The Faith of Israel: Jane Daugherty

Jane Daugherty is an Associate in Ministry who prepared the following meditation for our most recent Lenten Devotions service. Who knew playing the organ could be a lesson in faith?

My left foot was on A flat. I knew it. I couldn’t see my feet. My eyes were glued to the music and my hands were busy playing the passage leading up to the pedal entrance. But I knew that my left foot was on A flat. And at that moment I realized that playing the pedals on the organ is something like faith:
“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Now I am not always so confident about my feet being in the right place. In fact, sometimes I am very unsure, and this uncertainty about where my feet are sometimes causes my hands to go astray.

This is not magic that helps me find the right pedal. Practice helps develop the muscle memory and the feel of the pedalboard—so that my accuracy improves.

Faith, however, is not a skill to be honed. We cannot manufacture it on our own. Faith is a gift from God given to us in Baptism. If we were lucky, our parents or other significant people in our lives saw to it that our faith was nourished—perhaps in Sunday School, worship, choir, VBS, with table and bedtime prayers, or in sharing their own faith stories with us as we got older. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we grew in faith and grace.
As adults we cannot control or create faith. With openness to the work of the Holy Spirit, we can nurture the gift of faith through prayer, Word and Sacrament, and in fellowship with one another.

The Jewish author of the book of Hebrews makes a case for faith with the Jewish Christians. Probably written around 60-70AD, it had been several decades since the death and resurrection of Jesus, and it would seem that these believers were considering a return to their “old ways”. The Jewish author makes a case for faith in Jesus Christ—much as a lawyer would make an argument or as a scientist might present a theory. He follows an organized and logical progression that frequently references OT scripture. He is knowledgeable and persuasive, as he attempts to convince these Jewish Christians that Jesus is superior to the angels and the prophets--that he ushers in a new covenant freeing them from the bondage of sin. They no longer need to atone with animal sacrifices.
They need not be weighed down by their sin—a sign of living under the old covenant. They only need to receive the forgiveness given to us through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. This is the new covenant. Through faith in Jesus’ Christ sacrifice, we are forgiven our sins and born as new creatures. The author reminds these Jewish Christians of how eager they were when they first heard the Gospel and urges them not to throw away their confidence that Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin. Faith in Jesus Christ is all that is needed.

Now faith has a prestigious history with the Jewish people. Hebrews chapter 11 goes through a whole litany of OT folks who had an abundance of faith in God—which carried them through the most extraordinary circumstances.
We have heard about several of those people over the past few weeks. I remember especially Abraham. As I listened to Pastor Hanson talk about Abraham as a “pioneer”, as someone willing to take risks because of his faith in God—I was in awe and I was intimidated by someone willing to leave home with his family and live in a tent the rest of his days because of God’s promises. I have a hard time just coming out of my comfort zone!
Tonight we talk about the Israelites—the faith of the Israelites—the faith not of an individual but a community of God’s people. They went through a lot together and it wasn’t always pretty. They were often dismayed, and who can blame them? Wandering around the desert without sight of this Promised Land had to be tough. I can relate. For some reason I come to church on Sunday mornings and look out on the congregation and expect to see a full church. Perhaps this would satisfy my vision of “success”. Or perhaps it would lift my spirits. Or perhaps I simply want to share what I have come to treasure. Whatever my motivation, I am often disappointed. Not too unlike the Israelites I have limited vision. I get:
Discouraged
Impatient
Willful
Complain

Now…this was not all the Israelites were about. They had their moments. Can you imagine the fear that they felt when the angel of death passed over Egypt, killing the Egyptians’ firstborn? The scripture says that there was “ a loud cry in Egypt”. Yet the Israelites followed Moses out of Egypt—although he was afflicted with some sort of speech impediment and his brother, Aaron, had to act as his spokesperson. That took courage. And think about stepping onto the floor of the Red Sea with a wall of water on either side. This had to take a certain amount of faith. And which one of us wouldn’t get grumpy if we were hungry and thirsty with no prospects of satisfying these very basic human needs. Yes, they had their moments and so do we.
The Israelites’ faith had its ups and downs, but maybe the point is not about the Israelites faith. Maybe the point is God’s faithfulness. He was always waiting for the return and repentance of the Israelites. He never abandoned them, although they continually thought he had. He provided for all their needs—even though they complained and expected the worst. God’s faithfulness was enduring and his love unconditional. God is with us just as surely as he was with the Israelites in the desert. His love and faithfulness are everlasting.
We need only turn our faces to him. Amen.

