18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Friends,
In the Gospel this past Sunday we heard Jesus talking about his favorite subject, the kingdom of God... As some of us like to call it, the kindom of God, taking away the patriarchal/hierarchical kingship imagery and replacing it with the connectedness that permeates that world God dreams of. Joseph Moore once said, "The kingdom of God is what happens between you and me."
At the Migrant Mass this past Thursday, at the end of that dreadfully hot day, we stood outside the house of our friends who had worked all day in the heat and celebrated the Mass. Just as we sang the Alleluia before the Gospel, a sweet breeze blew all around us and cooled us off. I offered the sermon that Mary Wilkins had helped me translate. We used the Mass guides that Caryl Marchand laminated for us so everyone could say the responses. After Mass we shared the cookies that Rachael Morlock had baked. Pedro went in the house and brought out sodas for everyone, and we stood or sat and chatted about how the day had been. Librada Paz helped Caroline and Joe and I understand that some of the men had been picking cabbage all day, and that one of them had felt weak from the heat but still could only take a five-minutes rest every few hours. Pedro went back in the house and this time brought out a cabbage, one of those they had picked. It was a present for us. We laughed about the raccoons and tried to figure out why the chalice was leaking. And in that back and forth, the giving that went both ways, the sharing of hard times and of laughter, I believe we experienced something of the Kingdom of God. The Kindom of God.
We're such a little church, St. Romero's. Every Sunday as I get ready for Mass, with no one there yet at five to 11, I think, "uh-oh, this is going to be the week that nobody shows up." But week after week, people do show up, and it's never happened yet that no one came at all. Somehow, we are church, our little rag-tag church that meets in a soup kitchen. Something beautiful is happening, just like Jesus said. Like a grain of yeast, like a mustard seed... Did you know that mustard was a weed in Jesus's time? He was saying that the Kindom of God is like dandelions, like kudzu -- you can't get rid of it! it keeps on growing in places where you least expect it. Shane Claiborne speaks of the "frightening smallness and hiddenness" as well as the "unstoppable growth of the reign of God." He says it "starts small, grows silently, faces setbacks but nevertheless permeates the world with love."
Let's permeate the world with love. You've heard of SBD, "silent but deadly"-- let's be SBL, "Silent but life-giving." I so believe in community -- Scott Peck said, "In community lies the healing of the world." And the rule of community is, Show Up! Hang in there! Forgive! Keep on Going! Don't worry about money, don't worry about numbers - just get in there and love.
Thank you to all of you who are making this tiny and nearly invisible seed of the Kindom of God be the loving, persistent presence that it is. I am so grateful for every one of you reading this bulletin. Do you know that every week the bulletin gets translated into Spanish - with help from Mary Wilkins and from Olga Lucia in Columbia - and then put on Olga's blog where it is read by people in Columbia and Peru and El Salvador -- and here in the states, in Florida and Boston and Utah and many points in between? - as well as Rochester. A beautiful web of connection. And there are hundreds of little communities like this one, all these little seeds of the kindom, permeating the world with love. It gives me joy.
Next week I will be in Chicago for a retreat with other Roman Catholic Womenpriests, connecting with others who have little communities like ours. Please pray for us! There won't be a bulletin next week, or a Migrant Mass on Thursday August 4, because I'll be in Chicago. Sunday, however, will go on as usual.
Come and join us, if you like!
Blessings and love to all,
Chava
"...any renewal of Church that is not a return to some kind of community, loyal relationships, family, isn't renewal. We do not think ourselves into a new way of living; we live our way into a new way of thinking."
---Richard Rohr, Radical Grace
Joe Lavoie is organizing a poetry night, Saturday August 13 starting at 4pm. If it's sunny out, we'll be at the Bakery, which is the former Savory Thyme building at 220 Mt Hope Ave; if it's raining, at St Joe's.
All summer long, there is a car wash in the St Joe's parking lot on Saturdays and Sundays from 9-5 as part of the St Joe's Employment Training Program. Come get your car washed! Recommended donations are $5-10 for outside cleanings, $20 for inside and out. Give your car some TLC, and help our guys earn some cash and learn some job skills!
Thanks very much to Karen and Mike Reimringer, Lynne Hamilton and Caryl Marchand, all of whom have dropped off camp chairs for use at the Migrant Masses. It will be good to be able to sit!
