THE RECTOR'S REFLECTIONS

RECTOR'S ANNUAL REPORT for the ANNUAL MEETING: JAN. 22, 2006

In the name of God, Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier

Allow me to begin this morning at the end and then wind my way back to the beginning and middle which in effect can be considered the beginning of the end or the end of the beginning whichever way you may want to interpret things. It's up to you. We are gathered in an Episcopal parish church and in an Episcopal sanctuary which itself at times has been transformed into Jewish synagogue and a Muslim mosque. Are you still with me? One of our Anglican hallmarks is ambiguity so in effect we are gathered in a very Anglican setting this morning for liturgy and annual meeting. Here we are in a setting which in itself is organic. This church, this sanctuary is a continual weaving of a growing tapestry. At its very heart this room, and by extension this building, in various guises and roles becomes an evolving disclosure of God's revelation. It spoke first in the 1960's and continues to speak into a new century. It speaks to us, it discloses God to us as well as to the communities that gather here and the communities to which we speak outside the walls. These structures must continue to evolve and speak to new generations and new ages. They must articulate and mediate God. They must interpret, share and disclose sacred presence and revelation, hope and reconciliation, love and sacrament within and without the walls.

Begin With Thanks

But before I get too far ahead of myself let me begin where reports and sermons like this generally end. And that is with thanks. After that I want to get into the beginning and the middle.

Thank you outgoing vestry members, Bill Stewart, Maile Cuddy and Kay Karlin. Your ministry of leadership has been exemplary. We are a better place thanks to the imprint of your service to St. Bede's. Thank you Marti Buse for your leadership as senior warden and your commitment to continue for another year as senior warden. You bring blessings to St. Bede's and reality checks to this rector. Thank you Mimi Kingsbury for your dedication and commitment to ministry of parish treasurer. You are a real hero. Thank you Khalil Kingsbury for being tolerant and patient with the long hours that Mimi has given to St. Bede's. Thank you Allegra Derryberry for your work as Assistant. Treasurer. Your skill and knowledge and presence are special gifts to the life of this church. Thank you clergy staff of St. Bede's. I recently wrote in an email to fellow clergy that Kyra and Owen could be considered poster children for the Diaconal ministry. Your service and pastoral leadership both within and without the walls are living testimonies to ministries of the first Deacons we read about in the Book of Acts. Thank you Madelynn for your leadership in liturgy. As a fellow priest I have commented to you often what a privilege it is to concelebrate with you and watch you with acolytes and all those you train. You are a liturgical leader and scholar who brings blessings to this faith community. Thank you Fritz and Choir. You bring a joyful beauty to the worship of our community. Thank you youth leaders and caregivers, Theresa, Gloria and

Trish. You make this a welcome home for the young and the young at heart. Thank you teachers and caregivers one and all. Thank you guilds and committees for all you do help shape St. Bede's to be the beacon it is. Thank you recently returned Juarez missioners and housebuilders. You have transformed lives. You have performed very Christ-like work-to the poorest of God's children.

I want to especially thank our convocation committee once again and the leadership of Shirley McNally, Caroline Miller and Jim Vandernaald. It the midst of what became a time of tension and division you brought grace, style and organization that allowed all who attended pause for appreciation and thankfulness for signs of hope in the midst of disunity. You all were living witnesses to the reconciling call of Jesus.

Thanks to Your Presence

Finally, thank you members, communicants and friends of St. Bede's Episcopal Church. Thank you newcomers and old comers. This church is what it is thanks to your presence, prayers, giving, loving and sharing of your lives and your faith. My wife, Carol, and I thank you in particular. During the health crisis' of our son, Jeremiah, this past April you ministered to us and allowed us to feel in a very deep way the love and faith that comes so naturally to all who give of themselves within these precincts. Jeremiah is cancer free. His eye problems have been diagnosed and stabilized. His life is filed with work, auditions and performing. You were all a part of his healing.

