Sun, 12 May 2024 10:36:48 -0700WeeblySat, 11 May 2024 16:34:30 GMThttp://sloepiscopalians.org/st-matthews---san-ardo/st-matthew-news-seventh-sunday-of-easterFolks,
The lessons appointed for tomorrow include from Acts, wherein Peter speak to the group (about 120 at the time) and first (to my recollection) uses a word that translates into "ministry" - an early and clear indication that the group are seeing themselves as an ongoing "project" and in speaking of Jesus's ministry (beginning with the Baptism by John) on earth and after praying, Peter led the group to replace Judas in the ministry.
The epistle lesson from John seems to be a reminder of the basic premise which was the mission of the group - that God's "testimony" IS in their hearts and because of this "Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life."
In the gospel lesson, the writer beautifully recounts the story of Jesus praying for the work of his disciples and asking God to "protect" them even as they do not "do not belong to the world".
Taken altogether these lessons clearly depict the formation of the group which evolved into the institutional church - even though the writer really couldn't imagine the growth of the group of faith over the centuries. While the group has needed "reformation" - not just once but many times - it is important to recall this growth began with faith - the gift of the Spirit. In this run-up to Pentecost in our calendar - technically when the gift of this Spirit was made manifest - you can see thru the days of this run-up which we all Easter Season.
May we all take time to appreciate the evolution of our realisation of the gift of the Spirit and as it sinks in may we seek understanding for the future our shared ministry - the ministry of all who have "God's testimony" in their hearts!
Our love to all,
Bart (and Tony!)
and for all of us at St Matthew Church
 
Events
St Matthew Church in San Ardo will meet this Sunday for Morning Prayer at the usual hour, 10am.
Our fellow mission St Luke Church in Jolon will meet at that same hour for Morning Prayer with Roy Morris leading the service.
 
Other Events
This will be brief as the work continues. unabated at the ranch preparing for the summer months and in particular the fire season (FireTide?) Our nearby "big brother" Church of St James in Paso Robles tells us that our friends Peggy and Dick Yost, formerly of St Mathew Church, will be celebrating their 60the anniversary - the sort of commitment we hope all who realise "God's testimony" will exhibit. St James folks will be wearing red as a reminder of the gift of the Spirit the following Sunday for  Pentecost!
 
Diocese
We remind all of the "Spring Renewal" events to come NEXT weekend, May 17-18.
 
From Our National Calendar
We also remember that TOMORROW is Mother's Day - a time to realise and encourage the Mother in each of us!
 
 
 ​
]]>Sun, 05 May 2024 00:06:39 GMThttp://sloepiscopalians.org/st-matthews---san-ardo/easter-6-st-matthew-news-are-you-prepared-for-pentecostFolks,
Our friend Rev Roger Wharton, of San Jose's Good Samaritan Episcopal Church, told us by email, upon reading the previous News, that our mention of the many times the word "love" (and its forms) in the last Sunday's Epistle lesson from I John caused he to look again at that passage. He came up with the fact that that the word "love" or a derivative thereof accounts for 11.275% of the 327 words in that passage - that's a lot of love!
As I see it, the lessons for this coming Sunday are meant to help us spread that love. In the first lesson from Acts 10 after Peter baptised the Roman centurion Cornelius we hear of a sort of "mini-Pentecost" in which the assembled disciples witness the Holy Spirit coming upon the assembly of mostly Gentiles of different nations - note that Peter was at first not so sure Gentiles should be part of the church. In the second lesson, also from John's epistle, we see that loving God is the first step and that God's command to love God and so to love neighbour are not burdensome. In John's gospel we see that Jesus was joyously sharing his own love of God with all, and giving substance to that love by noting "And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last .."
I have noted before that some in the loving communities are shy about "testifying". But the Epistle notes: "the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth." The world really does want to hear God's message of love - not in some accounting manner where we "chalk up another Christian" but rather in the irresistibly joyful message of love, however that Spirit is called.
May we all find that joyous spirit in ourselves and share forth the message of God's love, with the guidance of God's spirit!
Our love to all,
Bart and Tony!
and for all of us at St Matthew Church
 
Events
We at St Matthew parish in San Ardo will be meeting for Morning Prayer at the usual time of 10am this Sunday. Our fellow missions St Luke Church in Jolon and St Mark Church in King City will be meeting together at St Mark's beautiful chapel on 3rd and Bassett in King City where Fr Carl Hansen will lead in a Communion (Eucharist) service.
 
From the Diocese
(We though to switch this around with more local new further below) we hear about the Spring Renewal event and in particular that the Dynamic Deacons of the Diocese will be
Flamboyantly Stepping Out with Souland we hope and we hope that many of us will register by Monday for the May 178-18 where we hear you can be "Walking the Way" in your El Camino Real diocesan sandals, tents, jackets, etc - for full info see
https://www.realepiscopal.org/blog/spring-renewal-2024/?occurrence=568  
It seems a fun idea do combine our Diocese's name with that other Camino (de Santiago).
 
Also from the Diocese we hear of the following event on Tues evenings beginning May 7:
The Life and Writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A four week on-line Conversation hosted by the Social Justice CommitteeFor and registration see
https://realepiscopal.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=99ebbaf4cee8d012c9edafe60&id=b8211e62e1&e=f136cc0442
 
From the Deanery:
We received the following info for the upcoming San Luis Obispo Deanery meeting this Sunday.
 
