WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:04.240 Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:07.919 Blessed be God's family now and forever. 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:08.800 Amen. 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:10.400 Let's pray together. 00:00:10.720 --> 00:00:18.480 Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid. 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:30.719 Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name through Christ our Lord. 00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:31.679 Amen. 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:33.280 The Lord be with you. 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:36.159 Let us pray. 00:00:39.280 --> 00:01:02.159 O God, who before the passion of your only begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain, grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:03.280 Amen. 00:01:21.680 --> 00:01:26.480 Elijah said to Elisha, Stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel. 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:31.920 But Elisha said, As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you. 00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:33.760 So they went down to Bethel. 00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:41.200 The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you? 00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:43.120 And he said, Yes, I know. 00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:44.400 Keep silent. 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:49.760 Elisha said to him, Elisha, stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho. 00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:55.040 But he said, As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you. 00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:56.879 So they came to Jericho. 00:01:57.120 --> 00:02:05.120 The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you? 00:02:05.280 --> 00:02:07.680 And he answered, Yes, I know. 00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:08.719 Be silent. 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:13.680 Then Elijah said to him, Stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jordan, to the Jordan. 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:18.800 But he said, As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you. 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:20.639 So the two of them went on. 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:29.520 Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance, and stood at some distance from them as they both were standing by the Jordan. 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:38.800 Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, struck the water, and the water was parted to one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground. 00:02:39.039 --> 00:02:45.199 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, Tell me, what I may do for you before I'm taken from you. 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:49.120 Elisha said, Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit. 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:56.000 He responded, You have asked a hard thing, yet if you see me as I'm being taken from you, it will be granted you. 00:02:56.159 --> 00:02:57.840 If not, it will not. 00:02:58.159 --> 00:03:06.560 As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:12.639 Elisha kept watching and crying out, Father, Father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen. 00:03:12.879 --> 00:03:17.439 But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:20.560 Hear what the Spirit is saying to God's people. 00:03:59.840 --> 00:04:02.560 Gather before me my loyal followers. 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:10.879 Let the heavens declare the righteousness of God's cause. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:39.439 Reading from Second Corinthians, even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:50.959 In their case, the God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 00:04:51.439 --> 00:05:00.720 For we do not proclaim ourselves, we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:13.839 For it is the God who said, Let light shine out of the darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:16.720 Hear what the Spirit is saying to God's people. 00:05:59.680 --> 00:06:03.680 And then Peter said to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:08.959 Let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:12.160 He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 00:06:12.399 --> 00:06:16.800 And then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice. 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:20.480 Listen to him. 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:25.360 Suddenly, when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus. 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:33.279 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:35.759 The Gospel of the Lord. 00:06:40.639 --> 00:06:41.920 Please be seated. 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:57.680 So always before Lent, the Sunday right before Ash Wednesday, we have this story of the transfiguration, which the disciples have this vision of who Jesus really is. 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:14.560 And I guess what I've heard throughout the years is that this is supposed to be a vision of Jesus' glory that's supposed to get us through Lent because we're getting ready to go on this 40-day fast, essentially. 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:43.040 But I want to suggest to you the reason this is not all that persuasive to me is that the disciples don't get it. 00:07:43.519 --> 00:07:52.079 I mean, right after this story, they go down the mountain and there's a boy who's got an unclean spirit, and the disciples can't help him. 00:07:53.040 --> 00:08:06.639 Beyond that, I have to admit, like a picture of um of glory, quite honestly, has never really quite helped me when I was giving up something that I didn't want to give up anyway. 00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:14.240 So I'd like you to consider this a little bit uh different than law and prophets. 