The Circle of Revelation and Life

Now to the beginning and onto the middle. But as I did say, the ending is a part of the beginning. But I won't confuse us anymore except to say that all that has gone before is the result of a call. All becomes a part of the circle of revelation and life. It is all the response and living out of a call that began at baptism when we went down into the waters to die with Jesus and come up to rise with him. And this is where we find ourselves this annual meeting morning ... in the midst of a call. Jesus has come to the shore and called Peter, Andrew, James and John and us as well.

It all seems so easy doesn't it? Jesus has announced that the Kingdom is near. The kingdom of God 's reign, God's justice, God's compassion, God's peace, God's non violence, God's healing. This Jesus announces and Mark proceeds to tell us that "immediately" Andrew and Peter followed him. Jesus calls James and John to be a part of the Kingdom and "immediately" they follow him. "immediately" have all four left fishing boats, families and village. But was it that easy after all? Is it possible to drop all of one's relations and responsibilities and "immediately" depart for the unknown? Not knowing what lies ahead? Is it possible to leave the village and depart into those places beyond the boundaries?

On one level we may say, "Yes it is possible". After all these four future disciples were most likely not part of a family fishing business but rather working for a large syndicate. We know that tax collectors usually worked for large syndicates and were forced to overcharge for the sake of their wages and survival. It would be no different for those who fished for a living. So, at the first opportunity it is understandable to get out and get out "immediately". On another level it is impossible without a parent's blessing.

Look Through the Eyes of Zebedee

If we look at today's gospel not through the eyes of Jesus or of the future disciples but instead through the eyes of Zebedee we get a newer and fresher understanding which goes to the heart of our annual meeting today. In the case of James and John they couldn't have left the boats without Zebedee's blessing. I also imagine the father of Peter and Andrew was no different. It is unthinkable that sons will leave home without the blessing of the family leader in first century Israel . I think it was Zebedee who saw in Jesus the mission that lay ahead. I think it was Zebedee who first understood that the Kingdom was at hand and that he had to tell his sons to leave the boat and follow. Can you hear him this morning? "The time has come. Go. Leave the boat. Go build the kingdom. Go, spread as Mark says, "The Good News of God".

I submit today that the time has come for us to leave the boat as well. The time has come for us to make a leap of faith and commit ourselves to the mission of building Kingdom and Good News. And Zebedee has spoken to us. This time the voice of Zebedee comes to us from our vestry. Zebedee's charge was issued to me this past Monday evening when the vestry endorsed my call for St. Bede's to launch a building campaign at todays annual meeting. I said that the time has come and Zebedee said indeed the time has come. I am here now asking us to follow and begin thinking and planning and accomplishing the building of a new boat. (You know, its no accident that the in the early church one of the symbols of the church was a boat.)

The Time Has Come

Let me read from a portion of my report to. the vestry this past Monday.

By now there has been a lot of talk and energy around the issue of a new building. I initiated the conversation at the stewardship luncheon. At that time there was a broad consensus expressed to begin the campaign. I'm asking tonight for the vestry's consensus as this project will be vestry driven enterprise.

I need, however, to give you some history to my inauguration of the project at the luncheon. I want to state categorically that this is not "Fr. Murphy's Project' as some have been saying. Life will be very easy for me if there is no building project but I feel strongly that time has come and in fact that is my motto for the campaign... "The Time Has Come".

An Historic Hope of St. Bede's

Rather, my initiative goes back to when I first met with search committee and vestry in 1997. During my second visit here and in this very room I was asked by Bob Lawrence on behalf of both the search committee and vestry if I had ever taken

part in a capital and building campaign. I said I hadn't but would certainly be keen for it if it was the wish of the parish community. The committee and vestry reps at the meeting described how there had been an ongoing conversation over a long period of time to begin a building campaign. This idea has waxed and waned over the years until now. I simply speak for an historic hope of St. Bede's when I say the "Time Has Come".

