A community reshaping itself to be
fit for God's purpose
Thursday, October 8, 2020
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You may have noticed a change in color. Our E News will now wear seasonally appropriate vestments. Green is the color for Ordinary Time! |
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The Practice of Believing Impossible Things
“I can’t believe that!” said Alice. “Can’t you?” the queen said in a pitying tone. “Try again, draw a long breath, and shut your eyes.” Alice laughed. “There’s no use trying,” she said, “One can’t believe impossible things.” “I dare say you haven’t had much practice,” said the queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”
Lewis Carroll's Red Queen with her fallacious reasoning represents one side of a raging debate that gripped the Oxford of his day; the debate between faith and reason which raged between Broad and High Church parties in the Church of England of the time. Alice and the Red Queen each take up sides in this debate with Alice portrayed as a sensible reason-minded young girl (Broad Church), while the Red Queen takes the extreme position (High Church) - that faith is its own evidence. The Red Queen's assertion is that belief needs no other validation and in her estimation, Alice's inability to comprehend this simply reflects her lack of studious practice in the art of believing the impossible- or put in more contemporary terms - in the art of suspending reason in favor of obedience to authority.
These days I'm often reminded of this exchange between Alice and the Red Queen. It may be politically correct in some circles to maintain the fiction that evidence based truth can be rebutted by alternative facts - as Kellyanne C astonishingly asserted early on in President Trump's reign. Sorry Kellyanne, but there is a world of verifiable truth out there. We may quibble over how to respond in the face of the challenges the truth of things faces us with, but not - as the Red Queen and such avid disciples like Kellyanne C. assert - that the difference between truth and falsity is simply what I want it to be.
We move towards the most momentous election since the 1933 election of FDR. In his inaugural address FDR, speaking into the darkness and anxiety of the time said:
"This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself--nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance".
It seems memory is short and that we are all painfully relearning a forgotten lesson of in leadership. FDR continued:
"In the field of world policy I would dedicate this Nation to the policy of the good neighbor--the neighbor who resolutely respects himself [sic] and, because he [sic] does so, respects the rights of others-- the neighbor who respects his [sic] obligations and respects the sanctity of his [sic] agreements in and with a world of neighbors. If I read the temper of our people correctly, we now realize as we have never realized before our interdependence on each other; that we can not merely take but we must give as well; that if we are to go forward, we must move as a trained and loyal army willing to sacrifice for the good of a common discipline, because without such discipline no progress is made, no leadership becomes effective".
We've been witnesses to the political practice of believing impossible things. Each day we are being asked to follow the Red Queen's injunction to draw a long breath and shut our eyes and perfect the practice of believing impossible.
If you listen deeply to the truth tested through your own experience and measured against the lives of the 210,000 dead - what conclusions do you come to about where we now find ourselves as we approach November 3rd?
I hope you notice the level on the red door barometer continues to rise. Thank you to everyone of you in stepping up in this the public phase of the Opening Our Doors to the Future. You can see the latest campaign video below attesting to the importance of our support of agencies in the wider community.
Remain safe and stay sane.
Mark+
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Worship the Lord
in the
Beauty of Holiness
Sunday
Liturgy of the Word
(pre-recorded & webcast from 7 am)
9 am Holy Eucharist
(open air in-person & live-streamed)
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to receive updates and to view the latest livestream recording.
Tuesday
9 am - Morning Devotions (in-person & Zoom)
Wednesday
7 am - Holy Eucharist (in-person & Zoom)
9 am - Morning Devotions (in-person & Zoom)
7 pm - Bible Study (contact for link)
Thursday
5:30 pm Meditation Hour (in-person & Zoom)
Services are conducted in the church or outside on Orchard Ave
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Join Us for KidZoom!
KidZoom is St. Martin’s online church school for children and families. Join us every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. for relaxed home worship and a time for prayer, music, Bible stories, wondering, and fun! For most of our stories we provide the Action Bible, one per family. For a copy of your Action Bible or for more information, contact the Rev. Linda Griggs.
