Support the Troops - Seek Peace

Memorial Day preaching - it is a conundrum. Working for peace has been cast as un-patriotic in recent times. In true Anglican fashion, I seek to tread the middle way between honoring our soldiers and seeing peace as the best way to support them. Read it here.

To read the lessons for today, visit the Lectionary Page.

Not quite a disturbance in the Force

but this morning's LA Times had this story about another bit of nature thought to be extinct. Every now and then God sends us these little gifts of hope. We see that what once was lost, has now been found. The Eriogonom truncatum is commonly known as Mount Diablo buckwheat and looks like pink baby's breath. It has not been seen since 1936. This comes on the heels of the reappearance last month of the ivory billed woodpecker which had also been hiding for over 60 years. These are gentle metaphors for things that we feared were lost or lifeless. For Heaven's sake, even the Democrats in Washington are showing signs of life! Some energy has brought these things out of obscurity and back into our awareness. I plan to give thanks for that and see if, like the Force, it can be tapped and used for good. I feel a peace sermon comin' on....

The Trinity - Brought to you by the Letter P

Trinity Sunday is a challenge for preachers. Several years ago, Dr. David Cunningham published his book on the Trinity and it opened up helpful ways to think about the Trinity, however you name it. It's a heavy topic but oh so valuable to know ourselves as one people in all of our diversity, all brought to you by the letter P. Read it here and then go practice being the Trinity.

To read the lessons for today, visit the Lectionary Page, hosted by the Office of Liturgy and Music of the Episcopal Church.

Praying and working for peace

Jewell's wonderful song A Life Uncommon includes this bit of wisdom:

"There are plenty of people who pray for peace
but if praying were enough it would have come to be"

Lend your voices only to sounds of freedom
No longer lend your strength
to that which you wish to be freed from.
Fill your lives with love and bravery
And you will lead a life uncommon"

Here's a way to add some action to your prayers for peace. Lend your voice to the movement to create a U.S. Department of Peace. Visit the www.thepeacealliance.org and see how you can be a part of the possibilities.

Practicing what I preach

On Mother's Day, I preached about letting go of our kids to set them free in the world. With a big gulp, I am now preparing to do just that. My daughter Melanie has been living with me since last September, all through her application process for grad school. Her decision has been made and in July she will head off to Bloomington, Indiana to begin a Masters in Library Science at Indiana University.

This time that we've had together has been such an unexpected blessing - I returned to the US last year from Paris with no idea where I would land. When Bishop Jon Bruno of Los Angeles appointed me Vicar of Faith Episcopal, I'd never even heard of Laguna Niguel. It turned out to right down the road from where Melanie was living. God always manages these things better than I ever could - giving us more than we could ask or imagine.

I'm so proud of her. All I can do is rejoice with her and bless her on this new adventure. That is what mother's are supposed to do. I also know that God fills empty spaces so I look forward to seeing what's next!

First you have to listen

Today, May 15, is the Feast of Pentecost. No one spoke in tongues this morning at Faith Episcopal, but there were beautiful red flowers, bright red vestments and a heck of a sermon, entitled First You Have to Listen. To read the full text, click here. The good Reverend will stop by later to recap, so keep checking in!

To read the lessons for today, visit the Lectionary Page, hosted by the Office of Liturgy and Music of the Episcopal Church.

-Melanie

On the Yellow Brick Road again

The story of Dorothy's adventures as hero's journey, (in the good company of Luke Skywalker, Beowolf and others) is a personal metaphor that I seem to revisit periodically. My journey toward ordained ministry began with a tornado (Indiana variety) and at most important events along the way, red shoes have been involved. Along the way, I I've met my intellect, my heart and courage. Max, my terrier companion, has been my little Toto, has steadfastly reminded me that I always have all that I need with me. Thanks to Caroline Myss's book Sacred Contracts for her interpretation of Dorothy as hero. I read it last year as I was preparing to leave the Cathedral in Paris to return home and it was just what I needed.

Now I find myself making costumes for a local school's production of The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy, the Wicked Witch of the West and two Glinda's (the principle and the understudy are not at all the same size - drat!) have taken over my dining table. I'm having fun and it feels like metaphor work. The show is in a week and a half and I still have much to do. But all things considered, I'm glad I'm not in Kansas. Afterall, what's the point of meeting yourself on a journey if you only go back to the starting place?

The Divine Work of Mothering

Today's sermon was my first Mother's Day's sermon. It touches on mothers in the Bible, Jesus as mother and the origin of Mother's Day as a peace initiative. Also included are my own observations from 27 years of mothering, and a cute story about elephants. To read the full text of the sermon, click here (I have decided to publish my sermons to a separate blog).

To read the lessons for this Sunday, please visit the Lectionary Page, hosted by the Office of Liturgy and Music of the Episcopal Church.

Test photo. Isn't it pretty. 

Welcome, Shalom and Bienvenu

Welcome to my new blog, VicarDoodle. I am The Reverend Sharon Gracen, Vicar of Faith Episcopal Church in Laguna Niguel, California. This blog is an experiment in extra-pulpit communication, intended to be a means of communication with family and friends, those known and unknown. It is also a way for Faith Episcopal Church to be present in the community, local and online, as a voice for a theology of peace, welcome and a thoughtful approach to life as Christians.

The name came from a conversation with my daughter about all of the dog breeds that have arisen from crossing poodles with other dogs. We now regularly run into Schnoodles, Goldendoodles and Labradoodles. In the same conversation I noted my severe need for a haircut, worrying that I was beginning to resemble a poodle. My daughter - bright little wretch that she is - opined that that would make me a Vicardoodle.

I plan to use this blog to post sermons, news, reflections on life in such a complicated world. Your comments will be most welcome as I develop this new online presence.

Max the Churchdog will be an occasional guest blogger, as will Melanie, my daughter, who is making me do this.