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By Jordan Easley, January 29, 2012 7:00 am

I love talking with people about football, especially as we approach Super Bowl XLVI (That’s Extra-Large-Very-Intense, for those of us who don’t read Roman numerals).  It seems like everyone I talk to has allegiances, and even the folks who don’t care much about the sport have picked a team.  And that’s just the PRE-game banter.

I love watching people watch football even more.  When it comes to the actual game, that’s when you see folks get really excited.  The Super Bowl’s the bet time to see the quietest, most serene people explode with energy like you never thought was possible.  So this got me thinking:  if watching (and talking about) football is this much fun for us, then how much more fun is watching US for the saints in heaven?

Hebrews chapters 11-12 tell us that we (God’s Church) are surrounded  by a great cloud of witnesses – folk like Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Rahab, Gideon, and David. Even though these people lived before Jesus Christ came to earth, they persevered in their faith in God, through hardship and childlessness and wandering and torture and death.  “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us.”  [Hebrews 11:39-40}.

Today, however, we have the Church’s full revelation of Jesus.  We don’t just have to “hope” that God’s promises are true;  they have already come true!  Jesus has come to earth, lived among us, died for our sins, risen from the dead, ascended to heave, and sent his Spirit to live inside of us.  We have “something better” that the saints of old never had.

And right now, all the saints in heaven are excitedly watching as we run the race that they ran.  Only because we have the full revelation of Jesus Christ, the race is WAY more exciting than when they ran it.  They are cheering for you!  Even more importantly, Jesus himself is excited for you as you run this race.  He isn’t just watching you and cheering for you.  He’s gone ahead of you.  He’s made the way for you.  He’s running beside you.  He’s working inside of you.  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders…and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith.  [Hebrews 12:1,2].

Your Brother,

Jordan

The Rev. Jordan Easley

Assistant

On the Mark January 29th

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By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, January 22, 2012 9:40 am

A meeting, according to the dictionary, is an act of coming together or assembly of persons for a purpose.  It can also describe a body of persons or an assembly for religious worship, for example, Quakers meeting.  I like this definition:  a meeting is a place or point of contact, junction, union, as in the meeting of two roads or the meeting of the waters.

Today, immediately following the 10:30 service, St. Paul’s will have its Annual Parish Meeting.  Let’s anticipate that we will be meeting with God and with one another as we finish the Year of Freedom, 2011, and enter into the fullness of 2012, the Year of Expansion.

At our meeting, we have much to celebrate and to discuss regarding what the Lord has done for us, is doing, and is about to do.  As we meet, let us give Him thanks.

See you at the meeting,

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

On the Mark January 22nd

Rector

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By Jordan Easley, January 15, 2012 9:56 pm

He was born in 251 A.D. into a wealthy Christian family in the city of Cooma in Egypt. He inherited a large fortune when his parents died, and he seemed content with his life until the age of 34. One day, however, as he was sitting in church listening to the Gospel lesson, he heard the words of Jesus to the rich young ruler: “If you want to be perfect, go, sell all your possessions and give it to the poor, then come and follow me.” Anthony heard these words as if the Lord was speaking directly to him. So he did exactly that. He sold everything, gave it to the poor, and then went to live in the desert of Egypt. There he lived in a cave for twenty years, praying, fasting, and living in God’s presence. After this, there were so many people who were drawn to his life in the desert, he was forced to create monasteries just to shepherd them all. He lived to the age 105.

Anthony was radical! Honestly, my first reaction to his life was to feel guilty. I asked myself, “Could I answer a call this extreme, if the Lord asked me? (Even if I weren’t happily married, I don’t think I could!) Then I remembered that the Lord never uses guilt to speak to us (Satan does a good enough job with that!) So, I took another look at St. Anthony’s life. I asked, “Lord, what places in my life have I not surrendered to you? What things have I allowed to become idols in my life? What is replacing you as the number one priority?”

Take some time this week to ask these questions of our Father in heaven. Give him time to respond. He will show you. He probably won’t call you to go live in the desert, but he will show you the things you need to surrender to him. Just ask long-lived Anthony; it’s a healthy habit.

Your brother,

Jordan

The Rev. Jordan Easley

Assistant

On the Mark January 15th

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By Jordan Easley, December 25, 2011 12:32 am

Warmest welcome to you from St. Paul’s parish family.  We greet you in the name of Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate on this Feast of the Holy Nativity.  O come let us adore Him.

May the Prince of Peace reign in our hearts as we bow before Him this day.  May the glory of angel hosts surprise us as we say with them, “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth.”  May the joy of lowly shepherds fill every lonely nook and cranny of our lives.  May the Holy Spirit overshadow us as we worship the newborn King.

