The Anglican Digest - Winter 2024

WINTER A.D.
2024
VOL. 66 NO. 4
St. James’ Church, Texarkana, Texas

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winter 2024
WINTER A.D. 2024
VOL. 66 NO. 4
St. James’ Church

Texarkana, Texas
The Society for Promoting and Encouraging the Arts and Knowledge
of the Church (SPEAK, Inc.).
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
CHAIRMAN
THE REV’D CHARLESTON D. WILSON
VICE CHAIRMAN
THE REV’D CHRISTOPHER COLBY
SECRETARY/TREASURER
THE REV’D DR. C. BRYAN OWEN
THE RT. REV’D JOHN C. BAUERSCHMIDT
THE RT. REV’D ANTHONY J. BURTON
MRS. MARIAN MONTGOMERY CHANCELLOR
THE VERY REV’D DR. NEAL MICHELL
MR. PHILLIP PARKER
DR. E. MITCHELL SINGLETON, HONORARY
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
THE REV’D DR. FREDRICK A. ROBINSON, EDITOR
THE RT. REV’D ANTHONY F. M. CLAVIER, ASSISTANT EDITOR
MS. REBECCA K. ROBINSON, ASSISTANT EDITOR
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connecting gathering telling
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winter 2024 3
A Letter from the Chairman
of the Board of Trustees
Dear Digest Family,

In the early twentieth century, sociologist Charles Cooley for-
malized something we’ve known instinctively forever. He devel-
oped something called “the looking-glass self,” which so bril-
liantly claimed that most of us base at least some of our sense of
self-worth on how we think others perceive us – how they “look”
at us, in other words. Think about when someone compliments
you and how your sense of self-worth soars. On the other hand,
think about your sanctimonious sister, your first husband, or your
implaccable boss when they speak negatively.
The Bible, however, is forcefully clear that what God thinks
about you matters most, even eternally. And that same Bible is
equally clear that God loved you so much that He sent His only
Son to die for you (St. John 3:16). As St. Paul summarized so well,
“God proved His love for us in this: While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us” (Romans 5:28). This means the final word over
my life and yours in Christ Jesus is neither the threat of guillotine
nor what others may think—but reconciliation with God and the
prospect of real peace.
From this peace, which “passeth all understanding,” each issue
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In the peace of Jesus, I am:
Yours always,
CW+
(The Rev’d) Charleston David Wilson
Church of the Redeemer
6 Letter from the Editor
7 The Light Shines in the Darkness
9 The Third Advent
12 Advent: A Season of Waiting
16 Floating Along In A Cloud of Unknowing
22 The Star Stopped Over the Place Where the Child Was
24 St. Joseph
27 St. James, Texarkana
34 Why Isn’t Christianity Simpler?
35 The Peace
39 Curry Dip
40 Could This Be How God Will Save Me
45 Jesus and the Gospel
47 Praying Through the Busyness
53 The Noble Army
54 Dancing Before the Lord
56 Eyes on Jesus
58 Book Review — Joy: Poet, Seeker, and the Woman Who
61 Captivated C.S. Lewis
63 Necrology
winter 2024 5
connecting
A Letter from the Editor

Dear Readers of The Anglican Digest,
Happy New Year! A new Christian Year is always an exciting event
for me because I love the way the year begins. Advent is a short sea-
son, but it is a wonderful season, bidding us to prepare for the com-
ing of the Lord, whether we are speaking of the coming of the Lord
at the end of time, at Christmas, at every celebration of the Holy
Eucharist, or at any other time when the Lord Jesus enters the hu-
man heart.
You will find in this issue articles having to do with the seasons
of Advent and Christmas, and the Epiphany, as well as articles of a
more general nature. You will notice that some of our articles are
written specifically for TAD while others are taken from parish, di-
ocesan, or other church-related organization newsletters.
The specific parish we are featuring in this issue is St. James Epis-
copal Church, Texarkana, Texas. The covers, front and back, feature
St. James and there is an article about St. James by the current Rector,
Fr. David Halt, beginning on page 27. It’s an interesting bit of histo-
ry, not only about the parish, but also about the Episcopal Church
in that part of our country in the late 1800s. St. James is one of our
Parish Partners that has recently renewed its relationship with TAD.
The Anglican Digest is a wonderful resource for the parishes which
choose to use it as such. Would you like to have the Digest sent to
every home in your parish without charge? Contact me and I can tell
you how simple it is for your parish to be a Parish Partner!
Best wishes for a blessed Advent and joyous
Christmas!
Faithfully in Christ,
The Rev’d Dr. Fredrick A. Robinson, Editor

gathering telling
THE LIGHT SHINES unimproved section of the

IN THE DARKNESS cave, where we were walking
on the bare cave floor. And
The Rev’d James P. Haney V the only light source we were
St. Paul’s-on-the-Plains issued was lanterns made of
Lubbock, Texas
buckets and candles.
It was a bit daunting at first,
going into the bowels of the
earth with such a low-tech
light source. The route was
labyrinthine, with very low
ceilings at times, and places
where you had to scramble up
or down rocky inclines. The
candles were not that bright.
The buckets couldn’t be an-
gled up or down that easily
— instead you had to raise
In 2007, the kids and I visited
your bucket above your head
Wind Cave National Park in
or lower it down by your feet.
the Black Hills of South Da-
And it was basically impos-
kota. But instead of taking the
sible to simultaneously shine
standard cave tour, we opted
your light on obstacles above
to do something different.
you and on the very rough
We signed up for the histor-
and uneven path at your feet.
ic “Candlelight Cave Tour”
It would have been a very
which attempted to recreate
scary trip to make alone.
what it would have been like
to visit the cave in the late But we weren’t alone. First of
1800’s. Led by a park ranger, all, those of us on the tour had
a small group of us visited an the ranger, who knew the cave
winter 2024 7
connecting
and the way through it inti- dropped them somewhere

mately. He would frequently by mistake?” If so, we would
pause and say, “Okay, just up have been in big trouble.
ahead is...” which would pre- But the ranger did have his
pare us for whatever maneu- matches, and was able to re-
ver we were going to need to light our candles. The candle
make. Plus, during the most flames that seemed so puny
difficult parts, usually going earlier in the trip seemed like
up or down hill, he would search lights in the darkness.
shine his lantern backwards
and hold it down near the In the Christian life, the tools
ground, and ask each of us we’re issued may seem prim-
to do the same thing for the itive and feeble. Given the
person behind us, so that each high-tech world around us,
person could more easily see we might wonder at first how
what was coming next. Thus, writings from thousands of
we were aided not only by the years ago, ancient practic-
expertise of the ranger, but byes of prayer, and strange rit-
each other as well. ual meals involving bread
and wine can possibly help
At the midpoint of the tour, us navigate our way through
the ranger had us sit down life.
and extinguish our candles to To outsiders, they might seem
experience the total darkness as clumsy and inefficient as a
of the cave, that inky black- bucket with a candle. And yet,
ness so thick that I couldn’t the more I study scripture, the
even make out my hand in more l worship and use the
front of my face. And as we ancient pathways of prayer,
were sitting there, I thought, I am amazed at how a mod-
“What if the ranger can’t ern culture — which seems to
find his matches? What if he have all the answers — can be
gathering telling
far less illuminating than such THE THIRD ADVENT

venerable tools. The Rev’d Gavin Dunbar
Rector, St. John’s Church,
Savannah, GA and President of
the Prayer Book Society USA
On our journeys, we have an