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:20.160 And I'd also like you to consider with me how transfiguration can work a couple of ways. 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:32.559 Um the first Episcopal church I ever belonged to, I was working actually at a Methodist church, and I was going to the early service in the Episcopal Church so that I could have my own sense of spiritual renewal. 00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:40.399 And um, I remember this still, like I heard it yesterday, even though it's probably been 16 years ago. 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:45.039 One of the first sermons I ever heard was about the transfiguration. 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:51.840 And it was about, quite honestly, our ability to transfigure people for better and for worse. 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:59.679 This was in Atlanta, Georgia, and um the High Museum of Art had a display that was inspired by the Innocence Project. 00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:08.320 That is, um, they used DNA evidence in general to get people off of death row for crimes that they didn't commit. 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:23.759 And in the High Museum, there was a photo of the person who was accused for the crime, exonerated by DNA evidence, and then a photo of the person who committed the crime who had been found. 00:09:25.039 --> 00:09:30.480 And the people looked nothing like each other. 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:41.519 The falsely accused had been put behind bars by eyewitness testimony, and the people looked nothing alike except they were black. 00:09:42.960 --> 00:09:46.080 That's transfiguration for the worse. 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:51.919 When we can look at another person and transfigure them to look like what we're afraid of. 00:09:52.480 --> 00:10:05.679 Or when we can look at somebody who has a different, even religious or political opinion, and we can transfigure them to no longer be our brother or our sister, but to be our enemy. 00:10:06.399 --> 00:10:16.480 And I want to suggest to you that this happens way more often than we'd like to admit, and sometimes it even happens with people saying God wants us to do this. 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:28.879 It's almost like sometimes we have these moments where we get blinded by the light and can't see our brother or sister standing right next to us, especially in a disagreement. 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:51.759 And maybe you didn't share this thought with me, but I will tell you, this political season, particularly, I was reminded again about how often God's name gets put behind our politics of hatred. 00:10:53.360 --> 00:11:00.559 And no wonder that people are disenfranchised with church in America because it's disgusting. 00:11:02.559 --> 00:11:07.120 We can continue to transfigure one another like that. 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:20.559 But I think we're hearing this story right before Lent because, quite honestly, God would like to change the way we transfigure one another. 00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:30.559 And we need to fast from that kind of transfiguration so that we can feast on being transformed. 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:37.519 There's something really interesting that happens in this story that most folks leave out, to be honest. 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:50.240 And I don't know, somehow my ears got pricked to it a couple of years ago, and maybe you've heard me say this before, but it's not just that Moses and Elijah show up, they're having a conversation with Jesus. 00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:53.440 The problem is the disciples don't listen to it. 00:11:54.159 --> 00:12:02.399 We know they don't listen because they don't write down what they were saying, and there's a voice from heaven that says, Don't just look, listen. 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:04.879 This is my son, whom I love. 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:06.240 Listen to him. 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:13.200 And the disciples are so caught up with what they see that they fail to listen. 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:16.399 Now I don't know what they were talking about. 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:23.360 It could just be Jesus was high-fiving them and saying, Hey, you made it to the Sunday school flannel board. 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:24.559 Good job, Moses. 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:27.039 You made it to the Sunday school flannel board. 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:28.480 Good job, Elijah. 00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:31.279 But I have to be honest, because I've read the Bible. 00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:36.080 I wonder if Jesus wasn't calling them both to the carpet. 00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:41.360 Hey, Moses. 00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:52.799 I mean, you really think that God would like a child killed because they disagreed with their parents? 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:58.159 You passed that down as the way we should treat rebellious children? 00:12:58.320 --> 00:12:59.519 We should kill them? 00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:02.639 I mean, Moses, you did some good stuff, but really? 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:06.879 I mean, you rebelled against your own parents, Moses. 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:08.159 He did, by the way. 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:11.279 He grew up raised by Pharaoh's sister. 00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:22.080 Elijah, I mean, you know, you did some good stuff, but um, you also killed some prophets of Baal with your own hand? 