Claiming our context, Salt and all
February 9, 2014
Christ Church Episcopal, Norcross, GA
5th Sunday after Epiphany – Year A RCL
Isaiah 58:1-9a, (9b-12), 1 Corinthians 2:1-12, (13-16), Matthew 5:13-20
About ten years ago, while working at Chase Bank, I was selected to participate in an Executive Women’s Consortium at Smith College in Massachusetts. I spent two weeks with about 125 other women executives from various corporations. Each day we’d attend classes led by professors from ivy-league universities. The classes weren’t so much finance-related, but instead provided deeper insight into aspects of society that impact our lives and businesses.
One class in particular has continued to stick with me through the years. The focus of the discussion was on Culture and Diversity. In general, we tend to think of Culture in fairly broad terms, specifically as it relates to Race, Gender, Nationality – things like that.
I remember the instructor talking about gender – pointing out some basic differences in how men and women handle things – even something as simple as greeting one another. You see, when a woman greets another person, she often begins with some kind of compliment – “Oh, Suzie, your hair looks so nice, is that a new style?” or “The blue in that dress really brings out your eyes!” You know how it works.
On the other hand, men have the opposite approach. If a man begins by paying a compliment to another man, it’s only as a way to get to the jab… “Dennis, that’s a great tie you’re wearing, too bad you spilled your lunch on it!” Right?!
A few words from Jesus, CEO
October 27, 2013
Christ Church Episcopal, Norcross, GA
Proper 25 – Year C RCL
Joel 2:23-32, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18, Luke 18:9-14
As many of you know, before attending seminary, I spent twenty years in the banking industry. During my last job there, I was the Business Manager for the Commercial Middle Market of the Southwest Region, working closely with the CEO of that Market. About once a quarter we’d carve out a week or two to travel to each city in our region to touch base. Each day we’d hop on a Southwest Airlines flight (“the company plane”) and head to San Antonio, or Dallas, or El Paso… you get the picture.
David, my boss, liked to use every minute possible to prepare for these meetings. He wanted them to be productive, personal and motivating. So after boarding the plane each morning around 7:00 a.m., David, the finance guy, and I would sit together, pull out a stack of spreadsheets, and begin identifying the talking points for that day’s discussion.
Since most people on the plane just want to get one more hour of sleep before reaching their destination, it’s not surprising that we were greeted with scowls from nearby passengers, but David was oblivious to that. He had a message to deliver, and he wanted to be ready. The comfort of those around him was of no concern.
During those trips, day after day over the course of the week or two, David would share his vision for the business, adding market-specific nuance to fit their needs, but the overall theme was consistent.
I think the writer of Luke’s gospel would have fit well into this corporate communication model. There’s a repetitious theme that runs through the stories, with slight variations based on the audience, not unlike David’s market visits. As I started thinking more about this, I wondered what it might look like if Jesus had crafted and delivered his message in a similar way. Read the rest of this entry »
Rooted in Faith
October 6, 2013
Christ Church Episcopal, Norcross, GA
Proper 22 – Year C RCL
Lamentations 1:1-6, 2 Timothy 1:1-14, Luke 17:5-10
When I began thinking about how to make today’s gospel lesson come to life in a tangible way, I thought I might have each person take a mustard seed as they entered the sanctuary this morning. Perhaps I’d put a bowl full of mustard seeds in the narthex so that each person could pick one up on the way in… or maybe the ushers would hand one little bitty mustard seed to each person, along with the service leaflet. Each little mustard seed taken would represent our Faith.
But the more I thought about it, the more I could hear the voices and thoughts of each of you as we reached this moment in the service. When I asked you to pull out your mustard seed and hold it in your hand… to show me your Faith… I kept hearing:
- “I think it’s at the bottom of my purse… oh, there’s no way I can find it under all this”… or,
- “I didn’t realize that was something we needed to hold on to”…
- A few of you may have it neatly wrapped up in a handkerchief… and would prefer just to keep it tucked away for safe keeping…
- While others would be turning to the person next to you, asking, “Have you seen mine? I could swear it was here a minute ago.”
Tricky thing that little mustard seed… and even more tricky, that thing we call Faith.
Find A Way
September 8, 2013
Christ Church Episcopal, Norcross, GA
Proper 18 – Year C RCL
Jeremiah 18:1-11, Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17, Luke 14:25-33
Last Monday afternoon, at 1:53 Eastern Time, something amazing happened. No, it wasn’t that your teenager finally woke up, after sleeping-away most of the Labor Day holiday… it was even more amazing than that… after swimming 52 Hours 54 Minutes 18.6 Seconds, Diana Nyad made history as the first person to swim the 110-mile Florida Strait… and she did it without a shark cage.
Diana Nyad, Photograph by J. Pat Carter, AP
It was her 5th attempt. Her first attempt came when she was in her twenties. Her goal was accomplished at the age of 64. That’s what I call commitment!
In an interview on Good Morning America the next morning, she struggled to speak because of the cuts inside her mouth. They were caused by a mask she wore while swimming at night, to protect her from poisonous jelly-fish. In spite of this discomfort, in the interview, she was radiant! She beamed as she talked about the accomplishment and the many people that helped her through.
She also admitted that this wasn’t easy – and she knew it wouldn’t be. After four previous attempts, she didn’t kid herself into thinking any of it was going to be fun. It was going to be a struggle. But this time, she came up with a mantra that she used in those moments when the struggle was overwhelming… she said “Find a way.”
jodygreenwood 