Rocks In The Font: From Pastor Thomas S. Hanson

There are rocks in the baptismal font, not water, but rocks. The water has run dry and so it shall be for a time. It is the dry season of the church, the season of Lent.

During Lent, the church is on a pilgrimage, a journey of faith. We have left the safety of our well-traveled roads and are led off into the wilderness, the desert, to confront our own devils. The quiet pool in which we usually splash the heads of infants with clean, warm water has dried up and we all are dusty, our mouths are dry.

For generations and generations before Jesus, God’s people were led out into a wilderness to wander and to wait. Set free during the horrible night of first-born death, Moses led the people into the desert. There they confronted their own devils — their faithlessness, their constant complaints, their rebellion. For forty years they wandered from one dry wadi to another seeking water. But it was God who provided their water of life. Moses touched the rocks with his staff and fresh spring water flowed and the people were refreshed. Forty years of wilderness and desert and God to lead them into the promised land through the flowing waters of the Jordon River.

Generations and generations passed and a voice was heard again in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight. Make the rocky places smooth and the rough places a plain!” John the Baptist had appeared in the wilderness and all the people came out to face their devils — their faithlessness, their constant complaints, their rebellion. In the wilderness, John preached repentance and judgment. Matthew says that all were baptized by John in the Jordon, confessing their sin. Jesus was also baptized by John there in the wilderness.

When Jesus came up out of the water, immediately the heavens were opened and a voice from those torn heavens spoke to him saying, “You are my Son, the beloved. With you I am well pleased” — the same thing any father would say to a favored son. But then the Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove and she sank her talons into his still wet head from his baptism. She drove him into the wilderness to confront his own devils. For forty days and nights Jesus was in the wilderness tempted by the devil.

Each Lent, still dripping wet from our own baptism, the Spirit drives us out into the wilderness. For forty days, from Ash Wednesday to Palm Sunday, we confront our own devils in the desert — our faithlessness, our constant complaints, our rebellion. The safety and the security of the ever-flowing baptismal font is behind us, dried up. Our lips are parched, our spirits withered, and we know that the only way back is through Jerusalem, through the rocky Kidron Valley to the Rock, the Place of the Skull, through to our own death with Christ.

Yes, there are rocks in the baptismal font and they will stay there for a time. We are in the wilderness to wander and to wait. We have many of our own devils to confront — to repent, to be reconciled with God and one another, to be renewed, to be washed clean once again in the waters of baptism to be raised again with Jesus on Easter morning.
During the season of Lent, I encourage each of you to bring a rock from your home and place it in the baptismal font as a sign of your participation in our Lenten pilgrimage.

Pastor Thomas S. Hanson

A New Discipline for Lent!

When I was growing up, it would never have occurred to me to “give something up” for Lent. That was something the Catholic kids did and we Protestants (including Lutherans) were suspicious of anything “Catholic.” That said, in my adult years, I actually found this deeply traditional practice attractive. In more recent years, I’ve been more likely to add something to my personal Lenten observance, rather than give something up.

This is an invitation for you to add something very specific to your Lenten discipline – singing in the Matins Choir or the Festival Choir from Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday. Some people have a hard time making a long term commitment, but Lent is only forty days (not including Sundays).

As a member of the choir, you will be more involved with the texts (written and musical) that we use in worship. You’ll become part of a small group within the St. Mark’s community. You’ll also have to give something up because singing in a choir requires a certain time commitment.

The Matins choir rehearses at 8:00 on Sunday morning, and then sings for the 8:30 service. Matins Choir singers are invited to participate in Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Passion Sunday, Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday services, but attendance on Wednesday night is necessary. (A schedule will be released soon.)

