Taking God on Vacation

Editorial Note: Today the Rev. Jarrett Kerbel leaves on the youth pilgrimage to Guatemala with a team of two additional adults and eight teens and young adults. Please pray for them in their travels and for safe return at the end of the month. In the meantime, we present a series of guest posts beginning with this one from our newest Deacon, the Rev. Barb Ballenger.

When I was a kid, camping was the family vacation of choice. We had a large Coleman tent that fit five of us like sardines, and a separate awning to create a dining area. My dad had crafted a camp box that held all the camp kitchen essentials, from minute rice to marshmallow forks. To this day the smell of canvas and wood smoke or the taste of Tang can make me feel at least 40 years younger. 

These trips were often long weekends in Ohio state parks; though sometimes they were multi-state excursions of a week or so. They would inevitably include a Sunday and my mom would make sure that we went to church. 

I remember them as a blur of tiny, clapboard rural Catholic churches. The smells would be different from what I was used to, the layout strange, the pews different from the large suburban church we attended at home. Occasionally we would find ourselves at a campground service, seated on cut logs in the amphitheater where we had watched “Charlie the Lonesome Cougar” the night before. 

My mother saw to it that we were a weekly church-going family, and vacation was no exception. Looking back, it was one of the few times we visited other churches, where we got a chance to explore how others marked their Sabbath, sang their songs, or arranged their donuts during coffee hour.  

There is something about summer that changes the feel of church-going. Trips, camps, even just a little time off, can slow things down or break things up when it comes to our Sunday practice. This change of pace can be an opportunity to do some spiritual exploring. For families, visiting other churches during trips can be a conversation starter about faith and religious preferences. What was the same? What was different? What did it feel like to be a visitor? Was I welcome? Did I find God there? These are good insights to bring back to your regular church experience. They are good questions to ask on any Sunday.

If summer vacation offers you the luxury of a quiet morning, consider it an invitation to explore prayer in a new way. Bring a Book of Common Prayer along (or download an app from Apple or Google) and pray morning prayer  with a cup of coffee nearby, or read the psalms to the rhythm of ocean waves or the song of gulls. Even just sitting on a familiar back patio in the presence of a garden box or hanging flowers can extend summer’s invitation to contemplate a God that reveals the divine self through the scents of flowers, the hum of bees, or the distraction of humming bird or mosquito whine. 

This summer, let your time away or your time to yourself be opportunities to rest with the Spirit and delight in the places where God waits for you. When you make it back to St. Martin’s, I’d love to see the pictures. 

Blessings,

The Rev. Barb Ballenger

Deacon and Associate for Spiritual Formation and Care

Editorial: Here are some resources to get you started!

• Find an Episcopal Church near you -- https://www.episcopalchurch.org/find-a-church
• Forward Day by Day - These quarterly booklets offer daily scripture and reflections that fit in a pocket or purse. Copies are available in the back of the church or on the table and in the rack in the Parish House lobby. Donations are welcome. Want an app for that? Download the Forward Day by Day app for your smartphone.
• The Daily Office from the Mission of St. Clare --  https://www.missionstclare.com/english/ -- gives you all you need for the prayers of the Episcopal Daily Office, including songs.
• Listen to Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's Way of Love podcasts, with new episodes posted each Tuesday -- https://wayoflove.episcopalchurch.org/
• Bible Lens app by YouVersion -- Bible Lens “transforms your everyday photos into profound, Biblically-based artistic shareable images.” Take a photo of the places that you are finding God on vacation, and then open them in Bible Lens to see them paired with Bible verses that match!
• Find the Episcopal saint of the day -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendar_of_saints_(Episcopal_Church)#July

Before the Crisis

The Rev. Jarrett Kerbel

Mortality has a way of focusing our attention. Suffering, anguish, and crisis put daily distractions in perspective and focus our minds on what is essential. Most people seek out pastoral support in times of crisis. We are always here for you in that moment whatever time of day or whichever day of the week. Always make that call. We have the spiritual resources most needed in crisis - love, listening, compassion, prayer, community, and most importantly the presence of Christ in sacraments and in the midst of believing people. “Wherever two or three are gathered, I will be in the midst of you,” said Jesus.


In a sense we can be grateful for crisis and suffering when they encourage us to “wake up,” “seek help,” “go deeper,” and “depend on God.” On the other hand, I would like to advise all of us to engage our spiritual growth and development well before the moment of crisis hits. Imagine getting the horrible news that you have only months to live. Do you want to cram a lifetime of spiritual growth and development into those months when coping will be hard enough? The Good News teaches us that God will complete our healing on the other side of death. But, we will be better equipped to meet all our challenges on this side of mortality if we have embraced the learning and growing made available by grace each regular, normal day.