Your brother in Christ,

Jordan

The Rev. Jordan Easley

Christmas 2011

Assistant

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By Jordan Easley, December 18, 2011 12:27 am

The Fourth Sunday of Advent marks the first anniversary of my preaching at St. Paul’s Darien.  I cannot believe that a whole year has passed!  I can only say “Thank you!” – to God our Heavenly Father, to Fr. Christopher my mentor and partner in ministry, and to you our church family – for calling Leah and me to serve you.  I can’t wait to see where the Lord takes us together next year.

In my first sermon at St. Paul’s I mentioned three animals that we should put at the manger.  Do you remember them?  A Pelican.  A Dragon.  A Lion.  I am not going to recap all of the meaning here, but I did want to ask you one question:  Did you know that Christmas marks the beginning of a fairy tale?  I don’t mean fairy tale in the sense that Jesus’ birth is just a made-up story.  Far from it!  Rather, the story of Jesus’ birth is THE story.  It is THE fairy tale against which all other tales (true or false) are measured.  Think about it.

Revelation 12 tells us of a great dragon, dropping out of the heavens, ready to devour an infant as his virgin mother gives him birth.  Satan, the dragon, was indeed ready to destroy our Lord even upon the day of his birth.  Yet Revelation 20 describes a rider upon a white horse, who leads a white-robed army against the dragon and casts down the beast forever.  One day our Lord Jesus will indeed lead his church into battle, claiming final victory over Satan, the Enemy of the world.  This is a fairy tale!  The white rider has defeated the dragon and rescued his bride.

J. R. R. Tolkien said, “There was not a tale ever told that man would rather find was true, and none which so many skeptical men have accepted as true on it’s own merits.”  Christmas – the Mass of Christ, Jesus’ incarnation – marks the beginning of the greatest and truest story ever told.  You and I are characters in a grand fairy tale.  There is an old English Christmas carol that sums it up nicely.  Listen to the love-song of Jesus to his bride on the day before his birth:

Tomorrow shall be my dancing day;

I would my true love did so chance

To see the legend of my play,

To call my true love to my dance;

Sing, oh! My love, oh! My love, my love, my love This have I done for my true love.

Your brother,.

Jordan

The Rev. Jordan Easley

Assistant

On the Mark December 18th

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By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, December 11, 2011 12:20 am

The woman had just minutes to go before the guests arrived for the Christmas party.  She had cleaned and cooked.  Now she had to hurry to dress for the occasion.  Then the doorbell rang.  With irritation just below the surface, she opened the door.  There before her was a family who wished to sing a Christmas carol to her.  “Oh, no.  Not now.  I just don’t have the time.  Thank you anyway,” she said as she closed the door.

Bing Crosby and his wife shook their heads and gathered their children to go on to the next house.  The woman had just missed the opportunity to be sung to personally by one of America’s greatest singers.  Why?  She just didn’t have the time!

Christmas Day is just two weeks away.  It’s not too late to plan to make yourself available to God.  You have enough control of your schedule to make and to keep appointments with God.  Otherwise the real meaning of Christmas will be missed and it will be too late to receive Jesus who is being sent by the Father as your Christmas gift.

Have a blessed Advent season of preparation.

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector

On the Mark December 11th

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By Jordan Easley, December 3, 2011 8:19 pm

I love Christmas carols, but “Silent Night”,. Though it carries good childhood memories for me, is no longer high on my list.  Somewhere along the way, I realized that the night our Savior was born was anything but silent.  So I was thrilled to discover – and would like to offer to you – a much different carol called “Labor of Love”.

It was not a silent night

There was blood on the ground

You could hear a woman cry

In the alleyways that night

In the streets of David’s town.

And the stable was not clean

And the cobblestones were cold

Little Mary full of grace

With the tears upon her face

Had no mother’s hand to hold.

Noble Joseph at her side

Callused hands and weary eyes

There were no midwives to be found

In the streets of David’s town

In the middle of the night.

So he held her and he prayed

Shafts of moonlight on his face

But the baby in her womb

He was the maker of the moon

He was the Author of the faith

That could make the mountains move.

It was a labor of pain

It was a cold sky above

But for the girl on the ground in the dark

With every beat of her beautiful heart

It was a labor of love

For little Mary full of grace

With the tears upon her face

It was a labor of love.             - Andrew Peterson                                                           

Jesus came into the world through pain and trauma just live every other baby.  We have a God who knew human frailty and suffering from the moment he touched down on this planet./  My Savior knew my grief from the beginning and He took it on Himself.  That is what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown!

