Faith is Not Identity

The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation

West Point, Mississippi

The Incarnate Word

28 July 2011

The horrific killings in Norway have given rise to speculation over the killer’s motives.  The “motives” should be obvious:  madness and evil.  But in speculating about motive, there has been a lot of attention paid in the press (particularly in Europe) to Anders Behring Breivik as a “right wing Christian extremist”.  The press (see, e.g., the BBC) has made much ado about Breivik’s “manifesto,” which includes claims of the need for Christian “cultural war”.

Let’s be very clear about one thing:  Breivik–regardless of how he might label himself–is not a follower of Jesus Christ.  This is a matter which even seems to confuse a professor at a leading seminary in the U.S.  Take a look at http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/post/norway-attacks-when-christianity-becomes-lethal/2011/07/25/gIQAPRw5YI_blog.html .  The author seems to think that if you are not in favor of particular cultural or societal movements because of your faith, that makes you a hate monger.  It  kind of makes you wonder how she would define her own faith, but more to the point Breivik has defined his.  In his manifesto he has spoken about Christianity as a cultural force, as a force which binds “white Nordic” Europe together.  This is not faith, let alone Christianity.  It is a manipulation of the cultural baggage that is attached to the practice of the faith in order to hijack the faith.

This is nothing new.  Breivik’s manifesto could have been written by any “good” National Socialist.  The Nazis even succeeded in taking over much of the Protestant church in Germany.  The Nazis found the institution of the Church (not her faith) useful, and so co-opted most ministers into the “German Christian Movement” which like Breivik focused on self-identification as opposed to taking up one’s cross to follow Jesus.

The common cultural language of Christianity is essentially gone from our culture.  This means that we must always present the faith to people, and be ready to defend the faith against ill-informed or malicious attack.  This means that we must know our own faith.  Within the Church education has never been more important.

Vacation Bible School:  VBS has been a huge success.  The “Son and Sand” theme has allowed for the children to have fun while learning and growing in faith.  Incarnation parents have worked both as teachers and as providers of meals.  Thanksgivings are due to Michael Booker, Debbie Chandler, Amy Tabor, Diann Powell, Carolyn Jane Hay, Katie Chandler, Melissa King, Linda Malone.

Frozen food appeal:  If you have extra frozen foods, please bring them to the parish.

Bridges Out of Poverty:  This program (which was described at one of our Lenten suppers) is starting up in Starkville, under the direction of The Rev. Dcn. Lynn Gaines Philips.  The first information and training session will be held on 9 August.  For details speak to Dcn. Patricia Cantrell.

Bishop’s visitation:  Mark your calendars for Sunday, 31 July, for Bp. Gray’s visitation.  The parish will present 4 confirmands.  Before the service the bishop will meet with the vestry and ministry team.  After the service we will gather for a parish luncheon.  Because we are having a luncheon there will be no coffee hour.

Episcopal Church Women:  ECW have purchased oil candles for the altar.  These candles will save the parish money, because they don’t have to be replaced, and the cost of oil over the year is less than the cost of new candles.  The oil candles always remain the same height, and the flame height can also be made more uniform.  Many thanks to ECW!

Coffee hour sign-ups:  We need people to sign up to host coffee hour.  Snacks can be very simple.  Please sign up on the sheet in the kitchen.

New to the prayer list:  Colt Wallace, Courtney McAlexander, Ray Bardin, Esther Pippin, Jay, Iris, and Steve.

Thanksgivings:  Thanksgivings are offered to Sandy Gentry for all of her work in coordinating lay ministries on Sundays.  She’s been busy to ensure that we have the necessary acolytes, lectors, etc.

Upcoming conferences:  The conference schedule for The Center for Formation and Ministry at The Gray Center can be accessed at http://cffm.dioms.org  .  The schedule includes a 16 and 17 September conference offered by Sewanee on An Anglican Perspective on C. S. Lewis.

Music this week:  Choir practice will be at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday to prepare for the bishop’s visitation.  Sarah will be back!

