceful and restful!  Good night!

The plowed parking lot after Blizzard 2010 part one Feb. 9th

Blizzard of 2010 part two

As of 3:00 pm today I have officially reached my snow limit.  I thought it was a good thing for people to take some time and relax, and with not being able to go anywhere, to slow down and take some sabbath time.  But enough is enough.   So… what does God have to say about snow?  Let’s turn to the Bible and see what is written.

As a symbol snow in scripture seems to speak of “whiteness” and “purity”. In this way it is used to describe the raiment of the Lord at His transfiguration (only in Mark 9:3), the hair and the garment of Him as a Judge in Dan. 7:9 and Rev. 1:14, as well as the raiment of the angel at His resurrection (only in Matt. 28:3).It is used, also, to show His cleansed people as pure and white when their sins are washed in Jesus’ precious blood. (Isa. 1:18, Eph. 5:27, Rev. 1:5)

When we think of snow, it falls from Heaven pure and white (our new life). There are no two flakes alike (like our fingerprints or D N A) but they are all six sided figures or hexagons (six symbolizes man at his best). A snowflake starts by forming on a piece of dust in the air and once it becomes heavy enough it falls to the ground. When the snowflake melts the dust is left on the ground and the ice evaporates into the atmosphere. Does this not make us think of ourselves? Our Adam nature was created by God from dust and it will return to dust (Gen. 3:19), but our new nature is eternal and we will all be changed at the rapture (I Cor. 15:51-55).

When snowflakes land on the earth, they become one and form a blanket of snow (the one body, the church). After snow settles on the ground it becomes contaminated and loses its whiteness. It becomes contaminated both from above and below [wickedness in heavenly places (Eph. 6:12) and the Church taking the character of the world (Rev. 2:13)]. Today the church has settled down and is not in keeping with its Heavenly character, but in the end both His Heavenly and Earthly people will be made spotless. (Eph. 5:27)

Would this be a little of what scripture means by the treasures of snow? Is it another part of creation that is a pattern of Heavenly things (Rom. 1:20)?

The word in SCRIPTURE

The word ‘snow’ is used to illustrate different thoughts in Scripture. Below is a list of all of the times snow is mentioned grouped according to the thought that it seems to exemplify.

NOW PURE & CLEAN:

1. Job 9:30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean

2. Psalm 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

3. Psalm 68:14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.

4. Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

5. Lamentations 4:7 Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire

‘SNOW’VISIBLE & CONSPICUOUS:

6. Exodus 4:6 And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.

7. Numbers 12:10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.

8. 2 Kings 5:27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

ADVERSE CONDITIONS:

9. 2 Samuel 23:20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow

10. 1 Chronicles 11:22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts; he slew two lionlike men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day.

11. Psalm 148:8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word

12. Proverbs 31:21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

13. Proverbs 26:1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

14. Psalm 147:16 He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.

REFRESHMENT & BLESSINGS:

15. Job 6:16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid

16. Job 24:19 Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned.

17. Job 37:6 For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.

18. Proverbs 25:13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

19. Isaiah 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater

20. Jeremiah 18:14 Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon which cometh from the rock of the field? or shall the cold flowing waters that come from another place be forsaken?

BEAUTY, GLORY, HOLY & WHITENESS:

21. Job 38:22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

22. Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

23. Matthew 28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow

24. Mark 9:3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

25. Revelation 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire

God sent me to Haiti; the poorest country in the northern hemisphere.

so much love so little time - June 1997

I was to work at St. Vincent’s children’s rehab hospital.  I collected supplies.  I wrote to the airlines asking them to waive any additional cargo fees and they did.  When I arrived at the hospital they noticed that I didn’t have any technical medical training.  They informed me that I would not be of any help to them.  They thanked me for the supplies and I left.

