Hugging the Cactus

February 2013

Hugging the Cactus

The actor Robert Downey, Jr. was presented with an achievement award by his friend and fellow actor, Mel Gibson, at a ceremony in Los Angeles in 2011. Gibson has been embroiled in controversies over the last few years for a variety of reasons, including drunken anti-Semitic tirades and accusations of domestic abuse, and that has made him persona non grata in certain Hollywood circles. Downey is no stranger to controversy himself, having lived through a well-publicized prison stint for drug abuse in the early nineties, but he has managed to turn his life and his career around. In a moment of great charity, Downey chose to use his acceptance speech at this particular award show to plead for forgiveness for Gibson.

“When I couldn’t get sober, he told me not to give up hope and encouraged me to find my faith,” said Downey. “It didn’t have to be his or anyone else’s as long as it was rooted in forgiveness... He kept a roof over my head and food on the table and most importantly he said if I accepted responsibility for my wrongdoing and embraced that part of my soul that was ugly — hugging the cactus he calls it — he said that if I hugged the cactus long enough, I’d become a man of some humility and my life would take on new meaning.”

Downey then asked the audience of assembled actors, directors, and influence peddlers, to “offer [Gibson] the same clean slate that you’ve offered me… he’s hugged the cactus long enough.” It was a very moving speech and worthy of taking a look at on YouTube if you are so inclined.

I do not know whether Downey is a Christian or not, but the kind of unconditional forgiveness that Downey argues for here is right at the heart of the Gospel. It is not a kind of forgiveness that we are often capable of offering. As sinners ourselves, our reaction to a man like Mel Gibson, and to others who have done and said awful things, is often to want to see them raked over the coals. We believe, often subconsciously, that there are certain things that are simply unforgivable and that people deserve what they get. And this is why it is often so difficult for us to come to terms with God’s grace, because we like the idea of a God who would forgive us completely, for everything, without question, but we do not always buy it. We assume there has to be a catch, either for us or for other people.

Yet this is the amazingly scandalous thing about the Christian God, the thing that He never gets enough bad press for, that He is lavishly, unapologetically forgiving, to the point that if we really took it seriously, we would be utterly offended. “Even him?” we ask, along with the good brother in the parable of the prodigal son. “Yes, even him,” says God. “And even you.” And the truly remarkable thing about this forgiveness is that it comes to us free of charge even before we ask for it. Jesus is not waiting around on Calvary to see whether or not you decide to have faith in Him before He allows Himself to die on your behalf. He has already done it for you, paying for every sin you will ever commit before you have even thought to do it. Repentance is not about finally getting God to forgive us. It is about finally accepting that He has forgiven us already.

“I’m convinced,” writes the Episcopal priest Robert Farrar Capon, “that while people are indeed able to hear the Good News – and hear it gladly because it is obviously the sweetest deal they are ever going to be offered – they can’t listen to it for long without pulling the wet blanket of their fear mongering theology back down over their heads.” We want to believe in the kind of forgiveness that Christ offers, even to be forgiving in the way that He is, but it just seems like it is too easy and too good to be true. Our skepticism surfaces. There has to be a catch. And if there is not a catch, we get frustrated that there does not seem to be a pecking order, that God’s lavish gift of grace is available to everyone the same, even those whose sins we think of as far worse than our own.

But when we “hug the cactus,” becoming aware of just how weak we are and how incapable we are of being the kind of people we think we ought to be, the amazing gift of God’s grace becomes so much sweeter. It is when we are at our lowest that we are often most able to hear God’s Word of forgiveness and cling to it with joy. Because it seems crazy. It seems absolutely backwards that God would give Himself totally and completely for sinners like you and me, without expecting anything in return, and without secretly holding those past wrongs against us on some subconscious level. But the God who raised Jesus Christ from the dead is just that kind of God. So whatever you have done, whatever guilt you are living with or suffering under, you have hugged the cactus long enough. It is time to taste the sweetness of the Gospel.

In His Mercy,

Fr. Jonathan

Wednesday Evening Lenten Dinner/Program

For five Wednesday evenings beginning February 20, our annual Lenten program will be held from 7-9 pm in the Upper Parish Hall. This year’s program will focus on Forgiveness and the format will emphasize the opportunity for fellowship and conversation.

