Well, Holy Week is in the books. It was really wonderful, special this year because we know it’s our last Holy Week in exile! Thinking back over four Holy Weeks done in borrowed space – two in a school gym and two at Camp Coast Care – I am very proud of how our folks have come together to make these spaces holy and sacred, and to be able to provide these special liturgies under difficult circumstances.
Our attendance was only fair for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, but excellent for the Easter Vigil Saturday night and for Easter Sunday. The Vigil was really special. I was worried we wouldn’t have a big crowd since, for the first time, we were not doing baptisms. But they came! It shows this Parish has really adopted this service and looks forward to it each year. The storytellers did a good job, and I was able to tie my homily into my own story telling (Ezekiel – dry bones). We renewed baptismal vows and I sprinkled the congregation with Holy water. Then the lights came on and the bells rang at the 1st Alleluia of Easter!
Easter Sunday was very nice, wonderful music and a lot of dressed up kids! We have an abundance of families with small children now, many of whom have joined us since Katrina and only know us in this borrowed space. Have we got a treat for them!
Speaking of – we believe we will take occupancy of the building mid-May! Keep praying! If so, we will move in just before and after Memorial weekend, and have our first Sunday service on Pentecost! Isn’t that appropriate! There is much left to do, so pray we can make it on time. This is wonderful news! Stay tuned – and join us if you can.
Oh – the pic at the top is about a month old – but all the current work is going on inside…..

“The most wonderful time of the year….”. I know it’s from a Christmas song, but for me it screams HOLY WEEK.
I really do love it.
I don’t mind the extra work pumping out bulletins, or the demand of writing 8 sermons (ok, 7, my Deacon preached tonight (Monday of Holy Week). I don’t because it is just wonderful. Holy Week. A living and breathing thing, that allows us a glimpse into that last week of our Lord’s life on earth. If only we could get all the Christians, much less those who don’t believe, to set this week aside, this one week, and attend services, if not every night AT LEAST the Triduum of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Great Vigil of Easter.
If only.
Meanwhile, some will come to all, some will come to a few, most will only come on Sunday, having missed the story that gets us to Easter. All we can do is pray and prepare and rejoice when someone dares to step out of the culture of the world and say – this week is for God and I will commit to walk this path with Jesus.
I am doing a few different things this year. Their is a debate amongst preachers in the Episcopal church on whether to preach on Palm Sunday or not – the liturgy is so rich, the Passion Gospel so profound, some think it better to just let that speak for itself. I am reluctant to do so. Last year I preached a very short homily outside before the blessing of the palms and the procession (right after the 1st Gospel lesson of Jesus entering the city on the donkey). This year I preached a short homily just after the 2nd lesson – that fantastic reading from Phillipians. I will do this again on Good Friday, I will preach on the Isaiah passage BEFORE we read John’s version of the Passion Gospel. It gives me, and the church, a chance to deal with some really amazing Scripture passages that can get lost with everything else that is going on.
At the Vigil we will use story tellers again to tell the Old Testament salvation history lessons. And we will renew baptismal vows (this is my first Vigil to not have a baptism, darn it). Then the magic happens – lights, bells, music, joy.
I can’t wait….I hope you find a place to join in this most wonderful time of the year.

This Lent I decided to do a sermon series, using our new mission statement (which we developed during our Planning process for our new building. Before choosing WHERE to rebuild, or WHAT to build (focus on a nave, or more on Ch Ed, or a multipurpose hall for worship / parish hall space, etc.), we needed to take a good long look at who we are and whom we are called to serve.
Now as the time draws near for us to occupy our new building in our new location, I have felt God calling us to a time of intentional preparation. We need to be prayerfully, spiritually, theologically READY for our new life in our new home, in the heart of our community.
To that end I decided to take our mission statement and preach and teach on the components of it. I use it as the sermon theme for the day, then continue in a more detailed way, involving the parishioners of course, at adult Christian Ed time.
I think it’s working pretty well. I can say it’s been a challenge to me as preacher to try and use the lectionary texts of the day to make the mission statement-driven points. But I have really enjoyed that challenge.
Our mission statement is “A sacramental community, inviting and welcoming all to grow in Christ’s love through fellowship and service”. Lent 1 I did “Preparation”, explaining why we needed to take on this work of becoming prepared. Lent 2 was “A Sacramental Community”, looking at the importance of the sacraments to the people and history of St Pats, while also observing that it is only in community when the sacraments become the powerful things they are, and how that sacramental life extends outside of worship time.
Last week, Lent 3, was a tad more difficult – looking at “inviting and welcoming all to grow”, with the gospel account of Jesus cleansing the temple intruding into my theme! Yet the “all to grow” piece fit with the lessons on the law and Jesus’ insistence on the holiness of worship space and remembering the God we serve is not mammon. When we invite “all” to grow, we cannot forget who and what we are – this is not just a social club or civic group. To grow in Christ’s love requires discipleship, parameters of our common life, and understanding our story. It’s ok to ask those we invite and welcome to enter into our community with some expectations.
Lent 4 I will look at “growing in Christ’s love”, then Lent 5 is on fellowship and service.
It’s been fun and difficult. As always, you can listen to (most) sermons on our website, stpatrickslongbeach.org.

