THOUGHTS, WRITINGS, RECORDINGS
from our priests
Sermon from Rev. Carol Kelly
What we contemplate in faithfulness
“What you gaze on, gazes back.
What you contemplate in faithfulness,
Changes you into itself.
Turning and turning you’ll come around
To being
Open like the earth
In which much can grow.”
– Gunilla Norris
The gardener/ poet comes to realize that what she had thought of as “working in the garden” was actually, the garden “working on her.” There is within her soul, a willingness to be worked upon, an openness.
If someone were to come along and see her, it would look to them as if she were just a person working in the garden. But there is much more happening than that.
We are the ones who decide on what level we are working, walking, eating, and relating to people.
If we are merely working on a job without letting it inform us, it is going to be tedious. If we are merely “enduring” a relationship it is going to be deadening. If we are consuming food without asking it to enliven us, without a blessing, it will just be “filler” for our stomachs; a semblance of food without being real nourishment.
Nicodemus comes to Christ in the night, already on a different level because he recognizes that something entirely new from what he has ever known is breaking in upon the earth. When the Gospels report that something occurs “in the night” it means, “in the Spirit.”
To come to a new birth through “the formative power of the water and the breath of the Spirit” is to take hold of our spiritual development, to become a beggar of the Spirit as it says in the Beatitudes, humble, with our bowl always empty. In this way, we allow what we encounter to work upon us.
On earth, we have much hardship, but we are also hardened. Darkness prevails in our political/ social/ economic sphere. But if the light within us turns into darkness, then we are lost entirely.
Imagine that what you contemplate in faithfulness actually changes you into itself. What do you contemplate? What do you direct yourself to contemplate while you are doing something else? When do you become still and just contemplate one thing only?
We are the “bearers” of the Consecration of the Human Being. The Sacrament is born and borne through the human soul. We carry it for the rest of humanity. It is a light in the darkness. We do not come to church perfunctorily just to say we did. We come to allow it to work on us!
If we want to work on a higher level than we have up until now, we have to be born again. We have to allow ourselves to be informed by the Spirit in all that we do and say, if possible. We also need to act but let us do so in the light and with the power of the Spirit. Let us become what we contemplate and let us contemplate that which we would want to become.
Rev. Carol Kelly
Whitsun Letter from Rev. Kelly
Dear Friends,
Many people have been wondering what the idea/plan is behind the move to expand our yellow house. Here’s the explanation I can give so far.
The Hillsdale community has been the favored place for priest synods, conferences, Seminary classes and retreats for many years. As we look at the congregations across North America we can see that we are in the best location to provide a real center of activity, so that more of us can gather together to work, celebrate, create, meet, have conversations, learn and cultivate Christian Community. There is a perceived need for a Conference/ Retreat center.
One imagination is that we could expand the “yellow house” to include a larger kitchen, dining space, meeting space and a “dormitory” where people could stay. Maybe we can retain the cozy house feeling in the old living room with the fireplace. We don’t want to lose our “identity” in this expansion! We want to become “hosts” for visitors, in a gracious and abundant way.
Obviously, many questions come into the foreground:
How would this addition affect our congregation?
Will there be a manager to monitor the use, cleaning and renting of the space once it is built
How do we know that enough people want this to happen?
Whom will it serve?
How will the money for it be raised?
I would hope that our congregation would be excited about such an idea. I think that such a space could bring more people/ activity to our church. I do not think that it would have a great effect on our sacramental or congregational life. It might just bring more people to church.
We would surely have to hire someone to manage the building, rentals, etc...
I have spoken about this idea to the Regional Board on more than one occasion. They seem very positive about this idea. Many people in other congregations are also enthusiastic about it. We won’t really know how many people are behind it until we have a capital campaign and see if the idea can be supported.
It would serve the congregations of North America, first and foremost. Secondly, it would serve groups of people who come to the area for artistic workshops, Biodynamic farming, Spiritual Science studies and the like, to provide living space for participants.
It would also provide a better place for our own congregation to have festivals, potlucks and gatherings, as we continue to grow and expand.