Your brother,

Jordan

The Rev. Jordan Easley

On the Mark December 4

Assistant

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By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, November 26, 2011 11:58 pm

My favorite church bulletin blooper is, “Don’t let worry kill you, let the church help.”  After a laugh you realize that it is an offer not to go it alone.

The holidays are coming – let the church help.  For many of us, this time of year is a mixture of blessing and hardship.  Let the church help.  I find God when I am with the people of God – we are the church.  The church has helped me overcome past wounds and disappointments.  The church has helped me have realistic expectations.  The church has provided me with opportunities to worship Jesus Christ, and to serve others, which helps me get out of myself.  Here are some ways the church will be available for you in this Advent season:

•• Regular Sunday worship and fellowship

8:45    Holy Eucharist

10:00   Fellowship

10:30   Holy Eucharist & Sunday School

• Tuesday Healing Service and Agape Meal

(Next Tuesday, November 29, a special seminar:

“Turn Your Holiday Blues into Red & Green” -

Christopher & Janet Leighton

• Friday, December 2, 6:30 p.m. “Transformation:  A Service Of Hope and Recovery”, 20 Concord Ave., South Norwalk

• Sunday, December 4, 12:00 p.m. – St. Nicholas celebration for all ages

• Sunday, December 18, following the second service – Caroling in downtown Darien

• Saturday, December 24

4:30 p.m. – Pageant and Holy Eucharist

10:30 p.m. – Festival Eucharist

• Sunday, December 25, 10:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist and  Outreach meal

• Saturday, December 31 – time to be determined – New Year’s Eve celebration

• Sunday, January 1, 2012 – 10:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

These are all opportunities offered for worship, fellowship, and service.  In addition there will be the Dove outreach to help local families in need through Person-to-Person.

If you need prayer, counsel or even the opportunity for confession, the clergy and trained lay leaders are available for an appointment;  just contact us through the church office.

Our hope is that Christmas will be a greater blessing for you;  let the church help.

Your brother in Christ,

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector

On the Mark November 27th

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By Jordan Easley, November 20, 2011 4:19 pm

You can almost expect it around Thanksgiving.  Pastors pull out passages from the Bible like “Give thanks in all circumstances” [I Thessalonians 5:18] or “Enter His gates with thanksgiving” [Psalm 100:4].  And for those of us who so easily get caught up in the cares and worries of life (pastors included), the reminder to “be more thankful” can often make us feel more guilty instead of more grateful.  Why does God put such a premium on Giving thanks anyway?

Being grateful is simultaneously hard and easy.  More than that, it has both spiritual and physical benefits.  For myself, I find that when I come to God in prayer, I need to spend about 75% of my time thanking him before I get to my requests.  It’s easy to say the words “Thank You, Jesus”, but it is not always easy to mean them.  For the majority of that 75%, I may just be “saying the words”, but somewhere along the way, the Lord Holy Spirit inevitably comes in and actually gives me gratitude, even if I wasn’t “feeling it” most of the time.  But once the true gratitude breaks in, I find that I can actually bring my requests to God with certainty that He will answer them as a good father (and not just as the “Answer Man”).

Also, it turns out that God doesn’t just care about our spiritual health when He commands us to be grateful:

“Psychologists Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough point out that gratitude is the “Forgotten factor” in happiness research.  They point out the benefits of expressing gratitude as ranging from better physical health to improved mental alertness.  People who express gratitude also are more likely to offer emotional support to others.  Expressing gratitude in your daily life might even have a protective effect on staving off certain forms of psychological disorders.  In a recent review…researchers found that habitually focusing on and appreciating the positive aspects of life is related to a generally higher level of psychological wellbeing and a lower risk of certain forms of psychopathology” [Psychology Today, May 10, 2010].

So, the next time you hear the Lord’s invitation to “give thanks in all circumstances,” don’t be ashamed to say “Thank you, Jesus” even if you don’t feel like it.  I promise, if you give him the opportunity, the true gratitude will follow…in spirit, emotions, mind, and body.

Your brother,

Jordan

The Rev. Jordan Easley

Assistant

On the Mark November 20

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By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, November 13, 2011 4:14 pm

“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.  His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1

One of the reasons I love the month of November is that it climaxes with the national holiday of Thanksgiving.  There is the food, the cooking, the company of family and friends, even football!  I especially appreciate the fact that our nation stops to give thanks – many even include giving thanks to God!

I  encourage you to make this act of giving thanks something you do each day this month – it just may  become a habit!

Lastly, ask the Lord to bring to your mind the person He is leading you to contact and to offer your thanks to them for sharing their faith with you.  Several years back, Reg Jones took this advice and contacted Renny Scott, a former St. Paul’s clergyman.  Renny and Reg renewed an old friendship as a result.

Let’s give thanks together!

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector

On the Mark November 13th