Comments (0)

By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, June 20, 2010 10:30 am

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Comments (0)

By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, June 20, 2010 7:00 am

God Doesn’t Go on Vacation

God doesn’t go on vacation.  It is a rather comforting thought, isn’t it?  Oh, there are times we may feel He is absent or even accuse Him of not caring.  But people of faith believe that God is with us despite our feelings and circumstances. 

God doesn’t go on vacation.  Even though God is a Sabbath-keeper, and He rests, God is not withdrawn as the Ruler of the Universe.  The Scriptures declare, “He who watches over you will not sleep.”  [Psalm 121:3]

So as you plan your “down time” this summer, be assured that as you rest God will guide you and protect you and bless you.  You may even want to consider including God in your plans!   Psalm 121 says, in verses 7 and 8:  “The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life;  the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

You and I may go on vacation, but God doesn’t go on vacation!

Your brother in Christ,

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector

Comments (0)

By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, June 13, 2010 10:30 am

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Comments (0)

By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, June 13, 2010 7:00 am

Summer Outreach 

Due to circumstances over which we have no control, there will be no more mission trips for this summer.  However, domestic mission opportunities abound! 

One of the greatest ways to see God work in parish life and in our community is through the Vacation Bible School.  This year the theme is Baobab Blast .  [The Baobab tree is the center of community in the African savannah where it grows.]  We plan to come together as the body of Christ, welcoming guests and serving them as we Know Christ and Make Him Known.  There is always need for more helpers.  Perhaps you would like to help with snacks in the kitchen?  Or with Fr. Alex who is leading games.  Or with Meg Newton in one of our classrooms.  Sometimes the greatest need is simply a person to show kindness to a child who might be having a difficult day .  Debbie de la Rivera, our coordinator, will attest that some of our greatest helpers come on Friday night to help serve dinner and clean up afterwards.  Last year there were nearly as many volunteers as campers.  I often meet people in the community who tell me their children are still singing last year’s songs. 

So if you can make time in your schedule during the week of August 16 through 20, call the church office and register to assist.

By the way if your children or grandchildren are planning to come, or if you have a neighbor you think would enjoy VBS,  register them soon!  We are filling up quickly.

As your rector, I charge all members of St. Paul’s to be in prayer about Vacation Bible School!  Pray for the Lord to bless the children through teaching, worship, and fellowship.  Pray for safety, good health and good weather, and for the joy of the Lord to increase greatly!

Your brother in Christ,

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector

Comments (0)

By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, June 6, 2010 10:08 pm

Following an art show reception this evening parishioners gathered for worship and an informal discussion of faith and creativty in expressive art. The attached podcast captures the informal discussion.

The artwork is on display in the Sanctuary at St. Paul’s through June 20th.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Comments (0)

By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, June 6, 2010 9:02 pm

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Comments (0)

By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, June 6, 2010 7:25 am

Expressions

When you look around the nave of St. Paul’s, you witness the visual creations of highly expressive individuals!  Some thirty (30!) artists have painted/photographed/expressed their thoughts and these thoughts have been hung on the wall.

My experience of expressing myself in art goes a long way back to being the son of an artist and musician.  My mother was highly expressive!  I remember fondly seeing her paint, watching her sculpt, listening to her play music.  I never thought much about expressing myself in such ways.  Sports seemed like a better fit for me.

Yet my parents brought me to a Christian Camp where being creative was encouraged.  It set me free to express myself.  Once I became a believer in the Creator, creativity flowed.

I had a high school teacher who thought I could write very good poetry and she helped me get it out of myself.  More recently, my daughter Susannah has believed that there is visual art inside me and she has helped me get it out.

There is creativity in every one of us.  It is just a matter of discovering it and releasing it.  Knowing the Creator and beholding his work also helps!  So, my question to you is, “What is in you?” and “How can you express it?”