Before entering the school of St. Pierre I looked up toward heaven and said, “I know you have sent me to this place. What is it that you want me to do here?”  In less than 24 hours the bishop had reviewed my resume and asked me to work with the American Partnership Program.   Morehouse publishing printed the brochures that I created, the videos were distributed at the National convention booth I helped to create and host in Philadelphia later that summer.  My heart is breaking for my brothers and sisters in Haiti.  Unless you have been there you can not begin to imagine what a wonder and horrifying place it was before the earth quake.  Maybe now true transformation can begin.

Church EMAILS: We were informed of the destruction of the following buildings:

• The Cathedral of Holy Trinity was destroyed.
• The Cathedral complex including the Diocesan Offices were destroyed.
• The Bishop Tharp School suffered considerable damage.
• St. Margaret’s Convent was destroyed but the sisters are alive.
• The secondary school of St. Pierre was destroyed and students had gone home for the day.
• The Jubilee Center was destroyed.
• The four Episcopal Church missionaries are reportedly alive but direct contact has not been made by officers at the Church Center.
• Young Adult Service Corps (YASC) Missionary Mallory Holding was evacuated out through the US Embassy today and is on her way home to Chicago. She said that she was with the bishop yesterday, he is safe and well, although his wife has a serious leg injury. (friend of the Munros)

Dear Friends:
I have taken the liberty to pass on Tracy Bruce’s e-mail as she and Steven have long and deep ties to Haiti and so their information is critical.  Please pray for the people of Haiti.          +John Rabb

Our inside information says that there are many more churches that are devastated…confirmations of collapse have come though several sites

• St. Etienne’s church in the mountains where we have worked for almost 30 years…church and priest’s residence collapsed.
• St. Croix Hospital in Leogane is gone according a NY Times website.
• The collapsed roof on four worshippers happened at St. Marc, Trouin, near St Etienne’s, so their church is destroyed.  We estimate that at least ten churches are deeply damaged or demolished.  Most Episcopal Churches in Haiti are actually outside the capital.  St. Vincent’s Crippled Children’s Hospital, just a few blocks away from the Cathedral…with children and adults with all sorts of disabilities seems to be in tact. Small miracles abound.  No news yet from any of our clergy friends.

The  Episcopal Sister’s  OF St. Margaret’s ARE ALIVE AND UNHURT!

We have spoken directly to Sr. Marie Margaret. She is with Sr. Marjorie Raphael and Sr. Marie Therese in a football field at College St. Pierre. The front of the Foyer collapsed but the back is still standing. They had some of the ladies from the Foyer with them. We will keep updating you as we know any more. PRAISE GOD!

Monetary donations may be sent to:
The Society of St. Margaret
17 Highland Park St., Boston, MA 02119

A Prayer for Haiti:
Almighty Father, God of mercies and giver of comfort, deal graciously, we pray, with the people of Haiti in the midst of the great suffering caused by the catastrophic earthquake. May they cast all their care on you and know the consolation of your love.
Give us the courage, zeal, wisdom and patience to assist them, not only in these first days and weeks of urgent need, but as they continue to need the care and partnership of all their sisters and brothers around the world in the long and difficult work of healing and rebuilding.  Grant eternal life to those who have died, healing to the injured and strength to all the survivors, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

(by the Ven. Dr. J. Fritz Bazin Diocese of Southeast Florida)

P.O. Box 7058

Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.

https://www.er-d.org/donate-select.php

The building where the little church with the BIG heart meets

We did everything I knew of to live into God’s calling.  We grew stronger in ministry and mission, spirituality, and stewardship but we continued to stagnate in others.  We gained new families only to lose people to old age. How dare, especially our younger members, move on?  We had a small piece of the Kingdom of God here on earth, why weren’t people breaking down our doors?

With my marketing background, I feel personally responsible for the lack of membership growth. We had direct mail campaigns, movie nights, concert series, teacher appreciation programs, and special liturgies for the Boy Scouts, Masons and Election Eve. We opened our facility to anyone that was in need.  According to the experts our membership should have been increasing, instead, it stayed the same.

