St. David's Episcopal Church and School - Ashburn, VA
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  • WELCOME
    • About Us >
      • Testimonials
      • Contact
      • Clergy and Staff
      • Trustees
      • Vestry
    • Newcomer Information
    • Transition Information
  • News
    • Calendars
  • Worship
    • About Worship
    • Worship Schedule
    • Sermons
    • Messy Church
    • Funerals/Memorial Services
    • Weddings
  • Connect
    • REALM
    • Getting Involved
    • Children's Ministry
    • Daughters of the King
    • Men's Fellowship
    • Outreach
    • Pastoral Care
    • VBS
    • Youth MInistry
  • LEARN
    • Baptism
    • Beloved Community
    • Christian Education
    • Confirmation
    • Preschool
    • Small Groups
  • Give
    • Donations
    • Stewardship
    • Planned Giving

Lent is Here

2/25/2019

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You found time to read through this email.  If you have done that, you are likely reading the Bible Challenge as well with a piece of Scripture each day.  During Lent, we often try to give up something that is unhealthy for us, that will benefit our overall well-being.  Giving up chocolate may help our sugar addiction.  Adding exercise may help get us back into shape.  Maybe we give up other components of food or add other pieces to our lives that help us.  Maybe you pray at a particular time or in a particular way.  This year, you have already dedicated yourself to reading the Bible.  Maybe, if you have fallen short or are not consistent, it is time to pick up this challenge, even if it is only for Lent. 

On Ash Wednesday, we read from the Book of Common Prayer the following Invitation:

Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great
devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and
it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a
season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided
a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy
Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of
notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful
were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to
the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation
was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set
forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all
Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.

I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the
observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance;
by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and
meditating on God's holy Word.
And, to make a right beginning
of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now
kneel before the Lord, our maker and redeemer. - pg. 264-265


As you see in bold, the reading and meditating on Scripture is a key component to the invitation.  If you are to focus on one single component of this year's Lenten discipline, you are invited in this process to read a little bit each day.  We also ask you to have just one other person join this Lenten discipline with you and all of us.  I know, we are in the middle of a book, but that is ok.  Lent seems to come in the middle of our busy lives and we invite all into the middle of this journey. 

The question then is, how does the reading of Scripture daily impact your other Lenten disciplines or bring you closer to God?  Does it help you in self-examination?  If you have other practices such as giving up chocolate (an oldie but a goodie), does it inform that practice?  At the least, whenever we encounter Scripture, we are accepting the invitation for God's movement in our lives.  Let God move in your life this Lent. 


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Who is this Paul?

2/18/2019

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The portrayal of Paul in the Acts of the Apostles illustrated a man chosen by God.  This is a man who persecuted the church and put to death many of the first Christians and then transitioned to, perhaps, the greatest advocate.  He was literally blinded and given sight in the Lord.  We are not entirely sure of the accuracy of Paul's description in Acts as the author of Luke and Acts may have altered his description and travels.   We now read Romans, an authentic letter of Paul.  What are we getting into?

There are 14 letters often attributed to Paul in the New Testament, however, current consensus labels only 7 of them as actually written by Paul.  These seven letters are Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, and Philemon.  In fact, the oldest New Testament document (1 Thessalonians) is written by Paul (yes, older than all of the Gospels).  I love Paul's theology, however, one must read each of his writings in context of the audience, culture, and person.  The book in which we read now, Romans, is perhaps his most theological and revealing and as N.T Wright has noted, is laid out in a chiastic structure.  The very center of the book provides his central theology with balanced arguments on either side.  He no doubt finds baptism in Christ a central characteristic.  But does all of this make sense for me to follow today?

