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State of the Parish
January 21, 1996
One of my all-time favorite movies was Dead Poets Society.
In the movie, there is an outstanding scene where Robin Williams tries to have his teenage students explore the world outside of themselves. He takes his class into the foyer of the gym, where they look at old photos of former students – now dead and gone. Standing with them, Williams tells his students one thing – one fact of life. All will die, including them. All will die.
And because of that inescapable fact, he presents them with a quick Latin lesson. He says to them, “Carpe Diem,” which he tells them means: “Seize the Day.” Then he has the students lean close to the ancient photos, and as they do, he whispers to them as if from the grave: “Carpe Diem. Carpe Diem.”
I want to use Robin Williams’ words as the focus for this sermon. I am doing this, for I believe that God is calling St. Philip’s to “seize the day;” Carpe Diem. We are in a unique position. We are at the end of one chapter and at the beginning of another – a chapter that moves us into the year 2001, where God calls us to build for future generations.
Now let me be perfectly honest. I have been here with you for 19 years… and together, we have had our good times and bad times. By and large, things are going well – very well. There’s a good spirit and a few large problems. We’ve even managed to convince ourselves that the overcrowding in the Sunday school, and lack of parking, the tight quarters for staff, and the absence of enough rooms for adult classes are really blessings in disguise. They are reminders of our popularity. So this past year, I’ve been saying to myself: ‘Why not make this last chapter, this next five years, a peaceful one? Why not be remembered as the rector who was hard-driving, making great changes at the beginning, but ending up smiling, beloved, managing with a light touch – this great person? Why not??’
Unfortunately, we’re not called to sit back and relax and slowly pass into retirement. Unfortunately, God has plans for us. Somehow, God is saying to each of us: ‘You can’t settle for the past. Those who follow me must follow me into the future. They must be willing to live in chaotic times.” The word for this next Chapter in our life together doesn’t come from Ann Landers, who might say: “Enjoy, go with the flow.” Instead, it comes from a writer like the Hispanic, Unamuno, who wrote: “Que Dios, no nos paz, y si gloria.” ‘May God deny us peace, but give us glory.”
Ah, there’s the rub. We want peace and not glory. For some, it’s peace at any price. Even if we have to ignore God’s call to us. For some, peace means settling down and enjoying what we have worked so hard to accomplish. For some, peace means letting the future take care of itself.
Several years ago I heard a talk by a European statesman. I don’t recall the topic, but there was one point he made that hit a responsive chord, and I wrote it down on the back of an envelope. He said: ‘Do you know the difference between a politician and a diplomat? A politician tries to work things out now. He asks the question: What’s in it for me?’ And then, hopefully, he concerns himself with his constituency. A diplomat builds for the future. He asks the question: What kind of a legacy am I leaving for future generations?’” I am convinced that God is looking for spiritual diplomats. There are already enough church politicians.
And yet . . . and yet . . . the arguments of the church politicians are so very tempting. “Can’t we postpone? What’s the urgency? Let’s wait until a more propitious time. Maybe we can leave the work for someone else.”
Unfortunately, our sooner or later often adds up to never. The deepest tragedies of life are not the foolish things we do. They are not even the failures we often have. The deepest tragedy is not to be willing to risk, to take a chance, to move out on God’s call.
There is a wonderful line from an old play, The Music Man, where the band director turns to the prissy, conservative spinster librarian, and says: ‘Keep putting off till tomorrow what can be done today and you’ll soon find your life has been nothing but a collection of empty yesterdays.” Seize the day, St. Philippians, seize the day.
Good people, I am asking you to listen closely to God’s call to us. To not put off till tomorrow what can and must be done today. The challenge facing us is whether we will be comfortable and simply settle for enjoying what we have, or become mature and begin to contemplate leaving a legacy.
Remember, remember, to be young is to study in schools that you did not build. To be mature is to build schools in which you will not study. To be young is to sit under trees you did. not plant. To be mature is to plant trees under which you will not sit.
To be young is to benefit from a church you did not make. To be mature is to build on to a church from which you might not benefit.
Good people, St. Philippians – God is calling us to act maturely, to leave a legacy, to begin building the next chapter.
Carpe Diem . . . Carpe Diem . . .
AMEN.