Hello Everyone,
 
This is a final reminder of our combo Deanery/Potluck meeting this Sunday.  It will be held at St. Stephen's, SLO, with the potluck beginning at 1:15 pm and the business meeting at 2 pm.  The business meeting will be hybrid with the Zoom link below (and also in the agenda).
 
I am happy to announce that our invited speaker will be Ms. Jessica Ripper who is a real estate professional working with the Diocese of San Diego on how to use church real estate for God's mission.  This will be a very relevant presentation on creative ways we might be able to use our churches' property and I hope you will be able to hear Jessica speak.
 
I'm attaching the Zoom link, agenda and draft minutes from our last meeting below.  I hope to see you on Sunday!
 
Peace,
 
David Ottesen
 
 Lay Convener for the Deanery
 
For the details and agenda, etc, please email David who is copied on this email (and note that we may have mixed up his email with Tricia's - both great folks, who work well together.
 
 
Other News
 
We hear from the St Paul Cathedral in San Diego that they will be creating a Music Center which will provide a base for their fine choir and other music programs. For details ee their websites at www.stPaulcathedral.org et al and note their many other offerings, such a weekly organ concerts.
 
Good Shepherd parish in Salinas (Corral de Tierra) tells us that they be participating in the Pacific Grove Walk of Remembrance on May 11 to commemorate the Chinese fishing village that existed at one time where Pacific Grove is today. See https://goodshepherdcorral.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7cbc9cee2ea785c71ef0cbb3c&id=efbe857c48&e=cc1155f723
 
 
Our friend Eric Fisher of San Luis Obispo tells us that Prov VIII of the  Brotherhood of Saint Andrew will having a Retreat for men AND women 5/31-6/2. For details contact Eric at eric.on.fisher@gmail.com
and for more info on the Brotherhood go to https://brothersandrew.net/
 
From our parishes (for full info go to parish websites as at www.sloepiscopalians.org
 
St Stephen Church in San Luis Obispo tells us they will have a meeting on May  20 at 6pm on the topic
"What Is Baptism" - no registration needed and children welcome.
 
St Benedict Church in Los Osos will be hosting a Potluck Dinner tomorrow at 5:30pm.
 
St Barnabas Church in Arroyo Grande as usual has a full set of events - see https://brothersandrew.net/
 
St Luke Church in Atascaadero will be having a Plant Sale May 17-18 12-4pm Fri and 11-2pm Sat,
 
St James Church in Paso Robles is also organising a Music Fund, and for info and links to their events see
https://brothersandrew.net/
 
Probably some of you are wondering why we didn't have the most local news down here - maybe next time we will, but better to get this mailed off before these events are OVER!
]]>Sun, 28 Apr 2024 09:37:16 GMThttp://sloepiscopalians.org/st-matthews---san-ardo/easter-v-st-matthews-news8828422Folks,
The lessons set for this Sunday include more from Acts (an intriguing lesson with Philip the Apostle explaining Old Testament predictions to an Ethiopian (likely Nubian) court official and then mysteriously vanishing by the work of the Spirit (he "found himself at Azotus), an epistle from John with more uses of the word love than I recall ever seeing in a Bible passage, and from the Gospel of John a lesson likening the spreading of the gospel message to vineyard work, where there is need for the branches to bear fruit, as Philip had been doing.
Tony(!) and I have these past weeks been doing a LOT of work on the land (and yes, we have some vines too), coming in way late every day with minor aches, etc, and yet the Spirit moved Tony(!) to bring up a Monty Python song from a purposefully silly movie (Always Look on the Bright Side) which he analogised to the Johnny Mercer lyrics of "Accentuate the Positive". As we were in need of something to get us going this morning, I chose to look up those Mercer lyrics, and for another Sunday in Eastertide it is hard to imagine a better pick-me-up, relevant to the forming church in the somewhat dark days when Jesus had Ascended and before the sending of the Spirit (which came on Pentecost) - and the lyrics even mention "preachin'":
"[Intro: Johnny Mercer]
Gather 'round me, everybody
Gather 'round me while I preach some
Feel a sermon coming on here
The topic will be sin
And that's what I'm agin'

If you wanna hear my story
Then settle back and just sit tight
While I start reviewing
The attitude of doing right

[Chorus: Johnny Mercer]
You gotta ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive
E-lim-i-nate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mr. In-Between

You got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Have faith, or pandemonium
Liable to walk upon the scene"
 and they can be read along with listening to the upbeat music at 
https://genius.com/Johnny-mercer-ac-cent-tchu-ate-the-positive-lyrics
with a link to a YouTube rendition of the song as well!
We pray that all of us may take up work in the "garden" this day and every day - good for spreading that love  and joy of which Philip and John were speaking!
Our love to all,
Bart and Tony! (and for all of us at St Matthew Church in San Ardo
 
Events
St Matthew Church in San Ardo will meet for Morning Prayer at 10am at the chapel in San Ardo, and our fellow missions St Mark Church in King City and St Luke Church in Jolon we expect will do likewise - and Daphne Denny at St Luke Church this week came to lunch at the ranch with daughter Rachel.
 
Other Events
As we need to go back to our projects on the land today (summer will be showing up soon!) we can only encourage all to see the notices, especially on the websites of your local parishes and in their emailings.
 