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:26.399 I mean, is that really who you want to be? 00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:36.879 We can hear this story about Elijah and think that the chariot from heaven comes and brings him down to reward him because he's such a success. 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:44.159 But you know, you can also read the story that Elijah was mucking it up and God said, time to call you home. 00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:45.759 I mean it. 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:48.000 Read the story. 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:50.480 These guys aren't perfect. 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:54.000 And what if it's not just the law and the prophets? 00:13:54.159 --> 00:14:01.679 What if Jesus is inviting us to have a conversation with the law and the prophets ourselves? 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:20.159 What if Jesus is asking us to consider that sometimes, quite honestly, instead of us opening the Bible and hearing the ways God could lead us into life, we use the Bible to justify our poor behavior. 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:30.240 Or we use scriptures to say, see, look, this is how you should treat people who have the wrong political opinion, so it's okay that I hate you and God hates you too. 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:36.799 I do think that's faithful living. 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:38.480 I don't think so. 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:55.840 And I wonder if Jesus isn't asking us ahead of Lent to think about having a conversation with the scriptures that leads us to life instead of I submit to the surface reading. 00:14:56.399 --> 00:15:00.559 I submit to doing whatever it says. 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:12.080 I don't know if this is interesting for you or not, but I was taught in Sunday school, like when you hear the Abraham and Isaac story, that if God tells you to kill your child, that's what you should do. 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:20.159 But the rabbis have always said, Abraham, why are you not arguing on behalf of your own child? 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:33.039 Our Jewish brothers and sisters understand that there's a faithful response that can say, no, that's not life-giving. 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:37.759 They empower that response. 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:52.320 And I wonder if this story isn't inviting us to have a conversation, quite honestly, with the law and the prophets that we've memorized and say, where is life to be brought? 00:15:53.519 --> 00:16:00.960 And I want to suggest, quite honestly, that Moses and Elijah don't just represent the law and the prophets. 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:02.879 Moses represents tradition. 00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:09.360 And Elisha for me represents charismatic religion. 00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:23.440 That doesn't always look like patience and kindness and gentleness and self-control, which we hear are the fruits of the Spirit. 00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:31.600 Sometimes I think tradition and charisma can veil the gospel, like Paul talks about. 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:37.519 And maybe this Lent could be about pulling the veil back a little bit. 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:47.360 Now, tradition is going to say, give up something that you enjoy so you can prove to God how much you love God by being miserable. 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:49.919 And that's crazy. 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:52.720 Please don't do that. 00:16:53.600 --> 00:17:01.679 No, Lent is about saying, I mean, I want to suggest to you, Lent is really about making some trades. 00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:10.960 It's about trading habits that are gonna go nowhere for you or anybody else, for things that go somewhere for you and somebody else. 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:24.960 And maybe the thing we need to give up for Lent, quite honestly, is self-righteousness or trying to prove to God how much we're grateful for the love God gives us, whether we're grateful for it or not. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:32.240 Maybe what we could do for Lent is try to actually just enjoy God's favor and goodness. 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:44.960 Maybe something we could do for Lent is fast from self-defeating thoughts so that we could feast on loving God and one another. 00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:58.799 Maybe for Lent we're being asked to fast from transfiguring other people to look like our enemies so that instead we could transfigure people, especially when we disagree, to looking like our brothers and sisters in the Lord. 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:05.039 That has nothing to do with chocolate or wine, but it has to do with life. 00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:07.440 It has to do with life. 00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:28.640 Maybe we're asked to fast from having extreme faith like Elijah does, so that we can feast on being extremely faithful, like day in and day out. 00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:34.160 Maybe God does not want you to smuggle Bibles into Saudi Arabia. 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:38.000 I don't think God wants you to do that, by the way. 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:43.759 Although that might be extreme faith, I'm not convinced it's extremely faithful. 00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:50.160 Being extremely faithful is about being diligent in the smallest things. 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:52.640 The smallest things. 00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:17.680 Or they're saying something that they're afraid of, they're frustrated with. 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:44.799 It would transfigure somebody from being your enemy to being vulnerable. 