Volume 51, May 2023

...looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12.2

May is a wonderful month encompassing Eastertide, and the ten days of joy between the feasts of the Ascension and Pentecost and of course, Spring. May is traditionally deemed ‘Mary’s month’ in honor of the Lord’s mother. The poets love this month and sing hymns in praise of May. Emily Dickinson (1830-86), fastening on a May-flower (hawthorn) writes of it:



Pink, small and punctual,

Aromatic, low,

Covert in April

Candid in May . . .

Hunt Leigh (1784-1859) reminds us in his poem the number of his fellow-poets who also sing the praise of May:

There is May in books forever;

May will part from Spenser never;

May’s in Milton, May’s in Prior,

May’s in Chaucer, Thomson, Dyer;

May’s in all the Italian books:---

She has old and modern nooks---

I would include St Francis amongst the poets who fix our attention on the beauty of nature and creation as a means by which we are led in spirit to praise the Creator. In his beautiful ‘Canticle of Brother Sun’ Francis refers to the created elements of nature as ‘brothers’ or ‘sisters’:

Praised be You, my Lord, with all your creatures,

Especially Sir Brother Sun,

Who is the day and through whom You give us light.

And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor;

And bears a likeness of You, Most High One.

Francis praises the sun for its beauty and in so doing, attributes that beauty to the divine likeness of Jesus imprinted in it.

What gives great depth to the canticle of Francis is that it includes an element of praise that other poets might shy away from offering. Francis tells us that just like the sun and moon, or the elements of wind, water and fire----death is our sibling too:

Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister

              Bodily Death,

from whom no living man can escape . . .

Blessed are those whom death will find in Your

             most holy will,

for the second death shall do them no harm.

Here Francis underlines for us the truth of the Gospel: that for the Christian death is the prologue to resurrection. Our faith believes that just as Christ passed through death and was raised again into new life, so our journey through death brings us into that life with Him.

A recent book by Joel Clarkson, Sensing God: Experiencing the Divine in Nature, Food, Music and Beauty (2021) argues that there is a discovery of Jesus in all of the sensory points with which we engage with the world around us.

In it he writes this of nature, I think in correspondence with the saint’s ‘Canticle of Brother Sun’ that includes even death:

Nature gives us, writ large, a vision of the complexity of our own desire for participation in God; our fall from grace and the corruption that comes with sin; and the persistence of beauty, order, and goodness—In nature, we cannot extract the fallenness of the world from the fact that somehow, amid natural disasters and illness and the recurrence of death, we are ever confronted with beauty, order, structure, cosmos. Nature forces us to hold these things together in tension, by means of the only way that we can possibly bear such a tension: through our sensory perception.

The best of the Christian writers like Francis, Dante and Dame Julian of Norwich remind us that at the heart of the New Testament message, even in the story of the passion and the Cross: there is the assurance of immense well-being. Even the author of the epistle to the Hebrews can write of Jesus: “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame…’

The knowledge that at the heart of things, including the month of May in all her beauty, there is love and joy and pleasure is of the very substance of Christianity and this message is proclaimed par excellent on the Feast of the Ascension: so, let us seek in heart and mind to rise, ascend above all of our distractions toward the reality of God’s being and light, ‘where true joys and pleasure may be found.’

Douglas Dupree

The Ascension

We are told in an Old Testament tale, how an angel of God having appeared to man disappeared again by going up in the flame from the altar. And in the same way Elijah, when he could no more be found, was believed to have gone up on the crests of flaming horses. The flame which carried Christ to heaven was the flame of his own sacrifice. Flame tends always upwards. All his life long Christ's love burnt towards the heart of heaven in a bright fire, until he was wholly consumed in it, and went up in that fire to God. The fire is kindled on our altars, here Christ ascends in fire; the fire is kindled in the Christian heart, and we ascend. He says to us, Lift up your hearts; and we reply, We lift them up unto the Lord.

from The Crown of the Year by Austin Farrer

In Loving Memory of Earl Frank Palmer

Nov. 26, 1931 - April 25, 2023

With thanksgiving for his life and ministry, but also with sadness, we note the death of the Rev. Dr Earl Palmer. Over these last eight years Earl Palmer has been a much- loved teacher to a goodly number of people in the Diocese of Florida.

The first (of many to follow) Bishop’s Institute weekends was held September 18-20, 2015 at Camp Weed and Cerveny Conference Center with Earl Palmer as the speaker and retreat leader. Over 150 attended from churches across the Diocese to hear him speak on C.S. Lewis in many different facets: C.S. Lewis, his friends; his journey toward faith; his work in a time of war; his storytelling and ‘the mere Christian who helped us to believe’. If the attendees didn’t know much about C.S. Lewis before the weekend they were well-schooled after Earl Palmer’s lectures. And many of us came away as enthralled by Earl Palmer as a teacher as we were by learning a lot about C.S. Lewis.

