A Word of Hope

Tommy Dillon

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. John 14:27

Our nation is gripped by the events that unfolded this week at Virginia Tech. Indeed it feels as though another part of our innocence has died. I have not been feeling quite like myself, realizing that my heart grieves for that community. I cannot imagine the horror and fear that those students and their families are feeling. My heart also grieves for the family of the one who perpetuated the violence. I cannot imagine the pain and questioning they are experiencing.

In a world that seems bent on violence and war, we often grieve events such as this. What is the role of faith in the midst of grief like this? Where is God in the midst of times like this? God is found through the power of peace. However, we must be mindful that peace begins with each of us. God sent Jesus to earth, not so that he would die, rather that Jesus would live and in turn teach us to live! God yearns for us to live with the abundance that comes from the peace that we experience with God.

It is not hard to see that peace has been shattered in Blacksburg, Virginia. The peace that college students existed in is gone. Cho Seung-hui was not at peace. If we are honest, there are times in our own lives where we do not feel at peace either. Hear the good news of our faith: We are Easter people. We are in the season where we celebrate that light overcomes darkness, that life overcomes death and yes, peace overcomes violence.

I offer the words of Frederick Buechner: "Resurrection means that the worst thing is never the last thing." May it be so for those in Virginia, and may it be so for you.

Bishop Barahona to preach and celebrate, May 6

The Most Right Reverend Martin Barahona, Primate of the Anglican Church of Central America and Bishop of El Salvador, will preach and celebrate the Holy Eucharist at St. Aidan's Episcopal Church, San Francisco on May 6th ( 8 AM and 10:10 AM).

Bishop Barahona has been the bishop of the Anglican Episcopal Church of El Salvador since 1992. Before becoming a priest in the Episcopal Church, he was a priest of the Roman Catholic Church for 11 years. He is currently the Primate of the Central Region of America (IARCA), position to which he was elected in 2002. As bishop he has made the mission of the Episcopal Church to "take the good new of Christ to the world" through focusing on migration, human rights, sexuality and other interests. Under his leadership the Episcopal Church in El Salvador has grown in infrastructure and spiritually. He was one of only two primates of the Anglican Communion to lay hands on Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.

He is a long time friend of our rector, and hosted the mission team from St. Aidan's last October in El Salvador.

Jay Bakker to preach April 29

Jay Bakker will preach at the 10:10 AM liturgy at St. Aidan's Episcopal Church in San Francisco, April 29. Jay Bakker is a 30 year old pastor who grew up witnessing both the good and bad of the church. His parents are Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, ministers-turned-TV-hosts who helped start both the Trinity Broadcasting Network and the 700 Club in the 1970's, and later founded the PTL (Praise The Lord) Club. Jay started a church for those who feel rejected by traditional approaches to Christianity; this church is called Revolution. The idea behind Revolution is to show all people the unconditional love and grace of Jesus without any reservations due to their lifestyles or background, past or future.

Currently Jay is the center of ONE PUNK, UNDER GOD, an observational documentary series on the Sundance Channel that takes an all-access look inside the life of Jay Bakker and his Revolution ministry. Jay travels the country speaking to churches and organizations, encouraging them to reach out to the lost and hurting. His goal is to return to the grassroots of Christianity founded on inclusion, love and grace; his heart is helping people realize that God loves them no matter what.

St. Aidan's is located at 101 Gold Mine Drive in the Diamond Heights neighborhood of San Francisco.

The Message of the Cross

Tommy Dillon

I have a wall in my office that is filled with crosses. Each day as I come into my office I see it, and it floods my memory. One of the things I like best about my cross wall is that I haven't purchased a single cross on it. They have all been gifts to me from important people in my life. They speak of so many of the chapters in my life. Interestingly, the first cross that I received for this wall was from a girl I dated in high school. Another cross is from my parents. A different cross is from the staff of the church I served in Baton Rouge. One of the crosses was given to me at my ordination by close family friends. They all remind me of people and places that mean so much to me and have made me who I am. Ironically, the crosses also provide memories of the times that I let some of those people down.

But even in the diversity of these crosses, they all hold the same image during this season of Lent and especially during Holy Week. They remind me of the death that Jesus and many others have experienced at the hands of governments. I am also reminded that Jesus said that to be a disciple we must follow Jesus into the places we don't often want to go.

But the Easter message that we discover three days after the cross is that even when we do not live up to whom Jesus has called us to be, even when we hurt those we love, we are reminded of the power of the cross. The power of the cross is that good overcomes evil, light overcomes darkness, resurrection overcomes death.

You see, taking up the cross of Christ doesn't simply mean that we share in death; it also means that we share in resurrection! What could be more powerful and humbling than that?

New Orleans Pictures

Kirstin Paisley

I’ve finished uploading and organizing my pictures from New Orleans. You can see them here. The set labeled “NOLA” is mainly focused on hurricane and flood damage. The pictures in “NOLA Fun” are mostly of the swamp tour that Judy, Vivian, and I took on Saturday morning.

I think we’re all still processing the trip; I know I am. Ken and Jenny took me to lunch on Sunday. We were driving through the neighborhood, and I was looking out the window. Suddenly it hit me: no spray paint on the houses! No water marks! The strong foundations and intact structures appeared to be completely out of place. Then I remembered, “Oh yeah. I’m in San Francisco.”

I picked up something called “barotrauma” from the flight home; it’s what happens when you fly when you’re sick, one or both of your eustacian tubes don’t open, and you end up with fluid trapped behind your eardrums. It’s in my left ear, and doesn’t hurt now, but it’s uncomfortable. I’m hearing half-underwater. I called the advice nurse at Kaiser, because this had never happened to me before. She asked how I got it. I answered, “I was in New Orleans….”

She was way more interested in that experience than in my gunky ear, and kept thanking me for going. She said it made her night. I appreciate her thanks; I really do, but it’s kind of surreal. Everyone we met in NOLA thanked us as well. Going down there seemed like an adventure to me before we left; now I’m grateful that I could go, and I wish everyone would. That experience changed me forever. And every little bit of attention or caring helps, whether you’re gutting houses, distributing clothes, or just sitting with people. Praying for them helps. Sending money helps. I think that presence is the best gift of all. If all you can do is witness to the fact that these people exist in these conditions, that is tremendous. They will tell you.

I saw the doctor this morning; my ear is supposed to heal on its own, in “a few weeks.” Meanwhile, I’m developing empathy for hearing-challenged people, and praying that the Sudafed I’m taking works soon.

A blessed Holy Week to all.

Home

Kirstin Paisley

Michael flew back to Berkeley last night; Vivian and I flew together, and got home about an hour ago. Judy is visiting family and friends, and will be back at Eastertime.

Thank you all for your thoughts, your prayers, and your love. Your support has meant more to us than I can tell you. Knowing that you carried me, and us, with you helped me tremendously when what I saw in New Orleans overwhelmed me.

We are perilously close to Sunday morning. Goodnight, and peace be with you.