Epiphany 5; February 9, 2020 Annual Meeting
February 9, 2020
This fall, we experimented with a new idea which I dubbed, “God’s Grace Sunday.” Of course, the way I look at it , every day is a gift of grace from God and every Sunday a celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection. But on this one particular Sunday, I gathered enough $20 bills to distribute one to everyone who worshipped with us at 8am as well as to all of the children in attendance at the 10am service. Giving away a gift of ‘free’ money was my attempt to mimic and (in a small way) teach about the free, abundant, and extravagant gift of God’s grace. Of course, God offers the gift of grace, but the corresponding action involves us. Are we willing to accept that gift, and if so, what do we do with that grace once we’ve received it? God’s desire, I am sure, is that we freely offer that same love and grace to others in the world. So, my only suggestion at the time I handed out the “free” money was that it might be used to help others, and then I asked the recipients to share their stories with me.
One person reported that he offered his money to a man on the side of the road, holding a sign and looking for food. Another family pooled their money to buy food for the food bank, and then also gave of their time, spending an afternoon sorting food at the food bank, as volunteers there. One of our children, an animal-lover, gave his money to help his teacher pay to take her sick cat to the vet. Still others bought gifts for a family on the YMCA’s holiday “angel tree.” God’s grace even traveled into New York City, where it helped a man who lost his wallet buy a train ticket home. God’s grace moved throughout our community like ripples in the water, bringing no-strings-attached relief, compassion, and joy into a world that so desperately needs it.
I am happy to report that the same grace, joy and compassion continues to emanate from many others here at St. Paul’s. This year, God’s grace took on a new shape as we added a program for young adults with special needs called, “We’ve Got Friends!” Every other Friday night, young adults who might not otherwise have anything else on their social calendars gather here to enjoy music, dancing, and one another’s company. God’s grace is also experienced through our “Family Promise” ministry with the homeless, through our ministry teaching GED and basic education skills with “All the Way Up!” and in each delivery of food and baby supplies taken to the Morris Country Interfaith Food Pantry and North Porch for Women and Children. And, as our 3rd annual “It’s My Turn” Vacation Day Camp for children on the autism spectrum took place this past August, God’s grace was evidenced in both the growing number of campers and our energetic grace-filled volunteers.
I especially experienced God’s grace this summer during my summer sabbatical. Thanks to those in leadership here – most especially Rev. Ellen, our seminarian George Dredden, our Wardens Eric and Simon, and our Sabbatical Planning Committee – I enjoyed a full 14 weeks’ worth of time to travel, read, reconnect with my family, and heal. I read 17 books, visited 5 states, saw 4 movies, ran 3-5Kraces, met 2 celebrities (singer Aaron Tippen and author Barbara Brown Taylor), flew an airplane, made a copper bracelet, adopted 1 rescue-dog, enjoyed my youngest’s graduation, and officially became the shortest member of our family! And while that might sound like a flurry of activity, my time away also allowed time for me to rest and heal, and safely wean off all of my feeding and nutrient support. It was glorious gift of sabbath time for me and our family, and I am grateful for this supportive community that enabled my absence.
Additional highlights at St. Paul’s this year included visits by our recently consecrated Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Carlye J. Hughes for both our formal Sunday visitation and for an informal “Evening with the Bishop.” We also revamped our Sunday School routine by adding a Children’s Chapel component on alternate Sundays, while Samantha Grab, Alan Serio, Mary Foster, and Catherine Singow graciously lead our Sunday School classes on other Sundays. God’s grace also ripples throughout our building on a daily basis as we host weekday meetings for multiple 12-step recovery communities, hear the sounds of children speaking Mandarin and Spanish in afternoon language classes, preschool laughter from Sprout House children, and the athletic competition of Alisher’s fencing program, Integrity Fencing.
Of course, none of this happens without a whole host of special volunteers and staff which make St. Paul’s such a special place to work and grow as a Christian disciple. Our Office Administrator, Mary Jo Oakley is my rock. She is filled with compassion, and is a pastoral, calming, and capable presence for all of us! I am grateful too, for Sam’s reliable and ready presence, and to be able to journey with the ever-professional and truly gifted Jim Little (and Nancy) through the soulful rhythms of our church calendar.
In the year ahead, I think the call for all of us is to make ourselves open to receiving God’s grace as often as possible. You see, God’s grace is mediated through this faithful community, through our worship together and our service in the world. This truth was vividly demonstrated through our little experiment of “God’s Grace Sunday.” Think about the lives that were touched that morning, and then the rippling of grace that touched others in the weeks which followed. “You are the light of the world,” Jesus says in this morning’s Gospel. Don’t you know it. God has blessed us with grace – may we claim it, embrace it, and share it with the world. Amen.