________________________________________________________
Oscar Romero Church
An Inclusive Church in the Catholic Tradition
Mass: Sundays, 11 am
St Joseph's House of Hospitality, 402 South Ave, Rochester NY 14620
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Bulletin for Sunday, July 24, 2011
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Friends,
This past Saturday was the day of the annual Gay Pride parade here in Rochester. I'm very happy to tell you that four churches marched together: Mary Magdalene Church had a car with balloons and people throwing candy, Spiritus Christi and Immanuel Baptist had big banners, and Saint Romero's had ...me, because I didn't think to organize anything. Maybe next year. I was so glad that we were all walking together!
Other churches were there as well: First Unitarian, Lake Avenue Baptist, a big group of Episcopalians, and others. My daughter Bridget watched the parade and said, "The churches just kept on coming!" That's the way it should be! The Democrat and Chronicle pointed out that the church people in the parade way outnumbered the protesters in the block between East and University, carrying signs with Bible verses and yelling things like, "You're all going to hell!" I love that nobody lets that ruin the day.
Today, July 19, is the anniversary of the beginning of the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls in 1848. It was over 70 years before women got the right to vote. How discouraged those suffragettes must have been, sometimes. The civil rights movement, too, took a long time. And we all know that legal rights, civil rights, the right to marriage - these things are great progress but they don't end prejudice. There is still racism, sexism, homophobia, other ways that we try to hold each other back. But like Martin Luther King said, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice" - I know I quote that a lot, but it's true!!
This week we heard the parable of the weeds and the wheat. Did you ever notice that the parable starts out, "The kingdom of heaven is like a field..." That is, the kingdom of heaven isn't the part at the end where the wheat and weeds get separated. It's all along, right now, right here, the weeds and the wheat all together. The kingdom of God is right here in the mess of it! And the kingdom of heaven was marching down the street here in Rochester this past Saturday, joyfully celebrating, singing, throwing candy. It was marvelous.
Last week we successfully brought cookies to the migrant Mass, without losing them to any enterprising raccoons. This week Rachael offered to make cookies for us, even though she can't come to the Mass. That gave me an idea. Have you been wanting to come with us but not been able? Would you like to bake cookies for us to bring some week? Let me know! Also, Karen and Mike Reimringer donated some camp chairs. If we had about six more there would be enough for everyone to sit down. Do you have an unused camp chair you'd like to donate? Still looking for a camping tarp, as well. Hooray for our Masses! They are a joy.
Enjoy these hot summer days. Relish every breeze, every glass of ice water. Rest as much as you can. It's a great time of year for ice cream, too!
Blessings and love to all,
Chava
All summer long, there is a car wash in the St Joe's parking lot on Saturdays and Sundays from 9-5 as part of the St Joe's Employment Training Program. Come get your car washed! Recommended donations are $5-10 for outside cleanings, $20 for inside and out. Give your car some TLC, and help our guys earn some cash and learn some job skills!
Friday, July 22 at 7pm, the Center for Sustainable Living will present a dvd on Thomas Berry at St Joe¹s, followed by a talk and discussion led by Tim McGowan.
You are welcome to join us for Mass, any Sunday. We would love to see you!
___________________________________________________________
Oscar Romero Church
An Inclusive Church in the Catholic Tradition
Mass: Sundays, 11 am
St Joseph's House of Hospitality, 402 South Ave, Rochester NY 14620
Friends,
This past Saturday was the day of the annual Gay Pride parade here in Rochester. I'm very happy to tell you that four churches marched together: Mary Magdalene Church had a car with balloons and people throwing candy, Spiritus Christi and Immanuel Baptist had big banners, and Saint Romero's had ...me, because I didn't think to organize anything. Maybe next year. I was so glad that we were all walking together!
Other churches were there as well: First Unitarian, Lake Avenue Baptist, a big group of Episcopalians, and others. My daughter Bridget watched the parade and said, "The churches just kept on coming!" That's the way it should be! The Democrat and Chronicle pointed out that the church people in the parade way outnumbered the protesters in the block between East and University, carrying signs with Bible verses and yelling things like, "You're all going to hell!" I love that nobody lets that ruin the day.
Today, July 19, is the anniversary of the beginning of the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls in 1848. It was over 70 years before women got the right to vote. How discouraged those suffragettes must have been, sometimes. The civil rights movement, too, took a long time. And we all know that legal rights, civil rights, the right to marriage - these things are great progress but they don't end prejudice. There is still racism, sexism, homophobia, other ways that we try to hold each other back. But like Martin Luther King said, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice" - I know I quote that a lot, but it's true!!