The surgery went fine. Not only was the achillies tendon ruptured completely, a few inches above the heel, but it also “fileted” off of the calf muscle. Surgeon had to repair both of course.
2-3 days post op pain was pretty severe, but now it hardly hurts at all. I am completely non-weight bearing, so on crutches, keeping it elevated, having to figure out creative ways to get in and out of the shower, etc. I may be allowed to start rehab in a week, but will still be non-weight bearing, maybe through Easter! Ugh.
My wife is an absolutely amazing help, so patient and also very creative in solving problems in my world. She is the best.
I do church in a wheel chair. Since I am NWB, I can’t stand to preach or celebrate Eucharist. I roll myself in procession and roll around to the altar, etc. The perspective is so different. I have a new appreciation for physically challenged folks serving in church, even though my circumstances are quite trivial compared to most of them.
Preaching is especially strange. Sitting to preach – lends itself, I think, to much more of a teaching mode. I don’t like not being able to see or be seen by everyone. I don’t use a text, seems silly to shuffle papers in the chair. But so far it seems to be going ok.
I am very glad we were careful in our planning of the new building to make it very accessible – not for me, as this is quite temporary, but for all those who are challenged physically, our absence of steps, ample handicap parking, and wide doorways will be very helpful.
It’s not the Lenten journey I expected, but it certainly is one that forces me into times of reflection and prayer. I cannot drive and spend most days in a chair doing emails, phone calls, and reading, writing sermons, etc. Yes, i will be thrilled when I can walk again, until then I am grateful for an outpouring of support and prayer, and for my wonderful family that cares so well for me.

Well, the mini-sabbatical was just what the doctor ordered. Seriously. A perfect time of respite and refreshment, tropical retreat to St Lucia with my LW to celebrate our 25th, an extended stay in South Florida, full of good weather, great tennis, and good times, it could not have gone better. I feel SO amazingly refreshed and recharged.
Came home to our Diocesan Council weekend, a good time as well, and great to see a focus on mission led by our Bishop.
Back to work last week catching up on the mountain of mail, email, calls, pastoral issues, etc., as well as preparing for the St Patrick’s annual meeting. Also – the church building! It’s rocking on! Sheet rock is up, most of the roof is done, it looks amazing.
Then …… it happened. Playing tennis Thursday night, as I pushed off with my right foot to cut off a shot and hit a volley, it popped. Loud and HUGELY painful, I had torn completely my achillies tendon. I have never felt such pain.
Long night in the ER with an MRI that confirmed it. I managed to go to church Sunday for the annual meeting, and surgery is scheduled this morning (Monday the 16).
I am blessed to have an LW who is a fantastic nurse and has really taken great care of me. I am non weight bearing on the right foot and will be for 8 weeks post op! This is a long rehab, you have to totally rebuild the calf muscle after the tendon heals. Pray for us!
I am not sure yet how will do church, but the timing could not be worse. Lent is upon us, and the move into the building may take place around Easter! Lord help us.
Fortunately the sabbatical time assured everyone that they can function at a high level without me doing everything (but St Pats folks have known that anyway), and I know folks will rally around what is in front of us.
Meanwhile – can I ask your prayers for the surgery and recovery, and for my wife and family? Oh, and I wouldn’t mind if you included a request to limit the pain!
Thanks….will keep you all posted….