Deanery
We hear from David Ottesen that the San Luis Obispo Deanery will be meeting on Sunday, May  5 and for a change will be preceded by a Potluck, so come along to St Stephens Church in San Luis at 1:15pm and if you have any other questions or more for the agenda contact David at ottesen2@icloud.com
 
Reminder from the Diocese
As mentioned last week, the Spring Renewal event will take place on May 17-18 - see
https://realepiscopal.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=99ebbaf4cee8d012c9edafe60&id=a2c9e416f3&e=f136cc0442
for full info and to register.
 ​
]]>Sun, 21 Apr 2024 04:21:46 GMThttp://sloepiscopalians.org/st-matthews---san-ardo/easter-iv-st-matthew-newsFolks,
The lessons for this Sunday include from Acts - a reading that gives one a deep sense of what is was like in the earliest days of the church, from the first epistle of John, commending a loving community, and the example of a Good Shepherd in John's gospel.
While all of these are edifying (feed us) in a rather direct way, I was deeply struck by the first lesson from Acts, where we see Peter and fellow disciples gathered as "prisoners" in the midst of the "rulers, elders, and scribes". This lesson has the feel of being "pre-organised religion" (my phrase) but holding a strong faith in the midst of this trial, Thus Peter manages to speak boldly to the assembly - telling them in Jesus' words that "the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone".
This notion of a cornerstone of faith appears many times in the scriptures, including  Isaiah and Zechariah long before appearing in Acts and elsewhere in the New Testament, including Paul in some of his epistles. It seems to lead me rather naturally to ask the question of where I am finding a cornerstone to build an understanding of life. That search seems in turn a natural opening to meditation, an activity that seemed to me many years ago and still today to help with such searches and especially with the beginning of construction projects.
Just recently Miss Ilene, the leader of Tony's daily meditation group (I try to join as much as possible) mentioned a quote about meditation (from Lahiri Mahasaya), saying "Solve all your problems with meditation. Attune yourself to the active inner guidance the divine source has the answer to every dilemma in life. Through man's ingenuity for getting himself into trouble appears to be endless, the Infinite Succor is no less resourceful."
Perhaps this is hyperbole? And yet I can easily imagine that Peter and the others, almost dazed by all that they had witnessed, sat down for a while in quiet to consider all the tumultuous events they had seen and even participated in and think a bit about what all it means - ie, they meditated, both separately and together (as in the Upper Room). Note that even with Jesus appearing several times before Ascending, it gave these disciples some time before the building of the group of faith, the church, could begin, especially as recognised in the church calendar as Pentecost (a sort of starting point in the project of formally organising the faith community).
That period of "watchful waiting" was very much needed before beginning the work of witnessing their truths to all the world. and if fell to Luke (who likely was not present at most of the Acts events) as a ,more educated person and the "patron of facts" and historical writing to write both a gospel and the Acts. Paul refers to Luke as the "beloved physician" who worked with Paul as a missionary, and tradition has it that he was a gentile (I like to speculate that this loving gentile was one of several co-workers who opened Paul's eyes to inclusion of all humanity in the construction project). While much of the Book of Acts sounds like eyewitness, it is unclear that Luke was present for any of the Book's events.
Note that all of us, often having heard of intelligently loving groups of faith, need time to meditate before we begin building our own structures of faith. But this need for meditation, with and without guidance, is an ongoing need, as Paul referred to in nutritional terms (see I Corinthians 3:2) to build a strong body of loving faith.
We pray that we all can find within ourselves that "Infinite Succor" to persevere in that building process, and take those first steps in the process by meditating, both separately and together!
Our love to all,
Bart (and Tony!)
and for all of us at St Matthew Church in San Ardo!
 
Events
What a difference a week makes! While last Sunday we feared too greatly the drive across our creek crossing such that the others in San Ardo had Morning Prayer without us, this week as has brought perhaps the most idyllic weather so far this year! Therefore most of us from St Matthew Church will be gathered together at the chapel in San Ardo for Morning Prayer at customary 10am hour. 
Note that this Sunday we are expecting to have Raphael's father Andy and his newly-wedded wife Suri, both from Puerto Rico, with us. They have visited us before and now we hope to pray with them as they work to build their relationship. We hope as many as possible will join us and the family Barrios on this happy occasion!
 
Our fellow mission St Luks parish in Jolon will be meeting also for Morning Prayer at 10am in Jolon, with our friend SuRay leading the service, and their Monthly Potluck and Vespers event will be on Wed Apr 24 with dinner at 6pm and Vespers in the chapel at 7pm.
 
Other Events
Our friends at St Benedict Church in Los Osos tell us they will be participating in the Community Dinner at the Los Osos Community Center, and helping with a meal with a Mexican flavour.
At St Luke Church in Atascadero, the folks are preparing for their annual Plant Sale coming on May 17-18.
And folks at St Luke are looking forward to celebrating with St James Church in Paso Robles at the dedication of their newly installed labyrinth and courtyard on Sun, Apr 28 from 5-7pm.
Our friend Rev Rob Keim of St Barnabas Church in Arroyo Grande tells us he and the SLO Master Chorale will be performing Rachmaninoff's All Night Vigil at the SLO Performing Arts Centre 3pm TODAY and will be in the cast of The Mikado by Gilbert & Sullivan on Father's Day weekend (more on that soon).
Our sister Brandy said this week that she expects to be at San Francisco's Grace Cathedral for th, e ordination and consecration of the Diocese of California's new bishop Rev. Austin K. Rios on May 4 - for full info go to
https://gracecathedral.org
 Gabriel Arregui, organist at St Paul Cathedral is leaving for another post (though remaining in the St Paul faith community), and so will be giving free performance on April 26 and May 3, and may be live-streamed - for full info go to www.stpaulcathedral.org
 