This week we heard the parable of the weeds and the wheat. Did you ever notice that the parable starts out, "The kingdom of heaven is like a field..." That is, the kingdom of heaven isn't the part at the end where the wheat and weeds get separated. It's all along, right now, right here, the weeds and the wheat all together. The kingdom of God is right here in the mess of it! And the kingdom of heaven was marching down the street here in Rochester this past Saturday, joyfully celebrating, singing, throwing candy. It was marvelous.
Last week we successfully brought cookies to the migrant Mass, without losing them to any enterprising raccoons. This week Rachael offered to make cookies for us, even though she can't come to the Mass. That gave me an idea. Have you been wanting to come with us but not been able? Would you like to bake cookies for us to bring some week? Let me know! Also, Karen and Mike Reimringer donated some camp chairs. If we had about six more there would be enough for everyone to sit down. Do you have an unused camp chair you'd like to donate? Still looking for a camping tarp, as well. Hooray for our Masses! They are a joy.
Enjoy these hot summer days. Relish every breeze, every glass of ice water. Rest as much as you can. It's a great time of year for ice cream, too!
Blessings and love to all,
Chava
All summer long, there is a car wash in the St Joe's parking lot on Saturdays and Sundays from 9-5 as part of the St Joe's Employment Training Program. Come get your car washed! Recommended donations are $5-10 for outside cleanings, $20 for inside and out. Give your car some TLC, and help our guys earn some cash and learn some job skills!
Friday, July 22 at 7pm, the Center for Sustainable Living will present a dvd on Thomas Berry at St Joe¹s, followed by a talk and discussion led by Tim McGowan.
You are welcome to join us for Mass, any Sunday. We would love to see you!
___________________________________________________________
Oscar Romero Church
An Inclusive Church in the Catholic Tradition
Mass: Sundays, 11 am
St Joseph's House of Hospitality, 402 South Ave, Rochester NY 14620
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Bulletin for Sunday, July 17, 2011
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Friends,
One of the best parts of our time together on Sunday mornings is the coffee hour. Sometimes it's fancier than others, depending on what's around and what people brought. It's not the food that's the highlight, though; it's the conversation. This week, just as we were sitting down, Javier asked, "so why do you have communion every week? What's that all about?"
That turned out to be a good opportunity for people to share what communion means to them. No one seemed to feel that receiving communion was something they had to do; rather, they talked about things like respect, and connection. I enjoyed hearing the different points of view.
I think conversations like that happen best when we're relaxing together over food. It's a great opportunity to build community. That's why I'd like to bring a "coffee hour" aspect to our Migrant Masses on Thursdays. I'm hoping we can relax and maybe bridge that language barrier a bit.
So, last Thursday afternoon I went to the store and bought flour and chocolate chips, and came home and made a batch of cookies. Three dozen cookies fit into one of those plastic containers with the blue lids. We brought them along to share after Mass that night.
As usual, we were standing in a sort of semi-circle, celebrating the Mass. I was just about to start giving the homily when people started shouting and pointing behind me. There was a raccoon, running off with the entire bin of cookies in its mouth!
So, no cookies, but a really good laugh. (...and a party for the animals!) And then I spilled grape juice down the front of my alb... The hilarity just never stops. It was so good to laugh together. Laughter doesn't happen in English or Spanish! Javier was with us that night, and he understands Spanish. Driving home in the car he told me that he heard one of the men say, "Not bad, for a Caucasian woman!"
I love being a priest... Stolen cookies, spilled grape juice, and all!
Blessings and love to all,
Chava
All summer long, there is a car wash in the St Joe's parking lot on Saturdays and Sundays from 9-5 as part of the St Joe's Employment Training Program. Come get your car washed! Recommended donations are $5-10 for outside cleanings, $20 for inside and out. Give your car some TLC, and help our guys earn some cash and learn some job skills!
Jeff Wilson is giving a concert at Mary Magdalene Church in East Rochester, this Sunday, July 17 at 2 pm. $10 and sure to be a wonderful time!
Friday, July 22 at 7pm, the Center for Sustainable Living will present a dvd on Thomas Berry at St Joe¹s, followed by a talk and discussion led by Tim McGowan.
You are welcome to join us for Mass, any Sunday. We would love to see you!