“State of the Parish Address”
January 19, 1992
This summer, Lyle Shaller, one of the most respected writers and consultants on church life, asked if I would write a chapter for a book he was editing on the city church, aa told me much has been written on the demise of the urban church. He wanted to bring a book out on successful city parishes, which were painting the way toward a new reformation of the church in America . I was thrilled that Saint Philip’s was chosen, and if we’ve been working, with a lot of help from Bobbie Justice, for the last six months on the chapter. It’s not my intent to recount what’s in the chapter – buy the book – but / do want to start this State of the Parish address with the last line, it comes from one of thirty interviews. This was from Don Baker :
“Over the years, what changes have taken place at Saint Philip’s, yet there never has been a t IIne when we settled back and felt that we have “arrived” We have a strong sense of our imperfections and a vision that the best days lie ahead. ”
Thank you, Don . We haven’t arrived, but we did accomplish some great things for the Kingdom, and I want to share some of them with you. Probably the greatest miracle is that anything happened. In a year where he only had 50% clergy staff – two clergy – this has meant a tremendous extra burden on Paul ; and the only reason we haven’t both been carted off to the hospital has been the support of Hiriam and the rest of the staff, as well as the help from the ” non-sti pes” and clergy in residence, Thank you Peter, Brook, Bob and Jeanette, Henry, Russell, Manny , Keith , and Jack
Somehow, God seems to provide, even when things are most difficult. I have been trying, over the past year, to find the right people for the clergy team. We’ve looked at about thirty-five people and brought six to Tucson. The search committee and staff found four unacceptable, and two turned them down. Right now I’ve got three candidates in the pipeline. Financial constraints are pushing us into choosing one person for two positions. It makes it more difficult, bear with me, we’ve done all right in the past.
Which brings us to Finances. We’ve kept the wolf from the door, thanks to Miriam. We’ve fully paid the Diocese and come out in the black thanks to two factors: <1> our not replacing two clergy and <2> the Development Committee, under Jeff Willis and Henry Sherrill’s consultative work. You’ll hear more when Tom presents the financial report but I do want to thank Paul and the Stewardship Committee. In a year where 20% of the parishes are in deep financial trouble, every member canvas group raised more money than before. We are no where we want to be but by golly we’re not where we were
Other things that stand out in 91 are the development of a healing component at this Eucharist, the introduction of a new music group at 10:15, the merger of pastoral care and counseling center under Jeanette Reanoffs directorship with Bob as the clergy representative, and the clergy in residence program which has introduced a number of clergy with many gifts into our community life
One of the constant goals is to increase the effectiveness and levels of communication. I congratulate Bobby Justice and the loaves and fishes group for doing just that. It’s interesting that our national general convention, at the meeting of diocesan and parish editors, the loaves and fishes were cited as an example of excellence.
Another example of excellence was our recent ordination and confirmation. Gales ordination was the first for Saint sPhilips. The music and liturgy were magnificent. Thank you Judy and Ben.
One final accomplishment was the growth that took place last lent. We learned that we could disagree and do it agreeably. In a sense, some bonding took place as we openly face conflicts and disagreements.
I cannot close the list of accomplishments without mentioning the vestry. Their support and encouragement have been invaluable. Special thanks to the six who are retiring Charlotte Ackerman Carl Anderson Jack Moore Norman E Reed and Marilyn Smith. I am continuing with the leadership team of Tom and Tata as rector of warden and parish warden and I am inviting Catherine Lancaster to join the executive committee as warden elect to learn more about the job.
Have left out two aspects of our parish life which are still in the heroic stage of development and the one new dream which I will present period all of that is the future part of this report.
Let’s begin this section with finances. This country is in the midst of a serious recession. That’s not news, but what we may be of interest is that churches generally don’t do well in hard times. You take the opposite. I know of a person who did a PhD thesis on this. He showed that attendance, giving commitment could be measured by the stock market. As the Dow went up so did the life of the church as it went down so did the giving and church attendance. With his hypothesis is right we’re in for a big troubles. Unfortunately, Saint Phillips has a reputation for swimming against the tide.