incredible gift: Jesus Christ, a
guide who leads us and knows
the way through life. He
points out perils and difficult Advent, as the name indi-
parts of the journey; we need cates, is a season that looks to
only heed his voice. His light Christ’s coming to the world,
shines in the darkness. And but the question is, which
he encourages us to shine our coming? For many, the em-
lights in such a way that we phasis of the season is histor-
help others on the journey ical, on the first coming: the
with us. innocence and vulnerability
“The Lord is a great God, and of the child born in Bethle-
a great King above all gods. In hem, “away in a manger.” In
his hand are the caverns of the reaction perhaps to the senti-
earth, and the heights of the mentality of the “baby Jesus,”
hills are his also... Oh, that to- others emphasize Christ’s re-
day you would hearken to his turn in judgment, a time for
voice!” (Psalm 95:3-4, 7) preaching about death, judg-
ment, heaven, and hell. It’s
From The Epistle, May 2022 worth noting that such com-
winter 2024 9
peting emphases appear late to seek and save the lost, but
in the Church’s tradition; and also and no less of that oth-
that there is something rather er coming, whereby he will
one-sided about them, which come and take us to himself.
should better be read as com- Yet, St. Bernard says, “there is
plimentary aspects rather another, a third coming be-
than competing emphases. As tween those two... In the first
Oliver Donovan says, Advent he was seen on earth
“expectancy is predicated and walked with men. In the
on experience. Without second, ‘all flesh shall see the
the experience you would salvation of our God,’ and
not know what to expect ‘they shall look on him whom
or why to expect it... So it is they pierced.’ But the inter-
with the coming of Christ. mediate advent is a hidden
... The past event of one, in which only his cho-
Christmas forms the hori- sen see him, in themselves,
zon of our future. Which and so their souls are saved.
is why the Advent season In the first, he came in flesh
has a double aspect, look- and weakness; in the middle
ing back to Christ’s com- one he comes in Spirit and in
ing to look forward to his power; in the final coming he
coming again.” will come in majesty and for
glory. ... So this intermediate
Memory, of Christ’s first com- advent is a sort of road, by
ing, is thus the matrix of hope, which we travel from the first
for his coming again. to the last.” The double aspect
That is the approach of St. of Christ’s past and future
Bernard of Clairvaux in the comings visible in the flesh
12th century. In Advent, says thus frame a third aspect — of
Bernard, “we think not only of his coming invisibly by his
the coming whereby he came Spirit in the present.
gathering telling
Christ came to visit us in great

humility; that in the last day,
when he shall come again in
his glorious majesty to judge
both the quick and the dead,
we may rise to the life immor-
tal.
Advent’s double aspect, of

first and second comings, is
worked out in multiple an-
titheses: (1) “in the time of
this mortal life” balanced
with “in the last day”; (2) “thy
Son Jesus Christ came” with
“when he shall come again”;
(3) “to visit us” (viz. “in saving
The Virgin Adoring the Christ Child mercy”) with “to judge both
Atelier of Andrea della Robbia the quick and the dead”; (4)
1435? - 1525?
J. P. Morgan Library, NYC
“in great humility” with “in
his glorious majesty.” More-
That is precisely the structure over, these four antitheses
of Cranmer’s collect for Ad- are arranged in a chiasmus (a
vent: sandwich pattern), with one
antithesis (“humility” and
Almighty God, give us grace “majesty”) set within another
that we may cast away the (“visit” and “judge”). A quo-
works of darkness, and put tation from Romans 13:11-14
upon us the armour of light, introduces these carefully bal-
now in the time of this mor- anced clauses, with a further
tal life, in which thy Son Jesus pair of antitheses: (5) “that
winter 2024 11
connecting
we may cast away” with “put ADVENT: A SEASON

upon us”; and (6) “the works OF WAITING
of darkness” with “this ar-
mour of light.” At the heart of Krystyna Sanderson. Psy. D., LP
this artful arrangement is the
word “now;” — “now” in the
time of this mortal life.” The
effect of these antitheses is to
define “now” as a time of de-
cisive importance. In present
decisions — in the use of our
present time, this very mo-
ment, now, not some indefi-
nite time in the future — we
forge an eternal destiny. Now,
in Christ’s coming, is he visi-
ble by his Spirit in the present.
Advent is the season of wait-
At the beginning of the
ing.
Church’s year — another rota-
tion of the annual cycle — we
We wait for Christmas.
are put in mind of the vital
We wait for Christ to be
importance of grasping hold
born.
of the grace that is available
We wait for the weekend.
to us in this time, in this third
We wait for summer
advent. There is no mistaking
vacation.
the practicality and urgency
We wait for our child to
of that invitation.
grow up, to graduate, to
From The Parish Paper of get married.
St. John’s Church, Savannah, We wait . . . We love to wait,
Georgia, December 4, 2022 and we hate to wait.
gathering telling
Waiting for Christmas brings Christmas? A Christmas tree,

all kinds of feelings: some of course, with all the nos-
warm and fuzzy, and some talgia of decorations from
painful. Christmas brings Christmases past: baby’s first
memories, nostalgia, long- Christmas or a decoration
ing . . . for times long gone, made by our mother who
returning in our minds to died; a vision of everyone
Christmases past, perhaps to feeling super festive; shops
our childhood. I remember adorned with beautiful dec-
my beloved grandmother’s orations; the weather cold
high alto voice singing “Silent enough to wear a coat and
Night, Holy Night” in Polish. scarf; days of buying presents
Our life is unpredictable and and wrapping them in fancy
fleeting and our psyche wants paper and ribbons; the antic-
to ground itself in something ipation of delighting dad or
sweet and pleasant and pre- mom or a friend with a spe-
dictable, something that can- cial present—and, of course,
not be changed, like our past, Christmas dinner with the
and project it to the future. family; looking forward to
going to church adorned with
We humans ground ourselves greenery, especially the holly
in relationships that help us to with its bright red berries, and
identify our sense of self, and candles everywhere; singing
nostalgia helps us maintain “O Holy Night,” “O Come All
those connections and a sense Ye Faithful,” or “Little Town
of belonging. Christmas is the of Bethlehem”; and watch-
time to go home, whatever ing Christmas movies like A
our definition of home is. Christmas Carol, based on
the Charles Dickens story in
What are we waiting for and which Scrooge becomes lov-
what are we imagining about ing and caring.
winter 2024 13
connecting
When in our mind we go Holidays like Christmas trig-

back to Christmases past, we ger loneliness, as even though
are longing to reconnect with we might be with our family,
what we might perceive as an we may feel emotionally sep-
ideal Christmas. C. S. Lewis, arate from them as our mem-
in his sermon “The Weight ories and nostalgia bring up
of Glory,” describes this long- longings for that past perfect
ing as a sense of being cut off, Christmas.
not only from the past, but
from the universe, because
we are really strangers in this
world—it is not our perma-
nent home: “The beauty, the
memory of our own past—are
good images of what we real-
ly desire . . . there is only the
echo of a tune we have not
heard, news from the country
we have never visited . . . the
sense that in this universe we
are treated as strangers . . . our
lifelong nostalgia to be reunit-
ed with the something in the
universe from which we now Our Christian faith is telling
feel cut off.” us that our safety and securi-
ty, our bliss, is our connection
Freud described it as the to God. St. Augustine stated:
“oceanic feeling,” like an in- “You have made us for your-
fant feeling oneness with the self, and our hearts are rest-
world, feeling totally safe and less until they rest in you.”
secure in the mother’s womb. Christmas unveils what is
gathering telling
important: Do the expensive bination of suffering and joy,

