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Rules for doing "church"

I graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary in 2014, which is just fifteen or twenty minutes away, off of… well… Seminary Rd. My class has the distinct honor of being the only class to not have a chapel their entire time as students in the school, which could explain my general skepticism toward elaborate liturgy. The summer before I began my time at VTS, the historic chapel burned down in an incense accident. It took nearly all three years of my time there for the administration to work with insurance and the permit office to have the old chapel turned into a prayer garden and to begin construction on the new chapel. Almost my entire time in Seminary the charred remains of the Chapel lived behind a temporary chain link fence, and we worshipped daily in a very plain large meeting room. A chancel and altar were built for the space, and per the fire marshal’s orders a very visible bright read fire alarm hung on the ceiling right above the altar, seemingly a reminder of why we were there and not in a proper worship space.

Lent is just around the corner....

I do not know about you, but it was hard for our family to get in the rhythm of socializing again after we spent so much time avoiding other people during the pandemic. Even now, it simply feels weird to share a meal with others, even though this was something that was part of our normal routine in 2019. I assumed life would naturally revert to old and healthier rhythms, but sometimes it takes intentionality and effort to bring things back.

If you are similar to me, then you are in luck, because Lent is just around the corner and this season is all about intentionality! Lent is a solemn time meant for self-reflection and discipline, and many take it as a time to practice living without the things that keep them from feeling the love of God and their neighbor. This year St. Luke’s would like to invite you to try something different for Lent, and to add a discipline to your life that might help you feel loved a little bit more. We want you to take on the discipline of getting to know your neighbor here at St. Luke’s.

Every Wednesday in Lent, starting on March 1st, we will have dinner and programming for children and adults. Much of this will be staggered, so it will be practical for those with young children and adults who don’t get home until later. Dinner will be available to eat between 5:30 and 6:30. Luca Holladay, one of our Day School teachers will lead children’s programming from 6:00 until 7:00. I will offer a Bible Study from 6:30 to 7:30. Both programs will be focused on the Acts of the Apostles, and children are welcome to hop in and out as it is convenient for their parents. The children’s program is designed with children aged two through second grade in mind. Do you have a baby and want a break from bouncing them while you eat? We will have designated experienced baby holders to help bear some of your load.

The food will not be solemn, and I hope our dinner tables will be filled with laughter and conversation. This is not the Lenten Programming you’ve seen in the past, because we have recently been given more than our fair share of solemnity, so much so that isolation feels normal. The Church is fundamentally about people, so I hope you join me in take on getting to know our people during Lent.

We hope to see you March 1st!

Blessings,

Nick

The Good Work of St. Luke’s Sacred Ground Circle

A long time ago, I had the privilege of attending a talk about the history of female clergy in the Anglican Church, and I remember one portion being particularly compelling and poetic. The speaker was Rev. Dr. Judith McDaniel, then a recently retired homiletics (preaching) professor, just returning from a retreat in Iona where she was working on her book about the history of ordaining women in the Church. Iona is legendary for being an intensely sacred and beautiful Abbey on a small island off the coast of Scotland. While she was describing the intense beauty of this place, Rev. McDaniel spoke of walking through ancient grave markers of the Monks and Nuns that occupied the island when the British Isles were still largely pagan.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas

Well, here we go.

I try not to listen to Christmas music in my office during Advent, but the season is contagious and I have caved. Sufjan Steven’s Christmas Album is booming while I write this, and my soul seems to be trying to escape the chrysalis of preparation that is Advent, so it can go and revel in the world that has been leaving us waiting.

We have been taught by Matthew and Luke and two thousand years of discernment that this joy and anticipation we are feeling is the coming of the incarnation of God. The same God we see in Genesis 1 now dwells among us, and we are known and loved. The fabric of how life works has shifted. We don’t have to understand it in order to feel it in our bones, and we are compelled to hang boughs of holly, kiss under evergreen parasitic plants (mistletoe), and exchange gifts in a brightly colored paper in a world that demands a palette of grey.

The very world is changing. It is not bright yet, but it is getting brighter, and suddenly I feel that I can endure anything. In the coming months that are dark, and the unknown challenges we have yet to face, do not forget to revel in the world that is waking up. Show the darkness that it has no hold over your soul by waking up to usher in the light.

Merry Christmas.

Blessings,

Nick

Father Nick Goes Boldly

Christmas is coming at us like a freight train, and it is coming on time whether or not we are ready for it. I shouldn’t be that stressed. Like anyone else, I worry about getting shopping done and all of that. In addition to normal Christmas stress, there is the whole Church thing, but at this stage of the holiday, it is the rest of your staff that is pulling the extra weight. Sue and Victoria have been on top of getting the word out and making sure the bulletins are done well in advance. Kate has not only been planning and practicing music for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but she also wrote and produced her own unique Christmas Pageant!!! If you are wondering, this is not normal, and we are remarkably lucky to have her talent and dedication.