Earl Palmer returned to lead four more Camp Weed weekends for the Bishop’s Institute: ‘Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Weekend with Earl Palmer’ (2016); ‘The Book That John Wrote: A Weekend Exploring St John’s Gospel with Earl Palmer’ (2017); ‘A Weekend with C.S. Lewis: Witness to Truth and Grace in a Time of War: C.S. Lewis and Dorothy L. Sayers at the BBC (1941-1944) (2018) and ‘Ephesians: A First Century Book for our 21st Century’ (2019).

Shirley Palmer, Earl’s beloved wife of 65 years, sent this personal message to those of us who have followed Earl’s ministry and teaching over the years:

On Thursday, May 4, our family gathered at the graveside for Earl at a small cemetery on Whidbey Island. It was a place on the bluff in midst of fir trees looking out to sea and above our favorite walk along the beach at Ebey’s Landing...  

Earl was indeed a man who gave his mind and heart to respond with his very being to do what he felt was the call from the Lord – to be a teacher of the Gospel. He never stopped searching the scriptures for understanding so that he could present the words in a way that people could discover for themselves what it meant to be a Christian. What I experienced over the years was that Earl did “his job” and then with full confidence he let the Lord do the rest to bring people into a journey of faith. For me, personally, it was Earl’s study from the book of Romans that had a huge impact on my own life during my days as an undergraduate at the University of Washington. He helped me to be a “thinking believer.” We used to have long discussions regularly as we talked about how we might address as the challenges of the time in which we lived as Christians – he always assured me that the good will prevail... I miss him.

I encourage you to read the full obituary written by our son, Jon.

 - Shirley, (Mrs. Earl)

If you would like to send a note or a reminiscence of Earl’s talks or sermons among us here in north Florida over the past years, Shirley Palmer’s address is: 4416 50 Avenue, NE, Seattle, Washington 98105.

To read Earl’s obituary written by his son Jon Palmer or to join the livestream of Earl’s memorial service to be held June 24, 2023, at University Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m. visit https://earlpalmer.org/ for more information.

A Poem by Earl Palmer: When I Was Young

When I was young I needed to find the

way for my feet to run

I needed to know who I was and who

I needed to become

I needed to find the goal for the race

that deserves the running

I needed to believe the grace that

would settle my soul

I needed to know the truth that could

last through the night and shine in the

morning

I needed to come home to that peaceful

place where forgiveness and hope keep the fire

going

 

What I needed God gave to me while

I was young when I met a man

who called his Heart Christ's home

E.F.P.

3/04/01

Lay Leadership Spotlight

An Interview with Marcy Muldrow Sanders,

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Tallahassee

Marcy, I have enjoyed meeting you through the current Bishop’s Institute LLM Pastoral Care course that meets monthly since March. I was particularly struck by your commitment to your church—St. John’s Episcopal Church, Tallahassee—and willingness to serve on their Vestry and assume other leadership roles in the church.

Please tell us about yourself in terms of background, education, family and professional work-life.

Marcy: Thank you, Doug. It has been a great pleasure to meet you as well. That is a fantastic question, that didn't come easily as a matter-of-fact. When I was approached about serving on the vestry, I had to take a period of prayer and discernment about it. In previous churches that were not Episcopal churches, I did not have a good experience serving in leadership. Those experiences often led me to find new churches, because once I got behind the curtain, I discovered how dysfunctional those churches were and it destroyed my worship experience in those spaces.

As for St. John's, I had such a wonderful experience leading the Becoming Beloved Community Consultation with my co-chair Jim Messer that I knew that I would have a good experience serving in leadership at St. John's because it was such a welcoming and inclusive place.

I am the oldest child of three children. We're all six years apart. My dad didn't want three kids in college together at the same time. I have a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s, and a PhD in Public Health Epidemiology. I am a retired Navy Commander. I am a Florida licensed Certified Building Contractor. My family has a construction company, so I grew up in the construction industry. My octogenarian dad is still working every day with the company. He has a PhD in Management Information Systems. His family were mostly educators, and of course my mother, who is a retired English and reading teacher and really instilled a love for learning and education in me. So, my entire life, from being the oldest child to a career in the military, has pretty much led me to take leadership roles. It's natural for me to step in the gap.

At St. John's, that has led me, as I mentioned, to Co-chair the Becoming Beloved Community Discernment Committee at the request of the former Rector, to serving on the Property Commission, Vestry, and any other area where I feel I can stand in the gap.

Tell us something more about your career in the Navy. What experience did you gain from your career that translates into your work for your church and your general Christian discipleship?

