The View from Bolton St.

“Retreat!”

It is clearly a leftover from my childhood, but whenever I hear ‘Retreat’ I think of King Arthur and his knights in Monty Python when they are ‘Running Away’ from the Castle. Its certainly an odd phrase, right? especially because in our context we use ‘A Retreat’ to plan how we will advance, not to turn around and go back. 

This week Memorial’s staff gathered for our beginning of the year program retreat - to reflect on where we are as a staff, to get to know each other better, and to begin to plan out for the next year.

After introductions we began by crafting a ‘Momentary Mission Statement’ — Not a permanent mission statement, or even a temporary one, but just a statement that would guide our conversation that day.

And we did this by first listing of words that came to mind when we think of Memorial, and then words that came to mind when we think of God. And wherever there was crossover we circled and bolded those words and that became our focus. 

Those words were things like Love, Community,  Acceptance, Timelessness, Challenge, Unique and of course, Fun. That to me sounds a lot like God and I hope it sounds a lot like Memorial Episcopal Church to you.

This exercise was both fun AND empowering - and is a small example of what we will be doing October 18-20th for our Parish Retreat. So I hope you will sign up TODAY if you haven’t already for what will be a really great weekend. 

There were two big take-aways from this week’s staff retreat; the first is that we should take the success of last week’s 1619 event as an example and try to do fewer events but with more focus, planning, communication and execution.  We don’t need to do everything, but the things we do do, we should do well.

The second is that our staff and volunteers could use a little more grace.  We are a busy place with a lot of things going on and a lot fo competing demands for attention.  And our staff are busy people who we ask a lot of.   But we shouldn’t demand it. And we shouldn’t take our frustrations out on staff when things don’t go well.

I am really proud of our current staff team.  They are big believers in the Mission and Ministry of Memorial, and they have genuine affection for this place and for all of you, as I do.  So lets ensure we reciprocate that affection by offering gratitude, thanksgiving, and acknowledging the things that our staff and volunteers do well all the time. 

This week in the Gospel we have the parable of the dishonest manager. And among other things it is a reminder that they way things work ‘out there’ in the world, are not always things that we should replicate ‘in here’ in the Church.  It is my hope that whoever you are at Memorial - volunteer or staff, new hire or rector, first time attender or Church Warden, that you see yourself first and foremost as a Child of God, and that you encounter everyone else the same way as well.

I am very excited for this year. Unlike the knights from ‘Monty Python’ I am not running away, but looking forward to moving ahead with our staff, volunteers and all of you as we build a better church, better community and better example of Jesus’ grace in our corner of Baltimore. 

The View from Bolton Street

Good Grief

Today as a community we are coming to terms with two very different kinds of losses.  On a national level we are marking the 18th Anniversary of September 11th; a painful and complicated day that holds starkly different memories for all of us. And we also are just becoming aware of the loss of Evelyn Fitzgerald, a long time member and staff member at Memorial, often the first face many of us saw when we came here for the first time and a constant source of joy and hope: both because of her infectious smile and because of the many ways we have seen her struggle through and overcome multiple bouts with cancer and brain tumors in her time with us.  Her death seems unbelievable in part because of all she has overcome before.

Which makes today a particularly good day to reflect on grief and what ‘Good Grief’ looks like. You see we live in a culture that does not embrace grief.  In fact we often shun grief, hide from it, run from it.  When someone dies the first thing we are told is to ‘calm down, breathe, don’t make a scene’ so that you can go to the hospital or morgue. It is not uncommon to see a grieving loved one pulled away from the scene of an accident because they are ‘getting in the way.’  We are instructed almost immediately to ‘get it together’, so we can deal with the business of death. Even our public theology often eschews death — ‘It was part of God’s plan’, ‘I guess God needed an angel’, ‘God won’t give you anything you can’t handle.’

We almost say to each other that our grief is an affront to God, a challenge to God and that God knows better.

That friends, is bad grief.  And Bad grief leads to all kinds of bad outcomes down the road. 

If we don’t allow ourselves to grieve. To slow down. To take time away and process the loss, the hurt, the trauma and the heart ache; we just end up expressing those emotions in other ways.

As a nation that may look like a vengeful war in an entirely different country resulting in more than 4,000 U.S. deaths, 30k+ injured and more than 200,000 Iraqi casualties. In a city it can look like a spiraling murder rate and overdose rate and a hands off police department.  In a family it can look like any number of things - violence, separation, estrangement, anger, divorce, hate, hurt. 

Grief is holy. Grief is necessary. Grief is Godly.

And the alternative can be hell. 