From the Diocese
A reminder of the Spring Renewal events to take place also on May 17-18, and telling us the featured speaker will be Rt Rev Michael Hunn of the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande, to be at Sherwood Hall in Salinas.
Note that at the Renewal event there will be a special outreach to help the Navajoland Diocese get to the upcoming Episcopal General Convention. For more info on Spring Renewal go to
https://www.realepiscopal.org/blog/spring-renewal-2024/
]]>Sun, 14 Apr 2024 06:11:00 GMThttp://sloepiscopalians.org/st-matthews---san-ardo/st-matthew-news-easter-iii 
Folks,
 
This will be brief we have to run - to a history tour of areas Tony(!) and I led probably 5 years ago and then to a Celebration of Lifei! Just a sidebar remark, we are really glad of the change from that Funereal Word to this phrase, since we think life, for all its problems, is what we celebrate.
 
This weeks lessons start off with a reading from Act wherein Peter continues speaking to "the people" at the Temple, and while he is sure to reiterate how Jesus suffered and died, he tells how the disciples faith has enabled them to heal a man who was lame, pointing out that it was their "own power or piety" that made him walk, unlike other faith healers who might take cred it for such.
 
The epistle lesson is from I John 3:1-7 says that the reason the world didn't know the disciples is that the world didn't know God, even though they (the disciples) are God's children. The lesson includes what seems to be praise of orderliness, which is the opposite of sin, ie, a rational understanding of humanity in the universe.
 
In Luke's gospel we hear of Jesus making a ghostly appearance to the disciples and going on to teach, opening "their minds to understand the scriptures".
 
May God open our minds in the same ways that we might see that orderliness!
 
Our love to all,
 
Bart (and Tony!)
 
and for all of us at St Matts!
 
 
 
Events
 
 
We are looking forward to seeing our church family  at St Matthew Church in San Ardo on Sunday morning for 10am Morning Prayer. Our fellow mission St Luke Church in Jolon will be doing the same. 
 
 
 
Other Events
 
 
Please be sure to look to your local parishes for more local events!
 
Today we'd just like to mention two events at St James Church in Paso Robles, including a fundraiser for their Youth Education Program on April 21 (but you must pre-order TODAY) - a meal which will include birra, rice. and beans  AND St James is starting a new EFM (Education for Ministry) group which will be meeting totally online - contact the parish office for more info, and Laura Learned to order the meal at llearned57@gmail.com
 
 
Also in parish news, our friends at Good Shepherd Church near Salinas are seeking tutors to help with the teaching of English at a nearby congregation. In their words:
 
"The Congregation of San Pablo Apostol, an Episcopal Congregation in the Diocese of El Camino Real, hosts a Tutoring Program with English-speaking tutors from neighboring Episcopal congregations working with K-12 Latino students to achieve and maintain grade level performance in reading in English.  The Reverend Martin Juarez developed this cross-cultural, inter-generational program in 2017 because he knows firsthand how language can be a barrier to educational attainment and future academic success.  
 
CONTACT Tutor Coordinator
Sharon Colgan:  (207) 831-8844
 
 
Finally, St Benedict Church in Los Osos is hosting the Central Coast Readers Theatre in a production of Twelfth Night  at St Ben Church TOMORROW at 2pm with a Tea Party to follow!
]]>Sun, 07 Apr 2024 04:47:18 GMThttp://sloepiscopalians.org/st-matthews---san-ardo/st-matthew-news-easter-2-be-at-one-with-godFolks,
The lessons for this Sunday include from Acts (as we've mentioned before, the Communism lesson), John's first epistle (scholars are uncertain of its authorship, but a very personal-sounding letter of Jesus's witness on earth, the reality of "sin", and God's atonement for such sin), and from the Gospel of John the wonderful Doubting Thomas.
As I may have discussed before, my sense of "sin" is that it is a general condition of humanity, and there is no special value to recounting one's own personal sins. Rather, I like the term "original sin" in the sense that all human beings are born and grow up as imperfect individuals, subject to sin.
For this reason a general cure is needed - the Atonement - the origin of that word being "at-ONE-ment, ie being at one with God and to my mind one of the better inventions of the English language (some use the term remission of sin but I prefer this term which I think better depicts where in our deepest selves really want to locate). The word was used in all the early English Bibles including the King James Version in 1611, yet its origin is unclear. Whoever first used it must have realised the power of faith, which precedes "good works" and allows them to appear naturally (we might say "GRACEfully")
The Doubting Thomas lesson depicts the humanity of both Thomas and all of us - and is a wonderful thing, since doubt is an essential part of faith (without it, faith would have no meaning). When confronted with "true believers" who might insist that Communism (or Capitalism) is the ONLY good economic system, it's important to remember Thomas's doubt.
May we all test things that seem too obviously true for others, and still find ourselves locating in that place where we are "at One" with the Creator and the Creation!
Our love to all,
Bart (and Tony!)
and for all of us at St Matthew Church!
 
