COMING SOON: Integrity Eucharist DVDs!

The final edits are done and the "master" is off to the duplicating house in the last step of the journey toward distribution. We should have a release date early next week -- stay tuned for that!

But in the meantime, here's a "foretaste of the heavenly banquet" ... a brief promo video just posted to You Tube.

ENJOY!!

"Take up your cross"

I know I'm working a week ahead here, but has anybody else noticed that Jesus said his disciples should "and take up their cross and follow me" not "jump up on a cross and let someone else nail them to it."

Makes me wonder if the faithful place to stand is following Jesus to the resurrection place -- not getting stuck in the "crucified place."

Slow Day at Schism Central

It must be a slow news day at Schism Central.

The reason I think that to be true is that I got a "Google Alert" this morning that one of them had written something that included "all saints church pasadena" (what I have Google set to Alert me about) endorsing what's being called a "Pansexual Declaration."

OK. I bit. Clicked on the link and found this "breaking news" headline:

263 Episcopal Clergy including 20 Bishops Endorse Pansexual Declaration

Turns out the breaking news is not so breaking. Turns out I signed the aforementioned declaration -- while I was Associate Rector at St. Peter's, San Pedro. (And since I'm about to celebrate my 8th Homecoming Sunday at All Saints Church, that was -- suffice to say -- awhile back!) Running quickly down the list I also spied Michael Hopkins -- President of Integrity. (not for a while) Mark Hollingsworth -- Archdeacon. (now a bishop) And Fred Borsch -- Bishop of Los Angeles. (+Jon's going on 10 years!)

Hello. If there really isn't anything new to report from Schism Central, how about giving it a rest and -- oh, I don't know ... how about:

Training some acolytes. Visiting some shut-ins. Organizing a rummage sale to buy malaria nets for Malawi.

But that's not going to happen, because here's the deal: They're not interested in mission and ministry! They're so busy worrying about what we might be doing in bed that they run out of time to work on what they might be doing in the world.

So ... for the record ... there IS no breaking news out of Schism Central. The knickers in a knot are for naught. AND ... in case you're interested ... here's copy of the darned fine declaration that has them all so hot and bothered ... multiple years after the fact. (You might just want to go sign on yourself ... it looks like might not be too late!)
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Religious Declaration on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing

Sexuality is God's life-giving and life-fulfilling gift. We come from diverse religious communities to recognize sexuality as central to our humanity and as integral to our spirituality. We are speaking out against the pain, brokenness, oppression, and loss of meaning that many experience about their sexuality.

Our faith traditions celebrate the goodness of creation, including our bodies and our sexuality. We sin when this sacred gift is abused or exploited. However, the great promise of our traditions is love, healing, and restored relationships.

Our culture needs a sexual ethic focused on personal relationships and social justice rather than particular sexual acts. All persons have the right and responsibility to lead sexual lives that express love, justice, mutuality, commitment, consent, and pleasure. Grounded in respect for the body and for the vulnerability that intimacy brings, this ethic fosters physical, emotional, and spiritual health. It accepts no double standards and applies to all persons, without regard to sex, gender, color, age, bodily condition, marital status, or sexual orientation.

God hears the cries of those who suffer from the failure of religious communities to address sexuality. We are called today to see, hear, and respond to the suffering caused by violence against women and sexual minorities, the HIV pandemic, unsustainable population growth and over-consumption, and the commercial exploitation of sexuality.

Faith communities must therefore be truth seeking, courageous, and just. We call for:

•Theological reflection that integrates the wisdom of excluded, often silenced peoples, and insights about sexuality from medicine, social science, the arts and humanities.

•Full inclusion of women and sexual minorities in congregational life, including their ordination and the blessing of same sex unions.

•Sexuality counseling and education throughout the lifespan from trained religious leaders.

•Support for those who challenge sexual oppression and who work for justice within their congregations and denomination.

Faith communities must also advocate for sexual and spiritual wholeness in society. We call for:

•Lifelong, age appropriate sexuality education in schools, seminaries, and community settings.

•A faith-based commitment to sexual and reproductive rights, including access to voluntary contraception, abortion, and HIV/STD prevention and treatment.

•Religious leadership in movements to end sexual and social injustice.

God rejoices when we celebrate our sexuality with holiness and integrity. We, the undersigned, invite our colleagues and faith communities to join us in promoting sexual morality, justice, and healing.

