Chadwick, Enid M. My Book of the Church’s Year. London: Mowbrays.

O GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit; Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

 – Book of Common Prayer (REC), 2005

REFLECTION

 On this Sunday, I returned to the small parish in southern Massachusetts that I served for four years. It was a different experience being there as a Priest Associate, rather than the Vicar.

The sermon focused on the act of listening to the Holy Spirit, especially when dealing with those who are caught in the vice grip of addiction. Knowing that the congregation includes members who have dealt either directly or indirectly with addiction, it was received relatively well. I am aware that some may have felt the sermon was a bit of a downer considering that Pentecost is usually a “happy” occasion.

There has been this overwhelmingly positive response to the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts in very recent years. Sentencing laws are being lessened. There is a refocus on health care facilities for addicts and an all hands on deck” response for those who may potentially overdose. It seems like every Tom, Dick and Harriet has a dosage of Narcan in their possession. There are scores of stories of addicts, neighbors, waitresses, nightclub bouncers and police officers administrating “the shot” to an overdose victim. All in all, it’s a positive response.

However, I’m concerned about the longevity of this compassionate response.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/08/crack-heroin-and-race/401015/

I highlighted the lack of care shown by the citizens of this nation towards those who were addicted to crack/cocaine in the 70s – 90s in the inner cities. In actuality, it was an adversarial response to addicts. And those addicts were disproportionately Black and poor.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/there-was-no-wave-of-compassion-when-addicts-were-hooked-on-crack/

They were not only laughed at (countless images of crackheads being lampooned on sitcoms), they were also feared (incarcerated at THE HIGHEST RATES IN THE WORLD). Television shows like Cops showed the inner city, “crackheads, welfare queens, and thug damaging America”. These “super-predators were destroying America!” This sort of response greatly damaged (perhaps destroyed) an entire generation of the Black race in the United States.

With this new response to the opioid epidemic that overwhelmingly impacts middle class whites in suburbia, one can not help but point the stark differences. In the end, this new compassionate approach is important. We are encouraged to listen to the Holy Spirit when it comes to the least of these. It is my hope and prayer that we continue to do so, rather than smother Her (the Holy Spirit) voice, like we did 30 years ago.

 – JMH+

Almighty, God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech thee that, as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through* Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

 – Book of Common Prayer, 1928

 REFLECTION

This past Holy Week and Easter was jammed packed and quite reflective. It was quite busy (as it is for all clergy) and marked both a beginning and an end point in my life’s journey.

HOLY  WEDNESDAY

While walking in downtown Boston, I passed by King’s Chapel where a sign stated that a service will begin in an hour. After completing whatever task I had to complete, I attended their service. It was interesting to say the least. King’s Cross is technically the first Anglican church in New England, during the reign of King James II (yes, that King James on your Bible). After some time, the church altered its identity. It is now, and have been for some time, Unitarian Universalist in theology, Congregational in polity and Anglican in worship. With that said, it was different but not foreign. Although I do not align with King’s Chapel theologically, they were warm, friendly and an expression of Christianity that is quite positive.

King’s Chapel Bulletin

MAUNDY THURSDAY

It began with me attending Maundy Thursday service at my (being where I live, not where I serve) parish church, the Parish of All Saints, Ashmont. Ironically enough, I participated in the foot washing ceremony! The Rector greeted me as a I walked in and asked me if I wanted to take part; I responded in the affirmative! It was a humbling experience having a clergy colleague and friend wash my feet. Also, the stripping of the altars took place, which was done with great reverence and precision. As the lights went out (symbolizing the capture and removal of Jesus of Nazareth), the parishioners exited without fanfare, although it was quite dark. Below are a couple of pictures:

GOOD FRIDAY

In the early hours of the morning, I attended Watch night for an hour. Watch night is the act of being in the presence of the Lord via the Reserved Sacrament that is the Body of Christ. One literally sits in a dimly lit chapel, for an hour, reflecting on their lives in Christ. This is reminiscent of the disciples waiting for Jesus as he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane in the Gospel of Saint Matthew 26.36-46.

That afternoon, I preached what would be my last sermon at my (as in where I serve) parish, Anglican Church of the Redeemer, Norwood. It was bitter-sweet. It is bitter because there is so much more I wanted to do. It is sweet because I know that both the parish and I ended on a good note. Good being defined as them being uplifted spiritually from the sermon, despite being emotionally sad, due to the content and circumstances.

Later that evening, my family and I attended Good Friday service. It was beautiful as always. The Priest-in-Charge of the church my wife attended when I deployed, preached. She was very happy. Below are a couple of pictures.