Events
St Matthew Church in San Ardo will be meeting for Morning Prayer at 10am on Sunday. Our fellow missions in South Monterey County, St Luke Church, Jolon and St Mark Church in King City, will be meeting together at 10am at St Mark Church, 301 Bassett in King City where Fr Carl will lead a communion service.
Note that while the Bishop's Visitation was originally scheduled for this Sunday, we have had to postpone due especially to rain and localised flooding in our area. Look to the News for the new date and the Diocesan Calendar at
https://realepiscopal.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=99ebbaf4cee8d012c9edafe60&id=0d9dab577b&e=f136cc0442
 
Other Events
We'd like to note some of the little things that in sum build strong church communities. We have often spoken of the liturgy as practised in various parishes and St Benedict Church in Los Osos has a Liturgy Committee that will be meeting this coming Monday at 3:30pm. We are glad to have received a tradition, but this events reminds that the communities practise is "a work of the people" as is the words origin. Such community work to refine the practice can make the parts of the Mass more meaningful!
 
The diocesan "Honoured Woman" event is on and St Matthew Parish has had several through the years who have been thus honoured. We hear from St Barnabas Parish in Arroyo Grande that this year our friend Sigrid Long is Honoured Woman of the Year from the parish and the parish is having a luncheon to honour to her directly on May 4 at noon The parish online newsletter has a beautiful article telling of her work in community building- thanks Adam!
Note that the "main event", the ECW Honoured Women's Day Luncheon will be at St Stephen Church in Gilroy starting at 9:30am thru 2pm.
 
From farther afield we hear that this weeks Forum at St Paul Cathedral in San Diego will be  "Spring Abundance in Cooking" with chef and restaurateur Katie Farina of Katie Healing Kitchen. The event, as usual is between services at 9am and all are welcome. This should be a welcome respite from their often heavy theological programs. And their Choral Evensong, which takes place online as well as in person, will be at 5pm at
https://webmail8.userservices.net/?_task=mail&_mbox=INBOX#
 
From the Diocese
We get a reminder of this years Spring Renewal Event on May 17 and 18 with a Banquet and Awards on Friday evening and the main program on Saturday. For full info and to register go to
https://realepiscopal.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=99ebbaf4cee8d012c9edafe60&id=6c7eea14e1&e=f136cc0442
We also hear that Bp Lucinda will be ordaining Joel Micah Martinez to the priesthood at 11am at St Andrews Church in Saratoga, with reception to follow. The church is located at 13601 Saratoga Ave, in Saratoga.
 
 ​]]>Sun, 31 Mar 2024 04:07:44 GMThttp://sloepiscopalians.org/st-matthews---san-ardo/st-matthew-news-easter-joyFolks,
This Sunday is our chance, as the old hymn says, to "Welcome (the) Happy Morning", but it would be far better it we could bring Easter Joy everyday, to ourselves and others. In our lessons for this Easter Sunday the first, from Acts, we hear that Peter tells the Roman centurion Cornelius of the good news, saying that "God shows no partiality", but welcomes all.
In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul also tells of the good news, going on to recount Jesus's appearances after the Resurrection - thereby suggesting that such salvation was available to all, and noting that he was last to see Jesus appear - because he saw him only in spirit on his way to Damascus, humbling himself "as on untimely born" and so "the least of the apostles", and unfit, and even when he admits that he "worked harder than any of them", he gives the credit to "the grace of God". I think you can see why, despite his wordiness at times, I hold Paul in high regard!
John's gospel recounts the story of Mary Magdalene, who was the first to see Jesus after his resurrection - quite a story. It should be note that it was a woman who was the first to see Jesus, and one who offered as a gift the expensive oils she had loving used to anoint Jesus. And it was she who was the the very first Evangelist, telling the Good News to the others and bringing Joy to their dejection.
In all of the above, there are other meanings to the stories directly presented. We pray that all may search in meditative quiet within for such understandings, and then share the Good News of Easter Joy!
Our love to all, and may this Good Friday be truly good, not dwelling on the sad news, but sharing Easter Joy!
Bart and Tony!
and for all of us at St Matthew Church!
 