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The Thrifty Goose is
Getting Ready for a New Season
It's hard to believe summer is at an end! The Thrifty Goose Thrift Shop is gearing up for fall and we are now accepting donations of new and gently-used fall and winter clothing and accessories.
We're limited on space and not taking books or housewares, but if you have furniture or other larger items you wish to donate, email Heather Tingle (photos are helpful!). Please remember, all items should be in good, sellable condition.
The Thrifty Goose is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 am - 2 pm, and all monies collected help support St. Martin's Church and its Community Ministries.
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Free Online Class - Register Now
In this contentious election season, many of us are looking for ways to bring our faith into our political interactions. Ray Suarez knows a lot about complex political landscapes. He also knows a great deal about faith. As an award-winning journalist (PBS Newshour, NPR, Al Jezeera), college instructor, and outspoken Episcopalian, he has written a book on faith and politics in the United States.
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Donations for Better Lives RI
Food Pantry
During this time of pandemic, many in our community have become food insecure due to job losses or illnesses rendering them unable to work. Please consider bringing a non-perishable food item to church on Sunday to donate to Better Lives RI. |
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Healing Prayers
Through these challenging times, day-to-day tasks can seem overwhelming. St. Martin’s is available to hear your concerns. There is a Healing Prayers Box available at the Welcome Table each Sunday. Simply write your prayer request on one of the index cards provided and place it in the box. Clergy and/or The Healing Ministry will respond within one week. Questions about the Healing Ministry? Please contact Jeana Whittredge. |
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Weekly Prayer List
There has been no more important a time than now for us to unite
in the fervor of prayer for the state of the Union
- We remember all who are protesting against racial injustice
- For a commitment to peaceful protest and humane and sensitive policing
- For those whose fears of racial reconciliation have been inflamed by false narratives and toxic rhetoric
Gracious Lord, let us truly open our ears and hearts
to listen to the cry for justice for our black brothers and sisters;
to be truly present to the guilt of our white privilege;
to pledge ourselves to work tirelessly for to challenge communal divisions,
racial fear, and economic oppression.
- Those who have been affected by changing climate
- Those whose lives are devastated by wildfires, hurricane, flood, and earthquake
- Those who have been touched by the Covid-19 virus:
- Who are ill or are in quarantine
- Who have lost family members or friends to the illness
- Everyone affected by the economic fallout of the virus
- Front line and service sector workers - esp. those endangered by employer disregard for worker safety
- Scientists and lab technicians working on a vaccine and other treatment breakthroughs
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Those who have birthdays this week: Matthew Brookhart, Bill Hollinshead, William Kite, Lisa Moonan, Pat Nolan, William Worrell
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Those commended to us: Those commended to us: Eidan, Angela, Chris, Melissa, Jeremiah, Scarlett, Virginia, Justin, Eliza, Don, Michol, Mimi, Annette, Jean, Patrick, Paula, David, Ursula, Michael, Sam, Charlie, Truls, Jill, Christine, Katie, Beth, Linda, Tom, Tom, Chris, Martha, Timmans, Neal, Jennifer, Mark, Cynthia, Robin, Mariette, Isabella, Harry, Marvin, Gail, Sheila, Aldo & Madeleine, Kirby, Patrick, Annette, Jaymi, Sanford, Alisa & Grey, Elizabeth, Diane, Andy & Alice, Ashleigh, David, Marie, Susan, Larry, Wendy, Bobby, Tim
- We give God thanks for the birth of Gregory Arthur Davis on Tuesday, September 29, grandson of Arthur and Kate Chute.
- We give God thanks for the birth of Joshua Louis Fogle-Donmoyer Grafton on October 8, grandson of Faith Fogle.
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St. Martin's Church | 50 Orchard Ave | Providence, RI |02906
(401) 751-2141
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