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St. George's Episcopal Church Roseburg, Oregon Proper 7 , 25 June 2006 Go To St. George's Home Page

1 Samuel 17:1a, 4-11, 19-23, 32-49
Psalm 9:9-20
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Mark 4:35-41
Collect of the Day
From the Revised Common Lectionary as Adapted for Use by the Episcopal Church
and Authorized by the 74 th General Convention of the ECUSA

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:35-41)

Storm, Controversy, Calm
The Rev. Dr. Bill Stroop

     It was early Saturday morning when I got up and looked at the sky through the patio door. It was mostly clear; a few fluffy clouds here and there. If this day was like the previous week, the temperature would reach the mid to upper nineties.

     When we got to the dock, there was slight breeze from the south; we would be heading into the wind as we exited the lake and the harbor into the gulf. It was just about as perfect a day as one could hope for.

He said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was.

     The twin 256 hp engines started and the generator fired up. Soon our guests arrived; grandpa, grandma, mom, dad, aunt, uncle, and the children. The galley was now stuffed with food, and we busied ourselves showing them how to work the air conditioner, the head, and the water system. Pretty soon everyone settled down, and we cast off.

     Out to marker one; then to marker two. We found a nice spot to drop anchor and have lunch and play in the water. We semi-joked with the kids about keeping an eye for sharks. After lunch, the adults put on swim suits, and found places on the foredeck or up on the flying bridge to sunbathe.

     Every now and then I surveyed the horizon. During the afternoon, a thin, dark band appeared on the horizon to the south. The ship radio was always tuned to the coast guard weather station on Galveston Island, and I turned up the volume a little. A short while later, the Coast Guard issue a small craft advisory for the extreme South of the Bay. The thin band of the storm had become a large, menacing wall. And then it came. The Coast Guard issued a severe storm warning, and instructed all craft to head for shore. The winds ahead of that band blowing at 40-60 knots.

     We began preparing the boat. By the time we started to pull the anchor up, the winds were already blowing between 20 and 35 knots. A Coast Guard helicopter raced overhead trying to herd the boats to harbor. When we pulled the anchor up and headed into shore, the storm was just about on the stern, and we were quickly running ahead of about 9 to 12 foot following seas – the most dangerous of conditions.

Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.

     I had not piloted this boat in a storm like this before, and I sat at the helm feeling as if I was going to permanently dent the steel wheel with my grip, constantly adjusting speed to keep on top of a wave, and not fall into the trough when the stern could be swamped by a wall of water. I felt a hand unexpectedly on my shoulder. It was Grandpa. He stood there for a second looking out the bridge window with me, the wipers moving back and forth.

“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

     “I don’t want to add to this, son” he said to me. “But I sure hope we get back safe. All three generations of my family are on this boat.” Gulp. No pressure there!

     As we neared marker number 2, boat pilots talked to each other on the ship’s radio to make entry into the channel an orderly process. The storm was gaining in strength, and the waves were very choppy. And then – right in front of the opening to the harbor – a sail boat sank; its hull under water; its mast and loose sail above water. All of the rest of us tried to hold our positions, but were being pushed forward together by the storm and plain fear. Just when it looked like collisions were inevitable, the sheriff and coast guard boats managed to haul the sunken boat out of the way.

     When we crossed into the harbor, it was as if we had passed through some kind of cosmic force field. Once inside, the water was smooth, and the wind was reduced. Behind us was a sea with white caps and chop; grey back clouds overhead; and boats bobbing around in the chaos of wind and rain. Ahead was smooth, safe water. My blood pressure began to drop, and my grip on the wheel lessened. I felt Grandpa gently pat me on the back.

He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm.

     The 75 th convention of the Episcopal Church ended this past Thursday. The storm of controversy that blew around the meeting halls in Columbus, Ohio began three years ago with the consent of the Convention to allow the consecration of the openly gay Rev. Gene Robinson as the Bishop of New Hampshire. That action let sail an Episcopal boat that has been battered in a chaotic sea of controversy within the Anglican Communion these past three years.

     In response to a request from the Archbishop of Canterbury in 2003, a commission chaired by Archbishop Robin Eames, Primate of All Ireland, wrote a report on the actions taken by the Episcopal Church and their effects on the worldwide Anglican Communion. The task of the Eames Commission was to explore ways in which the Anglican Communion might live with the differences that exist within the world wide fellowship of Anglican provinces and dioceses. The Commission was not charged with giving a definitive position on homosexuality. Rather, the commission was to seek ways of keeping the Anglican Communion intact when some provinces take action on issues that other provinces find controversial.

A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.