gifts, the largest Christmas judgment and deliverance,
tree, or a recent promotion apocalyptic woe and eschato-
make us happy? Or is it being logical hope.
part of the happiest family or
the happiest marriage, per- As C. S. Lewis stated in Mere
haps with the most success- Christianity, we need to ac-
ful kids? Or having the best cept the earthly gifts with
Christmas ever? I love what thankfulness, as cards from
Oscar Wilde said: “There are God, but “remember that they
only two tragedies in life: notare only greetings, not the
getting what you want and real gifts.” C. S. Lewis warns
getting what you want.” us that we are not supposed
to depend on them as real
What are we really waiting things. The real thing is Jesus
for? For Christ to be born, to Christ.
be in our heart. Advent—a
season of waiting—is rich in Advent is a time of waiting: a
symbolism, echoing our hu- time of endurance, patience,
man condition of waiting. and perseverance.
Majesty stooped. Think of
the super popularity of Prin- I want to end with “Christmas
cess Diana, who laid aside her Bells” by Henry Wadsworth
privilege of being royalty to Longfellow about waiting for
walk alongside those who peace. He wrote it during the
were downtrodden. Promise Civil War on Christmas Day
is a key concept in under- of 1864. We are also waiting
standing Advent. We are wait- for peace now:
ing for the coming of the Re-
deemer. It is now and not yet. I heard the bells on
Advent is a paradoxical com- Christmas Day
winter 2024 15
connecting
Their old, familiar carols play, FLOATING ALONG IN

And wild and sweet A CLOUD
The words repeat OF UNKNOWING
Of peace on earth, good will
to men! The Rev’d Joseph N. Davis
Vicar of Grace Episcopal Church
Spring Hill, Tennessee.
And thought how, as the day
had come,
The belfries of all
Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will
to men!
Till ringing, singing on its
way,
The world revolved from
night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will In T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets,
to men! there is a passage about go-
Krystyna Sanderson, Psy. D., LP ing somewhere you have nev-
A psychoanalyst in private er been before, so you must
practice in New York City. take a road untraveled. To
She worships at The Episcopal Parish know someone you have nev-
of Calvary – St. George’s, NY er known, you must go by a
vvv way of unknowing. For sever-
Support this great mission! al years, I have been trying to
Donate Now! make peace with the fact that
Go to anglicandigest.org I do not know God the way I
gathering telling
vice last year, I noticed that I

lacked the confidence I want-
ed to feel from the assurance
that Christ was with me go-
ing into this celebration. I
said something to myself as
I stepped inside the church
like, “I wish I could feel him
with me.”
Immediately, I heard this re-

sponse. “Is what I have given
Eliot in 1934 you not enough?” My answer
was, “Of course it is! You have
wanted to when I was much given me everything. I am
younger; and I do not feel the happy to accept what I do
presence of Christ in the pres- not have and be grateful for
ent tense. I can see God acting all that I have—my family,
in my life as I look back, and my congregation, my friends,
I can feel Christ’s presence in my education, my drive to
my relationships with other go on learning, and my hope
people whenever they need for something more.” That
me and I am called upon to question allowed me to un-
answer that need. I might not derstand that it was perfectly
feel that I have much to offer, acceptable for me to dwell in
but he always shows up with a kind of unknowing. If all
uncanny regularity. the loose ends were tied up,
As I was walking up the steps I would not have to follow
to the red door at Grace Christ by faith. This way, I
Church before the beginning walk with him by the light he
of the Christmas Eve ser- shows on my path, one step at
winter 2024 17
connecting
a time. That’s truly fine with teach them a study based on

me, as long as my lack of a the lessons for the next Sun-
sense of connection is all right day. That way I would gain in-
with him. sights from their understand-
ing of the scriptures I would
I discovered my original sense be preaching on, and I could
of connection with Jesus when begin working on my sermon
I was leading a Bible study at much earlier in the week than
St. Philip Episcopal Church in I would otherwise. It meant
Davies Plantation in around a night away from home, but
2002, after we had complet- it also meant I would not be
ed the new education wing putting everything together at
of the church. The people the last minute when prepar-
asked for a Bible study on a ing my sermons.
weeknight, and I had been
happy to oblige them. I would I used the Serendipity Bible,
which has questions in the
margins, and the answers to
which are not printed in the
Bible. These questions made
us think of ways to relate the
lessons to our lives. I loved
these questions after all the
years I had spent studying
the NIV Study Bible and oth-
er sources to learn informa-
tion about the lessons. Now I
could work on how the people
St Philip Episcopal Church saw those lessons relating to
Davies Plantation, themselves, and even to my-
Memphis, Tennessee self.
gathering telling
I would find a question or pels once, and it was when I

two in the Serendipity Bible was twelve. I read the gospels
and ask everyone at the Bi- when I was twelve because I
ble study that night to answer was trying to overcome the
that question. We would go fact that I was conceited. I had
around the room. One time, good reason to be conceited.
the question was, “When did I had become a 6th grade
you first believe that Jesus is flag football phenomenon,
the Son of God?” Several peo- and I was not shy about let-
ple told their stories, and each ting others know. I got on the
one was interesting and in- school bus after school one
spiring. I was quite stimulated day with my friend Robbie
by their answers. But what Pickens. He said he was sur-
would I say myself? I would prised I was able to get on the
have to think of something! bus because my head was so
big from being conceited. He
Then this story occurred to didn’t think my head would
me. Something happened fit through the door to the
when I was reading the gos- school bus.
pels as a child. I did not read
the Bible as a child except for Ouch, that really hurt, but
the time soon after I received I didn’t say anything all the
my Bible as a confirmation way home. One thing was
present from my grandparents certain. I didn’t feel conceited
and I tried to read the whole anymore. When I was in 6th
Bible from start to finish. I grade, the last thing anyone
gave up after about chapter 5 wanted to be was conceited.
of Genesis. But this was much I was so hurt that I decided
later. It had to be when I was I had to do something. What
twelve years old. I know that could I do? The idea occurred
because I only read the gos- to me, “Maybe if I read the
winter 2024 19
connecting
gospels, I will learn how not next verses, I paused and

to be conceited.” thought for a minute. “He
doesn’t want me to believe
So I started to read the gos- in him just because my par-
pels. It was not hard. They ents do, or because I go to
really aren’t that long, and St. Andrew’s Church, or be-
they are interesting. Most cause I live in the Bible Belt.
of the passages I had al- He wants me to decide for
ready heard in church a few myself.” I felt the feeling, like
times. But some of them were a cool breeze coming into the
new. room, that he was leaving me
free out of respect for me as
As it was about to be my turn a person. A confirmed Epis-
to tell the Bible study class copalian, I might add. This
when I had first believed that was a great surprise. I had
Jesus was the Son of God, it only thought about trying to
occurred to me that the first obey Jesus and do the things
time was when I read the he would want me to do. That
gospels as a 6th grader. I got was hard enough. But now he
to the passage in John’s Gos- was asking something of me
pel in which Jesus says to the in my freedom, as if I were
Pharisees, “If I do not do the much more grown up than I
works of my Father, then do thought I was. He asked me to
not believe me; but if I do consider his works and decide
them, believe the works, that if I believed that those were
you may know and under- the works that the Son of God
stand that the Father is in me would do. So I did. I looked
and I am in the Father.” at his works: his miracles, like
feeding the multitude, chang-
After reading that passage, ing water into wine, and heal-
instead of moving on to the ing the man born blind. He
gathering telling
wanted me to consider his I am so glad that Robbie said

teachings, such as the Sermon I was conceited. How else was
on the Mount and the para- God going to get a running
bles of the Good Samaritan back with a swollen ego to
and the Prodigal Son. Were read the gospels?
these acts that only the Son
of God would do? Were these vvv
words that only the Son of Check us out online at
God would say?
anglicandigest.org
As I sat at that table in my vvv
40s with those adults that
Wednesday night, I remem-
bered thinking, “Yes, I do
think those are things that
only the Son of God would
do or say. I can believe these
works, so I guess I can see the
Father in them. And Jesus
must have been sent by the
Father.”
After that realization, I went

on reading and thought noth-
ing more about it, until that
night at Bible study, proba-
bly thirty-three years later. I
told my story. In conclusion,
I said, “I guess that’s my con-
version story, such as it is.”
Now when I look back on it,
winter 2024 21
connecting
THE STAR set out; and there, ahead of

