St. Joe's Dispatch | January 9, 2025
I. From the Desk of the Vicar
Dearests,
Lately, I have been wanting to pray more. This desire has come to me a few times in life; it’s evanecent; I don’t know how to gin it up; and I don’t know why it comes when it comes. (Although I do know some things that prevent, or make unlikely, its coming: exhaustion; frantic running about; shame.) It is a very pleasurable feeling, the desire to pray. It feels like I am being dropped into something. Perhaps like a stone being dropped into a pond. This feeling, when it comes, is a gift.
At risk of self-parody: I recognize desire to pray as what it is in part because my reading life begins to change when I want to pray. I read more slowly. I respond to different passages than I might have responded to when my desires were elsewhere.
Over Christmas, I read the memoirs of Zilpha Elaw, an antebellum Black preacher from Pennsylvania: “As I was milking the cows and singing,” Elaw writes in one pivotal passage, “I turned my head and saw a tall figure approaching, who came and stood by me. He had long hair, which parted in the front and came down on his shoulders; he wore a long white robe down to the feet; and, as he stood with open arms and smiled upon me, he disappeared.”
I love that Elaw is singing (specifically, “Oh, when shall I see Jesus, and dwell with him above; And drink from flowing fountains, of everlasting love”) when Jesus appears to her.
I love that she is working when Jesus appears to her. One needn’t be off on silent retreat, wonderful though silent retreats are, to be encoutnered by God. One needn’t have the luxuries of time - space - rest to be encountered by God.
Elaw recorded not only her own response to Jesus, but the response of the cow she’d been milking:
I might have tried to imagine, or persuade myself, perhaps, that it had been a vision presented merely to the eye of my mind; but, the beast of the stall gave forth her evidence to the reality of the heavenly appearance; for she turned her head and looked round as I did; and when she saw, she bowed her knees and cowered down upon the ground.
Just like the oxen and asses in the manger, turning in adoration to the Christ child! Elaw’s experience was not only her experience — the cow also had an encounter with the Lord. We have the cow’s testimony only second-hand, through Elaw’s eyes, but it is remarkable to have it even thus.
Mostly, I love that Christianity preserves accounts like Elaw’s, for such testimony is efficacious. Sometimes, that is, you read Elaw’s account at a distance, at a remove; you just read it, and you move on. But sometimes, you read and you feel Jesus open his arms to you, as well.
To feel that opening is prayer. To seek that opening is prayer. To respond in turn, prayer.
I look forward to praying with you soon-
With love from,
Vicar Lauren
II. Announcements
Parish Potluck * Tonight, 5:30-7:00 pm in the Parish House * If your last name starts A-M bring: salad/side dish; if N-Z: dessert. Email Hannah for more information. Mark Ambrose is generously offering the parish beloved books from his collection. You can peruse and claim any you’d like to take home at tonight’s potluck or after Sunday worship on January 12.
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Casserole Bake for Breakfast Ministry * Wednesday, January 15, after the 6:00 pm service, in the Parish House * Questions? Email Fr. Lachlan.
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Parish Workday * Saturday, January 18, 10:00 am-2:00 pm * Join us to prune, plant, sweep, and scrub our campus. Questions? Email Isaac Lund.
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St. Joe’s Annual Meeting * Sunday, January 19, immediately after the 10:30 am service in the nave * The vestry will present the 2025 budget, the congregation will elect new vestry members, & we’ll hear updates on various St. Joe’s ministries. Childcare will be provided. Questions? Email CJ Surbaugh.
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For most of the next year, we will be listening, on Sundays in church, to the Gospel of Luke * Wednesday, January 22, after the 6:00 pm service in the Parish House * Join New Testament scholar and St. Josephite Joel Marcus for a discussion of how the Gospel of Luke differs from the other Gospels, and what we might listen for especially in our year with Luke. Soup will be served! Questions? Email Vicar Lauren.
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Confirmation at St. Joe’s * Are you interested in being confirmed, or sacramentally received into the Episcopal church? Are you returning to a deeper faith life, and interested in sacramentally reaffirming your faith? We’ll celebrate confirmation, reaffirmations, and receptions on June 15. If you are interested in learning about reaffirmation, reception, confirmation, email Fr. Lachlan by February 3. We will be offering preparation for confirmands throughout Eastertide.
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Staffing Update * The new year brings two staffing changes: Isaac Lund has been hired onto our Breakfast Minister team, replacing Jeremy Godwin, whose last day was in December. Isaac’s also been hired as Sexton, a new position created in the 2025 budget. As Sexton, Isaac will work alongside the Buildings and Grounds committee to maintain our beautiful campus. Thank you for your generosity -- both in pledging and to our Breakfast Ministry -- that has made these important hires possible. Questions? Email Fr. Lachlan.
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Lightly-used Furniture Needed * A member of our Breakfast Community has moved into an apartment and needs a bed, dresser, tv, and coffee table. If you can help, please email Fr. Lachlan.
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Day of Retreat * Saturday, February 8 * Ever wonder what it would be like to spend a day at a retreat center in prayer and contemplation? Join other St. Josephites for a day-long trip to St. Frances Springs Prayer Center. St. Joe’s own Julia DiBiase (Assistant Director of the center) will welcome us. We’ll tour the grounds and facilities, have lunch, and spend time on our own as the Spirit leads. Please email Lauren Norton to register by Thursday, January 30th. Cost for the day is $25 — if cost is prohibitive, please email the Vicar; financial support is available.
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The parish prayer list is being reviewed and pruned this week. We’ll remove any requests made before December will be removed, but we of course want to keep praying for anyone who still needs prayer. So please email Vicar Lauren or Deacon Jan of any new or renewed requests.
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Durham CAN * St. Joe’s is a member of Durham Congregations, Associations and Neighborhoods, an organization that brings together diverse faith communities and other civic groups to improve the quality of life for Durham residents and create a more equitable city. For example, CAN recently helped convince the Durham Public Schools to provide free lunch to all students. Durham CAN has been offered a $120,000 matching grant from MacKenzie Scott's foundation, Yield Giving. Every dollar given as a recurring donation will be doubled for the next three years. Join with St Joseph's in supporting Durham CAN's work addressing problems that impact Durham families and communities; make a recurring donation at this link. To learn more, email Doug Merrill.
III. Read St. Joe’s
Read the Vicar’s response to David Brooks’s recent column “The Shock of Faith.”
Read the New York Times review of Golden Years, St. Josephite James Chappel’s new history of aging in America.
IV. Around The Diocese
Deacon Information Session * Interested in learning more about the diaconate? Attend a Zoom session with Bishop Jennifer January 14, from 7:00-8:30. Register here.
V. Art
VI. Community Events
Drawing Meditation Workshop at the North Carolina Museum of Art * Saturday, January 11 at 10:00 am * Maureen O’Neill will lead a guided meditation focusing on connecting with the present moment. Learn more here.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration * Sunday, January 19, at 3:00 pm in Duke Chapel * Judge Jerry Blackwell, a member of the prosecution team that won a murder conviction for the killing of George Floyd, will deliver the keynote. Learn more here.
“This feeling, when it comes, is a gift.” A gift indeed, and yet, still a mystery, no less. Thank you for your thoughtful reflection.