Waiting for Irene

Non-stop TV reports told us to prepare for the storm of the century.  Hurricane Irene was coming to New England, headed straight through the center of Connecticut making landfall sometime after dark on Saturday.  We planned to visit street churches in Hartford on Saturday and in New Haven on Sunday.  The governor had called for pretty much everything in the state to shut down on Sunday, cancelling our plans for New Haven.

But we got to Hartford for their 2 PM service.  We found Bushnell Park in the shadow of the Connecticut Statehouse and saw a man carrying a box of sandwiches to a vacant building across from the park with a large overhang that protected us from a driving rain. The mood was tense with anticipation of what the storm might mean for those living on the streets, as well as for those who would not have their usual Sunday meal.  Amy Malick and the Rev. Don Richey greeted us.  Amy was on the phone trying to find shelters that would be open during the hurricane and Don introduced us to congregation members as he checked in with them.  I was impressed that he knew so many folks by name after only 6 weeks of worshiping with them.  I was also moved by the offering of anointing for healing by Linda, the priest on Saturday -- an intimate prayer for healing, the touch of her hands, the sign of the cross traced in oil on the forehead.  A calming presence in the face of the uncertainty of the coming storm -- like Jesus' calming words as he approached the disciples on the sea, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid".  Thankfully, the storm did not hit us as hard as predicted.  Tree limbs down, electricity off, flooding.  An inconvenience for most, but I keep thinking about those with no homes, no shelter from the rain and wind, no one to check on their well-being.  Thank God for people like Amy and Don and Linda and all the others at On the Pond in Hartford.

On This Rock

On Sunday, August 21 we worshiped in Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem with about 9 others.  The gospel reading was Matt. 16:13-20 -- Peter's declaration that Jesus was the Messiah and Jesus' proclamation that Peter was the rock upon which the church would be built.  The park we were in has a very large rock formation at its center, a fitting location for the reading of this lesson.  The Rev. Lincoln Miller told those gathered that WE are the rock upon which the church is built, ALL of us.  He assured us that we have the strength, just as Peter did, to be the church, to be the face of Christ in the world.  Later the Rev. Miller and I prayed with a man who was very unstable on his feet from drinking.  Tears rolled down his face as we prayed for freedom from that which prevents each of us from fully accepting God's love and forgiveness and we asked for strength for our journeys.

On Monday and Tuesday we visited two Episcopal Service Corps sites, one in West Harlem and the other on the Upper East Side.  These are programs in which young people take a year to live among the poor, work in social service agencies, discern where God is leading them, and live together in community.  St. John's is well positioned to be an ESC site and plans are progressing for this to happen in the next year or so.  John and I gathered lots of valuable information and insights into the program.  Many thanks to Sarah Nazimova-Baum at the New York Intern Program and to the Rev. R.C. Laird at the Rhinelander Volunteers Project for their hospitality and wisdom.

It wasn't all work, though.  We had a great visit with the Rev. Steven Paulikas who was sponsored for ordination by St. John's.  He is the new Rector of All Saints' Episcopal Church in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn.  His joy in serving this primarily West Indian congregation and his gifts as a priest and preacher made us so proud.  We also had a super evening with Jamie Roberts, daughter of our Senoir Warden, Gay Roberts.  Jamie is a fashion designer in NY, but was able to find time to join us for a huge and delicious meal at Carmines right off of Times Square.

Scheduling Compassion?

We haven't left town yet, but I saw the sign in this picture today and just have to comment on it.  It is proudly displayed on the lawn of a mainline church not far from my home.  I am certain that the event is being planned by well-meaning people who think they understand Jesus' command to serve others.  And I am certain that those who participate believe that they will be doing just what Jesus commanded.

But seriously?  "Compassion Weekend". Really? We can schedule compassion for a particular weekend or day? Our readings from Matthew this summer share the common theme of the disciples wanting to send the people away because of their own needs for rest or time with Jesus for themselves. And every time Jesus calls the people to him, blesses them, heals them, gives them what they need. We can be no different.

And what about the tagline? "No Worship Sunday -- Out Serving". There can be no Christ-centered service in the absence of worship. All that we do as Christians must be grounded in prayer and worship. The Body of Christ must come together for formation, discernment, and action, always keeping God at the very center of our activity.  We go out from worship to serve; we don't replace one with the other.

Our Street Church and other ministries are often the recipients of these efforts to engage middle-class, privileged church-folk in ministry among the poor.  We appreciate the extra hands and, at times, build lasting relationships.  I do not object to "project compassion" if participants understand fully that they are the ones beings served more than the poor.  They are learning something about the realities of poverty and meeting people they might not meet otherwise.  It's a good beginning point, but it not enough.  What they are not doing is affecting any long-term change in people's lives.  That takes long-term commitment.  It demands political advocacy that will bring about changes in economic and social systems.  Real change, real compassion, cannot be a once-in-a-while event planned on a schedule that is convenient to those who are reaching out.  Poverty, hunger, homelessness, and despair know no schedule.

I will be praying on Sunday that the people participating in "Compassion Weekend" will have their hearts and eyes opened to the reality of suffering in our midst and that they will make compassion a way of life rather than one more scheduled event.  And I will pray that I, that all of us, remember the same thing.

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Welcome

In just a few days, I will embark on a journey across the US, visiting Street Churches that are part of the Ecclesia network.  My first trip will be to the Northeast where I will visit street ministires in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.  In each of these locations, mainline churches are taking Christ to the streets, to people who feel abandoned and rejected by inside churches and who often are living on the streets themselves.

Join me in my travels over the next 3 months.   Experience the Church outside and share in my reflections.