EASTER SUNDAY

Easter was jammed packed! I celebrated the Easter Day Eucharist at Redeemer – Norwood while my colleague preached the homily. I then rushed back to Boston to grab my family to head to one of my friend’s church; St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Dorchester. After service, my little one was able to participate in an Easter Egg Hunt. I’m very thankful it did not turn out like the one at the Pez Headquarters. Later that evening, I watched His Holiness, the Vicar of Christ, Pope Francis’ Easter Mass and Urbi et Orbi. Overall, a blessed, and quite reflective weekend.

Bulletin from Redeemer, Norwood

Fr. J presiding over the Eucharist at St. Mary’s Dorchester

Start at the 2:00:00 mark. 

PS: I do want to make mention, three people who have had an impact on my life due to their work in their respective fields died during Holy Week. They all exhibited the ability to take a high risk in their fields, despite the common sentiment at the time.

• Religious Sister: Mother Angelica
• Hip Hop Legend: Malik Taylor (Phife Dawg)
• Comedic Legend: Garry Shandling

For Mother Angelica, starting EWTN and an interracial convent in the South was a risk. Malik Taylor, to be a rapper in a group  (A Tribe Called Quest) whose primary message was Black uplift with jazz infused music during the 1990s, despite pressure for a more aggressive sound from their record label, was a huge risk.Garry Shandling’s creative vision changed the way sitcoms are presented to the public. It has been noted that without The Larry Sanders Show, there would not be a Curb Your Enthusiasm, 30 Rock, or The Office (both the American and British versions). To go against the common norm of a sketch comedy show was a risk for Shandling.

Please remember to keep their families in prayer.

ALMIGHTY Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, did institute the Sacrament of his Body and Blood; Mercifully grant that we may thankfully receive the same in remembrance of him, who in these holy mysteries giveth us a pledge of life eternal; the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

 – The Book of Common Prayer, Reformed Episcopal Church Edition

REFLECTION

The last Maundy Thursday post I wrote was in 2014. I retold the story of my first foot washing experience. Since that last post, I have not participated in a foot washing ceremony.

It has not been by choice, but rather circumstance. The members of my parish did not practice the foot washing ritual but rather the Communion one. The Communion ritual of Maundy Thursday is the communal meal. I’ve experienced the entire spectrum of the Eucharist taken in unison while gathered around the altar, to an elaborate community meal. My parish practiced the former. As a Baptist, we would practice the latter.

I always wondered why my Anglican parishioners were hesitant in participating in the foot washing ceremony. The few times I brought it up, I was told “that’s not what we do.” Due to the parish being more “Protestant/Evangelical-leaning” and I, of the Anglo-Catholic persuasion, never tried to force the issue. I suspect that the beloved members of my parish did not feel comfortable in the intimacy that is foot washing. Even when attending one of my favorite parishes (when I’m not on duty) for Maundy Thursday, only 1 person had their feet washed by the Rector as everyone observed from the comfort of their pews.

I was beginning to think that it was an American phenomenon. That the intimacy of foot washing was too much for American Christians, despite much of the content of our television shows and movies. That was until I recently read the Maundy Thursday post from my brother priest, Fr. Esau McCaulley. He expressed the importance of the foot washing ceremony and the love of Christ that is embedded in it.

He is correct and that is why I am drawn to it. The amount of love, and humility that is shared in that moment. The fact that one has to serve and be served in the same setting is an amazing experience. I value the ritual because without experiencing it back in Mexico in 2004, as the lone Baptist with Roman Catholics, I may not have listened to God calling me to Anglicanism years later.

 – Fr. JMH

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 – Book of Common Prayer, 1979

This 2016 Palm Sunday or Sunday of the Passion, was a little different for me. This Sunday was the celebration of my time at Redeemer Anglican Church, Norwood. I’ve spent four years there. Two years as an Associate Clergy, one year as the Assistant Vicar and finally, this past year as the Vicar. I skipped curacy due to my previous time as a Baptist Minister.

It was humbling and bittersweet. I was humbled by the love the congregation showed me. I was humbled by the love I was shown by my Baptist colleagues, whom we shared a worship space with. I was humbled by the list of accomplishments that were read as we walked together as Vicar and parish.

It is bittersweet because I know that I must depart in order for the congregation and I to continue growing in Christ. Typically in Anglican/Episcopal churches, the priest has a three-year term. Some stay later, as I did. It is sweet because I am excited about the direction both the parish and I will go, albeit, not together.

As one of my parishioners said “We are forever linked Father!” Indeed we are. This parish is my first Anglican congregation. I am the parish’s first “outside” (community, race, age, and diocese) Vicar. One never forgets the first of anything. May God bless the parish of the Church of the Redeemer, Norwood and the First Baptist Norwood communities. Until we meet again.