Theology...Elsewhere

Hey St. Francis House, this is your--I guess I can finally say it now--seminarian with an article that made me think of you all when I read it: "Churches hosting chats about faith over beers," from the Austin American-Statesman. Have a look if you get a second; it certainly resonated with me. Cheers, Kyle

Agricultural Internship Opportunity

A really cool internship opportunity went out on the national church's Young Adult Ministry Listserv today. For full information, check out the flier, but here's the project's vision:

The Abundant Table Farm Project is a young adult Christian community seeking a contemporary rhythm of life with a land based ministry in Ventura County. The goal of this internship is to connect with young adults who are attuned to the destructive disconnect between land and table in our culture.

The Abundant Table Farm Project seeks to provide an alternative model of living for young adults interested in vocational discernment around spirituality, community, and stewardship of Creation. ATFP hopes to create a space where young adults can negotiate what it means to live out the gospel message within the local community and the broader church, in our current context of human beings alienated from each other and the earth.

This project will equip young adults with practical and spiritual skills for creating sustainable community and agriculture. ATFP participants will leave our program with first-hand knowledge of issues related to the above mentioned disconnect--including environmental sustainability; organic, small scale agriculture vs. industrial agribusiness; community health and access to unprocessed foods, especially as it relates to disadvantaged communities; immigration and labor issues--and a passion to work for justice around these issues.

Pilgrim Travelers

There's a great story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel today about our friends at Trinity, Wauwatosa (which happens to be my home parish).

Here's what I think is especially cool about their take on an urban Stations of the Cross: The St. Francis House board recently had a retreat to help identify future directions for our ministry, and one of the important missions we identified (for ourselves and I think maybe for the Episcopal Church as a whole) was to be a sign of "moderate Christian expression" in a world where such expressions seem rare--it's certainly rare that they make the papers. Anyway, I was so happy to see that one did and thought others might be interested and inspired by their humble and contemplative journey.

By the way, we'll have folks from Trinity with us at St. Francis House in a couple of weeks to share a service and a meal.

Terrific Ecumenical Event

For those of you interested in Abrahamic dialogue, here's a story about a terrific event held recently in Nebraska. Exciting, fascinating stuff...

yet another sermon!

I swear we students do things besides write sermons, although the content of this blog lately would indicate that I'm lying...

At any rate, here's a link to the sermon that I preached today (Fifth Sunday in Lent, Year B) at St. Francis House.

https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/saylor/web/lent%205%20sermon%202009.htm>sermon

Sermon: Year B, 2 Lent

I had the opportunity (at Bishop Miller's suggestion) to preach at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in addition to St. Francis House a couple Sundays back. I wanted to post the sermon because I know that some folks who wanted to come couldn't make it and because I was getting lots of questions about the Harvey Cox book I mentioned (it's called Common Prayers: Faith, Family, and a Christian's Journey Through the Jewish Year).

Anyway, if you're interested, you can find the sermon here.

Office Space

As a St. Francis House community, we've frequently offered Daily Office services during the season of Lent (actually, we now do so during the entire school year). This post from Daily Episcopalian (thanks for the link, Shannon) does a nice job of explaining why the Daily Office makes for a good Lenten discipline. It also discusses this spiritual topic's connection to one's Myers-Briggs personality type, a subject we've talked quite a bit about at our "Theology on the Terrace" gatherings. I especially appreciated the author's concluding thoughts:

The Daily Office is a habit. It’s a discipline. Even if you’re not, well, disciplined. And that’s where its J and my P start tangling—and where yours might too. Some people I know fear the Office because they’re afraid they won’t get it right, that they won’t do it enough, that they’ll miss a time or two and then they just won’t measure up. I understand. I’ve been there—and it’s ok. A house with kids is nothing like a monastery. Four offices a day each and every day is a goal—not a starting place. Start with whatever makes sense for you. And if you slip up and miss a day (or even a week…) then it’s time to enact another Lenten discipline: repent, receive forgiveness, and give it another shot.

So if you’re looking for a holy habit this Lent, something spiritual, something classic, something Anglican, look no farther than the Daily Office. Try it for a season—relax in the ebb and flow of the psalms and canticles and give it a chance to speak to you the way it does me.

If you feel moved to make the Daily Offices (well, some of them) part of your Lenten discipline, consider joining us at St. Francis House (and don't miss this note about getting in the building). The schedule for our Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Compline services can be found in the sidebar at right or on our home page.