This week's E-pistle

Farnham & St. John's

Weekly E-pistle

Torrence's Weekly Message

“Reflections”

Reflection I: Baptized by Water & the Spirit

This Sunday we open the morning with “Shall we gather at the River,” the beautiful, familiar old time spiritual that reminds me so of baptism. By the River Jordan Jesus came almost two thousand years ago. Baptized by water, infused with the Spirit, he was then ready to live into the life of serving and loving those God would place in his path. Twenty centuries later we stand in the watery Spirit formed pathway of his Baptism as we gather to celebrate the baptism this Sunday of yet one more little life.

There is something about rivers and the water in them. The image of “flow” is powerful. Whether we see that “flow” or not, it is there, as surely as blood flows through us, ever circulating throughout us, coming into, moving out but always returning to and through the heart of us. That flow connects the “all” of each of us. Likewise, the current of the river connects every part of it, from the highest spring bubbling up at the top of a mountain through every trickling or rushing stream, into rivers converging into one another, into bays, then ultimately “home”, the great oceans.

On Sunday, folks will gather at St. John’s for the baptism of little Leighton Grace Wellford, born into this river we call Life. Her life has flowed out of the life of her “blood” families, some of the “tributaries” of which have been so much a part of St. John’s. Many rivers of life have flowed into this child for this moment. But this moment is also graced by the recognition that the Holy Spirit is what is pointedly present as a reminder that it is Spirit that will carry her life forward. This Sunday we will pray for, over, and around little Leighton Grace that her life will flow, moved by the deep and certain current of the Spirit – a spirit of love and truth that will not only carry her on but sustain her and give her a holy and life-giving vitality that will steady her no matter what the weather at the “surface” of life may bring.

Our lives gather with hers this Sunday. The Divine Spirit brings the spiritual currents of our lives together this Sunday as we pause together in a deep pool of the Great Shepherd of life’s choosing – a holy moment in which we all feel the depth of God’s Love flowing around and through us.

Reflection II: River of Love

My morning opened with an email from my daughter Torre who, for five weeks, is living half way around the world at an ashram in Sri Lanka. She is there as both teacher and doctor where she has offered her medical (as a family doctor) and spiritual practices (yoga/mindfulness/ breathwork) training to contribute to the “health and wellness” of that community. I feel guided to share her morning reflection as she sat in meditation and contemplation beside a river not unlike my remembered vision of the narrow, muddy River Jordan of Jesus’ baptism when I was in Israel four years ago this month. How well I remember Torre’s baptism almost fifty years ago this summer and I reflect, in light of Leighton Grace’s upcoming baptism this Sunday, on the power of the Holy Spirit to shape and mold a little one’s life going forward in a challenging world over decades to come. Here are Torre’s words:

“I awaken, meditate and pray as the sun begins to rise and the sounds of morning prayers echo through the city from the nearby mosque. The Mahaweli River appears as molten lava swiftly moving over the earth from forty-eight hours of almost continual rain. My usual meditation mantra of ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want’ transforms by the end of the meditation into a deep knowing that I truly dwell in the house of the Lord and always have, before this birth, during this life and after. Just as the rivers connect all the far places of the earth so God’s love connects us all as one family. So poignant now as I live/travel/hold presence within this spiritual melting pot of Sri Lanka. I am literally on the other side of the earth from my physical home. But I am home none the less, because no matter where I am on this beautiful planet ‘my cup runneth over’ with the realization that we all live within this great river of LOVE.”

photo of the Mahaweli river courtesy of Dr. Torre Hinnant

Benediction

May God’s invisible but amazing Grace filled presence, vitality and peace surround us all as we gather this Sunday to welcome yet one more crystal clear, sparkling grace-filled droplet of water in the form of Leighton Grace Wellford to make even more abundant this Holy River we call life.

. . . . . . . Torrence

Announcements

Don't Forget ~ Our Summer Schedule starts next Sunday, June 3rd.

We will have one joint service each Sunday at 10:00 a.m. alternating churches. (St. John's 1st & 3rd, Farnham 2nd & 4th)

The full summer schedule in posted on the web-site.

Click here for Summer Schedule of Services

Vacation Bible School is being held the week of June 18-22 at Warsaw Methodist and Warsaw Baptist churches. More details to follow.

There's "Music in the Mountain Air"

Our parish Shrine Mont weekend with St. John's, Farnham and Cople parish is the weekend of September 14-16. Ellen White, rector of Cople Parish and I are excited to announce that our theme will be "Music in the Mountains" and will be musically led by Mei Li Beane and Matthew Spencer (Spence & Beane). It will be spirited and fun as they share their gifts with us in interactive and creative sessions after dinner on Friday evening, Saturday morning after breakfast/before lunch and then present us with a mini-concert Saturday evening after dinner. There will be plenty of time the rest of Saturday to enjoy whatever Shrine Mont activities beckon you, mountain hikes, a journey to the Cross, labyrinth walks, creative or artsy activities (painting, photography, journaling,) just plain rocking on Shrine Mont porches, taking naps, and best of all just being with friends and family. And, of course, there are those fabulous Shrine Mont breakfasts, lunches and dinners.

We need to confirm our count for that parish weekend with Shrine Mont by June 14th, so get out your calendars and make sure not to miss this special weekend. Then let the parish office know ASAP that you want to sign up for it. The cost is $76 per night per person (adults) for double occupancy; $100 per night for single occupancy; $30 per night per child (age 4 through 12). In order to encourage families to participate for St. John's/ Farnham kids, the church has funds to cover the cost per child. Don't miss out on this great weekend!!