_______________________________________________________
Oscar Romero Church
An Inclusive Church in the Catholic Tradition
Mass: Sundays, 11 am
St Joseph's House of Hospitality, 402 South Ave, Rochester NY 14620
Friends,
One of the best parts of our time together on Sunday mornings is the coffee hour. Sometimes it's fancier than others, depending on what's around and what people brought. It's not the food that's the highlight, though; it's the conversation. This week, just as we were sitting down, Javier asked, "so why do you have communion every week? What's that all about?"
That turned out to be a good opportunity for people to share what communion means to them. No one seemed to feel that receiving communion was something they had to do; rather, they talked about things like respect, and connection. I enjoyed hearing the different points of view.
I think conversations like that happen best when we're relaxing together over food. It's a great opportunity to build community. That's why I'd like to bring a "coffee hour" aspect to our Migrant Masses on Thursdays. I'm hoping we can relax and maybe bridge that language barrier a bit.
So, last Thursday afternoon I went to the store and bought flour and chocolate chips, and came home and made a batch of cookies. Three dozen cookies fit into one of those plastic containers with the blue lids. We brought them along to share after Mass that night.
As usual, we were standing in a sort of semi-circle, celebrating the Mass. I was just about to start giving the homily when people started shouting and pointing behind me. There was a raccoon, running off with the entire bin of cookies in its mouth!
So, no cookies, but a really good laugh. (...and a party for the animals!) And then I spilled grape juice down the front of my alb... The hilarity just never stops. It was so good to laugh together. Laughter doesn't happen in English or Spanish! Javier was with us that night, and he understands Spanish. Driving home in the car he told me that he heard one of the men say, "Not bad, for a Caucasian woman!"
I love being a priest... Stolen cookies, spilled grape juice, and all!
Blessings and love to all,
Chava
All summer long, there is a car wash in the St Joe's parking lot on Saturdays and Sundays from 9-5 as part of the St Joe's Employment Training Program. Come get your car washed! Recommended donations are $5-10 for outside cleanings, $20 for inside and out. Give your car some TLC, and help our guys earn some cash and learn some job skills!
Jeff Wilson is giving a concert at Mary Magdalene Church in East Rochester, this Sunday, July 17 at 2 pm. $10 and sure to be a wonderful time!
Friday, July 22 at 7pm, the Center for Sustainable Living will present a dvd on Thomas Berry at St Joe¹s, followed by a talk and discussion led by Tim McGowan.
You are welcome to join us for Mass, any Sunday. We would love to see you!
_______________________________________________________
Oscar Romero Church
An Inclusive Church in the Catholic Tradition
Mass: Sundays, 11 am
St Joseph's House of Hospitality, 402 South Ave, Rochester NY 14620
Monday, July 11, 2011
Bulletin for Sunday, July 10, 2011
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Friends,
Last Thursday night, Caroline Kristoffersen, Joe Lavoie and I drove out to a little town west of the city. We stopped on the way to pick up Librada Paz, then went on out to a little house in the middle of some enormous fields, where a group of people live who work all day on the farms. Folks in the house were finishing supper, so we had a little time to stand around, waiting. A man named Leonardo cleared off a crate for us to use as an altar, and Caroline and I got it set up. Leonardo showed us the beautiful kitchen garden that the people who live there had planted, with peppers, tomatoes and other things all up and growing strong. There was a toy lion tied to a stick in the middle for a scarecrow. It was hanging limply on the ground, and Leonardo took it down, laughing that the scarecrow was scared. (I only know he said that because Librada was translating!)
Pretty soon, the nine or so people who live in the house were done with supper, and a couple more pulled up in a truck. We gathered for Mass. Everybody stood, because there weren't any chairs. The week before we had to cancel because of rain, as there is not enough room in the house for us all. This week, though, the weather was beautiful. We could hear the birds singing in nearby trees while we prayed and sang.
Caroline and Joe passed out worship aids to everybody. Because I knew that it was likely a long time since some folks had been to Mass, I made a guide with the all the responses on it, and Caryl Marchand laminated a set of them so we can use them all summer. Even though it's in Spanish, Caroline and Joe were able to follow it! A man named Marconi did the first reading, and then I preached the sermon that Mary Wilkins and I had worked on together over breakfast the day before. We are the body of Christ, I said. “¿Cómo seremos el pan los unos por los otros?” How will we be bread for each other? I saw heads nodding. That's always a relief for a preacher, but even more so when preaching in another language.
