Last Tuesday morning, before I went over to EDS for my interview, I logged on to the Irish Jesuits' prayer site: sacredspace.ie  
The prayer that greeted me on the opening page was amazing and I felt like God had put it there for me, but also for all of you as you move through the Looking Forward with Grace process.  I hope that it will be something that all of us can pray together in the weeks ahead:

"Our lives are a journey, a pilgrimage. From our mysterious origins, through our childhood and growing years, we have set forth along a unique path amidst our families or the significant people close to us. So, for myself, wherever I am along that journey which is mine, in light or in darkness, struggling or in relative peace and stability, still I am being drawn forward, along a pilgrimage way. Perhaps I haven't seen things from this perspective, or have forgotten it, but it is the truth of my life: I am called by name, journeying along a unique path, God with me, God before me, all along the way that is mine. "I will bless you and go before you", God said to Abraham and Sarah, the parents of our way of faith, journeying in the desert as virtual nomads, on the basis of God's promise and Covenant. The Chosen People journeyed too, having come out of Egypt. John Henry Newman (1801-90), at a crucial and lonely stage of his journey, wrote "Lead Kindly Light", believing God would lead him on. And today, in our endlessly fluid, bewildering and challenging world, we are especially called to travel in faith, and to depend on God's word and blessing, especially coming to us in Jesus. And perhaps, like the disciples on the Mount of the Transfiguration, we might hear the words, "This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour; listen to him". (Matthew 17:5) Lord, let me listen to you. Guide me, and lead me on."

As I went through the day, meeting with the Faculty, Students, Staff, and then the whole community, I felt like God was carrying me.  And I felt your prayers and your love carrying me as well.  It was a grace-filled day, to be sure. And as I sat in prayer early in the morning, I was filled with gratitude for all you have taught me and given of yourselves.  

It is all in God's hands now.  Let us all continue to pray for each other, for the entire parish and for all the people who make up the EDS community.  God's will be done.

Wednesday begins the Season of Lent, with the Ash Wednesday Liturgy and the imposition of ashes.  Some say that Lent is a downer, that the hymns are depressing and they avoid going to church during these next six weeks.

I would invite you to think of Lent as a time of "spiritual housecleaning."  If you go to dictionary.com, you'll find the origins of the word: "Middle English lente ( n ), Old English lencten, lengten  spring, Lent, literally, lengthening (of daylight hours); cognate with Dutch lente, German Lenz  spring."

The Season of Lent invites us to look at our spiritual lives and see where we might need some sprucing up, some sweeping and cleaning.  Just as we notice the need for sweeping outside now that the snow has melted, Lent invites us to look inside our hearts and our souls to see what needs sweeping.  Do we need to attend to something that has been bugging us and we've put up on a shelf in our minds?  Are there relationships that need mending?  Are we yearning for a deeper relationship with God, but are not sure how to begin?

Lent is a perfect time to begin again.  God is offering all of us an opportunity to slow down and reflect on our lives and where God is calling us as individuals and as a parish.  It is fitting that our "Looking Forward with Grace' dinners are happening during Lent.  I hope you will take the opportunity to join with fellow parishioners and come to one of the dinners.  There is still time to sign up.  Call the Church Office 617-244-3221 or email Susan: office@gracenewton.org.

During Lent, Grace Discussion Group will focus on forgiveness, reconciliation and reflection.  Hilary and I will be leading these sessions and we hope that you will make the time to join us as we look at scripture and other writings to help us as we attend to the spiritual housecleaning of our souls.

Lent doesn't have to be a downer.  It's an opportunity for reflection and renewal.  It can be a time for self-discipline and giving to others as well.  As the days lengthen and we witness the promise of spring all around us, won't it be wonderful if we attend to the garden of our souls as well?  Easter will be all the more triumphant and glorious.

On Sunday in my homily I talked about the reading from Isaiah and how said, "I have inscribed each of you on the palms of my hands."  (Isaiah 49: 16a)  I spoke of this along with the words in the Baptismal service at the time the priest makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of the person who was just baptized and says, "You are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism, and marked as Christ's own forever."  Being marked as Christ's own and being inscribed on the palms of God's hands are very intimate images.  It speaks of our God and Savior who cares for us and will never let us go.

