Next August, Saint Benedict's Abbey will celebrate it's twenty-fifth anniversary. Our Abbot refers to it as our "three month" anniversary. You see, when the Abbey was founded, people told the monks it would not last for three months. Yet twenty-five years later the Abbey's bells still call the community to the hours of prayer. Those bells have become so vital to the Abbey's neighbors that they call to check if everything is OK if the bells do not sound on time.

The continuing presence of the Abbey in the community is a visible, and audible, witness to Christ, to prayer, and to service to God's people. It is also a visible call to work and prayer for those who live within the cloister. Benedict insisted that his monks be rooted to one place. He said the only real monks were those "who belong to a monastery, where they serve under a rule and an abbot." - Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 1.

Before monks take their final vows, they talk to the community to tell them of their journey to this place. They also talk of their future. During this talk they invariably say, "this is the place where I will die." This decision is emphasized during the vows themselves when the monks find themselves prostrated before the altar, covered with a funeral pall. Their old ways are dead. They fully commit the rest of their lives to the monastic community.

For those of us who follow Benedict's Rule in the world, how do we show our stability to the world and ourselves? How do our Oblation promises enable us to hold fast to Christ during life's storms?  Mostly the Rule itself, and it's call to Christian life is the way we hold stable. The rule calls us to prayer, bids us to study,  reminds us of our call to radical hospitality, and instructs us to treat everyone we encounter as if they were Jesus.  We do not have the benefit of the Abbey's visible presence with us for most of our life. But we do have the Rule as a constant reminder to be stable in our walk with Christ.

"Your way of acting should be different from the world's way; the love of Christ must come before all else. You are not to act in anger or nurse a grudge." -Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 4.

How is our way different from the world's way? All too often I keep hearing the refrain from pre-Christians that they do not come to church because its filled with hypocrites. I tell them the standard answer that the church is a hospital for sinners and not a home for saints. But in my heart, I know they have a big point. People act in churches in ways that they would not dare act elsewhere. We attack others who disagree with us and call them evil sinners. It's no wonder that the church is the last place most postmoderns would come for help. They take one look at all our fights and decide its time to look for aid somewhere else.

Perhaps we should all reflect on Benedict's admonition. Think today, how is what I am doing different from the world's actions? Am I demonizing those who disagree with me over points of theology or the interpretation of scripture? How do my actions show that the  love of Christ comes before all else for me? And for all of us, myself included, if we cannot find a difference between our actions and the world's, we need to reflect on how we can change our ways.

The very first word in St. Benedict's rule is "Listen."  He tells his readers, "Listen to the master's instructions, and attend to them with the ear 0f your heart." 

I have come to treasure this first word of the rule. It urges me to listen intently to those to whom I minister; to hear what is said and to hear what is left unsaid. Sometimes I think such listening is the most important task of a pastor.   Without it, how can we hope to pray, preach, or serve our congregations?

Benedict's admonition also reminds me to listen to those with whom I disagree. Much of the time it seems our modern debates consists of us shouting at each other. We do not hear what the other has to say. Perhaps we have closed our ears to it. Or perhaps we are in the midst of forming our own answers to what we think is being said.  Listening does not always mean we will agree with each other. But it might mean we can come to respect each other and to know the deep concerns of each other's hearts. If we do this we will find that it becomes very hard to demonize each other or to consider each other a person of evil. And if that happens it might lead to a much more peaceful world.

Next time you sit down with a parishioner, or with someone you disagree, please remember Benedict's first word. "Listen!"

I'm excited about this week. It's time for the annual Oblate gathering at Saint Benedict's Abbey, my spiritual home. I came to Saint Benedict's fairly soon after my ordination. As a Presbyterian, I had to give up my membership in a congregation for membership in a Presbytery. Now Presbyteries are very nice things. But most of them are not a completely nurturing spiritual body.

I came to the abbey prepared to be a bit suspicious. I fell in love with the place, and more importantly the community, in about three hours. I quickly found myself dipping into the river of prayer that runs through monastic communities; a river that began many centuries ago and runs forward to the distant future.

I always feel like I am coming home when I arrive at St. Benedict's. There is a sense of peace that overwhelms me the instant my car door opens.  But there is another reason why I love my community so much. The abbey's charism is the work of Christian unity. Our hope is that as Benedict predated our divisions, in Benedict's teaching of the way, we may once again be one. When we come together we find men and women who are Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, Old Catholics, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Brazilian Catholics, Anglicans, and Greek Orthodox. Anyone who follows Jesus is welcome in the community. Anyone who is Baptized is welcome at the Table. And all our causes for division? Those are left at the door. That which unites us is more important than that which divides us.