Friends whatever your connection to the events of today, practice some good grief.  Take a step back from your daily routine.  Remember the joyful moments that Evelyn or others brought you, put words to the feelings you have - maybe even put pen to paper and offer up some words of your own shame, guilt, worry, hurt, or loss. Reach out to someone who you have hurt or who you are just distant from because of your own grief. 

Eat.

Cry.

Rest.

There is a reason that our natural impulses during a time of grief are the same as the most basic desires of a child; because grief naturally draws us close to our Father and our Mother, to God in God’s self. And if we take time to indulge the natural pull of God’s love inward, we can begin to grieve well. To love well. And to heal well.

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears,

   and rescues them from all their troubles.

The Lord is near to the broken-hearted,

   and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:17-18

1619: A Community Discussion

Sunday, September 15th — Jazz Brunch and Conversation around the 1619 Project.

Join Memorial Episcopal Church, the Bolton Hill Social Action Task Force for a Brunch and Community Conversation to discuss and reflect on the 1619 project. A panel of experts including Dr. Christopher Bonner from the University of Maryland, Dr. Rob Helfenbein from Loyola University and Jennie Williams, A PhD candidate from Johns Hopkins will lead a discussion on the 1619 project, what it means for the study of history, for future students, and for us locally here in Baltimore.

The event will begin at noon with a jazz trio and brunch, followed by a poetry reading from Lady Brion, one of baltimore’s Local artistic treasures, who will also have copies of her book on hand to sell. Lady Brion will be followed by the panel, and there will of course be time for questions from the community.

There is no charge for the event, but contributions will be taken to support the Pennsylvania Ave Arts and Entertainment District.

Parish- Wide Retreat October 18th- 20th

Pearlstone Center Retreat

October 18th - 20th

Parish- Wide Retreat at Pearlstone Center

Hello Memorialites! From time to time, it is good for a faith community to take some time to gather together, pray, play, share and dream about what the future might hold.

You are invited to a Parish-Wide retreat October 18-20.

This is open to ALL OF YOU - but space is limited so sign up early.

The retreat includes lodging, meals, snacks and refreshments.

We will be at The Pearlstone Center an excellent retreat center in Carroll County with lots of activities for folks of all ages. Accommodations are air conditioned and accessible. Food is vegetarian/vegan friendly.

Retreat FOCUS...

1. To bring new and long-time memorial members together to learn and meet each other

2. To identify new leaders for ministries and committees

3. To cast a broad vision for the future of our parish in the context of the Kingdom of God and 21st century Baltimore.

Retreat COST:

Individual:

$150 per person for two nights lodging and 5 meals

Sign-up Now!

Family:

$400 per family for two night and 5 meals

Sign-up Now!

If you would like to attend but do not have the means please contact the church office for scholarship assistance or for more information.

The View From Bolton St.

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."

I admit it. These days I am distracted by many things. From xenophobic and hateful comments from the president, to the indefinite detention of migrant children, to the violence and murder in Baltimore city, even down to the inherent chaotic and busy nature of having two small children. I am a Martha among Martha’s, these days.

And honestly, why shouldn’t I be? How can I NOT feel pain at how people are being treated? How can I not be upset at the indifference to the chaos on our borders, the intentional pain being caused border patrol agents and government administrators, the existence and persistence of two Baltimore’s, and the seemingly worsening inequality in our city, in our community?

Does Jesus really want me to NOT CARE about those things?

I hope not. And I hope that you care, and continue to stay invested in the lives of the needy, the lost, the foreigner, the prisoner, the widow and the orphan.

BUT. Jesus doesn’t want you to get lost in those things either. My own passion and desire to make the world better does not come from any belief that I PERSONALLY can impact this world — but faith in the knowledge that Jesus desires a better way for all of us, and calls each of us to play a role in that. Jesus does not call us to worry and stress about many

things - but to focus on the one thing - Making his Kingdom a reality here on earth.

Instead of seeking to go to and fro ‘doing justice’ and wearing yourself out — perhaps you should consider only one movement, to the foot of Jesus. To offer prayers for justice and for equity. And to invite others to that same space with you. To make Jesus the center of that work. To make Jesus the center of your life.

And as you leave that you take Justice with you - so that whether you are protesting DHS detentions, re-sanctify sacred spaces in Baltimore, working for press freedoms, providing health care for the needy, or being a part of our making our justice system more just — you do so with Jesus at your side, and a community of love behind you. A Community represented by Memorial, by the Episcopal Church, and by the whole Church around the world.