There is a wonderful website run by the Irish Jesuits that I have referred to in the past that I have rediscovered recently.  Each day, they offer a 10 minute meditation to begin your day.  It's practical and speaks to our struggles and yearnings as people of faith.  Check it out at: www.sacredspace.ie    Here is a piece of what they offered for today (Tuesday): 

"Yet how often we are overwhelmed with anxiety and worry, and feel abandoned. Lord, let your peace enter my soul. Or rather, let me experience that peace, since already you are the centre, you are already in the depths of my being. Lord, let me know I am never alone, for you envelop me and enfold me, and will never let me go."

The prayers are simple and conversational, imagining that Jesus is sitting beside you like a best friend:

Give yourself the gift of prayer and conversation with God at the beginning of your day.  Try it for a week and see if it makes a difference.  God is waiting, like a good friend, to have a conversation with you.  Make a date and change your life.

Faithfully,
Miriam

Now that we have begun a New Year, we may be looking at our resolutions and wondering if they are reachable.  We often start off with a bang and then lose steam as the months progress.  I read an article by  Crossfit trainer, Ben Bergeron recently that I found very helpful.  He says that all goals (personal, health/fitness, professional, etc…) should be created as S.M.A.R.T. Goals.  That is, they should be Specific, Measurable, Affirmative, Realistic and Time bound.  Since we are a faith community, I'd like to challenge all of us to make some personal goals using Ben's 5 components.  For example, you could say, "I want to pray 10 minutes in the morning before I go to work for the next 6 weeks,"   or "We will have a family meal at least 2 days a week and begin each meal with grace for the next 4 weeks,"  or "I will look around the congregation for the next 4 times I'm in Church on Sundays and make a phone call or send an email to someone who's missing."  If your goals are measurable, affirmative, realistic and time bound, you'll have a greater chance of achieving them. 

We all have a desire to grow and change and the New Year is a perfect opportunity to take on a new challenge or a new behavior.  Give it a try and see what kinds of grace you encounter.

As we approach the Feast of the Incarnation, I want you to know that I am holding you all in prayer and giving thanks for the gift that is you.  Below is a prayer that was given to me years ago as a Christmas card and I give it to you in the spirit of Christ's love.

Work of Christmas Begins

"When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with the flocks,
then the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal those broken in spirit,
to feed the hungry,
to release the oppressed,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among all peoples,
to make a little music with the heart…

And to radiate the Light of Christ,
every day, in every way, in all that we do and in all that we say.
Then the work of Christmas begins.

-- Howard Thurman, adapted

May the peace, joy and hope of this Holy Season be yours.

It is hard to believe we just celebrated the third week of Advent this past Sunday.  We did so with our traditional service of Advent Lessons and Carols, led by Linda Clark, our Director of Music and the Choir who punctuated the readings with beautiful anthems and carols.  The readings from holy scripture are part of our birthright as Christians -- from the ancient prophesies of the Hebrew scriptures to the proclamations from the gospels -- these stories hold for us the hope and promise of a Messiah who will bring light and love into the world.

At this time of year when we turn to family and friends as we give thanks for the many blessings showered upon us, we also think of those sisters and brothers throughout the world who struggle for the basic human needs of shelter, food, clean water, clothing and a decent education. 

Each Christmas, we take up a special offering at our Christmas Eve services.  The money you contribute is divided equally between Episcopal Relief and Development and our parish operating budget.  Given the struggles that the people of Haiti continue to experience, we will ask ERD to earmark our offering for Haiti.  As it says on EDR's web site:

"Haiti is one of the most economically challenged countries in the world, with 80% of its population living in poverty.  The devastating quake that hit on January 12, 2010, has greatly increased the amount of need in Haiti­it destroyed much of the country's infrastructure, disrupted trade, dramatically raised prices and made it more difficult for Haitians to support themselves and their families"

We also know how unstable the government has been in the wake of the recent elections.  And so it is "our bounden duty" that we respond with generosity to the people of Haiti in the hope that ERD and other relief organizations will help the people get back on their feet and stem the tide of disaster that has plagued this tiny country for so long.

Thank you for your on-going support of ERD and for your generosity.  Your care and love for "the least of these" helps make a difference in this world that is desperate for God's healing touch.  May the richest blessings of this Holy Season be with you and all those you love.