STOPPED OVER them, went the star that they
THE PLACE WHERE had seen in the east, until it
THE CHILD WAS stopped over the place where
the child was.”
The Very Rev’d Samuel G.
Candler
Dean, Cathedral of St. Philip When I talk about the possi-
Atlanta, Georgia bility of that famous star, the
“Star of Bethlehem,” I start
with the verse that says “it
stopped over the place where
the child was.” This verse
should bewilder us, whether
we fancy ourselves serious
astronomers or not.
Now, if you were to go out-

side under a starlit sky, how in
the world could you possibly
tell that a particular heavenly
body — whether the moon,
or a planet, or a star — was
directly over you, or directly
over someone, say, 50 miles
Any astronomers around? away? Obviously, the night
Only one of the four accounts sky is so vast, and the heaven-
of the Gospel describes a star ly bodies so far away, but there
going ahead of some magi is no way of saying that a star
looking for the Christ. Mat- is over one place on earth, and
thew 2:9 says that “when not over another! (Unless we
they had heard the king, they are at a Christmas Pageant,
gathering telling
and the wonderful star, about of Judea! Thus, a king of the

3 feet wide, is being held aloft Jews had been born, emerg-
over a manger scene!) ing from behind the moon.
Furthermore, Jupiter then
Here beginneth, then, my stopped! Yes, the planets that
meager analysis of what led are outside the orbit of the
the magi. (I use here the anal- earth appear to “stop” in the
ysis of Michael Molnar, a re- night sky, occasionally, when
tired astronomer of Rutgers the earth passes them, in our
University.) First of all, they smaller orbit. Then, the planet
were magi, or astrologers — goes “retrograde;” it appears,
not astronomers in our sense to us, to reverse direction and
of the word. They associated to go backwards in the night
heavenly bodies like the plan- sky.
ets, and the moon, and con-
stellations, with people and
times of life. The constellation
Aries was associated with the
Jews. The planet Jupiter was
“the regal star that conferred
kingships.”
Well, in 6 BC, when the moon

was passing through the con-
stellation Aries, the moon
also “occulted,” or “passed Adoration of the Magi
over,” Jupiter. When Jupiter Cathedral of Cologne, Germany
emerged from behind the
moon, the astrologers were to That, I believe, is what the
assume a royal birth of some Gospel according to Matthew
sort, and Aries was a sign means when he says that the
winter 2024 23
connecting
“star stopped over the place ST. JOSEPH

where the child was.” It means
the “star” (the planet, Jupiter) Isabella Horsky
appeared to stop in the night
I feel so sorry for Saint
sky. My sense is that when the
Joseph
planet Jupiter “stopped,” the
At this moment no one
important thing was where
knows if
the magi were! Not where the
He were troubled or confused
star (or planet) was. Wherever
By how the Lord Almighty
the magi were when the plan-
used
et stopped had to be the place.
Him in His plan for our
And, wherever they were on
salvation.
their journey, that was where
Now in my imagination
the Christ, the Messiah, had
I can see him ‘way back then
been born. They went into the
In Nazareth, with local men
house (yes, in Matthew’s ver-
Who giggle, thinking it a joke
sion, they go into a house, not
That secretly some unknown
a stable) and found Mary and
bloke
the child.
Had gotten lustfully his way
With Joseph’s cute young
It might be an explanation
fiancé. So Joseph then could
that works. (Maybe not!) The
have disowned
important thing is that a light
His sweetheart, and she could
shone in the darkness, and
be stoned.
that light was the light of the
The law would thus be satis-
world. Or, as John 1:5 says,
fied
“The light shines in the dark-
ness, and the darkness did not And he would then retain his
overcome it.” pride
Among the local population.
But to Joseph’s consternation
gathering telling
He had a peculiar dream,

Revealing God’s dramatic
scheme
To use him and his
sullied girl
To bring salvation to the
world.
He could have said, “Who,
me?? No way!!
Since she goofed up, she
ought to pay.
The guys won’t point at me
and mock.
I won’t be a laughing stock!”
But Joseph listened and
obeyed
The angel’s message, though But then Saint Joseph
dismayed dreamed again,
But no doubt by local loss of And now he did not argue
face. when
But buoyed by some heavenly The angel said, “Leave now!
grace. Don’t wait!
He met the challenges and For Egypt is a safer state.
dangers, Go now, at once! Don’t wait
Ending up in some old until
stranger’s King Herod‘s goons get there
Barn where Mary brought to and kill
birth The newborn.” Joe obediently
The Christ, God’s promise to Prepares his wife and child
His earth. to flee
winter 2024 25
connecting
Into the night to land It’s hard for us to understand

unknown— Being guided by some unseen
Now refugees, afraid, alone. hand.
Through endless dusty desert But Joseph’s story shows that
miles these
Dream-like impossibilities
Saint Joseph leads his own Can be the Lord’s peculiar
exiles: way
Poor Mary’s too tired to To guide us through each
converse. common day—
The baby, crying, needs to To show us what His will
nurse. may be
The doggie plods on For us, for all humanity.
doggedly For all we know, God’s epic
They’re all done in by plan
drudgery. May have more episodes. We
can
But leading them without But wait and listen carefully
complaint To learn what our small part
Is Joseph, the unnoticed may be.
saint, If you have Joseph’s listening
Who wearily must try to soul
cope, You’ll get a good supporting
Equipped with only dreams role.
and hope.
He prays in Egypt there will vvv
be
A job for him in carpentry. Are you moving? Don’t miss
So he can properly take care a single issue! Go to
Of them as long as they are anglicandigest.org/change-
there. of-address
gathering telling
ST. JAMES A year later the General

EPISCOPAL CHURCH, Convention of the Episco-
TEXARKANA, TEXAS pal Church took time away
from wrangling over ritu-
The Very Rev’d David J. A. Halt
Rector, Saint James Episcopal al usage to listen to a plea
Church, Texarkana, Texas for missions from a certain
Alexander Charles Garrett
the Dean of Trinity Ca-
In 1873 the Texas and Pacif-

ic Railroad came through the
piney woods of Northeast
Texas and Southwest Arkan-
sas, south of the dangerous
and unnavigable Red River.
At the juncture between Bow-
ie County, Texas, and Miller
Alexander Charles Garrett (4 No
County, Arkansas, they deter- vember 1832 — 18 February 1924)
mined to start a new city, and In 1874 he was appointed Mission-
Texarkana was born. Or was ary Bishop of Northern Texas and
it two, as the State Line Ave- retained the seat after the formation
nue bisected it? In any case, of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas
the new town(s) were soon on 20 December 1895. He remained
Bishop of Dallas until his death
bustling with commercial ac- and was also Presiding Bishop of
tivity, new residents, and the the Episcopal Church from 17 April
sounds of building. 1923 until his death.
winter 2024 27
connecting
thedral in Omaha, Nebraska. course, one of his stops was in