Grant us, Lord God, a vision of your world as your love would have it:

a world where the weak are protected, and none go hungry or poor; 
a world where the riches of creation are shared, and everyone can enjoy them; 
a world where different races and cultures live in harmony and mutual respect; 
a world where peace is built with justice, and justice is guided by love.
Give us the inspiration and courage to build it, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The View From Bolton St

Independence Day    July 4

Lord God Almighty, in whose Name the founders of this country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain our liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

You may be surprised to learn that the Fourth of July is actually a prescribed Feast Day in the Book of Common Prayer. And while Memorial and many other churches have long since taken the American Flag out of our sanctuary, it is true that the Episcopal Church has always found itself in an uncomfortable relationship between Church and State. The ‘National Cathedral’ is after all an Episcopal Cathedral and historically many/most of America’s political leaders have identified as Episcopalian. Even today a significant percentage of members of the House and Senate are Episcopalian. And while many might have thought it strange to see Bishop Eugene Sutton appear on Fox News with Tucker Carlson, others saw nothing more than the Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland discussing current events with a layperson from the Diocese of Virginia; something that has been commonplace in this country since it’s founding.

What should the role of the Church? Of the Episcopal Church? Of Memorial Church be on this day? Or in the celebration of any kind of ‘civic religion’ for that matter?

To begin with, as tempting as it may be to say that we should be totally separate and have nothing to do with government at all — we aren’t Anabaptists. We vote. We engage with our elected leaders. We hold them accountable. We pray for better leadership. We even encourage our members to put themselves up for office and for government positions to be a part of that change. So abandonment is not an option. Government is messy. And our current politics are terrible. But life is messy, and as followers of Christ we have a responsibility to wade into the mess and attempt to make it better.

Further, as Anglican/Episcopalians some of our best work is civic religion! Whether it is our Presiding Bishop preaching at the Royal Wedding or a State Funeral for a president, or even giving the invocaron at City Hall or Congress, we are pretty good at this stuff. This is why you like Downton Abbey so much, we do things ‘properly’. Making the Jesus story a digestible story for everyone that fits both the current moment and the timeless story of the church, without offending anyone else. I certainly wouldn’t trust anyone else to do that work.

But, we should be careful. We don’t worship the flag, we worship God. The President is not King, Jesus is. We are not guided primarily by the constitution or the US legal system but by the Holy Spirit. And this independence is very important for Christians. We are in the world but not of the world.

As Christians we are stewards of Gods creation, so then as American Christians perhaps we should consider ourselves Stewards of Freedom and Independence. Not just protecting our own freedoms, but also the freedoms of those who have struggle historically or currently with establishing or maintaining them. We should be as or more concerned with migrant children who have had their freedoms taken from them, with the millions of incarcerated men women and children in this country whose punishment may not fit the crime, and for those populations in particular whose freedoms have been stolen in order to enhance our own freedoms.

I recommend in particular reading this 4th of July Frederick Douglass’ reflection “What to the Slave is the 4th of July” https://www.thenation.com/article/what-slave-fourth-july-frederick-douglass/
And then consider what we can all do to light the torch of freedom for others and maintain independence for all in righteousness and peace.

But most of all, if you do love this country, if you celebrate unflinching the freedoms we should all enjoy, do not let one person, even a powerful one, rob you of that joy. Do not let the antics of our elected leaders rob you of your love of freedom, your love of this country, or your love and care for each other. I encourage you to celebrate freedom unabashedly tomorrow. The freedom to gather with friends, neighbors, to engage in friendly disagreement, to eat the food and drink of your choice, to worship the God of your choice, the freedom to love neighbor and stranger, to care for friend and foe, to tend to the prisoner and the foreigner, and to above all believe that the Kingdom of God is at hand - and that this freedom, this love, this joy is what will bring it about.

The View from Bolton St

Praying for not a ‘Cruel, Cruel Summer’

Forgive the 80’s pop reference - but I am glad to be walking in to summer with you all and it is my prayer that it is indeed NOT a ‘Cruel, Cruel Summer.’ 

It has been a rewarding and inspiring year at Memorial. We have integrated new staff (welcome Justine! Hannah! Youngjin! Natalie! Jill!) and are saying goodbye to one (bye Youngjin!) as she heads off to complete her PhD in Boston.  

We have expanded our Children’s programs, reinvigorated our music ministry, and strengthened the ‘bones’ of the parish with new focus on the B+G, Finance and on the Vestry.  

It is time to take a breath, to step back and reflect on the year, and to gather and pray together over the summer.  One of the joys of summer worship for me is that we all come to Church with no agenda. There are not many events to plan or meetings to make or schedules to fill, just an opportunity to gather together - to sing, pray, and worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I hope you will be so inclined to join us for that worship this summer as you are able. 

Of course we aren’t taking the summer ‘off’ — the vestry and staff are deep into planning already for next year and the Justice Committee is planning a series of book conversations over the summer  — but it is an opportunity for all of us to rest and perhaps to explore an aspect of faith and life that we don’t get a chance to do in the year. Read the Bible everyday?  Pray with a group? Take communion to the sick?  Sing?  Volunteer with our August Kids Camp? 