Eucharistic Ministry

Carole Kunigonis, Lay Eucharistic Minister

Shortly before Christmas, Bill and I visited Phyllis Robb at Lima Estates. We brought her the poinsettia plant and cookies from the Women of Holy Comforter. She was so happy she asked Bill to put it in a special place because it was a gift from the church she loved. She asked about news of the church. I told her about our wonderful new roof and news of other parishioners.

Then I gave her the most precious gift of all. We shared the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in a heavenly banquet. She asked for the “laying on of hands” and healing prayers. We held hands in a circle of prayer which was very comforting to her. I am so humbled to be able to bring Communion to parishioners unable to attend church.

EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF PENNSYLVANIA

Henry Carnes, Director of Education and Communications

The Rt. Rev. Clifton Daniel, 3rd elected Provisional Bishop

On Saturday, January 12, 2013 at a Special Convention held at Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, The Right Reverend Clifton D. Daniel was elected Provisional Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania by unanimous consent. Provisional Bishops are elected for a specific period of time; in this instance for two years or until the election of a Bishop Diocesan.

Bishop Daniel was consecrated Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of East Carolina on September 21, 1996 and became the seventh Bishop of the Diocese of East Carolina in June, 1997. He earned his Master of Divinity fromVirginia Theological SeminaryinAlexandria, VAin 1972 and was awarded Doctor of Divinitydegrees from both Virginia Theological Seminary and theUniversity of the Southin 1997. He has also done further studies at The College of Preachers, Washington, DC; The Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA; St. George’s College, Jerusalem; St. Petersburg Theological Academy, St. Petersburg, Russia; and The Anglican Centre in Rome. He was called as Rector of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Bristol, RI. Bishop Daniel served St. Michael’s for twelve years, until his election as Bishop Coadjutor for the Diocese of East Carolina.

While Rector of St. Michael's, Bristol he led in establishing an affordable day care center, a free meal program and an affordable housing foundation for residents of Bristol. He also served as Chaplain to the Bristol Police Department; as a board member for St. Elizabeth Home, Providence and Metacom Manor, Bristol; as a Deputy to General Convention and President of Episcopal Charities of the Diocese of Rhode Island.

Bishop Daniel is married to the former Anne Miller and they have three adult daughters, Margaret, Elizabeth and Charlotte, and one granddaughter, Claire.

The Cathedral was filled to capacity for the Special Convention.The clergy and laity gathered with a spirit of hopefulness and optimism. A standing ovation was given to the members of the Standing Committee when they were introduced as well as one for Bishop Daniel and his wife Anne. It is with hope and prayers that the new Provisional Bishop of Pennsylvania has been received as the people of the diocese look toward the future with a renewed eagerness and sense of unity of purpose in our shared ministry in Christ.

Thank You

Carol Phillips

A big thank you to Jonathan and all my friends at Holy Comforter for their cards, flowers, gifts and prayers during my recent hospital confinement. After I returned home Warren and I appreciated the dinners from Mary Sue Hidalgo, Sara Risi and Barbara Wilson. It was real comfort food. Thank you to Helga Ponce de Leon for the transportation home from the hospital and to Harper Lazo and Jonathan for theirhospital and TCC visits. It's a slow recovery but I think I'm making progress.

We Went Through the Roof!

Thanks go out to all who supported our successful Capital Campaign, Warm and Dry, Part III, Through the Roof! We obtained pledges and gifts in excess of our initial goal of $200,000. All money collected in excess of the cost of our new roof (approximately $200,000) will go to the formation of a Capital Fund for future property needs.

Children and Youth Ministry

Ethel F. Wesley

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25

The Advent and Christmas seasons went by quickly and made way for Epiphany. Looking back, there were so many who helped with this year’s pageant and were not thanked in the last article. Thankyou: Faith Hemsher and Armando O’Brien for the great reception in the Upper Parish Hall; Beth Kennedy, Ramon O’Brien, Jenn Douge, Nancy Kennedy, Mike Armstrong, and Ann Marie Escher for helping with the pageant’s organization; Nicole McElhaney and Nick Newmiller for stepping into pageant roles at the last minute; Erin Sprague for providing music for the children; members of the youth group and Sunday School for their great performance; and to Jacqueline Hawkins for reading to the children before and after the pageant.