The Festival Choir rehearses on Wednesday evening at 7:40 p.m., then rehearses again on Sunday morning at 10:30, then sings for the 11:00 service. Special services for the season include Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil.

We would love to have singers join just for this season. If you decide to stay, that will be fine too!

See Tony Cruz or any choir member for more information.

A Man’s Reach Should Exceed His Grasp, or What’s a Heaven For? Robert Browning

Something I know: There will always be someone who can play better than me, sing better than me, and bring beautiful music from a choir better than me. There will always be someone who is more charitable than me, kinder than me, and stronger in a crisis than me. There will always be someone who knows more than me, works harder than me, and seems to have a better walk with God than me.

These people are my heaven. Even if they can’t do it with their lips, their actions, striving, and accomplishments propel and encourage me to work harder and achieve more.

Christopher Houlihan, a young organist studying at Julliard, came to Jacksonville to perform a concert. While he was here, he participated in our AGO Chapter’s “Pedals, Pipes, and Pizza” event. He worked with each child while they played (some for the first time) the pipe organs of All Saints Episcopal Church and Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church. The American Organist said about him, “Clearly, Christopher Houlihan is a major talent whose star is destined to brightly shine over the horizon of the years ahead.” When the time for questions came, I asked about his practice habits. He practices at least SIX HOURS almost every day. Sometimes I’m lucky to practice six hours in a week!

This is the kind of thing that encourages me to push harder and be more committed. Christopher Houlihan is just one many, many people who have given me glimpses of heaven.

We are saved by grace, true; but, I’m inclined to believe that the heaven we find on earth comes from perseverance and toil.

A poster used to hang in Mr. Nelson’s seventh grade English class that held the quote from the title of this blog entry. Those twelve words were probably the most important thing I learned that year.
The accompanying photo was taken by my brother Andre. . .who is a better astronomer than me.

You Never Know Who Will Show Up For Worship on a Saturday Night in Advent

Join us on the first and third Saturday of each month for our casual/contemporary service. We sometimes cancel this service in the event of a holiday, so feel free to check with me during the week! Tony

A Vocal Recital You Do Not Want to Miss This Sunday!

Lindsey Tuller is doing a vocal recital in Taliaferro at St. John's Cathedral this Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Her voice is no stranger to St. Mark's. In 2007 she sang the soprano arias from J.S. Bach's cantata "Wachet auf ruft uns die Stimme." You will recall that, when she sang, the room was filled not only with her amazing voice but with the spirit of a woman who loves to sing.

Last September she appeared with the San Marco Chamber Music Society along with her husband Tim Tuller. She sang several works, but I especially enjoyed the three songs by Frank Bridge.

Other musicians appearing at this recital are Collin Patierno (guitar), Timothy Tuller (piano), and our own Ellen Olson (viola).

From Ms. Tuller's Facebook Event Page:
Enjoy the impressionistic vibes of Frank Bridge, the soothing & familiar tones of Charles Ives & Harry Burliegh, the avant garde beginnings of George Crumb, an expressionistic glimpse into Arnold Schoenberg's atonality and the haunting melodies & fiery passion of the great classical composer Manuel de Falla; An experience you will not want to miss.

A reception follows. You don't want to miss this event!!

All Saints Day at St. Mark's

This year we observed All Saints Day by inviting people to come forward and light a candle in memory of a loved one. We also specifically remembered the saints from St. Mark's who have joined the church triumphant since the last All Saints Day. They were Ruby Baacke Iisager (1923 - 2009), Najla J. Ayoub (1914-2010) Argene "Mittie" Betz (1914-2010), Bruce Reymond (1929-2010) and Mattie Ruth "Coonie" Krantz Smith (1921-2010). In addition to remembering these saints, we celebrated three new saints baptized in the last year!

Almighty God, you have knit your people together in one communion in the mystical body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant us grace to follow your blessed saints in lives of faith and commitment, and to know the inexpressible joys you have prepared for those who love you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. - Evangelical Lutheran Worship