Events
While St Matthew Church in San Ardo is undecided as to our schedule and meeting place for this Sunday, considering both joining St Mark Church in King City at 10am where Fr Carl Hansen will be leading a Eucharist service. For further info on St Matthew Church services, contact us.
Note that Rachael Denny of St Luke Church in Jolon tells us they will be joining the service at St Mark Church and there will be celebration of baptisms of the grandchildren of our friends the Harrisons.
Our own schedule is clear as we have an immediate need to do some urgent work on our property down south, so we will not be at either, though we hope to visit one or more of the many on-line web-based services.
For the many other events, as we mention often, please see the newsletter and visit the websites of your local parishes!
]]>Sun, 24 Mar 2024 06:32:37 GMThttp://sloepiscopalians.org/st-matthews---san-ardo/sunday-of-the-palms-st-matthew-newsFolks,
This Sunday as you all likely know is called Palm, the "kickoff" of "Holy week". The lessons appointed include two choices, both enormously long and filled with drama, and yet surprisingly fresh with humanity. Jesus was in effect being the Passover Lamb, being sacrificed (as in one of the lessons) and in the alternative gospel lesson the drama of the crucifixion and death itself ("He breathed his last").
As I read BOTH lessons (very long) I couldn't help but wonder if Jesus would have opted for all this drama himself - why not just simply rise to His heavenly family - after all, he knew what would be coming next. Yet somehow all the retellings focus on this very human drama, of someone who loved - not YOU, but ME - ie, each of us as me. It made the story not of something that happened long ago as in a Norse saga but rather of something personally relevant to that ME. Perhaps for that reason, the story had to get "down and dirty" - for Jesus was fully human, fearing and not really wanting to suffer (He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup - ie, the sort of death He was to suffer - from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.”)
Indeed in many ways I might prefer a simpler gospel story - love God, love your neighbour, live both now and forever in peace. Yet as many have observed, drama is inherent in our humanity. Tony(!) and I just finished (re-) watching the entire "Six Feet Under" series, replete, in its (Southern) California way, with all the relationships and odd events of the soap opera genre, and yet full of humanity. 
I guess there is in fact a simplicity to be found here, despite the elaborate liturgical traditions (some might say "pageantry") of this week which has for many years dazzled. That simple message is Friendship (one thinks of the Quakers, in some ways completely without liturgy yet in a simple way getting to the gist of the Spiritual Life - a Society of Friends (in fact they too have a sort of liturgy and with all its human aspects set in the apparent simplicity).
But where to find such Friends? Are they imaginary? The answer, in part, might be Yes! A suggestion is taken from the old Tolstoy title - The Kingdom of God is Within You. For if you can be a friend to yourself, then (to borrow from Shakespeare) you cannot be false to anyone, which should encourage them to do likewise.
Perhaps we cannot evade our humanity - and our need of other humans - with Friendship being the first step. In this regard, whatever Jesus might have thought about his suffering, and however Jesus has been portrayed - Sacrifice or King - the highest persona of God is as a Friend, to be found in the midst of high liturgy or within quiet meditation. All this reminds of the old hymn "What a Friend We have in Jesus",  both not at all like human friends, yet exactly like human friends - for it is in them that we can see God.
In words that go to the heart of the matter, our friend Miss Ilene mentioned the following quote
"Friendship is the purest form  of  God's love because it is born of the heart's free choice and is not imposed upon us by familial instinct.  Ideal friends never part, nothing can sever their fraternal relationship"
 
From Where There Is Light, a compendium of the sayings and writings of Paramahansa Yogananda
 
We pray a prayer for friendship in the lives of you all, our Friends,
 
Bart and Tony!
 
and for all of us at St Matthew Church in San Ardo
 
 
Events
 
As alluded to above this week is in many ways the Big Show for Christianity - yet it would be devastating for the essential message of God's Friendship were all the events and drama of the coming week forgotten about on ordinary days. So it is with this in mind, and following our more recent approach to avoid overwhelming with activity details to focus on just a few special events. After all - you know what to do if you are reading this email, go to the websites of your favoured spiritual groups and check out their events. We'd like to mention just a couple:
 
Beginning of course with our own St Matthew Church in San Ardo, where we will be having a Service of Morning Prayer (with Palms!) at the usual hour of 10am. And our two fellow missions in Southern Monterey County, St Luke Church in Jolon and St Mark Church in Kiing City will be meeting at the chapel in King City for a Service of Holy Eucharist, also at 10am, with our friend Fr Carl Hansen presiding.
 
All are welcome at both events!
 
 
Other Events
 
From The Episcopal Church (sometimes called "The national church, but with several dioceses in other countries) via St Benedict Church, Los Osos comes word of a Good Friday (Mar 29) online concert benefitting Anglican ministries in the Middle East. The concert will begin at 3pm ET (noon in California!) for the video of the concert go to
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp0pZNWSoIk
 
and for full info and to donate (at any time) go to
 
https://www.episcopalchurch.org/good-friday-offering/
 
As St Ben parish's newsletter indicates, this will be the last Good Friday for our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry before retirement and he has been a great force for good in the World, in the USA, and in the Church. Special thanks to St Benedict Parish for including this item in their newsletter, Benediction Weekly.
 
 
Also at St Benedict Church in Los Osos there will be a Climate Solutions Community Forum Sat Apr 6 from 2-4pm. See more complete info and the flyer at St Ben's websites. Note that just in time for this event there will have been a Zoom online meeting sponsored by the "national Church"  on Tues Apr 2 at 3:30pm.calling together Diocesan Creation Care groups. The Zoom link is
 
https://realepiscopal.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=99ebbaf4cee8d012c9edafe60&id=d4c4508b71&e=f136cc0442
 
 
Good Shepherd parish in Salinas tells us our Bp Lucinda will visit this Palm Sunday at the 10am service and the parish will have an Easter Sunrise service Sunday Mar 31 at 6am followed by brunch along with services on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. 
 
Note that St Barnabas Church in Arroyo Grande will be having services all those days plus Stations of the Cross on Wed Apr3 and an Easter Vigil beginning at 7:30pm Sat, Mar 30. See their websites for full details. And St  Paul Cathedral in San Diego will have too many events to mention here so go to their websites starting at www.stpaulcathedral.org especially note their Simpler Living Creation Care ministry.
 