His oration was so successful the new town of Texarkana.
that the Convention agreed On 30 October 1876, a small
to a request that it had denied group of Episcopalians met at
in 1871, that a State the size the now defunct Marquand
of Texas was not well served Hotel to begin the work of
by one bishop and one dio-
cese. It was therefore decid-
ed that the Missionary Dis-
trict of Northern Texas be
formed, and that venerable
High Churchman, the Very
Rev. Alexander C. Garrett,
was elected its first bishop.
This zealous Missionary Bish-

op saw Northern Texas as a
“big pasture,” he did not hole
himself up in the rough and
tumble city of Dallas, where
he initially roomed above a
saloon, and where on his first
morning in town he conduct-
ed a funeral for a man shot
in that same saloon the night
before. Like Bishop Jackson organizing a parish. The first
Kemper, Bishop Garrett reg- Parish Meeting was then held
ularly spent weeks crossing on 2 April 1877, and St. James
that “big pasture,” gathering was born.
local Episcopalians, holding
services, and lecturing. Of As the new town developed,
gathering telling
the Texas and Pacific were In 1895, St. James, along

convinced that they had a with twelve other parishes in
role to play in the organiza- the “Big Pasture,” petitioned
tion of the new urban area the General Convention of
of Texarkana, and being the The Episcopal Church to be
majority property holders, granted diocesan status, and
decided that for the welfare this being granted, St. James
of the community, including became a founding and con-
its religious and moral de- stituent member of the Di-
velopment, churches should ocese of Dallas, though it is
be encouraged to build. As geographically closer to the
the railroads platted the new Cathedral of the Diocese of
town, they set aside lots for Arkansas than its own.
the construction of church-
es. Of course, this would not
have happened without the MINISTRIES
influence of leading citizens St. James has, historically, led
of the town, including St. the way in ministry develop-
James’s own H.M. Woodward. ment in the diocese and in
Through his efforts, the T & the local community. Over
P donated the lot at the cor- the years, St. James was in-
ner of 5th and Olive Streets, strumental in helping and
on the Texas side, to this new supporting new parishes in
parish of St. James. The fol- the eastern end of the dio-
lowing year the first wooden cese in the communities of
chapel was built on this site, Mount Pleasant, New Bos-
and today St. James is one of ton, Pittsburg, Atlanta, and a
two churches in Texarkana second parish, St. Mary’s, in
which are still worshipping at Texarkana, . Mount Pleasant
their original location, if not and Pittsburg still have active
in their original buildings. Episcopal congregations.
winter 2024 29
connecting
In 1948 the Rev. Thomas Car- tions, as well as sitting on the

son had the vision of begin- Board. The Board itself must
ning a school that would ini- be comprised of 50% active
tially meet on parish grounds. members of St. James Church.
From that vision St. James Under the leadership of the
Day School got its start, and Rev. Richard Allen, St. James
today serves children from became a welcoming parish
Pre-Kindergarten through for African Americans, and
the 8th Grade at a green and he proved especially welcom-
open campus on the northern ing to a young couple who
edge of the city. The school moved from North Carolina,
is committed to its Episcopal Dr. Shirley and Mr. Ed Finn.
identity with regular chapel Dr. Shirley Finn was the first
and religious education con- African American nurse at
ducted by the clergy of St. Wadley Hospital, and was a
James Church. While the Day much beloved member of the
Texarkana community. Dr.
Finn was highly instrumen-
tal in the development of the
nursing education program at
Texarkana College. Under Fr.
Allen’s leadership, St. James
began the Senior Citizen’s
Services of Texarkana, includ-
ing Meals on Wheels.
In prior years, the first Boy

Scout Troop in Texarkana,
School has become a stand- Troop 1, was chartered by
alone entity, the Rector is St. James Church. While the
highly involved in its opera- troop eventually dissolved, it
gathering telling
has recently been reactivated, tragically killed in an automo-

under the same number, as a bile accident in May of 1993,
troop for the Day School, and and his family, with support
primarily for girls who wish of the parish, opened an out-
to experience scouting. reach shelter to honor his
memory. Today, Randy Sams
Outreach Shelter continues
to serve the homeless in our
community, and the Rector
and several members of the
parish serve on its Board of
Directors.
Most recently, as St. James

has committed itself to be a
strong ministry center in the
heart of Downtown Texarka-
na, the parish has converted
several of its unused rooms to
serve as offices for non-prof-
its serving the greater Tex-
The Rt. Rev. Paul Lambert in- arkana area. These represent
stituted a feeding ministry for ministries providing medical
the homeless. This ministry device assistance to children
was originally housed in the with special needs, cancer
Great Hall. One young man treatment and prevention
was particularly inspired to services, youth outreach, and
serve and was an incredibly anti-human trafficking train-
faithful member of the serving, and recovery services for
ing team with a heart for the those who have experienced
homeless. Randy Sams was trafficking.
winter 2024 31
connecting
CHURCHMANSHIP tor selling off the Sanctuary

Today, St. James is known for Lamp for $50.
its commitment to the An-
glo-Catholic tradition as ex- Today’s commitment to this
pressed in liturgy and music. expression of Anglican Cath-
Each Sunday a Rite I spoken olicity must be credited to
Eucharist is held at 8AM, and the last five Rectors who have
a Solemn Eucharist is cele- served this parish. It is not
brated at 10 AM. This latter simply a commitment to hab-
service, during the program erdashery and ritual, but a
year, includes an excellent commitment to the fullness
parish choir, under the lead- of the Tradition that is theo-
ership of Mr. Andrew Clark, logical, liturgical, and forma-
who also serves as organist. tional.
The Solemn Eucharist also
employs a full altar party, with CURRENT PARISH LIFE
all the “smells and bells” asso- In Texarkana, St. James is
ciated with Anglo-Catholi- known for both its minis-
cism. try and its campus. Over the
past several years, we have
It has not always been such. renewed our commitment to
In the early days, despite being in the heart of down-
the High Church penchant town. The Vestry, Members,
of Bishop Garrett, the early and Rector have worked tire-
Rectors were of the Low lessly to maintain the campus
Church tradition. Holy Eu- in its status as a “jewel of Tex-
charist was rarely celebrated, arkana.” The slate roof which
as Morning Prayer with Ser- was installed when the church
mon was the primary service was bricked in 1926, and had
held each Sunday. In fact, fallen into significant disre-
there is a record of a Rec- pair, has been replaced with
gathering telling
natural slate to last another James has an active Men’s &

hundred years. The origi- Women’s Ministry, Christian
nal stained glass dating from Education, Children’s and
the early 20th century and Adult Choirs, and a growing
made by Jacoby studios has chapter of the Daughters of
been cleaned, preserved, and the King. And we love to par-
protected for future genera- ty together, whenever there is
tions. Included in this project an excuse, in our great hall.
were the removal of the east
Ascension window and the Perhaps, it is best to end with
west Good Shepherd window, the words of LaVerne McCur-
which were cleaned, rebuilt, ry who authored the first his-
and reinstalled after suffer- tory of St. James: “As I read the
ing a century’s worth of Texas fading ink records in the first
heat and weather. The latter book acquired by those ‘tried
was originally dedicated by and true’ men of the Episcopal
the Women’s Auxiliary to the faith, I realize how deeply we
memory of Bishop Garrett, are indebted to church men
the original good shepherd whose names are entirely un-
bishop of this part of the “Big familiar to most all the people
Pasture.” now worshiping in our pres-
ent Church edifice. Except for
Week in and week out the their love, determination, and
faithful gather at St. James for the sacrifice of their time and
worship and formation. Our treasure there would be no
ministry to the wider com- Saint James Parish!” The Tex-
munity is thriving, and our as and Pacific is no longer an
members continue to take entity, but St. James to whom
a place of leadership in our they donated the corner of
community, moved by their 5th and Olive continues to be
Christian commitment. St. a vibrant and thriving parish,
winter 2024 33
connecting
and is dedicated to remaining has forgotten all about him,