Marcy: My career in the Navy was very diverse. Antisubmarine warfare was my specialty, though I spent the last 14 years of my career on staff commands culminating as the Secretary of the Joint Staff at United States Central Command (CENTCOM).

I always felt during my career that the most important thing I could do was take care of my troops. That wasn’t always the post popular position I could take with my superiors, but it let me sleep at night knowing that the needs of some young Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine’s needs were met. In the church we call that pastoral care. At CENTCOM I and my office were the place the Command Chaplain would seek respite. I was so grateful that I could offer him comfort. I still am. Jesus calls us to take care of his lambs and sheep. I think learning to be there for people was God’s way of preparing me for where he is leading me now into this role of pastoral care.

How did you come to St. John’s Church in Tallahassee? Did you grow up in the Episcopal Church? What was it about St. John’s that made you think, ‘this is where I want to serve the Lord?'

Marcy: It took three years for me to come back to St. John’s and the Episcopal Church. My journey back started in 2016 during Lent. My office was a block away from St. John’s, so I used to go over for lunch in the café. Then I started attending Wednesday noonday services during Lent. I had a few conversations with Fr. Rick [Effinger] that helped me understand that I was missing the liturgy of the church. I was raised in the Episcopal and African Methodist Episcopal (AME) tradition. My dad was Jewish for a time, so I chose it and practiced for about a decade, so I’m an EpiscoJew, or at least I was. When I married my husband, he was Science of Mind, we decided to practice something that was closer to his practice and we landed in Unity for about 30 years. Some things happened and I realized that Unity wasn’t feeding my soul anymore and while they are great and prayer and spiritual life they aren’t a hands and feet church. I missed that too. The people of St. John’s always made me feel welcome, so in 2019 I made it my fulltime church home and I am so grateful I did. When my husband died, they descended on me like a dove and have cared for me ever since.

I understand you co-ordinate pastoral care in St. John’s. How were you called to this work and responsibility?

Marcy: Yes. On the Vestry I am the Pastoral Care Commissioner. I requested it as my commission though I don’t recall if it was my first or second choice. I am in my third and last year of this term on Vestry and have spent the entire time charged with Pastoral Care. I am the only commissioner to ever spend more than one year with Pastoral Care at St. John’s. I am very proud of that. I wanted to learn about all of the offerings of our commission and accepted the call to become a Stephen Minister which I finished the training in December 2021. I discovered through this Vestry opportunity that I have a heart for Pastoral Care. It is a beautiful ministry to be able to walk with people through some of life’s most challenging times. This year Erik Salsgiver is co-chairing the commission with me, and he will take over next year. This will give the commission continuity we haven’t had before. I am grateful I have been able to steady the ship in some small way.

What led you to sign up for the 10 month LLM Pastoral Care course? It is quite a commitment especially since most of the classes are held once a month in Jacksonville at the Diocesan Office or the Cathedral. That’s quite a drive from Tallahassee (in spite of some of our monthly meetings taking place at Camp Weed).

Marcy: St. John’s was blessed to grow during the COVID shutdown, and we are now just south of 1,800 parishioners. That is a lot of people to care for, and while we have a robust Stephen Minister group of current and retired ministers it is a very structured relationship. Also, St. John’s is very good at growing Associate Rector’s into their next opportunity which always leaves us short of Pastoral Care ministers that can visit hospitals, nursing homes, etc. I feel especially called to care for our parishioners in this way. To continue to provide care whether we are in a transition or not. Coming to Jacksonville seemed like a small sacrifice considering what Jesus sacrificed for me.

What have got from the LLM Pastoral Care course to date that you find helpful? What are your expectations for the course? Would you recommend it to others?

Marcy. I am loving how this course has us look introspectively to see what we bring to our ministry based on how we view the world, and it also helps us better understand the people we may care for. I do see a lot of the Stephen Minister training in this training as well but expands on that training in this broader ministry. I expect that I will be better at providing pastoral care and that I am grateful to be able to do that outside of the structured Stephen Ministers framework. I will definitely recommend this course to others that I believe have a heart for pastoral care.

Saints of May

This month’s quiz looks at some more saints. I think you will recognize some familiar ones and enjoy learning about some new ones.

Allison+

QUIZ

Put a letter of a saint listed below by the description that you think points to that saint:

___       This saint is the patron of those suffering from mental illnesses, as well as of mental health professionals.

___       This saint was martyred by being thrown from the roof of the Jerusalem temple and then stoned and beaten to death as he prayed for his murderers.

___      This saint was a baker who was murdered and whose body was found by a woman with a mental illness who mourned him and who was cured as a result of her encounter.

___      This holy woman had a great influence on President Roosevelt’s ‘New Deal’ and the impact it made in bringing America out of the Great Depression.