Then came the first of the defining moments for me in 2009.

In May the vestry went on retreat. We reviewed our vision statement.  We made a few changes to more accurately reflect the transformation we were experiencing.  I was energized by the enthusiasm and teamwork of the vestry. The next step was to figure out how to achieve this newly polished vision.  We needed some Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely (SMART) goals.

The vestry established four SMART goals. The one we decided to tackle first was to tithe our operating budget to outreach, a 2% increase for five years. The vestry discussed this commitment for five months. The congregation was then asked to become percentage givers.  It was a huge step.  It was what God was calling us to do and God rewarded us for this commitment.  Right after that decision, T-Mobile approached us with an offer to add a steeple for our bell-tower and monthly rent income if they could use the inside of the steeple to house a cell tower.

This fall as we discussed how we utilized our time, our talent and our treasure we focused on the spiritual implications of tithing (giving our 105 best-first’) to God.  People like to give their two cents worth, so we suggested that people begin by giving their two per-cents worth, and continue to build on that until they reach a minimum giving of ten percent.  We also suggested that participating in this way could be the greatest life-giving activity that one could have.  The congregation heard the call and they answered in faith!  I was so proud to be a part of this community and very excited about the all of the implications and possibilities.

One of the most challenging ministries is that of being a deacon.  The second hardest ministry is being that of a deacon spouse.  In 2009 Ed Munro achieved his twenty-five year anniversary in the Brotherhood of St. Gregory.  In June of 2011 he will have twenty years as an ordained clergy, in the deaconate.  More importantly he and Barbara will celebrate their five-year anniversary with St. Christopher’s in 2010. This calls for a celebration of thankfulness and praise. The Munro’s are wonderful examples of how a family can thrive as they tithe.  Their dedication to this Spiritual and Financial commitment was what gave the vestry pause this year as they established the new goals created from the St. Christopher’s vision statement.  I want to thank Ed and Barbara for all the wonderful ways they share their time, talent and treasure with out community.  They lead by example and we are blessed by their presence.

The second of the defining moments for me in 2009 was getting pneumonia during the summer.  As I have stated in a sermon this “sickness” was a holy and sacred time and a clear answer to prayer.  I wouldn’t wish pneumonia on anyone, but I would not have traded this experience.   One of the most wonderful gifts I found was St. Christopher’s ability to carry on with little or no help from me.  The Leadership Team (the Vestry and Foundation) did a wonderful job moving forward in mission and ministry.  What a gift our new administrator Carol Williams was, I had only been able to spend four days in a row with her before I became ill.  Our new treasurer in 2009, Bob Davies, was a great help in keeping the office running smoothly.  I have always felt that a sign of a good leader was in his or her absence that the community not only functions but also, thrives.  A special thank you to everyone who stepped up and came through during that time.

For the last year I have been keenly aware that our Senior Warden, Pete Nortari’s term is ending.  Pete has served in this position for six out of the seven years that I have been at St. Christopher’s.  Through his leadership and guidance we have become the life-giving, mission based “little church with the BIG heart.”  So many of the projects, programs, and perspectives, that have grounded our journey have come from Pete’s discernment and dedication.   I give thanks to God for Pete’s ministry and for Kathy’s support of all of the time and talent and treasure he has give us.  The best news is that even though he is retiring from this position he is still going to be a member of the team! I can’t express my appreciation enough to Pete for all he has done to support my ministry.

The last quarter of the year a great deal of time was spent on negotiating our agreement with T-mobile for our new steeple and new source of revenue from cell phone carriers.  We are expecting the steeple to be completed by the end of June.  We hope to have rent from T-mobile for 6 months of the year and an additional carrier for three months.  By 2011 there should be three carriers in service paying rent.  Besides the steeple there will also be a fenced in area where the grassy area is a next to Mr. Dave Phillips drive-way and the beginning of our parking lot going down the hill.  A board on board fence will enclose any and all mechanical equipment needed to run the cell units inside the steeple.