 
Abd ti see a really action-packed calendar of events at a small parish, check out Epiphany Lutheran-Episcopal, Marina, parish at
 
https://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=24671209&msgid=575936&act=E9UY&c=1202569&pid=2113442&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.epiphanymarina.org%2F&cf=23615&v=f334068cb24a7d85b2ab5867785927ae3534fa8d01be0aae20e94cd7a877b71d
 
 
 
 
]]>Fri, 15 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMThttp://sloepiscopalians.org/st-matthews---san-ardo/lent-v-st-matthew-newsFolks,
 
The lessons for this Sunday include from Jeremiah about a "new covenant"
for Israel and Judah, including the mention of writing the law "on their hearts".  Also from the Letter to the Hebrews (Christians living in the area of Jerusalem) wherein Jesus is described as obedient to the point of perfection, with two mentions of "the order of Melchizedek" (a figure who was both priest and king and representative of God on earth). The gospel lesson from John 12 tells in the midst of the preparations for the Passover festival that Jesus speaks of his obedience unto death ("a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies ... but if it dies, it bears much fruit."
 
But today I'd like especially to note the Collect appointed for this Sunday, which reads
 
"Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever."
 
This collective prayer is a beautifully put reiteration of our discussion in a recent News of the question of "free will vs determinism", asking God to order our wills such that we "naturally"
love the good things that God commands (above all, loving God by doing love neighbour) and desiring what God has promised, and all by "the means of grace", that mysterious way that God works in our lives and in our world.
 
May we all pray this prayer for our own benefit and that of all humankind.
 
Our love to all,
 
Bart (and Tony!) and from all of us at St Matthew Church
 
 
Events
 
St Matthew Church will have a service of Morning Prayer at the chapel in San Ardo at 10am this Sunday.
 
And from fellow South Monterey County mission St Luke Church in Jolon we hear this:
 
"This coming Sunday, March 17th, at 10:00 A.M., yours truly, Rachael Denny will lead a service of Morning Prayer at Saint Luke's Church in Jolon.  There will be coffee and conversation in the parish hall afterwards, and everyone is welcome to attend.  A reminder:  On Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, there will be services of Holy Communion at Saint Mark's in King City."
 
 
Other Events
 
Many of use consider Spring the most beautiful season, full of emerging life. So this is an apt time to condier the fate of our beautiful "island home" as one prayer in the Prayerbook calls it. At St Benedict Church in Los Osos, on Sat Apr 6 there will be a Climate Solutions "Community Forum: from 2-4pm sponsored by the parish along with several other .community groups (Kiwanis, Rotary). We will say more about this even in future Spring Newsletters.
 
 From St Barnabas Church in Arroyo Grande we hear the following:
 
THIS SUNDAY ST. PATRICK'S DAY DINNER!
 
Join us this Sunday at 5pm for a dinner fundraiser for the Sunday School kiddos. Contact Pam Pano if you are still in need of tickets:
805-550-8324, 4sasha@att.net
 
As Well at St Barnabas:
 
Lenten Supper and a Movie Series
 
We'll continue our Supper and a Movie series with the next episodes of the Chosen on Thursday, March 21st | 6:30pm at the church.
 
Also, the following (from BOTH St Barnabas and St James Church in Paso
Robles):
 
Easter Eggs!
 
It is that time of year again. We are looking for items to add to the Easter Eggs. Candy (wrapped please), stickers, or fun items. Please bring items by Palm Sunday. Any questions please reach out to Pam Pano at 805-550-8324 or 4sasha@att.net
 
And note that St Barnabas is seeking help to paint their new pergola (lots of surface area to cover with a pergola).
 
 
Beyond the Deanery
 
And from the broadest Episcopal Church via St Paul Cathedral in Palm
Springs we hear (see full details at www.StPaulCathedral.org ) an Arts
event:
 
"Celebrating Women in the Arts Concert"
 
Saturday, March 23, 5 pm, Great Hall
 
Musica Vitale recognizes Women’s History month with their upcoming
concert “Celebrating Women in the Arts”. Concert will include
instrumental and vocal works by female composers performed by Musica
Vitale soloists and guest instrumentalists in the Great Hall of St.
Paul’s Cathedral.
 
and also that
 
"Since 1922 the Episcopal Church has encouraged individuals and parishes
to take up an offering on Good Friday, to send to the Episcopal Church
in Jerusalem. This year the need is especially urgent, as the Church
attempts to relieve the suffering of the people of Gaza and to support
the lifesaving work of Ahli Hospital, which has been damaged in the
conflict. If you would like to participate in this special offering,
please make a donation to the Cathedral and mark it “Good Friday (for
Jerusalem)”.
 
Go to
 
https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uU4pKXRRrT5IM5zFrJ4mrkyeluipjQgnJVegfoPdjD7XpgZH2o9kxu20-HuMkCUkzBIzIC8b9VFAJ1a7T_8pCcpAPK3pV_nHCvSICY3R40w7WKtIPsRCTW5oD1COLWFDZc7sPP1wD3mVEorxtBy8WVN86uzsLayG&c=8FYT4Ou-kmL3xnoeqvvpHYLlE6Pmr7keUBkmDxIHxNT-SgDQowbuLw==&ch=C61FcqG4QYY2g7gHW-18cipdLjdNgMCg-xc_QsIooIEBMnJM7axZKg==
 
And also note that St Paul Cathedral is participating in the annual St
Patrick Day Parade TODAY near the Cathedral and Volunteers are needed.
 