A new year brings a new calendar of events for both the children and youth of the parish. Once the calendars are typed, they will be distributed to our families. In class, our teachers will continue to focus on Old Testament heroes using selected Bible readings, arts and crafts, games, and videos. Even on the diocesan youth calendar, some events have been updated. The Lenten Nightwatch will be held at St. Mary’s, Ardmore in the Merion Deanery. St. Mary’s is close by and will be a different space and church in which to hold this retreat. Mark your calendars for Friday-Saturday, February 15-16 for this event that starts at 7 p.m. All of our youth and adults that have attended past events know that Andrew Kellner is very creative with each Sacred Spaceallowing each participant to reflect, ponder, pray, think, and experience Christ in their own way.

Even City Camp will have a new location this summer. Starting the week of June 22 and continuing to the week of July 20, City Camp’s new home will be St. Luke’s, Germantown. Jobs are available for our high school youth if they are looking for summer employment. This site will offer new opportunities and new challenges for the staff and the campers.

Many new things and many new events will be part of 2013 for our children and youth.

February Events:

• Sunday, 10 – Redeemer, Springfield- Deanery Talent Show
• Wednesday, 13 – Ash Wednesday services
• Friday-Saturday, 15-16 – Lenten Nightwatch in Ardmore
• Sunday, 24 – Junior youth lunch and meeting , noon to 1:30 pm

Zumba

Zumba is being held at 5:30-6:30 pm in the upper parish hall on Monday and Thursday evenings. For more information, contact instructor, Kristen Tirney, . First class $5, then $10 per class or $80 for 10 classes.

Comforter Submissions

If you would like to submit information to be included in the March Comforter, please submit to Barbara Wilson by Thursday, February 21. If possible, submit your information via Microsoft Word via email to . If this is not convenient for you, please just send the information via an email message or send a note to the church office to Barbara’s attention. We welcome your submissions.

Monday Night Bible Study

Monday night Bible Study will meet February 4 and February 18 in the UPH at 7 pm.

Mother’s Home

Barbara Wilson

We will provide a Valentine’s dinner to the young women living at Mother’s Home. Our Italian dinner will be Tuesday, February 12 at 6 pm. See the sign-up sheet in the UPH. Thank you for your interest and support.

Advent Conspiracy

Donations for the next water well in Peru are welcome. Please mark “Advent Conspiracy” on the memo line of your check.

Women of Holy Comforter

Rosemary Davis, President

Dancingamong theStars

Saturday, February 23, 7-11 pm, Springfield Country Club

Please join us for an all-parish event. This is an opportunity to enjoy an evening together.

This is not a fund-raiser so tickets are priced to cover the cost of the event at Springfield Country Club, $35 per person. Three dinner entrée choices will be available.

Vestry Meeting – January 15, 2013

Sharon Yost

Rector’s Report---Father Jonathan

• Annual meeting on Sunday, January 20—all Vestry are requested to attend---method of voting will be by acclamation---write-ins are not permitted by our by-laws
• Election judges are the 2nd year Vestry members---the judges need to determine that there is a quorum or 10% of the congregation is permitted to vote
• The secretary of the Vestry is to take notes on the Annual Meeting---Morning Prayer and the Annual Meeting.
• Upcoming dates---February 10---Scout Sunday, February 13---Ash Wednesday, February 20—1st Lenten Dinner
• Conference in Dallas, Texas---Anglican Communion Institute----thoughts on the theological base of the church---Cramer Institute---new church teaching series—education of lay readers---evangelical speaker---really great trip---good connections to other clergy

Property Report---Jim Gardner---roof is basically finished---gutters and sealing needs to be done in warmer weather---heating problems being worked on---chapel needs to be worked on---cracks and leaks---ceiling tiles need to be replaced in the basement---set up a CHAMPS day in the Spring