We held our first (pasta) ravioli “Fun”-raising dinner this fall.  There was much fun and fellowship and ended up making some “dough”. To make sure everyone had the latest information about all of these activities we updated the stchris.org web page.

The vestry came up with some excellent musicians to continue our music series this fall with the Shenandoah Circle from West Virginia.  The St. Chris Café never looked better and the food never tasted sweeter.  Due to snow, the December concert was rescheduled for January.

In keeping with our goal for mission Drew Davies, Russell Eustler and I attended the El Hogar Agricultural School graduation in November.  This year sixteen young men, the largest class yet graduated.  We were of service to them with the supplies we took and the extra hands we had to assist in their studying for exams and with the preparations for graduation.  The Foundation provided a grant to the school to fix a broken septic system, and for some needed repairs to a farm truck and in several classrooms.

During Advent and through Christmas we supported HOPE For All, located in Linthicum, by supplying clothes to families and especially school age children in need.

There was one disappointment this fall and that was that the Lilly Foundation was not able to fund my sabbatical request.  My thought was maybe since we have a foundation and so many churches do not that they felt that I had options that most other clergy don’t.  Our Foundation was not asked to provide any funding for my sabbatical.  I am continuing to look for other outside grants.  I will be taking some sabbatical time in May how much is yet to be determined.

It is no wonder the year is somewhat of a blur – things were hopping and these are only a few of the many ministry activities we have led or participated in this year.  Our 9:15 worship service on Sunday continues to feed us; and the Wednesday bible study and Healing Eucharist continues to grow in depth and in attendance.

I can always see God at work through the people of St. Christopher’s who together create the body of Christ in the world.  Thank you for your support and dedication, it makes my ministry of joy.

preparing for graduation -- opening the window of reflections

We are asked to submit a reflection to be placed in 2009 Honduras scrap book. Here is mine.

One of the greatest benefits of going on a mission trip is that it takes us out of our familiar surroundings, which allows us the opportunity to see life, as we live it in the US, in better perspective.

There were ten girls in one room, four girls in another and the male chaperons where sleeping in a storage room attached to the kitchen. When I walked into the bathroom I thought to my self wasn’t there a mirror on this wall last year? As I closed the bathroom door I saw the 5×7 inch mirror in a handmade frame hanging on a hook. It was something you would find in a souvenir shop. “There is the mirror,” I said to myself, “this should prove interesting.”The mirror was taken out of the bathroom and moved from bunk bed to bunk bed as the ladies put on make- up or did their hair. I knew it wasn’t going to be long before it was broken, as I eyed it on the frame of the bed on the top bunk one morning. Sure enough in the hustle of the girls going in and out of the dorm the mirror hit the floor and shattered into a million tiny pieces.

The young lady whose bed it was on felt badly. But accidents happen and it was an accident. I thought to myself, “if we go into town, I will see if we can’t get a mirror for the wall in the bathroom. Who ever heard of a bathroom without a mirror?” which got me to thinking.

Were there mirrors in the boys dormitories or bathrooms? As I began to look around it occurred to me that I hadn’t seen any mirrors anywhere, here. There were glass windows but that was about it. What would life we like if we didn’t have any mirrors? When I woke up in the morning I found myself asking the ladies, “how does my hair look today? Do I need to wet it down?” They would respond, and based on their answer I would prepare for my day. It never occurred to me that they wouldn’t be totally honest or have my best interest at heart. They were the ones who had to look at me all day. I didn’t know what I looked like.

How many times had I left my house feeling like I didn’t look good because my hair needed cut, or the bags under my eyes, or because my outfit wasn’t quite right? I had brought those bad moods from a bad hair day on myself. The mirror in my bathroom at home had an enormous influence in my attitude and self-confidence, and I had let it.

During our trip, we heard of the death of Michael Jackson. His songs played on the radio and I heard “the Man in the Mirror.” The words came to life in a new and more meaningful way.