St. Nicholas of Myra Saving Pickled Children and/or Drowning Sailors

Dear St. Luke’s,

I wanted to preface this by saying that I believe the content of this article to be true, but I know myself well enough to realize that subconsciously I am mixing up details, so if you take the time to fact-check me you will likely find many errors. I could take the time to review my sources and offer citations, but like many of you this season, time is something I don’t have. However, even if I had all of the time in the world, I probably still wouldn’t check, because I am more interested in telling a good story.

The End is Nigh!

Have you ever seen one of those crazy street preachers with signs that say, “THE END IS NIGH!”? I thought those were mostly made-up troupes until I saw one in downtown Atlanta. That day I learned a valuable lesson, if someone is yelling to you about Jesus, don’t respond. The fact they shout means they are not interested in listening. Why does preparing for the end seem to bring out the worst in people? You’d think if he really believed what he was preaching, he would reconcile with loved ones and try to bear fruit worthy of repentance, but he certainly did not ask me.

Enjoy the Holidays

Around Thanksgiving, I think of Interstate 75. Three times a year we would wake up at 4:00 am, get crammed into the family minivan, and head North from Georgia to see family in Ohio. We would sleep under heaps of blankets and pillows and generally wake up somewhere in Kentucky. For the rest of the trip, we would struggle to entertain ourselves. We would bicker, play car games that would last for hours, tell stories, and laugh. Being a child stuck in a car for that long felt like torture, but I longed for those long car trips. There was something beautiful about being held prisoner with the people I loved while being bored out of my mind, and on either end was a house full of love and food.

Father Nick Eyes are Set on the Kingdom

I am writing this on the eve of the Diocesan Convention. I am overjoyed that I am now your rector, but now that I am official, I have to go to these things, and I hate them. Waking up early on my days off is a bummer, but it is not the end of the world. I actually like making small talk, but the amount of small talk that will take place will be no fun. I absolutely do not like it when a small handful of priests repeatedly go up to the microphone, but we now have smartphones to distract us from such departures in good taste. What really makes my skin crawl is being held hostage in a crowded room not knowing when we will be free from the presentations, discussions, and Robert with his cruel rules of order.

Father Nick is Thankful for Everyone at St. Luke's

Tomorrow night we will celebrate with the new ministry that has been growing between us! There will be a family-friendly reception at 5:00 in the grove, with the service at 6:00 and the big reception to follow. I sincerely hope you can make it.

Father Nick response to God’s call to love the world and be the Church

This morning (Wednesday) I had the extreme privilege of doing chapel with the Day School, which is consistently the most fun I have all week. That lasted about twenty minutes, and since then there has been a flurry of activity around the stewardship campaign, planning the Celebration of New Ministry, getting ready for the Senior Saints Luncheon, and the Day School Silent Auction. Things are busy and feel alive. I am amazed that Sue (our parish administrator) is able to keep all of the balls in the air while we juggle through these major events. On top of things in the immediate future, we are still rediscovering our community.

Father Nick on the Charm of the Pumpkin Patch

It feels bittersweet to know the last few pumpkins will be sold in the coming days. I adore watching all of the children play in the patch and pick out pumpkins that they will take home, carve, and then ultimately feed to the squirrels. The patch takes a ton of work and dedication, and I imagine those who made this ministry possible will be relieved to get back to normal in the next couple of days. In particular, Melissa Brunton, Kim Witzmann, Richard, and Lisa Maple have put in a tremendous amount of time to make the magic of the patch happen, and the entire Fort Hunt community appreciates them for their work!

Father Nick Finds Ways to Engage

I think it was this past May that I found a very large brick of nearly worthless Venezuelan money for sale, and immediately I knew that I needed it. I didn’t know what I would use it for, but I had no doubt I would put it to good use. Initially, I would hand large sums of the currency to guests in our home as welcome gifts. That was fun, but it was just the beginning.

Father Nick Plans for Baby Hull's Arrival

Our second child will be born any day. Something has changed within me this week, and I feel like I am filled with adrenaline and anxiety, and even now it is hard to sit still long enough to write this brief message to you. I have been dealing with this nervous energy by cleaning and organizing the closet on the third floor and the shed in the playground. Were these tasks necessary to get done before I leave? Absolutely not. Did it feel good? Yes!!!

Investing In St. Luke's Future

Tuesday marked my eighteenth month with you, and that is when all of the signatures were gathered on my Letter of Agreement officially making me your Rector! The nameplate for my door is in the mail, and we are all super excited. It has also made me think about all that has changed in the past year. The new parish hall is stunning, the grounds are slowly improving, the narthex is no longer used for storage, and the building looks lived in and cared for. All of these changes energize me, not only because I like things to look nice, but also because I imagine all of the people who will fill those spaces and the Easter eggs that will hide in the flowers that we plant. We have seen an influx of new people in the Church in the last year, and now it is time to start investing in the people of St. Luke’s.