If I have learned one thing in 23 years of ministry it is that people who embrace the baptismal cycle of dying to self and rising to new life in Christ during their quotidian life are more prepared for the final instance of that cycle when death comes.

Perhaps it all depends on what you think the end game is. If you are only preparing for eternal life with God in the hereafter, perhaps you can leave your spiritual growth to the last minute. On the other hand, if your desire is to witness to the Gospel in this life - for your life, your love, your energy to radiate the life-shaping freedom of the Good News now - then we need to delve deeply into prayer, scripture, community, service, and intentional spiritual reflection daily.

The latter path requires virtues acquired through habit, through practice. Only through daily prayer, weekly study, steady service, and ongoing, faithful relationships do we build a heart attuned to what God is saying to us. Such a life of habitual approach to God both requires and builds up the virtues of endurance, perseverance, courage, and patience in us. These virtues bring a steadiness to our life that we desperately need in tumultuous and distracting times. Reacting to every provocation, chasing every fad, making every minute productive, chasing immediate gratification - these habits pull our souls apart, leaving us exhausted, fragmented, and ungrounded. The Good News is that we know a better way.

Blessings,
The Rev. Jarrett Kerbel
Rector

Connect into the community of faith:
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Contact the clergy in crisis:

Rev. Jarrett Kerbel, rector
jkerbel@stmartinec.org | 215.247.7466 x101 | 215.704.5499 cell

Rev. Anne Thatcher, associate rector
athatcher@stmartinec.org | 215.247.7466 x105 | 509.876.1924 cell

Rev. Carol Duncan, deacon
carol.duncan8031@gmail.com | 330.705.4795 cell

Barbara Ballenger, associate for spiritual formation & care and postulant
bballenger@stmartinec.org | 215.247.7466 x102

Wellspring at St. Martin’s has undergone a transformation

Wellspring at St. Martin’s is entering its sixth year with a new approach to its ministry of facilitating soul discovery and spiritual growth in the parish and the community. Under the direction of Coordinator Joanne Conway, a team of St. Martin’s parishioners has been engaged in informational interviews, team formation, and prayerful listening throughout the summer.

The group has clarified the ministry’s mission, focusing on assisting the congregation and broader community in nurturing their spirits and deepening their relationships with God and one another through practices rooted in, or resonant with, the Christian tradition.

Headwaters of the Jordan River

“The exact picture of Wellspring remains an unfolding mystery, one that will take time and a great deal of listening, remaining curious, and being patient,” Conway said last spring as the new team was just forming. “We will be beginning with building our leadership team and exploring. We then will move out into the church community with questions and listening ears and hearts to find how we can best serve.”

What have they discovered in the last several months? One-one-one interviews have revealed a desire for opportunities for ongoing reflection and a hunger for small-group gatherings. Team members have embraced a call to reach into their own spiritual passions and skills to offer programs that speak to local needs.

Wellspring’s fall programming reflects this with a variety of opportunities designed and facilitated by team members. Among them will be a weekly reflection on the Sunday sermons, beginning Sunday, October 28. The discussion will be facilitated by Wellspring team members and will use a process designed to help participants listen to each other and deepen their experience of what they have heard.

Women Connecting

The ministry will also facilitate a prayerful walk in the Wissahickon (Oct. 6), an exploration of contemplative prayer with St. Martin’s Rector Jarrett Kerbel (Oct. 17-31), and a discussion of Frederick Buechner’s book The Hungering Dark (Nov. 8 and Dec. 12). For more details visit StMartinEC.org/wellspring.

Future programming will seek ways to include a wider section of the parish and community, with offerings that speak to children, youth, and families. For updates on events, as well as spiritual reflections and resources, like and follow the Wellspring Facebook page.

Wellspring will continue to offer Women Connecting, a regular gathering of women marked by prayer, silence, and deep listening, inspired by the church seasons. The next gathering is Sept. 15 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Wellspring will also continue to host area spiritual directors.

The Wellspring Team

In addition to Wellspring Coordinator Joanne Conway, the Wellspring team includes John Hougen, Elizabeth Morrison, Jenny Cardoso, Scott Robinson, Susan Cole and Barbara Dundon. Barbara Ballenger, Associate for Spiritual Formation and Care, will continue to be Wellspring’s staff liaison.

For more information on Wellspring at St. Martin’s contact Joanne Conway at joanneconway86@gmail.com.