                          Pro.      444, Blessed be the God of Israel

Seq.     644, How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds

Off.     Anthem:  Veni Sancti Spiritus

Rec.     345, Savior, again to thy dear name we raise

                        Com.   60, 609

Outsized Evangelism

The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation

West Point, Mississippi

The Incarnate Word

21 July 2011

In boxing a fighter referred to as “punching above his weight” is recognized as throwing a stronger blow than his size would suggest.  The same is true of church parishes, and if you ask around West Point you will find that Incarnation is at least as well known as congregations many times our size.  Why?  Being well-known can be a function of notoriety, but it’s safe to safe that Incarnation is well-known and well thought of.  We are well known for good works as well as for being “different” to the extent of having a wine-tasting dinner as a fund-raiser.  I would suggest, however, that we are called to “punch above our weight” not just in terms of works, but in terms of mission.

What’s the difference between works and mission?  Works involve what we are called to do in terms of relief for the needy.  Mission involves how we provide for more than material needs.  As great as the physical needs are of many in this town, the spiritual need in our midst is huge, and all the greater for being in most cases unrecognized by the needful.  To be mission-oriented we need to punch above our weight in evangelism.

Evangelism is a word that  makes a lot of people nervous.  They hear the word and think of a street preacher.  But evangelism involves no more (and no less) than presenting the Good News of God in Jesus Christ, using words if necessary.  The easiest way to start this is to invite people to know God better.  If you invite them to worship they may be threatened, but if you invite them to a social activity they will have a chance to get to know people who they one day might know well enough to join in worship.  The point is not to get them to know us but to know God.  Social contact is a vehicle which we can use.  This can involve  inviting friends of children to youth events, or people you know in the community to a social gathering like our Eight for Five suppers.  It can be as simple as inviting people to lunch on Sunday, where you will naturally have an opportunity to talk about what happened earlier in worship.  Other examples can be envisaged, but the point is that we have to intend to spread the Good News.  We have each promised to do so in our Baptismal Covenant.

A final note:  I’m afraid that Incarnation punches below weight in the diocese.  We need to be better involved in the life and mission of the diocese.  Opportunities are many in mission, in committee work, at council, at youth events, at camp.  You can explore opportunities at www.dioms.org, or drop by the parish office to explore how you might be called to serve.

Vacation Bible School:  VBS has been a huge success.  The “Son and Sand” theme has allowed for the children to have fun while learning and growing in faith.  Incarnation parents have worked both as teachers and as providers of meals.  Thanksgivings are due to Michael Booker, Debbie Chandler, Amey Tabor, Diann Powell, Carolyn Jane Hay, Katie Chandler, Melissa King, Linda Malone.

Frozen food appeal:  If you have extra frozen foods, please bring them to the parish.

Bridges Out of Poverty:  This program (which was described at one of our Lenten suppers) is starting up in Starkville, under the direction of The Rev. Dcn. Lynn Gaines Philips.  The first information and training session will be held on 9 August.  For details speak to Dcn. Patricia Cantrell.

Bishop’s visitation:  Mark your calendars for Sunday, 31 July, for Bp. Gray’s visitation.  The parish will present 4 confirmands.  Before the service the bishop will meet with the vestry and ministry team.  After the service we will gather for a parish luncheon.

Bishop’s Mission Corps:  The BMC will not form in 2011, due to a lack of recruits.  The ministries that the parish had explored for the Fall, to work with the BMC, will be revisited by the Vestry.

Coffee hour sign-ups:  We need people to sign up to host coffee hour.  Snacks can be very simple.  Please sign up on the sheet in the kitchen.

Confirmation class will meet earlier than usual this Sunday, at 1215 in the Trulove House.  A snack will be provided.

New to the prayer list:  Mark Vaughn, Mitch Mauldin, Ruth, Ted Roman, Chris Murray, Thomas Hodo, Guadalupe, and Maurice Clay.

Thanksgivings:  Thanksgiving is offered to the ECW for purchasing oil candles for the altar.  The oil candles are permanent, don’t change in height, and will result in slightly reduced overall costs while preventing wax damage to linens and altar furnishings.

Upcoming conferences:  The conference schedule for The Center for Formation and Ministry at The Gray Center can be accessed at http://cffm.dioms.org  .  The schedule includes a 16 and 17 September conference offfered by Sewanee on An Anglican Perspective on C. S. Lewis.

Music this week:  Choir practice will be at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday.  In Sarah’s absence, we have changed the hymns from those planned to ones that we can sing using the Digital Hymnal.  The psalm will be recited.  The hymns are:

                        Pro.      398, I sing the almighty power of God

Seq.     359, God of the prophets, bless the prophets’ heirs!