Your Brother in Christ,

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector

By the way:  A good scripture for reflection these days is the following: 

¹ The heavens declare the glory of God;

 the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

² Day after day they pour forth speech; 

night after night they display knowledge.                                    Psalm 19:1-2 (NIV)

Comments (0)

By Phyllis, May 30, 2010 10:13 pm

Heard at Pentecost

In response to your request in church that we share any thoughts or guidances that come to us regarding the days ahead for St. Paul’s, something came to me right away that day while we were in church.  It was this:  “Know that you are in the house of the Lord and trust in His protection.”                                                                              from Steve Knowles

“Love one another as I love you.  Seek to see one another through my eyes and with my  heart.”  - just ask.  “Repent – come to me with a clean heart.”  “Trust me in all things.  I will work miracles.”                                                                                       from Polly Verrico

“It’s time to play ‘Follow the leader,’ and I am that Leader.  I have delegated My kingdom work to Fr. Christopher and your vestry.  I have empowered them to do the work I have called them to do, and I will empower you.  You need only to hear and obey, trust and follow.  I will speak through My Word, through My people, through circumstances, through My creation.  I am in the midst of you, never departing.  Receive My love, My goodness, and My grace.  My forgiveness for sin is ever available to you because of My sacrifice on the Cross for you.

            “’If you confess your sins, I am faithful and just to forgive your sins and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness.’  [I John 1:9

            “So, ‘confess your sins, one to another, and pray for each other, that you may be healed.’ [James 5:16].  St. Paul’s will be one of My healing pools – like the one at Bethesda [John 5:1-9].  Exercise your faith to believe this promise and you will see the fulfillment of many promises besides.  Pray, so that you will not miss the blessings.

            “In Me…the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. [Galatians 5:6].  Be willing to let me activate you, to energize you by My Holy Spirit, that you may express My heart to others.”                                                                       from Deacon Roberta Schneider

“I have put all things under the power of my Son.  He is seated at my right hand and you are seated with him.  Step out in confidence.  I am doing a new work and you will see things that you have never seen before.  Don’t be afraid.  Be bold.  A new fruitfulness is coming.

            “Where the river flows everything will live.  Look to me for life.  Don’t look at your own resources – at your little fish and loaves – look to me.  Come to me and have life.”

                                                                                                                        from Jeff Newton

“ St. Paul’s, enter into your golden years.  I have refined you…to go out.  Be sent out as pure and strong in the love of Christ.  Heal in My name.  Preach the Gospel.  Golden years, golden light, golden fields.  Gold, pure gold.  You are Mine.  Sing the alleluia.  Proclaim Me to the world.                                                                                                    from Dick Day

This vision was, I thought, just an answer to my prayers regarding Bob.  I had asked my Father to let me have a glimpse of Bob in his healthy and healed body…and I had asked the Lord if He would let me have a glimpse of what Bob is doing in heaven and to see him happy and joyful.  This is what the Lord showed me last Sunday…

During worship we were singing a song…”There is a river whose streams make glad the city of our God”…In front of my eyes I saw that river, bright blue and plush greenery all around…It is a real place and one day it will be on the “new earth”…I saw Bob walking along the river’s bank as well as a number [not the myriads] of others…they were all singing and praising…and then I realized they were singing the same song we were singing.  The Holy Spirit said that the “saints in heaven” know when the Body of Christ rejoices and they enter our rejoicing.

God’s vision was much broader than answering my requests…He showed me the “Communion of Saints” are not only joined to His body [Church] in His Holy Communion, but also in the communion of worship and spiritual life on earth as it is in heaven…Thank you Lord Jesus…Come Lord Jesus.  I am so grateful for God’s faithfulness and loving-kindness.                                                                                                                                       from Bonnie Brown

In my prayer time this morning I had this vision (in the spirit) and a word I believe is from the Lord…If after praying over it you feel it is appropriate to share it tomorrow please feel free to do so.