Father Nick's Heart Is Full

Dear St. Luke’s,

Just a few minutes before writing this I signed my Letter of Agreement to be your next Rector! That sentence has a ton of jargon, so let’s unpack it for a moment. A Letter of Agreement is like a contract, and it is official once it is signed by the clergyperson in question (me), the senior warden (Richard McFarland), and the Bishop of the Diocese (Bishop Goff). Until the Bishop signs it, I will be a Priest-in-Charge, which is very self-explanatory. A Rector is just like a Priest-in-Charge, but has tenure. Essentially, I was a temporary employee, but I am being made permanent, so we will be stuck with each other, something that brings me much joy!

I am thankful we are stuck with each other for many different reasons. One of the things I love about this Church the most is that you know how to get stuff done. Episcopalians have a bad habit of starting things, and not finishing them, or just hiring staff to do ministry on their behalf. As St. Luke’s has slowly come back to life, I am consistently amazed at everything we do for the Kingdom of God. The big things like the craft fair, pumpkin patch, and annual BBQ are great examples, but just the tip of the iceberg. From worship to outreach, buildings and grounds and vestry all require a lot of passion and work, and they would not exist without the heart of St. Luke’s, which is the laity.

We believe the ministers of the Church are Bishops, Priests, Deacons, and all baptized Christians. That means you! Part of our faith is ministering to one another, and to the rest of the creation that God has given us. We cannot remain stagnant or allow others to do this work for us, because all that we do is meant to be for the Kingdom of God. I know that as we move forward, we are going to be tremendous partners in ministry. I will not, and should not be, the major moving force behind every ministry. If that were the case, we would be severely limiting what our Church can be.

A tremendous example of this is the Sacred Ground group that started meeting almost a year ago. Sacred Ground is a curriculum that was created by the national Church that is meant to help faith communities explore issues around race. Marjy and Skip Jones had the energy to get the circle started, and did all of the groundwork. I was honored to have joined them. I contributed mostly as another participant, but occasionally I provided staff or priestly support. As the group grew and went on this journey together, each person’s strengths and perspectives came to the surface. Now we are discerning what we are going to do next. If you want to learn more about this you can go to www.saintlukeschurch.net/sacred-ground

This group has been a microcosm of my experience with St. Luke’s as a whole. People here seem to have a fire in their belly to do something to address the ills of the world, and they know how to get stuff done. I know that whatever we do in the name of Christ will be wonderful. I am humbled by the vestry’s show of faith in me. I know there will be disappointments and failures, I hope they are few and far between, but even then those are only opportunities to learn and show grace.

My heart is full knowing we will continue on this journey together.

Blessings,

Nick

Father Nick Celebrates a New Space in the Church

We now have a soft space in the Church!

This is a safe and engaging place for wiggly children to spend their time during worship. This is not a new idea, and to be honest I am a bit apprehensive about this addition because I am afraid it will contain and limit some of our youngest members. If I had my way, pews and kneelers would be used as tunnels for toddlers to traverse the Church and meet the other members of our community, and to see what the Church looks like from every angle. Ideally, this would be done during the duller moments of my sermons. Rather than being a place to sequester children during worship, I hope that it is used as a launching off point for them to fully engage in the community as God calls them to do. From my perspective St. Luke’s has been consistently welcoming and encouraging, especially toward children, and I hope that we continue to lean into this part of our culture.

Father Nick Welcomes Sinners

We are people that are brought together by common worship. We also have a common creed, but your status in the Church will never be questioned, if you do not believe every part of that creed. For example, in the Nicene Creed we proclaim the virgin birth of Christ. If someone came up and said that they don’t believe that, I would shrug and ask if they wanted to talk about it over coffee.

In Defense of Fancy Churches

When I encountered the cynics in Martinsville Virginia, I was told that back in the day the “three c’s” of local high society were Chatmoss (the country club), Carlisle (the private school), and Christ Church (the Church where I was rector)

Father Nick Looks Forward to Pentecost, Youth Sunday and the Parish Picnic

This coming Sunday is the birthday of the Church! As always, there is more than one wonderful thing happening. We will recognize and celebrate the graduating seniors in our lives, especially those graduating from High School. Three graduates are offering homilies on Sunday about their time at St. Luke’s and what is in store for them for the future. The timing is poetic as Sunday is Pentecost. Pentecost Sunday is one of those wonderfully rare times where we can pull out our red vestments and hangings and celebrate something new happening. In this case it is celebrating the birth of the Church when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples and empowered them to communicate in the native language of those in Jerusalem, opening up the good news of Jesus Christ to all peoples.