a parish for the generations to but the real science is still go-
come. ing on.
vvv If Christianity was something
WHY ISN’T we were making up, of course
CHRISTIANITY we could make it easier. But it
SIMPLER? is not. We cannot compete, in
simplicity, with people who
The one really adequate in-
are inventing religions. How
strument for learning about
could we? We are dealing
God is the whole Christian
with Fact. Of course anyone
community, waiting for Him
can be simple if he has no
together. Christian brother-
facts to bother about.
hood is, so to speak, the tech-
nical equipment for this sci- C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
ence — the laboratory out-fit.
That is why all these people
who turn up every few years
with some patent simplified
religion of their own as a
substitute for the Christian
tradition are really wasting
time. Like a man who has no
instrument but an old pair of
field glasses setting out to put
all the real astronomers right.
He may be a clever chap — he
may be cleverer than some of
the real astronomers — but he
is not giving himself a chance.
And two years later everyone
gathering telling
THE PEACE you” in Rite Two). The Book of

Common Prayer then states,
The Rev’d Charleston Wilson “The Ministers and People
Rector, Church of may greet one another.”
the Redeemer
Sarasota, Florida
To the casual observer, hands
are then shaken, recipes are
exchanged, and the 60’s peace
sign suddenly becomes fash-
ionable all over again. Then,
almost as quickly as the ker-
fuffle began, it’s over, because,
after all, we have more lit-
urgy ahead (and hopefully
brunch). “The beat goes on”
to quote Sonny and Cher.
What is “passing the peace”

all about, and why should I
care? Is it a quirky liturgical
“If it be possible, as much as action, a chance to gawk at
lieth in you, live peaceably Gladys’s dress, or something
with all men.” Romans 12:18 more? I’m so glad you asked.
It happens every time. The Liturgically speaking, the

celebrant stands and says, most ancient liturgical texts
“The peace of the Lord be al- we have — right back to
ways with you.” Predictably ones from the second centu-
— perhaps Pavlovian — the ry — include the exchange
people respond, “And with of peace. That means Chris-
thy spirit” (or “And also with tians have been exchanging a
winter 2024 35
connecting
sign of peace in some form at 2 Cor. 13:12, 1 Thess. 5:26,

the Lord’s Supper for almost etc.).
2,000 years. For many centu-
ries the sign was a holy kiss In the current American edi-
(Gross, right? Okay, it was on tion of the Book of Common
the cheek like a modern con- Prayer, The Peace occurs right
tinental European greeting, after the confession and ab-
but still). solution. This is no accident.
Our prayer book tradition
makes clear that peace flows
directly from confession and
reconciliation. All those who
kneel with humble and con-
trite hearts and confess their
sins against God and their
neighbors are truly forgiven
and reconciled to God and
one another. “Through the
blood of His cross,” wrote St.
Paul, “He reconciled all things
unto Himself, whether they
be things on earth or things
in heaven” (Colossians 1:20).
The more general idea of The best way to visibly reflect
exchanging a sign of peace what it means to receive this
between believers comes amazing forgiveness and res-
straight from the Bible. The toration with God and my
New Testament repeatedly in- neighbor — who admittedly
structs believers to greet one is often someone as close as
another with a sign of peace a spouse or child — is to re-
(e.g., Rom. 16:16, 1 Cor. 16:20, inforce it by exchanging sym-
gathering telling
bolically a gesture like a hug vvv

or handshake. This part of the
liturgy is no mere “howdy” or
The Whole Purpose
“I’m sorry.” It is certainly not
for which we Exist
an afterthought. This action Some people think that af-
proclaims that we have a Sav- ter this life, or perhaps, after
ior greater than our sins! This several lives, human souls
is because The Peace points will be “absorbed” into God.
us to the peace Christ makes But when they try to explain
accessible through His aton- what they mean, they seem to
ing death on the cross. In this be thinking of our being ab-
way, exchanging The Peace sorbed into God as one ma-
is, well, like a miniature sac- terial thing is absorbed into
rament; the exchange itself another. They say it is like a
becomes “an outward and drop of water slipping into the
visible sign of an inward and sea. But of course that’s the
spiritual grace.” end of the drop. If that is what
happens to us, then being ab-
When we pass The Peace, we sorbed is the same as ceasing
are passing the very gracious- to exist. It is only the Chris-
ness of God – His shalom tians who have any idea of
that is continually offered to how human souls can be tak-
us through the cross and sac- en into the life of God, and yet
rifice of the Eucharist. Next remain themselves — in fact,
time you pass the peace, liter- be very much more them-
ally take hold of the redeem- selves than they were before.
ing grace that has been hand- This is the whole purpose for
ed freely to you and pass it on. which we exist.
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with
you; my peace I give to you” CS Lewis, Mere Christianity
(St. John 14:27). vvv
winter 2024 37
connecting
gathering telling
CURRY DIP
11/2 c. mayonnaise
11/2 Tbsp. curry
powder,
1/2 tsp. onion salt
1/2 tsp. paprika
I tsp. Worcestershire
sauce
dash Tabasco
I Tbsp. lemon juice
dash bitters
1/2 tsp. prepared
mustard
Blend and serve

with raw
vegetables
with cocktails.
Eleanor Haeffner
Church of the Transfiguration
Pointe aux Pins
Bois Blanc Island, Michigan
winter 2024 39
connecting
COULD THIS BE HOW First, Questions about

GOD WILL SAVE ME Long Term vs.
Last Minute Christians
Jack Simpson
Does it seem unfair someone
can live a life without God,
repent near its end, come
to Christ, and get to heaven
just like a lifelong Christian
will? Jesus does back this up
in Parable of the Workers in
the Vineyard in Matthew 20.
Maybe you could forget about
unfairness if it was your be-
loved father who was able to
reach heaven this way near
the end of life, as mine did.
What does the last-minute

convert who previously lived
When the trumpet of the Lord without God obtain with sal-
shall sound, and time shall vation? Is it the same as for
be no more, another who “worked in the
And the morning breaks, Lord’s vineyard” since becom-
eternal, bright and fair; ing a believer as a child? Jesus
When the saved of earth shall does save both, both make it
gather over on the other to heaven, but for each per-
shore, son, what exactly does He
And the roll is called up save? How would it be differ-
yonder, I’ll be there. ent?
– James M Black
gathering telling
Another possibly related and meets the Lord? What

thing: Jesus said, “…lay up for will his mental state, his con-
yourselves treasures in heav- sciousness, be? Like what it
en, … for where your treasure was just before he died?
is, there your heart will be al-
so”(Matt 6:20-21). I suppose What if he had Alzheimer’s
a longtime Christian could for years before he died? Or
lay up more of this treasure, had a disease that destroyed
whatever it is. Then my ques- inhibitory parts of his brain,
tion is, what can we tell about changing him to a profane,
this treasure? What sort of uncontrolled, violent, and
thing is it? Could the differ- thoroughly bad person for his
ence in the amount of it relate last years? Maybe the Lord
to the difference referred to could reset him to before the
above? diseases and save him at that
point? Or does he remain in
We will be Resurrected. a possibly unconfessed sinful
From the Grave? state?
The resurrection of the saved
can be summarized as “The In the Middle Ages the state
trumpet of the Lord shall you were in just before your
sound” and dead in Christ will time of death was important.
rise first. Then those still alive To be saved you had last rites,
will then be caught up to the including a confession of any
Lord, but for simplicity, let’s sins, so you died in a sinless
just consider one of the dead state. Otherwise, you would
in Christ. All will be changed, not reach heaven, although
having a new “spiritual body” you might reach heaven via a
(I Cor 15:44). Again, for a par- few hundred years in purga-
ticular Christian, what exact- tory if your unconfessed sins
ly is it that gets that new body were not too great.
winter 2024 41
connecting
Also, at this time the Church How I Think God Sees Us