Off.     Anthem:  I want to walk as a child of the light (WOV 649), a capella

Rec.     637, How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord

Com.   382, 558

Truth Outside of Self

The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation

West Point, Mississippi

The Incarnate Word

14 July 2011

Liberté, Egalité,  Fraternité.  The motto (Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood) of the French Revolution may be remembered on this date (Bastille Day) as an ironic remark on the fact that frame-of-reference matters.  We can look at life and the world, at society and our part in it–indeed, at the order of creation–from the perspective of how God reveals His will to us, or from a self-centered reference point, a wholly human perspective.  The latter approach is what happened in the French Revolution, and in similar movements of mass actions, such as Soviet Communism and National Socialism.  And look at the results:  mass terror; the wreck of society; the persecution of faith.

A wholly human perspective is one from which faith is abhorred, because to have faith we have to believe in something outside of ourselves.  The world tells us to look inward and find truth, or that there is no such thing as truth.  (Pontius Pilate!)  Jesus reveals that He is the Truth (John 14.6).  When we have faith in ourselves only we construct a form of self-worship–like the Cult of Reason of the French Revolution–and then the “checks and balances” of the order of creation disappear.  “Reason” becomes murderous because it is not balanced by a non-rational reality like love.

July has never been a good month monarchs.  Besides Bastille Day the month includes the anniversaries of the murder of the Russian imperial family in 1918 and of our own declaration of independence.  Bastille Day and the Soviet Revolution recall reason gone mad, so what prevented a similar madness in the American Revolution?  There were some aspects of persecution, resulting in the flight of many Tories (including a large proportion of Anglican clergy) to Halifax, but in America there was no systematic persecution of those identified with the old regime.  The reason relates to frame-of-reference.  In the Declaration of Independence the Founders made explicit appeal to an external standard, to the “Laws of Nature and ... Nature’s God”.  This is not really the same thing as invoking God, but it’s a very good start to say that truth must be sought outside of self. 

As Christians we must always test our own actions and our own consciences against the truth that God has revealed to us.  God reveals His will in Scripture, in how we discern God’s will in the order of creation (“Reason”), and in Tradition, the discernment of doctrine by the universal Church.  When we look to this revelation, then we can live in true liberty; we are equal before God; our brotherhood is complete and perfect as members of the same Body.  The truth will make you free (Jn. 8.32).

Vacation Bible School:  VBS will be held Sunday 17 July to Wednesday 20 July, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.  VBS is an important ministry of the entire parish, not just of the parents of young children.  Please contact Carolyn Jane Hay to coordinate help.

Frozen food appeal:  If you have extra frozen foods, please bring them to the parish.

Bridges Out of Poverty:  This program (which was described at one of our Lenten suppers) is starting up in Starkville, under the direction of The Rev. Dcn. Lynn Gaines Philips.  The first information and training session will be held on 9 August.  For details speak to Dcn. Patricia Cantrell.

Bishop’s visitation:  Mark your calendars for Sunday, 31 July, for Bp. Gray’s visitation.  The parish will present 5 confirmands.  Before the service the bishop will meet with the vestry and ministry team.  After the service we will gather for a parish luncheon.

Bishop’s Mission Corps:  The BMC will not form in 2011, due to a lack of recruits.  The ministries that the parish had explored for the Fall, to work with the BMC, will be revisited by the Vestry.

Episcopal Church Women:  ECW will meet tonight at 7 p.m. at Dawn Richardson’s house (1006 E. Main St.).  All women of the parish are invited.  Discussion will include Fall ministry initiatives.

Coffee hour sign-ups:  We need people to sign up to host coffee hour.  Snacks can be very simple.  Please sign up on the sheet in the kitchen.

Confirmation class will meet earlier than usual this Sunday, at 1215 in the Trulove House.  A snack will be provided.

New to the prayer list:  Mark Vaughn, Mitch Mauldin, Ruth, Ted Roman, Guadalupe, and Maurice Clay.

Thanksgivings:  Thanksgiving is offered to Keith Mooney for enduring the extreme heat to cook for the Men’s Fellowship.  Thanksgivings are offered as well to Kyle Chandler IV and Diann Powell for watering the ornamental plants.

Upcoming conferences:  The conference schedule for The Center for Formation and Ministry at The Gray Center can be accessed at http://cffm.dioms.org  .  The schedule includes a 16 and 17 September conference offfered by Sewanee on An Anglican Perspective on C. S. Lewis.