     This past Thursday, General Convention approved a resolution that calls on bishops and Standing Committees to “exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion.” The Archbishop of Canterbury responded by saying that “… This shows [the strength of the Episcopal Church’s] concern to seek reconciliation and conversation with the rest of the Communion.” But he cautioned, “The wider Communion will … need to reflect carefully on the significance of what has been decided before [responding] more fully.” It sounds like the storm may be lessening. Maybe we are approaching the harbor.

     However, the controversy continues with the election of the first female presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori, Bishop of the Diocese of Nevada. Her nine-year term officially begins November 1; she will be invested and seated November 4 during a liturgy at Washington National Cathedral. I could not be more pleased that our church has elected a woman to Preside over the Episcopal Church. It is long overdue; after all women have been ordained as priests in this church for nearly 30 years. However, women priests – let alone female bishops – are not common elsewhere in the Anglican Communion or in other denominations. It is for this reason, I believe, that the Archbishop responded, that Bp. Schori’s “election will undoubtedly have an impact on the collegial life of the Anglican Primates; and it also brings into focus some continuing issues in several of our ecumenical dialogues.”

     I imagine Bp. Schori will be sitting at the helm, white knuckled as she pilots our boat into the future. Members of our church and members of other Anglican churches throughout the world will be looking to her and to our House of Bishops as we continue to negotiate the waves and position ourselves in the wind. Many will likely express their fears about the integrity of our Church.

“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

     But we would all do well to remember what Jesus said to his disciples on the Lake of Galilee that night on the boat.

“Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”

     It is easy to lose sight of the land when one’s attention is on each wave and the immediate feel of the wheel in one’s hand. It is hard to hold onto a vision of the future when pelted by rain and tossed about. Although there is some consolation knowing that there are other boats out there experiencing the same things, the fact remains that we are in this boat with its engines, its hull, its rudder, and its keel.

     Frankly, I am glad to be in this boat at this time. Although some of the waves are scary, I am confident in the collective faith of people like you who are not afraid, who stay the course, and who do what you can to help this boat reach whatever shore it needs to. I am confident that our inherent ability to maintain our traditions in the face of controversy will once again come to the fore as we chart a new way, a new via media. Let us pray,

     Almighty and everlasting God, who sends to us every good and perfect gift: Send down upon our bishops, and other clergy, and upon the congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of your grace; and, that they may truly please you, pour upon them the continuous grace of your blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honor of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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1 Samuel 17:1a, 4-11, 19-23, 32-49

Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. (1 Samuel) And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. He had greaves of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and his shield-bearer went before him. He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” And the Philistine said, “Today I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man, that we may fight together.” When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, took the provisions, and went as Jesse had commanded him. He came to the encampment as the army was going forth to the battle line, shouting the war cry. Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage, ran to the ranks, and went and greeted his brothers. As he talked with them, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him. David said to Saul, “Let no one’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father; and whenever a lion or a bear came, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after it and struck it down, rescuing the lamb from its mouth; and if it turned against me, I would catch it by the jaw, strike it down, and kill it. Your servant has killed both lions and bears; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.” David said, “The LORD, who saved me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine.” So Saul said to David, “Go, and may the LORD be with you!” Saul clothed David with his armor; he put a bronze helmet on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail. David strapped Saul’s sword over the armor, and he tried in vain to walk, for he was not used to them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these; for I am not used to them.” So David removed them. Then he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the wadi, and put them in his shepherd’s bag, in the pouch; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine. The Philistine came on and drew near to David, with his shield- bearer in front of him. When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was only a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the field.” But David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This very day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army this very day to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not save by sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give you into our hand.” When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.

Psalm 9:9-20

9 The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.

10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion.
Declare his deeds among the peoples.

12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;
he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

13 Be gracious to me, O LORD.
See what I suffer from those who hate me;
you are the one who lifts me up from the gates of death,

14 so that I may recount all your praises,
and, in the gates of daughter Zion,
rejoice in your deliverance.

15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;
in the net that they hid has their own foot been caught.

16 The LORD has made himself known, he has executed judgment;
the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.
[Higgaion. Selah]

17 The wicked shall depart to Sheol,
all the nations that forget God.

18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
nor the hope of the poor perish forever.

19 Rise up, O LORD! Do not let mortals prevail;
let the nations be judged before you.

20 Put them in fear, O LORD;
let the nations know that they are only human. [Selah]

2 Corinthians 6:1-13

As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.” See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see--we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. In return--I speak as to children--open wide your hearts also.

Mark 4:35-41

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Collect of the Day

O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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Copyright © 2006, William G. Stroop - All Rights Reserved.
22 June 2006

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