advocated a “Christian buri- Our consciousness sees the
al,” not cremation like the second to second, hour to
heathen. It viewed the body as hour, and day to day passage
being sacred, part of a person of time. Once passed, we only
who was made in the image of have its memory, and we can
God. Also, having remains of only anticipate the future to
the body was thought to fa- come. We live in a fleeting
cilitate the resurrection, per- moment. Christianity has
haps by giving the Lord more long held that God is eternal,
to work with when the time not restricted in time like we
came. A Dore illustration of are. Through the ages theolo-
Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of gians have tried to pin down
dry bones is often used to rep- just what an eternal being is
resent the dead rising from like, producing various in-
their graves. teresting ideas and details,
much of which are probably
wrong. I simply assume what
I’ve always heard: God is om-
niscient, knowing everything,
and omnipresent, being ev-
erywhere and everywhen, all
at once.
I’m trying to determine a few

details about my eventual res-
urrection, like what part of me
is brought back. Obviously,
I can’t resurrect myself; God
will have to do it, meaning
God’s view and knowledge of
gathering telling
me is far more important and all my life at that? Further, I

complete than mine. The best would think He would res-
statement I can find about the urrect all of me, the person I
resurrection is where Jesus was when I was married, the
says “…[Moses] calls the Lord person I am now, and all the
‘the God of Abraham, and the persons in between, before,
God of Isaac, and the God of and after those times, up until
Jacob.’ He is not the God of I die. After that I don’t think
the dead, but of the living, anything else need be brought
for to him all are alive” (Luke back. Those persons (parts
20:37-38). So, just like Abra- of me?) have been separated
ham, Isaac, and Jacob, each of along the timeline. How they
us always stands alive in God’s would be when all put togeth-
eternal presence. Wherever I er will be interesting.
have been, whenever I have
been, I, at that place and time, If I have dementia, forgetting
stand before God now. I’m 77 my wife, myself, and God for
as I write this, but in God’s years before death, maybe
eternal now I am just as pres- God won’t include that in the
ent before him now as I was person he resurrects, or may-
when I was 23 and married. be He will find some parts of
even that that can be added
Could Resurrection Work to the whole. Anyway, that no
this Way? longer seems a problem. The
When God resurrects me, idea of being in a state of grace
there is little sense in him just before death, the fear of
reconstructing me out of my committing a sin, immediate-
grave, as in the old paintings. ly after which I’m hit by a bus,
Why bother with that when may not be so all important as
He has me before him while it seemed in the Middle Ages.
I’m alive, and throughout
winter 2024 43
connecting
A Christian life is important, save and make part of my new

however. One problem with life in heaven. I suppose how-
the above ideas is the times ever much life He saves will
I am apart from and in dis- be enough, but more could be
obedience to God. The Bible better.
shows God chooses not to re-
member or take into account When the trumpet of the Lord
my sins. “You will cast all our shall sound, will time really
sins into the depths of the sea.” be no more for us too? How-
Micah 7:19 is one of several ever that works out, it should
statements about this. When be quite an improvement for
God saves me, I have to as- all there has been, from all of
sume He will not save the sin- life, for each of us.
ful part. The part lived away
from him will be “burned up”
1 Cor 3:15 or “blotted out”
(Isa 44:22). How much of the
timeline of my life might be
missing? Clearly a last-minute
Christian, who waited before
accepting Christ, or some-
one who cheated others, and
lived off the ill-gotten gains
for most of his life, could be
missing quite a lot.
So, what will my “treasure in

heaven” be? Perhaps it’s sim-
ply more of me. The more I
live for God, and away from
sin, the more of me He will
gathering telling
JESUS AND not listen to Moses and the

THE GOSPEL prophets, neither will they be
Ann Gonzales convinced even if someone
Baton Rouge, Louisiana rises from the dead.” We need
to listen.
Reflecting on the world’s wars

and the intense political dis-
cord in the United States and
other countries, I thought,
“We need a prophet to awak-
en us.” Then I remembered The Bad Rich Man in Hell
Jesus’s story in Luke 16:19-31 James Tissot 1836 - 1902
of the rich man and Lazarus. Brooklyn Museum of Art
As Jesus tells it, when the rich
man in Hades asks Abraham In the gospels, we read and see
to send a prophet to warn Jesus healing and proclaiming
his relatives of their possi- His extraordinary message,
ble fate, Abraham says to the never coercing or demand-
rich man, “If [the people] do ing, though at times he does
winter 2024 45
connecting
call the “brood of vipers” as

He sees them. The message is
not “Follow me and we will
rule the world.” The message
is to do the will of God, to
love God and our neighbor.
The message He proclaims is
I am—the shepherd, the gate,
the way, the truth, the life, the
bread of heaven, the one who
reveals the Father. How does
He describe his blessed fol-
lowers? They are the poor in
spirit, those who mourn, the
meek, those who hunger and
thirst for righteousness, the
merciful, the pure in heart,
the peacemakers, those who The Transfiguration
are reviled and persecuted Raphael 1516 - 1520
and against whom are uttered
all kinds of evil falsely on His Over and over. Message and
account. healing. Message and healing.
Then dying and rising and
As we read the gospels, we saving. Even if I cannot com-
hear Him say “Follow me.” He prehend the mystery, I know
asks – “What do you want me it is true. I have seen the pow-
to do for you?” er and grace of God with my
“Open my eyes, my ears. Help own eyes. So, no, we do not
me to stand. Heal me,” says need a prophet. We need to
the man or the woman. believe in Him Who was sent.
“Be healed,” He says. He tells us in John 16:33 that
gathering telling
“in me you may have peace…. PRAYING THROUGH

I have conquered the world.” THE BUSYNESS
The healing we so need comes
from Him. On the high The Rev’d Summer Joy Gross
mountain of the transfigura-
tion, from the cloud comes a
voice – “This is my Son, the
Beloved; listen to Him!”
vvv
Share joy all

year long
with a
gift subscription.
Just mail in the form
in the front
of this issue!
I prayed, “Come, Lord Jesus.
vvv Come” into the frantic busy-
ness of my morning.
THE ORDER OF ST. ANDREW
I had only just found out fam-
Men and Women, married or single,
not living in community. Being in
ily would start to arrive at
the world, but not of it. Entrusting noon for Caedmon’s gradua-
ourselves to the hands of the
eternal potter, and being molded
tion. There was no time for an
daily through religious life. extended prayer time, but that
Are You Called? didn’t mean my soul didn’t
[email protected]
1-(914)-923-2005 need it. I needed to pray as
osaanglican.org I checked things off my list.
Advertisement Is there a posture I can take
winter 2024 47
connecting
to stay aware of the presence couch, and started roasting