Summer is a great time to explore and try new things and I hope you will take advantage. And I look forward to seeing you on Sunday!  The Deacon is preaching so look out! 

All God's Children Camp

All God's Children Camp

The All God's Children Camp, held each summer at Claggett, brings together children, 8 -12, from diverse socio-economic, religious and cultural backgrounds in order to help all to enjoy and appreciate their differences The staff are parents, grandparents, young adults and older adults who are all especially trained to help children interact positively in the dorms, dining rooms and in all activities. The Staff to child ratio is 2 or 3 to 1. There is a swimming pool, fishing pond, hiking trails, arts and crafts center, a ropes course and much more on this 260 acre former farm!

 Children from parishes and neighborhoods in the city gather for a 6 day residential camp.Memorial Episcopal Church has provided "camper ships" for several children each year since 1997. Initially referrals were made by teachers at Eutaw Marshburn Elementary School#11 (McMechen St & Eutaw Place). Gradually families moved around, younger siblings became eligible, and our recruiting area widened to West Baltimore. 

 This year 5  or 6 children have asked for help to attend. The Claggett fee is $390 per child. 

All the camp staff are volunteer and pay for themselves. Any and all contributions to the camp are gratefully welcomed!! Make checks out to Memorial Church with All God's Children on the memo line. All God's Children camp seeking any all contributions, both by check andNow ONLINE.

The View from Bolton St

Chairs! (For now)

In January when I first floated the vision of Memorial becoming ‘A Model Church for the 21st Century’ we talked a lot about what that would look like. One way the vestry has been exploring his is to replace an institutional model of thinking (plan, plan, plan, plan, execute) with a ‘new process’ model of thinking: Brainstorm, implement, review, adapt, implement, repeat. Over the last two weeks we have seen one example of this before our eyes in the sanctuary - new, blue chairs. A comment I heard repeatedly over the weekend was - “I love these chairs, whose are they?” Whether for the wedding, reception on Saturday, or for the Holy Eucharist and Baptism on Sunday - over and over people asked me about those new blue chairs in the Sanctuary. And the answer is they belong to us! I am so glad you like them! But don’t worry! They are not permanent. Unless we decide they are.

A little bit of backstory:

In order for the Sanctuary to work for services and for an event space, we knew we needed chairs. We intended to borrow some chairs but the chairs we identified were not of good quality and were going to present a number of challenges. At the same time, the worship committee and the vestry wanted to explore what the sanctuary space would look like as a more flexible, open space. Summer is an ideal time to do this because our attendance is lower, the services are less formal, and the fall marks a good time to put things ‘back into order’ and start again. Of course, new church chairs are fantastically expensive. To replace our current stock of hardwood and cushioned chairs would be about $300 per chair. Close to $50,000 all told. However, after consulting with some other churches, including our former interim rector Kristin Krantz, we identified a significantly cheaper option (less than $6,000 total) that we can use for the summer and either keep or sell/repurpose in the fall. We had some generous contributions to help make this happen so it has not impacted our budget. Instead of making a big push for something we were unsure of, we did it in a smaller, more manageable way that would allow us to evaluate and adapt going forward. The pews and the old chairs are in storage in the lower parish hall for the summer. Following this experiment we will do some significant listening to the parish about how they feel about the changes, and then make a determination with the vestry about the vest way to proceed. I know that for some of you this is a significant change. Those pews are well worn, and hold important and significant memories for us. They have marked baptisms, weddings, funerals, productions, and the growing up of family. They may be a bulwark against the passage of time and a source of important comfort. Unfortunately, they also are falling apart and I have been advised that if we don’t do something, they may end up being decommissioned all on their own.

So What is Next?

The Worship Committee will be experimenting with the worship space over the summer. We know there are some significant repairs needed in the sanctuary, particularly the altar rail, the cork tile floor, and some of the stain glass. As your Rector, it is my hope that we might consider a significant renovation of the Sanctuary and Church Building, beginning sometime in 2020/2021. Our Buildings and Grounds Committee has shepherded significant renovations of the Rectory and the Parish Hall, but the Sanctuary continues to have quite a few needs outside and inside. It is my hope that seeing the space opened up without the pews, even for a short period of time, will give us some vision as to what the possibilities could be for the space moving forward and create some excitement around the future of our worship and our common life together. So please join us for worship this Summer! Test out the chairs. The sight-lines. The angles. The worship experience. And help to provide feedback as to what you are looking for in your Church experience. From the moment you enter, to when you take your seat, to how you receive communion, to the music that brings you in and that carries you home. If we are to be a model church for the 21st century - it will take all of our investment in the ongoing conversation.