If you build it, they will come

One of the great joys of my "day job" is working with the welcoming, newcomer & incorporation ministries here at All Saints Church. As we gear up for the new program year starting this fall, I just wanted to share part of an email I received on Sunday evening as a follow up to the Sunday morning "Newcomer's Coffee" we have here every Sunday at 10:15 (between principle services).

I believe what this young, married, mother-of-a-3 1/2-year-old was looking for in the church she had "been looking for for a long time but didn't know it until she found it" is just the tip of the iceberg of those who surround ALL of our congregations and communities -- those yearning for a faith community and passing us by because they don't know enough about us to know we ARE what they're looking for.

But enough from me. Here's what she had to say:

Hi Susan,

We met today at the Newcomer's Coffee. Thank you for taking the time to chat with us this morning. I am so excited to have found All Saints - I've been looking for a church that incorporates what I love from my childhood (I was raised Catholic) with the truly Christian values that I want my daughter to grow up with. Honestly, I didn't think I'd find a church where I felt at home and I'm so happy and relieved.

I want my daughter to be part of an inclusive, loving, religious community where members are equals and I didn't feel like I had that growing up. The fact that women can't be priests & birth control is not allowed are among the reasons I left the Catholic church.

It sounds so cheesy, but I feel like I've been looking for you guys for a long time, but didn't know until I found you. I wanted a church so that my daughter would grow up in the church and wasn't banking on finding a place that I am so excited about for myself! Sorry for the long email and it was great to have met you.

Thanks!

She's now signed up for our fall "Exploring Membership" class and hooked up with our Children's Minister to schedule baptismal preparation for her daughter.

Come on people ... no more "IF we build it, they will come!"

We HAVE built it ... let us rejoice and be glad in it ... and then let us "proclaim by word and example (and blog post and Facebook and Twitter and whatever ELSE we have at our disposal!) the Good News of God in Christ Jesus" ... AND The Episcopal Church!

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The word is out: Being Episcopalian is a GOOD thing! :)

Faith & Our Future

by Bishop J. Jon Bruno

[From this month's "Angelus" -- the clergy newsletter of the Diocese of Los Angeles.]

I'm excited about the Diocese of Los Angeles. I have great trust in its people and the processes that order our common life.

An exemplary job has been done by the Search and Nominating Committee for two bishops suffragan. We have a very balanced list of candidates who are all skilled and capable of doing an excellent job.

I feel blessed that we had more than 50 people who chose to allow their names to stand for nomination. The committee did wonderful work in narrowing the list by increments - knowing the criteria and job description for the final candidates - and in doing so selected the absolute best candidates possible.

I thank everyone who allowed his or her name to stand for examination. Personally, I know it was probably difficult for some who did not make it to the final list. They deserve our admiration and our thanks.

I look forward to the Diocesan Forum with the Candidates on September 19 at Campbell Hall, and I want to urge all of you in this Diocese to take an active part. (Advance registration is requested through the diocesan web site.) Come listen to the candidates. Each will be given an opportunity to meet you and in smaller groups share time with all of you.

If we can trust in our God and the process, I'm sure that we will elect two bishops suffragan who will not only meet but also exceed the expectations of the call. This is the beginning of our future - it's coming a decade after my election to serve as bishop of the Diocese, and I'm looking forward to starting afresh with these two new colleagues.

We have a plan for the future, and it includes working toward re-incorporating into our Diocese the four congregations whose members voted five years ago to break away from our Church. When the new bishops suffragan are on board, we will invite them into the leadership of deciding where we go in the future in this process.

No matter what, we are always open to reconciliation. I've been contacted by several of the clergy who left the Diocese who've asked to be reinstated. I am evaluating with my fellow bishops and leadership of this Diocese how we can be of service in providing reconciliation.

I'm looking forward to the future of unity, harmony and growth.

+J. Jon Bruno

Local Hero: Michael Bamberger

How great to open the Episcopal News update email and find this profile of clergy colleague Michael Bamberger with his "other hat" (the firefighter one) on!

From the article: Bamberger, a priest for 28 years and a volunteer firefighter for 20, had spent the last several days juggling both vocations.

While praying for families of two firefighters killed battling the blaze, he also substituted briefly as acting fire captain and served as volunteer battalion chief in Sierra Madre, about 20 miles northeast of Los Angeles.

"This is one of our ministries: fire prevention and life and property protection in the community," said Bamberger.

Read the rest here ... and give thanks for Michael and ALL the brave firefighters working so hard to keep us out of harm's way.
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