___     This saint was a bishop for 46 years of which 17 years encompassed five separate exiles. In spite of these hardships, he remained committed to defending the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity.

___    This saint lived in solitude for over a decade before he became the most renowned street preacher of his day. Crowds of tens of thousands would gather to hear him preach.

___    This saint is the patron saint of carpenters, tailors, and reformed alcoholics.

___    This saint was a commander in the Roman army who organized firefighting brigades. He refused to execute a group of Christians and was then flayed alive, scourged, and dumped into the river with a millstone tied to his neck. He is the patron of firefighters and drowning victims.

a. Athanasius of Alexandria

b. Bernadine of Sienna

c. William of Rochester

d. James the Lesser

e. Florian

f. Matthias the Apostle

g. Frances Perkins

h. Dymphna

For the quiz answers and more about each of these saints, click here.

Jacksonville's Ambassador Nancy Soderberg Honored

Doug Milne, who has taught an adult Christian Formation class for many years at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Jacksonville, shared with me a press release from the University of North Florida announcing honors recently bestowed upon Nancy Soderberg--- a member of his Sunday School class, (not infrequently Ambassador Soderberg attends the class via Zoom from her office in Kosovo).

The ambassador is recognized with the Chancellor’s Award for Civic Leadership in recognition of her significant contribution to peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. In addition, Soderberg was also bestowed an honorary degree from historic Trinity College, Dublin on the 25 anniversary of the Good Friday agreement. Today Soderberg serves on the Ac Hoc Committee to Protect the Good Friday Agreement, made up of more than 40 people who have spent decades working to support the peace deal.

Nancy Soderberg is the Resident Director for the National Democratic Institute in Kosovo and is Director of the Public Leadership Program at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. Well done!

St. Augustine of Hippo

(354-430 AD) St. Augustine

Studying the Scripture with Humility

My ambition as a youth was to apply to the study of the Holy Scriptures all the refinement of dialectics. I did so, but without the humility of the true searcher. I was supposed to knock at the door so that it would open for me. Instead, I was pushing it closed, trying to understand in pride what is only learned in humility.

However, the all-merciful Lord lifted me up and kept me safe.



-Sermon 51,6

Prayer. O God my Father, I am seeking You, not making statements about You. Help me and guide me.

-Confessions 9, 17

Taken from Augustine Day by Day compiled and edited by John Rotelle, OSA

Archdeacon's Corner

Athanasius of Alexandria

Father of Orthodoxy

Every Sunday we stand and together recite the Nicene Creed. But we often don't think about how our statement of faith was formed, the individuals involved, and the struggles they endured. So, let’s take a short look at the history of the Nicene Creed, and a deacon who would one day be called “the Father of Orthodoxy.”

In the early 4 century, the teaching of a presbyter named Arius was in direct conflict with his bishop, Alexander of Alexandria. Arius' view was that Christ, as Son of God, was inferior or subordinate to the Father. Some contended that Arius’ view had been influenced by an earlier Alexandrian thinkers called Origen (c.185 – 253).

However, Bishop Alexander’ theology was that God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit were “consubstantial,” of one substance or essence. Or as Tertullian (c.155 – 240) had coined: “a Trinity.” Arius believed that Bishop Alexander teachings were heretical and publicly criticized him. Arius was subsequently excommunicated by Alexander. Arius began to elicit the support of bishops who agreed with his position, and the dispute became widespread.

In c.325 Emperor Constantine called the Council at Nicaea to resolve the dispute of “Arianism” (the adoption of Arius' teachings), which threatened to destabilize the entire empire. The Nicaean Council was attended by Emperor Constantine, the presbyter Arius, Alexander the Bishop of Alexandria, some 250 - 300 Bishops, and a young deacon named Athanasius.

Tyrannius Rufinus, of Aquileia (c. 344–411), relates a story that one day as Bishop Alexander watched boys playing on the seashore, he noticed a group imitating the ritual of Christian baptism. He sent for the children and discovered that one of the boys (Athanasius) had acted as the bishop. After questioning Athanasius, Bishop Alexander informed him that the baptisms were genuine, in the form and matter of the sacrament and had been performed through the recitation of the correct words. But he must not continue as those baptized had not been properly catechized. He then encouraged Athanasius to a consider the ordained ministry.

To continue reading, click here.

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land & Jordan:

Oct. 24 - Nov. 4, 2023

This fall on Oct. 24 - Nov. 4, 2023, the Rev. Canon Douglas Dupree will be hosting a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Jordan, Asia. On the trip you'll explore destinations such as Mt. Beatitudes, Megiddo National Park, Nazareth, Sea of Galilee, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and more!

To view the brochure, please click here. For more information, please contact the Rev. Canon Douglas Dupree: ddupree@diocesefl.org.