 
Our friends at the Sunburst Sanctuary near Lompoc nave many scheduled
events you can see at
 
https://www.google.com/search?q=sunburst+sanctuary+events&sca_esv=ebdc76ad041d5bb0&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS1023US1023&ei=ysT1ZceiN427kPIP7oSsgAU&ved=0ahUKEwjHr8SQlvmEAxWNHUQIHW4CC1AQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=sunburst+sanctuary+events&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiGXN1bmJ1cnN0IHNhbmN0dWFyeSBldmVudHMyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigATIFECEYnwVIgjtQ0wZYyiFwAXgBkAEAmAGdAaABrQaqAQMyLjW4AQPIAQD4AQGYAgigAskGwgIKEAAYRxjWBBiwA8ICDRAAGIAEGIoFGEMYsAPCAgUQABiABMICBhAAGBYYHsICCxAAGIAEGIoFGIYDmAMAiAYBkAYJkgcDMi42oAfpIA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp
 
including a Sunburst Art Series with the following eventsL
 
"Sunburst Art Series: Abstracting the Landscape. An Experimental
Approach to Plein-air Painting. Friday, March 22, 2024. 10:00-3:00 p.m."
 
"Painting in the Garden with Pastels" class on Apr 20 at 10am and "Kriya
!! Meditation Retreat" beginning Thurs Apr 25 at 4pm, and group Silent
Meditation  every Sunday at 10:30
 
 
]]>Sat, 09 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMThttp://sloepiscopalians.org/st-matthews---san-ardo/fourth-lenten-sunday-st-matthew-newsFolks,
 
The lessons for this Sunday include from Numbers a seemingly bizarre lesson wherein following Moses's lead (and in turn God's direction) the Israelites complained about the wilderness they were crossing, which apparently upset God who then sent poisonous snakes that bit the people and many died. Yet God also provided a remedy so that by gazing at a manmade snake the bitten person would be healed. One wonders why any "god" worthy of worship would do both?
The background on this lesson is the series of travails the Jews underwent trying to find there "Canaan" and the book is called Numbers because of a couple censuses it chronicles, including enumeration of the "numbers" of members of the tribes of Israel - some of the driest OT reading save for bits like this odd one.
Paul's letter to the Ephesians also speaks of condemnation for trespasses - though noting that people condemn themselves by "following the course of this world". (Note that here it seems he is uncertain on the matter of "free will" vs "determinism" (the latter meaning that God chooses those who will receive the "gift of faith" - a question that will be with us forever.)
The gospel lesson OTOH rectifies the Numbers aberrance to my mind by asserting God's love instead of punishments. with what is perhaps the key Christian passage in John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."
and I would emphasise in the rest of the lesson that "those who do not believe are condemned already" - ie, they in effect have condemned themselves to a life without the blessing of faith - God does not actively condemn people but rather they do it to themselves, by not coming into the "light".
So it is that we cannot explain why some choose to live in the light and others not - but we can affirm the joys of living in the light of faith, that trust in God's love that we are always speaking of.
Once again I say, may we all choose to live in the light of God's gift of faith in God's love, and in turn shine the light that it gives us so that others can see it in us and perhaps join us in that light.
Our love to all,
Bart and Tony(!)
and for all of us at St Matthew Church!
 
Events
TOMORROW St Matthew Church in San Ardo will be having Morning Prayer at our usual 10am hour. All are welcome and to participate in discussion of the lessons (it has become our custom to have a brief "Bible Study" as a part of the service.
And from Rachael Denny of our fellow mission St Luke Church in Jolon we hear this:
This coming Sunday, March 10, at 10:00 A.M., Susan Raycraft will lead a service of Morning Prayer at Saint Luke's Church in Jolon.  There will be coffee and conversation in the parish hall afterwards.  Everyone is welcome.
 
Please note-Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday.  Don't forget to set your clocks ahead the night before!
 
Other Events
This Sunday St James Church in Paso Robles will be preparing gift Easter Baskets (yes, Easter is coming soon!) for the parish children who are First Communion candidates. Parishioners are invited to contribute gifts, including in some hollow "Easter Eggs". The parish newsletter and websites have already set out their Holy Week Schedule.
And St James continues to have weekly Bible Study at 11am on Thursdays.
 
During Lent St Benedict parish in Los Osos will be offering the Stations of the Cross service with the following schedule:

• Thursdays 7th,14th, 21st, 28th. 2-4 pm
• Saturdays 9th, 16th, 23rd. 2-4 pm

They will also be welcoming Bp Lucinda this Sunday for her visitation by way of a potluck meal - contact the parish for more details.
 
St Barnabas Parish in Arroyo Grande will be having a St Patrick's Day dinner. Our friend Adam who composes their "Weekly E" said :Be on the lookout for details for our St. Patrick's Day Dinner. The Sunday School kiddos will be selling tickets soon for this dinner fundraiser. It will be held on Saint Patrick's Day, Sunday, March 17th at 5pm. More information coming! Contact Pam Pano if you have questions."
Contact the parish office for full details.
 
And from St Paul Cathedral in San Diego we her of the following event (apt for Lent):


Forum Series: Walking the Seven Stone Path—A Lenten Practice
9 am, The Guild Room
Join author and philosophy professor Peter Bolland for a five-week study of his new book The Seven Stone Path: An Everyday Journey to Wisdom. Using questions and prompts from The Seven Stone Path Workbook, we’ll explore the insights from the world’s wisdom traditions and root them deeply into our own spiritual practice during this sacred Lenten season. Workbooks are free, but get your copy of The Seven Stone Path: An Everyday Journey to Wisdom online wherever you buy books, or buy it directly from the author at these sessions (cash, check, or Venmo). View entire schedule (Click Here).
For full details on events at St Paul, go their website at 
stpaulcathedral.org]]>