Reading Ahead -- Pentecost 15

Let's hear it for uppity women. This week's
reading from the Hebrew Scriptures is full of them.

It starts with Shiphrah and Puah, the midwives, who instead of killing the Hebrew boy babies, as Pharaoh commanded, tell the authorities instead that the Hebrew women are just too quick to give birth and they just can't make it there in time to kill the boy babies. Then we have the mother and sister of Moses, who put the baby in the basket in the reeds so Pharaoh's daughter can find him. With sister Miriam close by, so she can enlist Moses' own mother as his wet nurse.

Then we even have Pharaoh's daughter, who knows her father has issued this decree to have the Hebrew boys killed, but who carries one right into the palace, raises him as her son, gives him an Egyptian name (Moses is not a Hebrew name, but an Egyptian one), and preserves him right in the face of the man who would have had him killed.

How many secret, shrewd and crafty acts have kept God's story going and God's purposes alive in the world? And how many of those secret, shrewd and crafty acts have relied on women?

How are you secretly, shrewdly, and craftily keeping God's kingdom dreams alive in your world today?

+ Kit

Come to the Campfire

This Saturday, it's time for some singin' and some eatin' and some marshmallow toastin' and some hayridin' and some checkin' out of some cool old cars ...

At the second annual Campfire Coffeehouse at the farm of Dan and Gail Shaefer-Crane. We'll have hayrides and a chance to check out their collection of antique cars from 5 to 6 p.m., then dinner at 6 (bring a salad or side dish to share, the hot dogs and drinks are on us), followed by s'mores and singing around the campfire.

It's at 3447 W. Stoll Road in Lansing, out by the airport.
Here's a map, if you need one.

Peace,

+Kit

The Students Are Coming! The Students Are Coming!

Move-in starts this week and pretty soon the streets of East Lansing will be back to their crowded school year selves. And we will be seeing students checking out All Saints and the Canterbury-MSU ministry. Already, yesterday in church, a couple of grad students visited and worshipped with us.

All Saints plays host to the MSU students in several ways. First, by welcoming them when they show up on a Sunday morning looking homesick and confused. (As you welcomed me some 30 years ago when I showed up as a freaked-out freshman far from home.) And also by hosting the Canterbury-MSU student ministry for worship each Sunday at 5, and by providing a home for Chaplain Sarah in our rectory (and a great hang-out space that she has set up for the students in the rec room there).

The CMSU ministry needs COOKS to make dinners for the students this fall. Also, mark your calendars for the Fall Feast fundraising dinner for Canterbury on October 10. This fundraiser makes the annual mission trip (Alternative Spring Break) possible for the students. Please call the church office (351-7160) if you'd like to make a dinner one Sunday night.

And know that you are always welcome to worship with Canterbury at 5 p.m. on Sundays. So if you can't make it to church on Sunday morning, Sarah will be very pleased to see you on Sunday afternoon.

Peace,

+ Kit

Reading Ahead -- Pentecost 14

Well, Jesus does not come off very well in this week's Gospel reading. He is traveling in Gentile territory -- what is present-day Lebanon. I imagine him going incognito, on vacation from all the craziness back in Galilee. Here he doesn't have to be the Messiah or a healer or anything. He can just take a break.

But this woman keeps bothering him to heal her daughter. "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" he tells her. (Like, "Look, lady. I'm on vacation here. I only do my work in Israel. I'm supposed to be off. That's why I came to this Gentile place.")

Then he really insults her. "It's not right to take the children's food and give it to the dogs." Jesus calls her and her daughter and all her people "dogs." Jesus, who fed 5,000 people and had plenty of leftovers, implies that there's just not enough to go around, especially for the likes of her.

How does this story of a seemingly uninterested Jesus disturb or challenge you? Can Jesus change his mind? Is the Gentile woman smarter about the ways of God than he is? In your prayers this week, argue with Jesus as the Canaanite woman did. See what his reply to you might be.

+ Kit

Check out the website!

Our parish website has been redesigned by Deb Lashbrook. We're still working out a few kinks and editing the pages. But this is a good chance to ask: What do you think should be available on our website? What would make it work better? What do you want to find there?

+ Kit

If You Had Just One Question

About ten years ago, Joan Osborne hit the charts with a song ... "What if God Was One of Us." I was thinking about the opening verse: If God had a name/What would it be?/And would you call it to His face/if you were face to face with Him/in all his glory/and what would you ask if you had just one question?

What would you ask God if you had just one question?


+Kit

Neither Rain Nor Heat, Nor ...

Any kind of weather can stop All Saints folks from getting out to have some fun. There was a great turnout yesterday for the annual Lugnuts outing at Oldsmobile Park. Even though the game started an hour and a half late because of a rain delay, we ate hot dogs, drank beer, chatted and laughed and enjoyed the occasional shower.

Tamara Hicks-Syron finally kicked it all off at 3:30 when she stepped out onto the field to sing the National Anthem. It was great to have one of our own start the proceedings.

And the Lugnuts won! So what could be better, really?