It might also serve a home school group or two. The possibilities are quite open.
Once we have the feeling that our people in the Hillsdale congregation are behind the idea, and that we have fleshed out an imagination of the new space to the point where architectural drawings can be made, then we would have to hire a person to run a capital campaign to raise the money. We would need many conversations in order to have our congregation fully on board before we would begin anything.
Please feel free to come to me with any questions you may have. But better yet, come to the meeting on Sunday, Whitsun, and let’s find out what the future is bringing towards us!
With all good wishes,
Carol Kelly
North American Newsletter, Spring 2022
The Spring 2022 edition of the North American Newsletter of The Christian Community is out:
LINK to read it here!
Contents:
The Ocean Refuses No River by Rev. Gisela Wielki
A sharing from the Legacy Giving Initiative by Faith DiVecchio
Harmony Lake Children’s Camp by Rev. Carol Kelly
The Path from Easter to Ascension to Whitsun by Rev. Cynthia hindes
Priest Ordinations in Toronto by the Rev. Craig Wiggins
Sermon offered on Easter Day, 2022 in Denver, Colorado by Rev. James Hindes
Book review by Sunny West
The Incarnation of a Divine Being by Rev. Carol Kelly
Adventure Camps by Rev Ann Burfeind
The Handwriting on the Wall: Holy Week and Michael’s Balance by Rev. Peter Skaller
Wedding blessings!
May 8th, the Sacrament of Marriage was celebrated for Emma Bauer and Daniel Collette. Congratulations!
A note from Reverend Coleman
Dear Friends,
It has been almost a year since my ordination and sending to this congregation. And I keep meeting new people and also seeing familiar people who I haven't yet gotten to know. Please let's get together!
I will meet you for tea, we can meet at the church kitchen, or I can come to see you. Just reach out! So many people on Sundays, it's hard to talk to everyone!
I really would love to get to know you all better, children too! This is such a lovely and vibrant congregation and I feel privileged to be part of it.
Thank you,
Mimi
a loving request
Dear Congregation,
Our friend, Brenda Morehouse, has been struggling with chronic insomnia (and all of its” side effects) for over a year now and needs support. We can offer her support, whatever is possible, no amount is too small!
Please click on the link below for more details. Or reach out to Kendra Cumming.
With heartfelt gratitude for your support!
Kendra Cumming
Donations for refugees/humanitarian aid
Into the World, Lyubov Panchenko, Mixed Media (collage of fabric from coats)
(2 February 1938 – 30 April 2022) Bucha, Ukraine
Donations to support refugees and humanitarian aid in connection with the war can be transferred to the account of the Christian Community of the West German Region with an appropriate reference in the purpose of use.
Account holder: Die Christengemeinschaft
IBAN: DE96 3702 0500 0008 2597 00; BLZ/BIC: 37020500 / BFSWDE33XXX
Or:
Account holder: The Christian Community in Germany (Foundation)
IBAN: DE16 8502 0500 0003 6204 00: BLZ/BIC: 8502 0500 /BFSW DE33 DRE
https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/ukraine-crisis-relief-fund/
For more information from our affiliates in Europe:
Click Here
Artwork: Into the World, Lyubov Panchenko, Mixed Media (collage of fabric from coats)
(2 February 1938 – 30 April 2022) Bucha, Ukraine
Thank you for all your support, good thoughts and prayers!
Peace on Earth • William Carlos Williams, 1914
The Archer is wake!
The Swan is flying!
Gold against blue
An Arrow is lying.
There is hunting in heaven—
Sleep safe till tomorrow.
The Bears are abroad!
The Eagle is screaming!
Gold against blue
Their eyes are gleaming!
Sleep!
Sleep safe till tomorrow.
The Sisters lie
With their arms intertwining;
Gold against blue
Their hair is shining!
The Serpent writhes!
Orion is listening!
Gold against blue
His sword is glistening!
Sleep!
There is hunting in heaven—
Sleep safe till tomorrow.