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:52.319 The world needs more of that. 00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:57.519 You don't have to give something up for that. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:08.000 But the truth is, I think we're being invited because of this image, because of Jesus shining and going forward in glory. 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:12.880 Really being invited not to give up something we're in we enjoy. 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:16.799 We're being invited to put down baggage that we're carrying. 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:26.160 I wonder what baggage you could put down, and I don't just mean for the next 47 days, I mean for the rest of your life. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:31.119 And honestly, the baggage may not be that you're a selfish person. 00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:42.160 Maybe the baggage is you're worried about some parenting decision you made a bunch of years back. 00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:46.720 Or maybe you're just worried that you're broken and you can't be fixed. 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:53.119 Maybe you're worried that if you don't do enough, people won't like you. 00:20:56.000 --> 00:21:02.160 Maybe something happened to you a long time ago that you didn't earn and deserve. 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:05.039 And you still carry the residue of that. 00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:12.400 I think this is our chance to say, God, you don't want me to be defined by my past. 00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:14.880 You've got a future for me. 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:23.920 One of my former therapists told me this 90-10 rule, and this to me I think is what a holy Lent looks like. 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:31.839 The 90-10 rule is that at the moment we can be really bothered with somebody, and 90% of that comes from something that happened in our past. 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:35.759 And it's really only 10% about what's going on right now. 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:43.599 I wonder if at the end of Lent, I mean, really, if it's a holy Lent, we could at least be 80-20, you know? 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:46.160 Or 70-30. 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:49.440 When if we were really bold, like 60 40. 00:21:49.839 --> 00:22:06.960 I wonder if Lent isn't this chance to say, hey, it may not even be that I'm doing something morally wrong, but if I could lay down some of the bad That I'm carrying, whether I earned or deserved it or not, I would have a holier life. 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:24.960 And this is why, don't you see on Wednesday, we're going to come and get these ashes, if you'd like to, because we recognize that feelings are true in the sense that we really feel them, but they're not always real. 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:28.960 They're not always true with the capital T just because we have them. 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:37.599 That some of the things we do, quite honestly, are just regular things, and some of them lead to life, and some of them won't outlast us. 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:46.640 And so we're going to put ashes on our head as a reminder that many of the things that we do are going to die with us. 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:55.279 Like pettiness and selfishness, fight and flight responses. 00:22:57.200 --> 00:23:00.400 But faith, hope, and love will outlive us. 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:08.319 Faith, hope, and love are like the visible light that expands the universe infinitely. 00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:14.319 And yes, we are going to die, and that's not so bad, quite honestly. 00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:25.359 We have an opportunity to do things that will outlast us and that will push the horizons of the universe, and I mean in positive ways, further outside. 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:31.920 And Lynch is not about choosing misery, it's about choosing life. 00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:36.480 And here is Jesus inviting us into this conversation. 00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:43.680 What is life-giving for you about tradition and charisma and spiritual disciplines? 00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:45.039 Put it on. 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:48.799 And what is not life-giving for you? 00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:50.160 Lay it down. 00:23:53.359 --> 00:24:26.799 Prayers for you, that this Lent, that this epiphany, no matter what practice you do or don't, quite honestly, you will see Jesus brighter, not only in your mind's eye, when you pray and when you go to church, but when you disagree with somebody in your family, when you disagree with what the senators did this week, that you will somehow be able to see the light of the transfigured Jesus in them instead of the darkness of your own fears. 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:37.599 Please join me as we pray our faith in the words of the Nicene Creed. 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:40.960 We believe in one God. 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:49.119 We believe in the Lord. 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:25.519 For all people in their daily life and work, for our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone, for this community, the nation and the world, for all who work for justice, freedom, and peace, for St. 00:26:25.680 --> 00:27:20.079 Thomas the Apostle's School, for those who teach and those who learn, that they may rejoice in the knowledge of your truth, for the just and proper use of your creation, for the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and depression, for all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble, for those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy, for the peace and unity of the Church of God, for all who proclaim the gospel and all who seek the truth, for all bishops, priests and deacons, for the priests in our community, Mike, Jim, Craig, Bill, and Lillian, for Andy, Hector, Jeff, and Kay, our bishops. 