Naming our Values: Discussion Part 3

For the next few weeks, we will use this blog as an extension of our Values Clarification work being done in Parish Forum at 10 a.m. and over lunch after our 11:15 a.m. service. You are welcome to come to the blog and see where the work is taking us each week. This will also serve as a way for people who were unable to attend one session to "catch up" and feel welcome at subsequent sessions. This week was our final session on Core Values, having already gone through Aspirational Values and Accidental Values.

CORE VALUES

From the Two Sunday Forum Sessions on March 23

Below you will find summaries of the “Accidental Values” discussion from the weekend of March 23.  

Below is a condensation of the responses from the general gatherings of members based on vote totals.  This is followed by the Pastor's Observations and then raw results from the Forum gatherings arranged according to the tables where people sat.  We are posting these results to stimulate discussion and reflection between our gatherings so we enter each forum prepared for a deep and enriching discussion.

Core Values Summary

Spiritual Formation in everything we do                                  31

                  Equipping the Saints for life in Christ

                  Spiritual growth and development

                  Spiritual nurture

                  Calling the best from each of us

Stewardship                                                                               18

Worship through Music                                                             13

The Baptismal Covenant                                                           11

Core Values Full List from Tables

·       An appreciation of who people are and what they offer

·       Spirit-filled worship and gathering/ spiritual formation imbues everything [8]

o   Spirituality as food in worship and offered in program

§  Spiritual growth and development

·       We take care of each other. [2]

·       Respect of tradition with innovation. [5]

·      

Deferred Maintenance [4]

	1.     Stewardship  [10] – inreach outreach 2.     “3 Legged Stool” [9] a.     Tradition b.     Reason c.     Scripture 3.     Baptismal Covenant [11] a.     By action b.     Proactive

(10% of Budged)

(Education) from cradle to grave.

o   Christian formation as path to God.

·       Outreach [2] – genuine interest in community and wellbeing.

o   Building relationship [1] – “Partnering and developing – tenacious partnership

Dirty Outreach


***

·       Safety (emotional, spiritual) and acceptance (with a place) on all levels

o   Questionable backgrounds?

o   Undocumented aliens

o   “Sanctuary”

·       Rigor and worship

o   Prayer Book (BCP), Hymnal, Bible (examples)

·       Episcopal based on Scripture? (justified war)

o   Baptism covenant

o   3 Legged Stool

§  Scripture [1]

§  Tradition [1]

§  Reason

o   Outreach

§  Social teachings

o   Commitment to stewardship  and a ministry intentionally individual

***

·       WORSHIP THROUGH MUSIC [6]

·       Being open to growth and change [1]

·       Honor diverse forms of worship (within Episcopal tradition) [2]

·       Inreach [9]

o   Spiritual Formation

o   Value Reflection

o   Seeking

o   Engagement

·       Outreach [3]

o   Hospitality

§  Newcomers

§  Community

o    Volunteer Opportunities

§  Variety

·       Parishioners supporting each other [1]

·       Stewardship of our facilities [2]

***

Place of Christian Episcopal worship [2]

·       Welcoming

o   All are welcome at the table [8]

·       Outstanding Music Program [6]

·       Christian Formation for all ages [5]

·       Church Family as Community/Community as Family/Church as Extended Family

o   Active Pastoral Care [2]

·       Outreach

·       Stewardship and Assets—Building and Grounds [1]

·       EVANGELISM [7]

***

·       DEVOTION (Christian Belief) [1]

·       EQUIPPING THE SAINTS FOR LIFE IN CHRIST [3]

·       WELCOMING [5]

·       FULL INCLUSION FOR CHILDREN [6]

·       ACCEPTANCE OF DIVERSE MEMBERS OF BODY OF CHRIST [4]

·       GEROSITY [1]

·       ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WORLD [2]

·       WORSHIP IS CENTRAL TO LIFE OF THE CHURCH [5]

***

·       Focus on the Trinity [4]

·       Focus on Spirituality [6]

·       Committed to social justice [4]

·       Community outreach [3]

·       Welcoming [2]

·       Embrace Diversity [1]

·       Music –the whole program [1]

·       Focus on children [2]

·       Generosity of time, talent, and treasure

·       Civility

·       Focus on spiritual grown [4]

o   Calling the best from each of us

·       Proactive

·       Willingness to be vulnerable [6]

o   More willing to be increasingly transparent

·       Providing a place of trust

·       Open

·       Stewardship [2] –how to do the most good for the most people

·       Compassion and support of each other as well as the greater community

·       HUMOR! [3]

***

1.    Community Inclusivity/Welcoming [4]

2.    Worship Connects Us on our Aspirational Journey [6]

3.    Outreach [2]

4.    Support of the Diocese [2]