We began a new liturgical year this past Sunday with the first Sunday of Advent.  Despite everything surrounding us in our culture, Christmas is not here yet!  As Christians with a liturgical sense, we spend these next 4 weeks in preparation for the Feast of the Incarnation, when God took on our human flesh to dwell among us.  Yes, our calendars are full.  Yes, we will be pulled in many directions and invited to holiday parties.  Yes, we will get frantic about getting our presents bought, wrapped, and mailed.  Yes, we'll have our to-do lists.

Even so, God is telling us to slow down, to wait and to prepare for the coming of the Christ Child in our hearts.  Take some time to pray.  Make an Advent Wreath and let it be the center of your table where you have your evening meal.  Here are some simple prayers to use:

Blessing for the Advent Wreath
O God, by whose word all things are sanctified,
pour forth your blessing upon this wreath
and grant that we who use it may prepare our hearts
for the Coming of Christ,
and may receive from you abundant graces.
Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Light the First candle.

O Emmanuel, Jesus Christ,
desire of every nation,
Savior of all peoples,
come and dwell among us.
(From Christmas Prayers, Victor Hoagland, C.P.)

Scriptures:
Isaiah 11:1-10
Luke: 1:26-38
Isaiah 7:10-14
Matthew 1:18-24

You may also want to visit www.d365.org  for beautiful and simple Advent devotions.

Whatever you do, I hope you'll take some time to prepare your hearts and minds for the coming of Emmanuel -- God with us.

It's interesting how when we turn our clocks back one hour and there are fewer hours of light in each day, we become aware even more how the seasons are changing and the colder weather is not far off. It has, and continues to be, harvest time all over the country. Fall vegetables are at their height: apples, pears, brusselsprouts, turnip and many others appear as a rainbow of bounty in all the grocery stores.

It's a time of thanksgiving and looking forward to family gatherings and the holidays. And yet, we know that time is fleeting and hopefully, we pause to give thanks to God for our families and friends and all the blessings of this life. We remember those we love and see no longer. For those who have experienced a recent loss, these holidays will be difficult. You may feel out of sync with the rest of our culture as you see images of happy families gathered around the table.

Each year I offer an Advent Service of Remembrance during the first week of Advent. This year it will be December 1 at 7 PM in the Church. It is a time to gather with others who have lost a loved one and struggle with the holidays. It is a time for prayer for reflection on their lives and all that they have meant to us and all they have given us.

If you or someone you know has experienced such a loss, whether recently or in the past, I hope you will join me on December 1 as we remember them.

Ten years ago, when I was your Priest-in-Charge, the parish entered into an envisioning process to discern your future together. Through dinners and phone conversations, you talked about your hopes and dreams for this parish and the leadership you needed to make some of those dreams a reality. At the end of that process, you called me as your Rector. Since that time we've grown and lived into many of those dreams.

The Vestry and I feel that it is time for us to begin a new process and create a new vision for Grace Church for the next 5-10 years. We have formed a working group called, "Looking Forward with Grace." The co-chairs of this wonderful group are David Barbrow and Andree Saulnier. Other members of the group are Don Kennedy, Wellington Scott, Jim Volcker, Carolyn Wong, Jenny Rosser, our Seminarian, Hilary Greer and myself.

Our charge (our job) is to elicit from all of you what you need and want from this faith community. We will also want to know your answer to these questions, "Imagine it is five years from now. What do you imagine God is inviting you and all of us at Grace to do and be outside of walls of our parish? How might we be a witness to the reconciling love of God to the communities in which we live and work? The Diocese and the world?"

What we hope will emerge from conversations is our mission. From that mission, all the "nuts and bolts" of living and working together in this faith community will rise to the surface of our collective being. We imagine that every aspect of our common life will be addressed through this "Looking Forward with Grace." We also know that through this process of holy listening our bonds of love and affection for one another will be strengthened.

We are just in the initial planning stages. We have met twice as a group and begin each session with Bible study and prayer, knowing that everything we do must be grounded in the One "in whom we live and move and have our being."

We will keep you posted on our progress and will give an update at the Annual Meeting in January and plan to launch the conversations during Eastertide. We imagine having numerous neighborhood dinners in parishioners' homes, teas at the Church, and individual visits to those who are homebound.

This is an exciting time in the life of our parish. We have a number of new families and it is time to check in with each one of you to see how we can best serve you and how this wonderful parish can best serve God and make a difference in this world.

Feel free to speak with me or any member of "Looking Forward with Grace," if you have any questions. We really feel that the Holy Spirit is encouraging us and inspiring us to do this very important work.