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:23.680 In the diocesan cycle of prayer, St. 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:25.920 John's, Austin, St. 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:29.440 Julian of Norwich, Round Rock, and St. 00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:38.720 Luke's on the Lake, Austin, and for Michael, our presiding bishop, for all who serve God and his church. 00:27:39.440 --> 00:28:03.920 For the special needs and concerns of this congregation, for all who have commended themselves to our prayers, for our families, friends, and neighbors, especially Chris, Sean, Mark, Jerome, Janice, and those the congregation wishes to name at this time silently are allowed. 00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:11.279 Hear us, Lord, for your mercy is great. 00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:15.200 We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life. 00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:21.279 We will exalt you, O God our King, and praise your name forever and ever. 00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:32.960 We pray for all who have died, especially Don, Rudy, Joe, and Wendy, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom. 00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:41.200 Lord, let your loving kindness be upon them who put their trust in you. 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:46.000 We pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins. 00:28:47.680 --> 00:29:10.000 Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father, in your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things done and left undone, and so uphold us by your Spirit that we may live and serve you in newness of life to the honor and glory of your name through Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:10.960 Amen. 00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:17.279 God forgives you, forgive all others, forgive yourself. 00:29:17.839 --> 00:29:18.480 Amen. 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:29.680 The socially distanced peace of the Lord be always with you. 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:39.920 Good morning and peace. 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:43.039 Thank you for worshiping with us on the last Sunday of Epiphany. 00:29:43.359 --> 00:29:46.319 Just a few announcements to call to your attention. 00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:50.799 The first is Tuesday, of course, is Fat Tuesday. 00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:59.519 We will not be having a uh Jambalaya or uh Bayou Boyle, but you will start getting emails on Tuesday. 00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:04.240 Um one each day, Tuesday for all of Lent. 00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:06.640 It's possible that they're terrible. 00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:09.680 But if you unsubscribe, I can't resubscribe you. 00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:11.359 You have to resubscribe yourself. 00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:13.279 So just be mindful of that. 00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:17.200 There'll be 47 of these, and you may just want to hit delete, and that's okay. 00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:24.559 Um Wednesday, it's Ash Wednesday, and uh we have three opportunities here at St. 00:30:24.799 --> 00:30:25.359 Thomas. 00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:27.680 One is at 6:30 in the morning. 00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:37.039 That's my personal favorite, quite honestly, um, with a service of imposition of ashes and Eucharist, and we'll be on the road by 7.15. 00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:43.440 Um, the second is on the little driveway here off San Sebastian, we'll be having Ashes to go. 00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:49.200 That's a drive-through opportunity from 11:30 to 1.30. 00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:51.279 You don't have to RSVP for that. 00:30:51.359 --> 00:30:55.440 You can just drive through, and of course, friends and guests are always welcome. 00:30:55.599 --> 00:30:59.039 Um, and then the last one is Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. 00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:05.279 Um in here, and the church will have also imposition of ashes and holy eucharist. 00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:07.279 So that's this Wednesday. 00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:18.720 Um reminder that we're starting a Sunday morning Bible study that's going to be based on these emails you're getting, which are really just reflections on the book of Genesis, at least the first 25 chapters. 00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:22.160 Um Sunday mornings from 9 to 10. 00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:23.279 That's a Zoom meeting. 00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:29.920 And again, it's this is like a Linton Bible study we're going to do together based on some reflections that we look at all week. 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:45.680 The other opportunity I want to raise to you is that beginning not this Wednesday, but the next Wednesday, we're going to have a Zoom conversation about how it is that we live into things like forgiveness and reconciliation. 00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:54.480 We're going to talk about the ways that both scripture and psychology talk about things like sin and repentance and shame and guilt. 00:31:54.640 --> 00:32:01.759 Again, the goal is not just that we change some habit, but that we're also able to lay down some baggage in a holy land. 00:32:02.640 --> 00:32:16.000 Um lastly, I just um want to remind you that March the 6th will be our next fresh food distribution, and it'll be right out here in the parking lot at 7 45 until about 10. 00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:20.640 Oh, I did forget to mention I am trying to meet with each of you. 00:32:20.880 --> 00:32:28.480 Um there's not a rush, but I would be grateful just to have time with you because it's been a crazy year, quite honestly. 00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:43.359 I'm really happy to say that I've had vaccine number one, um, which helps a little, but I'm happy to meet socially distanced outside to bring you to my home or to my office or to meet you where it's convenient, um, frankly, just to catch up. 00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:46.640 Um, so please take me up on that opportunity. 00:32:46.880 --> 00:32:53.759 Continue to walk in love as Christ first loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God. 00:33:42.400 --> 00:33:45.440 This is the table not of the church, but of God. 00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:49.039 It is to be ready for those who seek relationship with God. 00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:51.440 So come, make this journey. 00:33:51.759 --> 00:34:03.839 You who have much faith and you who have little, you who have been here often, and you who have not been in a long time or ever before, you who have tried to follow, and you who have lost your way. 00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:08.719 Come and make this journey not because I invite you, God invites. 00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:11.760 It is God's desire that we gather here. 00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:13.760 The Lord be with you. 00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:16.639 Lift up your hearts. 00:34:18.239 --> 00:34:20.719 Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. 00:34:23.519 --> 00:34:32.880 It is right and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. 00:34:33.199 --> 00:34:43.360 Because in Jesus Christ our Lord, you have received us as your daughters and sons, made us citizens of your kingdom, and given us the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. 00:34:43.760 --> 00:34:54.079 And therefore we praise you, joining our voices with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven, who forever say this Hymn to proclaim the glory of your name. 00:34:54.400 --> 00:35:03.920 Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna and the highest. 00:35:04.159 --> 00:35:09.360 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna and the highest. 00:35:09.679 --> 00:35:14.639 Holy and gracious Father, in your infinite love you made us from yourself. 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:31.280 And when we'd fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you in your mercy sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all. 00:35:31.679 --> 00:35:39.679 He stretched out his arms upon the cross and offered himself in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world. 00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:52.079 On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread, and when he given thanks to you, he broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said, Take, eat. 00:35:52.320 --> 00:35:54.719 This is my body which is given for you. 00:35:55.039 --> 00:35:57.280 Do this for the remembrance of me. 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:06.719 After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, and when he given thanks, he gave it to them and said, Drink this, all of you. 00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:12.559 This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. 00:36:12.800 --> 00:36:16.719 Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me. 00:36:19.440 --> 00:36:22.559 Therefore, we proclaim the mystery of faith. 00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:27.840 Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. 00:36:28.079 --> 00:36:34.480 We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. 00:36:34.719 --> 00:36:39.519 Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer to you these gifts. 00:36:39.760 --> 00:36:48.960 Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the body and blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and an ending life in Him. 00:36:49.440 --> 00:36:58.079 Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy sacrament and serve you in unity, in constancy, and in peace. 00:36:58.480 --> 00:37:03.199 And at the last day, bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom. 00:37:03.440 --> 00:37:15.440 All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ, by him and with him and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and forever. 00:37:15.760 --> 00:37:16.400 Amen. 00:37:17.119 --> 00:37:21.039 And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray. 00:37:21.360 --> 00:37:31.440 Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:37:31.679 --> 00:37:44.400 Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:50.079 For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. 00:37:50.400 --> 00:37:51.039 Amen. 00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:55.119 Be known to us in the breaking of the bread. 00:37:55.679 --> 00:38:00.719 We who are many are one body, for we all share in the one bread. 00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:05.280 These are the gifts of God, and we are the people of God. 00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:16.320 I invite you to come forward to receive bread or a blessing by coming to the aisle closest to your right, coming down the front and returning on the far side to your seat. 00:40:13.440 --> 00:40:18.639 Before all creation, we acknowledge the mystery of this simple meal. 00:40:18.960 --> 00:40:26.320 Let it remind us of our common humanity and our commitment to love one another and all of creation. 00:40:26.800 --> 00:40:29.519 Through it may we be strengthened to service. 00:40:29.840 --> 00:40:31.920 In it may we find peace. 00:40:32.239 --> 00:40:32.880 Amen. 00:40:33.519 --> 00:40:40.880 Join the transfigured Jesus in conversing and living into the scriptures on behalf of the joy of the world. 00:40:41.199 --> 00:40:48.400 And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you this day and remain with you always. 00:40:48.719 --> 00:40:49.360 Amen.