Last April when I was in El Salvador I looked everywhere for a chalice, and finally found a wooden one with a lid. The lid turns out to be important: it keeps the bugs out. Note to those who might join us in the future: bring bug spray. (and a sweater). At the end, after the final song, everyone claps. It's a beautiful, friendly group of people.
After Mass we stand around, talking. We're trying to solve the problem of what to do if it rains. If they had a tarp – one of those camping tarps with poles – they could set it up next to the house for a shelter. It would also serve to keep their shoes dry, because they leave them outside the door. Anybody got an old camping tarp to give away?
This week we're leaving at 7:15, Thursday night. You're welcome to join us. This week I think we'll bring cookies, so we can have a snack together after Mass. And then we'll be on our way back home, getting back about 10 or 10:30. It's a lovely way to spend the evening!
Blessings and love to all,
Chava
On Sunday, July 17 at 2 pm, Jeff Wilson will give a concert at Mary Magdalene Church in East Rochester. $10 and sure to be a wonderful time!
Friday, July 22 at 7pm, the Center for Sustainable Living will present a dvd on Thomas Berry at St Joe’s, followed by a talk and discussion led by Tim McGowan.
You are welcome to join us for Mass, any Sunday. We would love to see you.
___________________________________________________________
Oscar Romero Church
An Inclusive Church in the Catholic Tradition
Mass: Sundays, 11 am
St Joseph's House of Hospitality, 402 South Ave, Rochester NY 14620
Friends,
Last Thursday night, Caroline Kristoffersen, Joe Lavoie and I drove out to a little town west of the city. We stopped on the way to pick up Librada Paz, then went on out to a little house in the middle of some enormous fields, where a group of people live who work all day on the farms. Folks in the house were finishing supper, so we had a little time to stand around, waiting. A man named Leonardo cleared off a crate for us to use as an altar, and Caroline and I got it set up. Leonardo showed us the beautiful kitchen garden that the people who live there had planted, with peppers, tomatoes and other things all up and growing strong. There was a toy lion tied to a stick in the middle for a scarecrow. It was hanging limply on the ground, and Leonardo took it down, laughing that the scarecrow was scared. (I only know he said that because Librada was translating!)
Pretty soon, the nine or so people who live in the house were done with supper, and a couple more pulled up in a truck. We gathered for Mass. Everybody stood, because there weren't any chairs. The week before we had to cancel because of rain, as there is not enough room in the house for us all. This week, though, the weather was beautiful. We could hear the birds singing in nearby trees while we prayed and sang.
Caroline and Joe passed out worship aids to everybody. Because I knew that it was likely a long time since some folks had been to Mass, I made a guide with the all the responses on it, and Caryl Marchand laminated a set of them so we can use them all summer. Even though it's in Spanish, Caroline and Joe were able to follow it! A man named Marconi did the first reading, and then I preached the sermon that Mary Wilkins and I had worked on together over breakfast the day before. We are the body of Christ, I said. “¿Cómo seremos el pan los unos por los otros?” How will we be bread for each other? I saw heads nodding. That's always a relief for a preacher, but even more so when preaching in another language.
Last April when I was in El Salvador I looked everywhere for a chalice, and finally found a wooden one with a lid. The lid turns out to be important: it keeps the bugs out. Note to those who might join us in the future: bring bug spray. (and a sweater). At the end, after the final song, everyone claps. It's a beautiful, friendly group of people.
After Mass we stand around, talking. We're trying to solve the problem of what to do if it rains. If they had a tarp – one of those camping tarps with poles – they could set it up next to the house for a shelter. It would also serve to keep their shoes dry, because they leave them outside the door. Anybody got an old camping tarp to give away?
This week we're leaving at 7:15, Thursday night. You're welcome to join us. This week I think we'll bring cookies, so we can have a snack together after Mass. And then we'll be on our way back home, getting back about 10 or 10:30. It's a lovely way to spend the evening!
Blessings and love to all,
Chava
On Sunday, July 17 at 2 pm, Jeff Wilson will give a concert at Mary Magdalene Church in East Rochester. $10 and sure to be a wonderful time!
Friday, July 22 at 7pm, the Center for Sustainable Living will present a dvd on Thomas Berry at St Joe’s, followed by a talk and discussion led by Tim McGowan.
You are welcome to join us for Mass, any Sunday. We would love to see you.
___________________________________________________________
Oscar Romero Church
An Inclusive Church in the Catholic Tradition
Mass: Sundays, 11 am
St Joseph's House of Hospitality, 402 South Ave, Rochester NY 14620
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