But I would go further and dig deeper into the financial crunch that many churches will be facing and see how we might avoid this bullet that seems headed for most parishes. I have a hunch the crisis that churches face is not a money crisis it is a crisis of imagination. Most churches cannot imagine that God has a larger and more complete vision for them than what they have. Therefore most parishes succumb to what is. If we’re in depression they become depressed and if they hit hard times they expect to curtail their vision. Saint Phillips over the years, thank God, has learned to dream and I learn to keep pushing the boundaries of its vision
I think it was Francis Xavier the great Catholic missionary to Asia, who wrote to Rome and said there were two a wash of limitations God would have them give up their small ambitions. Saint philip’s ambitions have never been small and they continue to be growing. The meta church cell group is no small ambition
a woman who had a serious accident has been nurtured and ministered by herself group as they went to the hospital. I found that members of the cell group had already been there it was nice that I was there but ministry had already taken place the woman knows she is a part of the church another person, undergoing a difficult divorce is able to share her pain with six other people where she feels awkward with any of the clergy. That person knows what grace is all about
a third couple who just had a had a child comes for baptism, and when they look up there’s the cell group as godparents. Suddenly the baptism is not a private family affair now it is family of God sacrament and we begin to know what I mean to be Christ body that’s what cell groups are about and that’s why it’s my dream that more and more people will find their way into these groups
one of the underlying principles of the meta church concept is radical decentralization. Ministry doesn’t come from the top down it comes as lay people are empowered to assume their own priesthood this principle has been dramatically underscored in the area of outreach. The work with the Richie school, the mission to outside san Salvador, Casa Maria and ministry to the homeless deep freeze are all doing well but the work of Pima County interfaith council is the one that embodies meta church decentralization empowerment grassroots ministry diversity this is what Saint Phillips is all about
many of you attended the Ritchie school gathering with the Superintendent of the Tucson Unified School District on March 22nd PCI C will have a great assembly. Over 3000 people will assemble at our mother of sorrows church. Our goal for Saint philip’s representation is to have 100 people won’t you be 1?
One final ambition, dream, vision is a 1992 that Saint Phillips has been the cathedral of Tucson, and cathedrals have always been a place where ministries who’s taught and taught where dreams are made realities. They never used to be seminaries, people came to cathedrals to learn about ministry for these were places of ministry and spiritual growth
anyway if St. Philips has to be a cathedral there is one important dimension that we have downplayed increasingly I’ve come to realize that the whole area of spirituality has been taking a back seat especially our sense of corporate spirituality. Outer growth has replaced inner growth I am convinced that without a deep and abiding dimension of spirituality much of what happens in the parish becomes busy work at work and a flurry of activities that never seem to touch people’s hearts at best
for this reason, I had commissioned 2 remarkable people to come up with a proposal to raise the level of spirituality in our community after several months and many meetings they’re proposing to start at Saint Phillips a Center for spirituality reconciliation and the sacred arts. This center will enable us to more fully enter into our inner journeys as well as to reach out to the entire Tucson community the center will give a new dimension to education pastoral care outreach and cell groups hopefully it will become a magnet which will attract teachers and students of man’s traditions to share in their journeys. One of the most important aspects of the center would be to offer spiritual guidance to those who desire it as you might guess I am most excited and hopeful about this new venture. I can imagine far reaching consequences and I can envision this center laying a great impact our corporate spirituality
a lot of things are happening in this parish of ours new exciting innovative stuff and that’s why Lyle schaller asked me to write a chapter for his book look forward to 92 is a year in which several things that have been started will come together and new things will be launched a new reformation is on the horizon. The only constraint is the smallness of our imagination
it’s good that we should have this parish meeting on the weekend of the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s birth for it was Martin who reminded us that we should take our directions from our dreams not from what he is. He taught the country to say I have a dream and not settle for limitations not to have small ambitions and to thank God all of us hi I think this great parish of ours can and do also green
Amen

Epiphany and St. Philip’s
January 11, 1998
I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating. You can look at a passage of Scripture a thousand times, and the next time you revisit it, new meanings jump out at you. I had that experience while preparing for this annual meeting sermon.
The Epiphany story presents us with three strangers wandering about, following a star. And then one evening, they find themselves in Herod’s domain. Herod visits them, gives them supplies, and sends them on their way with the charge to let him know if they reach their goal.
I want to look at that story for a moment. In order to do this, let us put aside the old stereotypes and try to see the characters with new eyes. First, the three people. They were neither wise men, nor magicians, nor astrologers. Their names certainly were not, as the hymn would have us believe, Kings, called Casper, Melchoir, and Baltazar_ All we really know is that they were three strangers,
outsiders, risk-takers who were on a mission, following a
star
And then there was Herod. He’s had a bad press
through the years. Today, I want you to think of him as no different than many of us. He’s made it, climbed the success ladder, and has a strong desire to keep life going the way it has always been. Herod, simply put, is the keeper of the status quo.