The attendance on Sundays is such that we are getting crowded. The building is in need of a lot of repair. Cracks in the foundation in the common room and sanctuary attest to structural problems. We have 4 heating systems, office space, meeting space, classroom space is all less than adequate. There is no place for the choir to practice apart from the Sanctuary on Sundays. Storage space is practically filled to capacity. The list goes on. The building is well worn. We have had serious gas pipe problems in the past. Heating and cooling are sporadic and arbitrary. "The Time Has Come"..

I asked the vestry to endorse this project. A resolution in favor was presented and the vestry voted unanimously for me to come before you today to challenge all of us to begin here and now to build a new church, a new St. Bede's here on this very land that will be a lasting legacy to those who follow us and be a shining beacon to the city of Santa Fe.

Project Will Take 4 to 6 Years

Kathi Odell, Bill Stewart, vestry members, and I recently attended a conference with the Episcopal Church Building Fund. Lots of good information came out of the meeting and according to their experience we will begin on a project that will take from 4 to 5 years. At the heart of the campaign will be the fundamental rule that a new church arise out of this community's consensus. This will not be the enterprise of a few but a reflection of the community of St. Bede's. There will be plenty of work to go around, plenty of time for discussion and planning. I have already met with Tina Lawrence and Norm Millet asking them to revise and reactivate our DIRT (Dream into Reality) committee which will begin the information gathering phase of working with those who live, move and have our beings in the building. We will need to consult with other churches that have gone through such campaigns for their insight and advice. We don't need to reinvent the wheel.

We have been encouraged by Zebedee to begin the walk down a new road towards new goals. Zebedee exhorts us to leave the village to embark on the building of a newer village. One that will accomplish the next stage of our mission to announce and build up the Kingdom of God .

We will not be alone in this walk down this new road. Rabbi Malka Drucker and the congregation of HaMakom are eager to walk with us and help build the new village. HaMakom has been incredibly supportive of our relationship together these past years and wants to remain with us as we move down the road. I ask that we consider them partners in pilgrimage and building.

The Future of Religion and Faith

It has become clear to me during the past year or two that the future of religion and faith in our present culture locally and worldwide must be experienced in reflection and action through Interfaith dialogue. The 1 19th century Anglican priest and theologian, Frederick Denison Maurice, said, and I paraphrase, that no one holds a corner on the on the market of the truth. We all bring a piece of the truth to the table and complete the pie. Interfaith dialogue is an integral part of our faith journey We live in an age that can be marked by the cultures of fear and violence, anger and hatred. Like the middle ages, I believe, it is left to the faith communities locally, nationally and internationally to reinvigorate the messages of hope, love, justice and non violence. It is up to faith communities to bring

to the wider world the living and active presence of the loving God who created us and reminds us that we are all created in God's image. It is up to faith communities, working together in dialogue and prayer and common mission, to turn on the lights when and where they go out. To repair and heal the world is an interfaith project. We Anglicans as pilgrims of the Via Media, the Middle Way , can be leaders of inclusion, hospitality and hope. We at St. Bede's have the opportunity to build a very concrete witness along with our brothers and sisters from HaMakom. The Time Has Come.

The Beginning of the End

Now I have come to the beginning of the end. We are being asked to leave a boat to build a new one. We are being asked to leave one village to build anew one. The Croatian theologian, Miroslav Volf, speaks in his book Exclusion and Embrace of the challenge of departing. He describes the call to Abraham, father of Jew, Muslim and Christian, to leave home and become the father of a nation. Like Abraham we find ourselves at a point of departure. What we build will be left to our children and our children's children.

It has been the historic hope of this community to build a new church, a new boat, a new village. This hope is based on God's hope for us. The Time Has Come. When we meet in annual meeting I will ask for your response. Amen

Respectfully submitted,
Fr. Richard

January 22, 2006