The Lord be With You

One of the common stereotypes of Nebraska (from those who have never been there) is that it is flat and boring. This is clearly unfair, and having lived here for about two months I can feel my ignorance being peeled away like an onion. Hearing people talk about the sand hills, the crane migration, the black hills, and other “God spots” of natural beauty has piqued my interest. Sometime in the Spring I would love to take a few days and really get out in the open spaces and reflect in God’s creation.

I am thankful to be past the complete newcomer phase at All Saints Episcopal Church. Everyone was very welcoming, but it is a relief to not have to constantly explain who I am or worry about making first impressions. It’s been awesome getting to know the characters that make up that community, and also work to bring more people into that community. I’ve gotten some valuable hands on experience in church life such as working with kids, discussing facility management and budgets, and teaching an adult education class. On Sunday, October 30^th I was given the great honor of preaching at Church of the Resurrection (it should be posted to the COR website – http://www.cor-episcopal.org/ - under the weekly sermons tab). It was a challenging experience, but one of the most invigorating I’ve ever had. The best advice I received was from the Sexton at Church of the Resurrection, who told me to “trust God, let him use you, and come from your heart.” Nobody threw tomatoes at me, so for my first time out I consider it a success. I Peter 3:15 reads

“…In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to every one who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

Through researching to prepare the sermon, reading the scripture over and over, and delivering it on Sunday morning I felt as though I was living into that teaching of Peter.

I have also been fortunate to experience how the Christian community is trying to live out Matthew 25, taking care of our brothers and sisters in need, with the knowledge that we are all sinners and are susceptible to a fall ourselves. I was thoroughly impressed with the order and precision at Siena Francis, as well as the service ethos that maintained dignity without bleeding into condescension. Helping out at Miller Park Elementary School is a blast; the kid’s energy provides a boost when I get too stuck in “important” things in my life. Later this week I will be trained through Desert Ministries to do social visits to elderly care facilities, hopefully allowing for a two way interaction where both parties learn from the other. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was (Matthew 22:34-40), he actually gave two commandments because it is not possible to love God without loving your neighbor. I feel much more in touch with that commandment in Omaha than I did in Virginia.

It was a privilege to attend Annual Council in North Platte last week. There was a positive energy to the proceedings, and I experienced several spiritual highs. I am more impressed with Bishop J. Scott Barker every time I see him, and will continue to pray for him as he leads this Diocese. In a practical sense it was educational to see how decisions get made and experience the voting process. There was a random seating assignment, which was fantastic because it allowed me to meet people from Scottsbluff, Grand Island, Lincoln, and other parts of Nebraska I was not familiar with. It’s a wonderful thing how when people pray together the superficial differences start melting away. No doubt there are challenges for this Diocese, as there are for every Diocese, but the sense of optimism at Annual Council was palpable.

One of the themes of Annual Council centered on Luke 16:10,

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”

We are all given the responsibility of proper stewardship of our material resources, as well as our unique spiritual gifts. As we approach Advent and celebrate the coming of the best news the world ever received, that Christ was born in Bethlehem, I would like to carry on that theme from Annual Council into my life as a Resurrection House Intern.