At first all I saw were beautiful white wings spread out over the roof of our church.  I asked the Lord to show me what it was because at first I thought it was an eagle or some very large bird….Then He showed me that it was indeed an Angel…so big that at first I could not see his face.  The Angel was intensely glowing and light illuminated from it which encompassed not only our church building but the whole property and although I could not see in the vision much beyond our church, I had a sense that the light illuminated way beyond.  Then He showed me the face of the Angel and there was a determination in his face and his eyes were intense on all the people in our church…He showed me every seat being filled and young people on their faces in the center aisle praising and crying out to the Lord.  The Glory of the Lord was falling all around us like gold dust through this smoky-like filtering light…There was such peace and sweetness that was radiating throughout our whole church.  I said to the Lord, “what are you showing me, Lord?”  And, He said, “Tell them I am with them, I am covering them with my love and my protection through this next season.  I want a deeper relationship with them – that is all I want right now…Tell them Rest in Me and watch and see, I make all things new. [He has been saying that to me a lot lately, that is how I knew it was Him!]…Tell them I love them more than they know or can ever imagine.  My Love…it is all about My Love – Loving Me, loving each other and loving the Lost…Just Love!”  And then He emphasized this to me…YOU ARE NOT ALONE…VICTORY IS ON THE OTHER SIDE!

I don’t think that was for me alone…I think it is for our whole church right now, but especially for you, too.                                                                                    from Joann Cerretani

When I asked God to give me a scripture for St. Paul’s, this is what I heard:  Isaiah 55, 56, and 58.                                                                                                           from Gaye Forbes

Father Christopher read this portion from Isaiah 58 on Pentecost

             ⁸Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

and your healing will quickly appear;

               then your righteousness will go before you,

and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

⁹Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; 

you will cry for help; and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,

with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

¹⁰and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

               then your light will rise in the darkness,

                        and your night will become like the noonday.

            ¹¹The Lord will guide you always;

                        he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

                        and will strengthen your frame.

               You will be like a well-watered garden,

                        like a spring whose waters never fail.

            ¹²Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins

                        and will raise up the age-old foundations;

              you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,

                        Restorer of Streets with Dwellings

                                                                                    Isaiah 58:8-12

Pentecost’s Preface (in the Book of Common Prayer) records these words in summation:

            “In fulfillment of his true promise, the Holy Spirit [comes] down from heaven…to teach us and lead [us] into all truth;  uniting peoples of many tongues in the confession of one faith,

AND giving to your Church [members of St. Paul’s Darien] the power to serve You as a royal priesthood

AND to preach the Gospel to all nations, through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

            God

            keeps his promises;

            teaches and leads us to faith,

            empowering us to serve and to spread the Gospel of Jesus

            by and in the Holy Spirit to His glory!

            Praise be to our triune God!

                                                                                                from Pamela Corker

Comments (0)

By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, May 30, 2010 2:01 pm

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Comments (0)

By Fr. Christopher P. Leighton, May 30, 2010 7:00 am

Just the Start of Summer?

Is Memorial Day just the start of summer – albeit a start which is unofficial, three weeks before the solstice?  Surely many of us gladly celebrate the last weekend in May as a three day splurge of relaxation, recreation and feasting (did someone say “barbeque”?)

It is always good to go to the root of things, and the root of Memorial Day is found in remembering the dead who served in the military service for our country.  Earlier this month was Armed Forces Day when we remember and give thanks for those who serve their country and their families.

It will be good this week to think about the sacrifices that have been made – especially those who laid down their lives for us.  Our lives can be improved by such thoughts and prayers.  Memorial Day could be not only the start of summer, but the start of a change of heart for our nation.  I would like to offer you this prayer that comes from the great soldier and first President of our country, George Washington:

Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection, that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large.

And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation.

Grant our supplications, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Let Memorial Day be a day of thanksgiving.

Your Brother in Christ,

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector