Faith in Progress

Easter 4 (Year B) April 29, 2012 John 10:11-18 Every year at my daughter’s school, the PTA sponsors an art contest where the kids can submit drawings, poetry or photography around a certain theme.   This year the theme was “Diversity is….”   The awards presentations were held this past week and most of the entries were just what you’d expect – very Kumbayah-ish with pictures of different colored people holding hands.   But some of the explanations the kids gave for the work, while completely well-meaning, left me feeling a little depressed. The one I remember most vividly said: “Diversity means we’re all really the same and we have to like everyone.” It’s almost the exact opposite of what I’d hope for the meaning of diversity – that our community is made up of people who are all different and yet all beloved by God.   Now I know that God piece is unlikely to make it into a public school art contest, but the idea of our each being unique and beloved of God keeps surfacing for m

Easter Sunday was wonderful, with the church as full as could be, beautiful hats and Easter dresses, blooming flowers.  But this morning it was definitely still Easter!  At our early service, I got to do what I as a priest feel most blessed to get to do -- baptize!  Even better, I was baptizing my own god-children, fabulous almost-nine year olds that are full of energy and fun.  I loved meeting with them ahead of time, talking about baptism and what it means to be a Christian, and hearing them take on this new way of being and living of their own volition.  Fortuitously, the Godly Play lesson right afterwards was about baptism, so Cameron and Kahil got to add their candles to the growing light.  The class started off with wonderful Lisa Richard teaching them a great Easter song: Alleluia!  The Lord is Risen!

Easter 2, Year B April 15, 2012 John 20:19-31 There was a letter to the editor yesterday that warmed my heart.   It was from a woman who would fit right into St. Aidan’s.   She was responding to a column that I hadn’t read and talking about how she believes that doubt and faith are intertwined and that both seem to be necessary parts of a spiritual journey, pointing to Thomas, from our Gospel story this morning, as a great example.   I couldn’t agree more. I wasn’t here when they came up with the name “St. Aidan’s” for this place, and I don’t know enough about the history of this church to know why Aidan was chosen for this special honor.   I really don’t know much about St. Aidan beyond what you can read on Wikipedia.   I’m sure he was a fine fellow and a good role model.   But, if I were choosing a name for this church -- this church that is more open to thoughtful wondering than any other Episcopal church I have ever encountered, more respectful of doubt and theological quest