Music this week:  Choir practice will be at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday.  In Sarah’s absence, we have changed the hymns from those planned to ones that we can sing using the Digital Hymnal.  The psalm will be recited.  The hymns are:

                          Pro.      518, Christ is made the sure foundation

                        Seq.     656, Blest are the pure in heart

                        Off.     Anthem:  Glory be to Jesus (Hymn 479), a capella

                        Rec.     530, Spread, O spread thou mighty word

                        Com.   304, 343

Doing God's Work

The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation

West Point, Mississippi

The Incarnate Word

7 July 2011

As you read through the notices in this newsletter, you may be struck by the fact that many of the appeals for help are repeats.  This is because the response to date has not been good.  The reasons for this do not involve blame, but rather the all-too-easy trap in which we can act like consumers, and so become passive.  But remember, Jesus calls us to an active ministry, and life in the Spirit is not passive.

The danger when we are passive is that we get used to consuming only, and so we expect somebody else to do what is needed.  The further danger is that once we get used to consuming the world will always offer something that looks more immediately attractive than what God calls us to do.  Consider also that a primary problem in any parish is lay leadership burn-out; that the same people step up and do most things too often.

In our gospel lesson for this coming Sunday, Jesus teaches that [T]he one who hears the word and understands it ... indeed bears fruit ...” (Mtt. 13.23).  We are called to let God do His work through us.  He counts us worthy to do His work, and when we are passive we are in danger of placing our own work–our own priorities–ahead of God’s.

Find something you are passionate about in the life of the Church!  Once you discover your passion, it will be natural for you to engage in ministry in something you enjoy.  Many opportunities for ministry exist already, but when God’s people come together new opportunities are discerned and lived.

Vacation Bible School:  Urgent appeal.  VBS will be held Sunday 17 July to Wednesday 20 July, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.  So far only one person has signed up to help.  We need teachers and people to prepare food.  VBS is an important ministry of the entire parish, not just of the parents of young children.  Please contact Carolyn Jane Hay to coordinate help.

Frozen food appeal:  There has been no response to prior appeals for frozen food.  The situation is now serious.  If you have extra frozen deer meat/game, please bring it to the parish.  If you have extra frozen foods, please bring them to the parish.

Habitat for Humanity blitz needs workers and helpers.  The blitz will begin on Saturday, 9 July.  For details go to:  http://www.allsaintstupelo.com/2011-blitz.html .

Bridges Out of Poverty:  This program (which was described at one of our Lenten suppers) is starting up in Starkville, under the direction of The Rev. Dcn. Lynn Gaines Philips.  The first information and training session will be held on 9 August.  For details speak to Dcn. Patricia Cantrell.

Bishop’s visitation:  Mark your calendars for Sunday, 31 July, for Bp. Gray’s visitation.  The parish will present 5 confirmands.  Before the service the bishop will meet with the vestry and ministry team.  After the service we will gather for a parish luncheon.

Men’s Fellowship meets on Monday, 11 July, at 6:30 p.m. at the Trulove House.  Please alert Fr. Karl so we will have a head count.  Bring something to grill and your favorite drink.

WINGS (Women in God’s Service) will meet on Monday, 11 July, at 6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall.

Coffee hour sign-ups:  We need people to sign up to host coffee hour.  Snacks can be very simple.  Please sign up on the sheet in the kitchen.

Confirmation class will meet earlier than usual this Sunday, at 1215 in the Trulove House.  A snack will be provided.

Change in parish web address:  The parish website domain has changed from “.org” to “.com”. 
The correct address is www.incarnationwestpoint.com .

New to the prayer list:  Christopher Griffin (military); Donna Coker, Joan Ledwith (sick); Ann Jensen (deceased); Jan Morgan, Jim Jensen, Lee Jensen and family (comfort and guidance).

Thanksgivings:  Thanksgiving is offered to Joe and Betty Trulove for watering the new ornamental plants.  We still need more people to sign up to help.

Music this week:  In Sarah’s absence, we have changed the hymns from those planned to ones that we can sing using the Digital Hymnal.  The psalm will be recited.  The hymns are:

                        Pro.      686, Come, thou fount of every blessing

Seq.     679, Surely it is God who saves me

Off.     Anthem:  Oh God, our help in ages past (Hymn 680), a capella

Rec.     372, Praise to the living God!

Com.   327