We might say that Herod believes in the 10th commandment. That is the commandment that goes, “Thou shalt not Climb out on a limb.” Followers of this commandment feel that safety and security are more important than other values. It’s better to stay home, busy yourself with small projects, than to stretch your imagination and take on a really big goal. It’s better to stay in a safe harbor than venture out into deep water and possibly drown.
But back to the story. Herod and the three strangers meet. And Herod is told they are following a star (which here stands for a vision). We might say the three are on a vision quest. Herod begins to question them. He, too, would like to see the Messiah. And so, the three share their vision. Herod seems enthusiastic. He encourages them. But he doesn’t go with them. Instead, he makes what seem to us to b+a reasonable, prudent request. “If you get there, let me know.” Herod doesn’t want to venture out until there is a degree of certainty. He would rather not go out on foot or on horseback. He’ll wait for the train, thank you very much. Sounds like an Episcopal point of view, doesn’t it?
Whether Herod was to scared to dare; too comfortable to risk; too secure to follow a vision, we’re not sure. We only know that Herod opted for the lltGBPh commandment. And you know, Herod types scare the life out of me.
Herod stands for a type of mediocrity – the mediocrity of many church people. Mediocrity that settles for something less than the best. The mediocrity which brings people to think it’s all’right to do an adequate job, but no need to go beyond the bounds of safety. The mediocrity
that lacks imagination, and refuses to go into uncharted
waters.
Do you know what I fear most for St. Philip’s in the
future? I fear that we will settle for mediocrity and begin to look like the majority of parishes in the Episcopal Church. I fear that in the years ahead, we will elect leaders who will identify more with Herod than the three strangers
The great majority of parishes in the church have services on Sunday without a thought about transforming people. The great majority of parishes do good works in the community without concerning themselves about changing the good worker’s relationship to God. The great majority of parishes educate children without trying to convert them. That’s mediocrity in the dhurdh. Settling for something less than the best. Those are the kinds of parishes that would do well in Herod’s kingdom, but would have great trouble in God’s kingdom.
The difference between Herod and the three strangers was that the three had a sense of being called out, A sense that God wanted them for a special task. For the past 20 years, I have tried to convince people that God is calling each one of us out, to follow a star, a vision, a dream. It always amazes me that sincere Christians find this so hard to believe. Every Sunday they hear that God can call forth a people from dry bones, sons and daughters from the stones at their feet, babies from barren wombs, a Savior from a humble manger, new life from a tomb. Yet many still find it hard to believe that God could possibly call them. Call them to follow a star, pursue a vision.
My hope is that every single person in this parish is made aware that he/or she is called. Called out by God on a vision quest. Just like the three strangers.
Here’s how the staff articulated that vision, a few months ago. “Our vision is to build a faith community that intentionally practices Christian vocation to transform the world in which we live_”
How have we come up with this vision? Through prayer and talk and, above all, through listening to you. Let me share some of the comments we have heard.
Roger, I am a nurse or a teacher. It’s a great job, but the environment is not particularly conducive to my faith. How do I get the support I need to live out my Christian vocation?
Liz, my job is just a job. I want to develop, outside of my work hours, a ministry to those with AIDS. How do I go about getting the training I need?
Peter, I want to make my job a part of my ministry. Do I have to be ordained for that? How do I celebrate in this community what I do five days a week?
Those are the kind of comments we hear. And it is from those questions that we have built our vision. I am convinced that it is from this direction that God wants us to grow. Here it is again. “Building a faith community that intentionally practices Christian vocation to transform the world in which we live.”
Good people, this parish of ours is the hope of the church. Never forget this. We’re the hope of the church, not because we know what to do. And not because we are necessarily doing it, but because we are willing to risk, to follow a vision like the three strangers. And to share that vision with the rest of the church.
Let me end these thoughts on our parish by paraphrasing the words from Isaiah:
Arise, St. Philips and shine like a star.
The glory of the Lord is shining in you . . .
People will be drawn to your light.
Members to the dawning of a new day.
Look around you and see what is happening. Your people are gathering to come home
Your sons and daughters will come from far away. You will see them and be filled with joy , . .
You will tremble with excitement,
for look what God has done in you.
Amen