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Diocesan Digest, April 27
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Jubilate
From Rev. Tony Hutchinson of Trinity, Ashland.
We open our worship, whether Daily Prayer or Holy Eucharist, usually with some kind of recited Song of Praise. This time of year (the Great Fifty Days of Easter) we sing the multi-alleluia’d Pascha Nostrum (“Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us, therefore let us keep the feast”). In Holy Eucharist, it replaces the usual Gloria “Glory to God in the Highest and Peace to God’s people on earth.” In Morning Prayer it replaces the Invitatory Psalm. During most of the year this is either the Venite (“Come let us sing to the Lord, let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation”) or the Jubilate (“Be joyful in the Lord all you lands. Serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with a song”). Note here that a call to joy is present in all these opening rites.
During penitential seasons like Lent, we open with something more austere, like the Kyrie Pantocrator, whose most moving line is “I have sinned O Lord, I have sinned, and I know my wickedness only too well!” But even this confessing invitatory begins with a subdued acknowledgment of grounds for joy: “O Ruler of the Universe, Lord God, great deeds are they that you have done, surpassing human understanding. Your ways are ways of righteousness and truth, O King of all the ages.”
Why all the joy? On bad days when I am getting off to a slow and little depressed start of the day, sometimes I feel like Ren, the ill-used and set-upon cartoon chihuahua, fitted out against his will with an electronic joy-inducing Happy Helmet by his well meaning but ultimately clueless pal, Stimpy the cat. With the helmet activated, a forced smile is pulled onto his face, he begins robot-like dancing, and begins singing in a forced fashion “Happy, happy, joy, joy!” But the striking thing is this: singing a joyful invitation to prayer each day does in fact change how I feel, and I regularly find myself recharged and peaceful, if not outright happy, by the end of the prayers.
Read more of Rev. Tony's reflection on joy.
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Congregation Close-up: St. Michael & All Angels, Portland
Located in the Hollywood neighborhood of northeast Portland, St. Michael & All Angels takes seriously the call to think deeply and act faithfully on matters of social justice.
Throughout Epiphany and Lent, Rev. James Joiner and Field Ed Intern Maria McDowell facilitated "Back to Basics: Practicing Faith in a Polarizing World." This Ted Talk-style series aimed to give parishioners tools to be progressive Christian voices and advocates of faith in the public square.
More than 60 people joined for topics such as "Who is Jesus?" "What is Sin?" and (in the video above) "The Image of God." Small group opportunities for discussion supplemented the deep theological teaching.
James+ reflects, "People are more curious than we give them credit for." Adult formation programs like "Back to Basics" at St. Michael & All Angels nurture this holy intellect and provide opportunity to put faith into action through a variety of outreach programs.
Visit the St. Michael & All Angels website.
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Featured Program: Pentecost Offering & Grants
Each year an offering is taken on Pentecost Sunday and divided by the Diocesan Council between two types of project grants. Half goes to programs, and the other half to "bricks and mortar" projects.
Church of the Resurrection, Eugene applied for a 2016 Pentecost Offering Grant to support their "Home Starter Kit"(HSK) ministry, in partnership with a few other churches in the community. They provide basic kitchen, bedroom and personal hygiene goods to individuals and families who are transitioning out of substance abuse treatment, homelessness, abusive relationships, mental health programs and prison. As clients of not-for profit social service agencies moving into their own apartment or homes, many people need the basic items of daily life.
Church of the Resurrection decided the best use of the grant money was to concentrate on frying pans, blankets and sheets, which are pricey to buy new but hard to find in good used condition.
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Upcoming diocesan and church events:
Diverse Church Training: anti-racism training for clergy and church leaders. St. Francis, Wilsonville. June 3, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.
Godly Play Core Training: three-day training on the fundamentals of facilitating Godly Play sessions for children. All Saints, Hillsboro. May 19 - 21.
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Today in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer:
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Events and Notices
Bishop Michael's Visitation Schedule:
St. Michael & All Angels, Portland: April 30
St. Timothy, Salem: May 7
St. Luke, Grants Pass: May 14
St. Martin, Shady Cove: May 14
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Word of the Week
Whether you're a cradle Episcopalian or just walked through the red doors yesterday, chances are you've encountered some of the special vocabulary specific to our faith and wondered, what does that mean?
Check out previous Word of the Week entries and other photos on our
Instagram
account.
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We are the people in the Diocese
What part of the Body of Christ are you?
Clergy pondered this and other questions posed by Sister Simone Campbell, keynote speaker at the annual Clergy Conference, which was held this week in Silverton. Check out photos on Facebook and highlights on Twitter to find out: just what part of the body is Deacon Beth Mallon?
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