Remember as you read these Scriptures, that they are letters written from Paul to a particular group of people.  He probably did not know that they would end up canonized for our reading 2,000 years later.  I encourage you to read the opening introduction to each letter in your study Bible and if you do not have one, let me know and we'll get information to you.  As letters, Paul may be writing to address particular concerns for a community that may not be a particular concern to us today.  As you approach some problematic texts in his letters, keep this in mind.  As you become more familiar with Paul, think about what he might say to our particular community based upon what he said to these.

Paul was the antithesis of a Christian in his early life, not of the chosen Israel, Roman citizen, and persecutor of the church.  As one of the strongest proponents with the most canonized Scripture, he is an example of God's love and mercy extended and speaking through people outside of native Israel.  Paul received God's grace, God's mercy, and became an example to the point of martyrdom in around 65 CE.  God's love is extended beyond a single people.  We have evidence in these Scriptures of such movement of God in humanity and God continues to move in and through us.  What is God saying to you through these ancient letters?  What might Paul of today say to us? 

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What is God's Name?

2/11/2019

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"If I come to the Israelites and say to them, 'the God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' and they ask me 'what is his name?' what shall I say to them? God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM" - Exodus 3:13-14  This phrase is also translated as "I am what I am" or "I will be what I will be," according to the notes in our NRSV translation.  The authors and readers of these original texts reverently did not pronounce the name of God.  This name was too holy for any mortal to pronounce.  So what is actually written in the text and how do you pronounce it?  How should I pronounce it? 

The Tetragrammaton!
Many of the original manuscripts left a blank or a notation to look into the margins for what to say in place of God.  There were typically four letters for the name of God given which is called the tetragrammaton, literally meaning "consisting of four letters." You can see the Hebrew written texts for these four letters YHWH in the image with this post.  In Hebrew, some letters are not pronounced and others can be vowels or consonants depending on other markings.  So we do not actually know how this was pronounced and it is possible that it is four vowels. 

Our Bible often said God or Lord and I have heard people say Yahweh and Jehovah.  Where do these come from and are they correct?  Often, the written text in the margin of the manuscript would pronounce God as adonai, usually translated as Lord.  The four letters are also often pronounced Yahweh. The incorporation of a "J" from a Latin translation is inaccurate (so don't say Jehovah).  We also often see the designation of el or elohim (plural for God or gods) used as well. We read many designations in the Bible about holy spots or temples that are prefaced with El.  Think about the times you may have read "God of gods," and you know that it is probably a combination of elohim with another version of God.

The Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament) was originally (mostly) in Hebrew and the New Testament has manuscripts in Greek.  However, the Septuagint is the Hebrew Scriptures written in Greek.  It is Greek translation, probably from older Hebrew manuscripts than to which we have access.  All this is to say that the Greek, usually has Kurios or Lord for the name of God or Theos.

Other ways we call God, God? 
Our Father... We often use paternal, even maternal and other kindred names to talk about God.  These metaphors carry cultural meanings from the day of their authorship and the intent is of one who is a giver of life and protector.  Obviously, some of these titles may cause problematic associations for some readers.  There are a myriad of ways we describe and refer to God.  So what is the correct one?  There is no way for us to name the indescribable, immutable, and merciful.  We can use caution when using metaphors and in even using the name God, know that many people of all different sects of Christianity call God different names.  Our ancient Hebrew texts teach us the reverence with which the name is (or is not) even written or spoken.  It may not help to call God YHWH as you pray.  It may be Father, abba, God, Creator, know that God is so awesome and wonderful, merciful and life-giving. 

Think as you read the Scriptures about the holiness of God and the holiness of God's presence that is with you.  Our only way to begin to comprehend the image and name of God is to look towards God made manifest in the person of Jesus the Christ. 

YHWH is with you today and always. 

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    The Rev. William L. Packard

    I am excited to read the Bible with you, not only for the knowledge and ability to say, "I've read the whole thing," but for the wonderful things that occur when Scripture is read intentionally each day. 

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St. David's Episcopal Church & School
43600 Russell Branch Parkway
Ashburn, VA 20147

703-729-0570
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