Would you like to find out more? Please ask, or check out the Abbey's website: www.SBAbbey.com.

I have an interesting problem. My congregation is thriving. They  have formed a thriving community of believers. They have great leaders, and willing workers. They are truly involved in worship. They obviously care deeply both for each other, and for all of God's world. You might well ask why that is a problem. It is because for me, dealing with a congregation that is not facing a downward slide is a very new experience.  And I need to advise them not on how to start transformation for the beginning but instead how to continue to thrive.

One of their  keys to future success will be the formation of small groups. A church based small group usually consists of twelve members or less. The members gather around a passion they all hold in common. They use that passion to reach out in mission to the local community. At the same time they devote time together to prayer and study.

Small groups accomplish something more than those stated purposes. They provide a close knit community; a place where members can discuss their thoughts, dreams, and problems with the security that what they say will not be repeated beyond the bounds of the group. The sense of community they provide is quite important in this age where even in small cities and the country we do not always know our neighbors. In a congregation, like this one, who draws members from a wide area, small groups also provide a greater sense of community within the congregation as a whole.

 Let me give you an example of a small group. A group of people might have a common love of working on cars. They find a place where they can meet. Remember, small groups do not have to meet in the church building.  After the group finds a meeting place they purchase old cars, fix them up, and give them to people who cannot afford a car and desperately need one. Funding for the cars, and parts, might come from the members themselves, or the congregation might fund it as a local mission outreach. Besides the time spent working, the members of the group spend time sharing their lives with each other, studying some aspect of their faith, and praying together. 

Sound simple? It is simple. It simply takes people's passions and turns them into the work of Christ's church.

Please, join in. What paths do you suggest for a congregation who is looking to continue to thrive?

I must confess that I have never supported the war in Iraq. I'm also a bit distressed about our past support of those we now fight in Afganistan. But those things are topics for another day.

I saw the tragic results of poor support for the troops who fought in Vietnam. Those troops, like the members of our armed forces today, had no control about whether or not we go to war. if you, like me, are against war in general, please do not extend that feeling to those who serve.

And to those who serve, and have served, in our armed forces, thank you. Your work will be remembered, not just this weekend, but always.

I’m hopeless in the morning, until I have a cup of coffee.  Joan, my wife, stays far, far away. Even the cats know to keep their distance  until I can function with some degree of coherence.  But after my coffee, I can face the day with some degree of confidence in my ability to function.  

 Two-thousand years ago, our ancestors in the faith were also desperately looking for their cup of coffee; a way to empower their work.  They joyfully embraced the new reality of Jesus’ resurrection.  But they weren’t quite sure what to do about it.  They must have questioned one another continually asking, “what’s next? What do we do?  Where can we look for guidance?  How do we plan for the future?” Their answer arrived on the day of Pentecost when they were gathered together in an upper room. On that day, the Holy Spirit's wind and flame swept them out of hiding and into the streets to bravely proclaim the Good News. Did they make mistakes?  You bet.  Did they always succeed?  No.  But they knew that in the end nothing could hold them back, with the power of God at their side.   

During trying  times, it's important to remember that thee same "cup of coffee" is available to us.  For God’s Spirit still empowers the church today. That’s something we need to remember on all days and not just on the day when we celebrate Pentecost..     Can things we try fail?  Yes. Can we in fact flop right on our faces?  Sure.  Will we always like the situations we find ourselves in?  No.  But in the end, nothing can hold back the Body of Christ.  For we know that God’s Spirit walks with us, and empowers us to bravely act in Christ’s name. 

 Come Holy Spirit!

It's almost Mother's Day, one of the most popular day of the year for most florists. But Mother's Day was not invented by florists or by people who wanted to show love to their mothers. Instead it was a day of protest against the loss of sons and husbands in war. In this time of war, I think it's important for us to hear the original proclamation again. It was written by Julia Ward Howe who was also the author of the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

"Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!
Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:"We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

From the bosom of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice.
"Blood does not wipe out dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.

As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil
At the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace...
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God -In the name of womanhood and humanity,

I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality,
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace."

Remember her words. May there be peace in our time.