of God? I wondered. I deter- chicken for the noon meal.
mined to turn my palm up- A stack of dishes sat in the
wards in a posture of prayer sink begging for my attention.
as I moved around the kitch- Steam rose from the boiling
en from square to square of water on the stove, ready for
white tiles. Prayer postures the pasta. I poured the box of
are invitations to stay pres- rotini in and then turned my
ent to deep inner work as our palm back up.
bodies remind our hearts to
pray. Even though I knew my Em-
manuel was present, with my
The upwards palm reminds palm raised, I kept my atten-
me of Sunday mornings at the tion on my Divine Caregiv-
altar rail, waiting shoulder to er, staying attached, inviting
shoulder for the bread and Him into one of the tender-
wine. As I kneel on the cush- est moments of motherhood,
ions, I raise one hand over the the letting go. “I can’t do this
other like a beggar asking for alone,” I whispered. My oldest
bread. As I turn my palm up, son was graduating the next
I admit my neediness. I ad- day. “He may be leaving home
mit my need for Emmanuel’s soon, but You’ve got him,
presence. right? You’ll continue to hold
him in the palm of Your hand
It was not yet 8 in the morn- ten hours away at college?”
ing, and I’d already been
running at full speed. I took My youngest, Xavier, bound-
Maddie to school, scurried ed down the stairs and slid
through the grocery store onto a barstool at the kitchen
grabbing items for the week- island. It was his last day of
end, folded the laundry on the seventh grade. I added French
gathering telling
toast and morning conver- across a platform. They’d be

sation to the already packed handed a green folder with
itinerary. their diploma tucked inside.
I already anticipated the grief
of separation that welled up
in my body every time I heard
“Pomp and Circumstance.” I
was fully aware I needed the
presence of Jesus like a life-
line. I held my palm up, lis-
tening, moving deliberately
around the kitchen. Jesus, be
near, I prayed.
This prayer posture was a

continual conversation that
spanned the practical to the
personal. Just with this one
posture, I was engaging God
in a running conversation:
I continued to hold my palm • Jesus, do you have anything

up as I bustled around, squeez- You want to say?
ing lemons into the food pro- • I want to follow Your lead.
cessor, and toasting pine nuts • Come into this busy mo-
in the frying pan. The olive ment, Abba. I want You to be
oil around the chicken breast in charge.
crackled as it roasted. At six • What should I do next?
thirty the next morning, we’d • More manna, please.
pile into cars and watch over • You’re here, right? Please re-
seven hundred kids walk mind me You are near.
winter 2024 49
connecting
Everywhere I turned in the needs to be human. He’s not a

house, something was un- severe coach on the sidelines
done. Beds were unmade. of our life demanding faster
Flowers plunked into pots strides.
after their arrival from the
garden store were still waiting I always imagined follow-
to be planted. The desk had ing Jesus looked like trying
last week’s mail strewn across to catch glimpses of a robe
the surface. If I panicked, I moving in and out of sight
would have little of myself to fifty yards down the path. I
offer. I’ve learned that I have imagined sliding over rocks
a choice: a panicked version going downhill, having to yell
of strained perfection or pres- to get His attention if I fell. I
ence. imagined surprise detours
and a game of hide-and-seek.
A Prayerful Pace I imagined getting lost and
struggling to find my way
As part of a generation striv- back. Alone.
ing toward an unattainable
goal of perfection, I’ve always Yet, if we are His children, ad-
felt this verse was kind. opted and beloved, He knows
“As a father has compassion how He created us and the
on his children, so the Lord pace at which we can follow
has compassion on those who Him. What if following Jesus
fear him; for he knows how doesn’t mean we have to force
we are formed, he remembers our feet to move faster, to run
that we are dust.” (Ps. 103:13– a race? What if following Je-
14) sus is a companioning at a
human pace, practicing His
Since God remembers our presence? What if we can be
frailty, He knows our pace more present to those around
gathering telling
us, kingdom-minded, if we God. Here are some other op-

are spacious people, open- tions:
palmed people? It’s hard to • Turning your ear upward as
delight in anyone else when if you are listening
we’re pinched, tightfisted, • Keeping your palm open as
and striving. My posture the a way of staying attentive
morning of Caedmon’s grad- • Placing a hand over your
uation helped me stay pres- heart so you can stay present
ent with my Emmanuel, palm to both your heart and God’s
open, even as my feet busi- compassion simultaneously
ly moved over the ordinary • Occasionally stretching out
white tile of my kitchen. your hands in worship and/or
as a child reaching out to their
We are God’s beloved chil- caregiver
dren, and He doesn’t push us • Crossing yourself often
away, running off, demanding throughout the day—this can
we keep up. He invites us to express many things
follow Him, all the time stay- • Bowing your head in prayer-
ing near. ful humility
• Lifting your face to God as if
Try a Prayer Posture to a warm sun as Jesus did be-
fore feeding the five thousand
Our body posture often influ-
ences our heart posture. We Get curious. What body
kneel in humility. We lie face posture could help you stay
down as we cry out to God prayerfully in the presence of
in grief. Experiment. Just ex- God as you move about your
tending your arms in a cruci- day?
form posture of vulnerability
can bring you into a more The Rev’d Summer Joy Gross
openhearted posture before (MDiv, Virginia Theologi-
winter 2024 51
connecting
cal Seminary) is an Anglican

priest, retreat leader, and spir-
itual director whose work is
guided by the belief that our
stories can be transformed by
God’s invitation to make his
love our home base. She is as-
sociate faculty of spiritual for-
mation and the art of spiritual
direction at the Healing Care
Ministries’ spiritual direction
school and host of The Pres-
ence Podcast.
vvv
gathering telling
winter 2024 53
connecting
DANCING BEFORE ing has been a valid form of

THE LORD expressing joy in worship.
Interestingly, the first Bibli-
The Rev’d Ralph L. Frye cal mention of dancing fol-
lows the first miraculous de-
liverance of a large group of
people, the Israelites, and the
destruction of their enemies.
Moses and the other men of
Israel join in a song of joy and
thanksgiving to the Lord (Ex-
odus 51:1-19). It is known as
the “Song of Deliverance” or
“Song of Moses.” It is said to
be some of the finest writing
in Hebrew literature. In po-
etic form, it exudes the spirit
of elation at being delivered
from bondage and declares
Because of much misuse of their confidence in God —
dancing in the world and the the Deliverer. One can literal-
spirit of restraint and staid- ly feel the emotion — at last,
ness found in many churches no more bondage, no more
today, simply the term “danc- fear, no more loneliness, no
ing before the Lord” is about more guilt; rather a new life
as foreign as “rock and roll” and a new vision, confident
Sunday hymns. In many plac- that God triumphs and God
es it is just unheard of. leads.
But this has not always been In Verse 20 of Exodus 15, we

the case. Since creation danc- see the response of the wom-
gathering telling
en to this song. “And Miriam, (Judges 11:34, I Samuel 18:6)

the prophetess, the sister of
Aaron, took a timbrel (tam-
bourine) in her hand, and
all the women went out after
her with timbrels and began
to sing and dance.” Dancing
was simply the means of ex-
pressing to God their joy and
thanksgiving for His mighty
acts on their behalf.
While dancing also found its

misuse by the Hebrew chil-
dren in Exodus 12:19 when
they danced around the gold- King David dancing before
en calf, most generally, danc- the Ark of the Covenant
ing was reserved for sacred as he brings it to Jerusalem
and joyous occasions. One Domenichino
person would lead in the
step and others would follow and at annual feasts (Judg-
in exact step to while otherses 21:19-21). In 2 Samuel
would follow in imitation of 6:14, we see David dancing
all varied movements, extem- with all his might before the
poraneous and varied at the Lord. Why? Simply because
pleasure (or inspiration) of the presence of the Lord (the
the leader. Ark) had returned to his
house. In the Psalms, David
The Bible records that the shares the secret of maintain-
people danced in thanksgiving the presence of the Lord
ing for victories in battles through praise (Psalm 22:3).
winter 2024 55
connecting
How should we praise the EYES ON JESUS

Lord? - With instruments and
dancing (Psalm 149:3,4). Peggy Eastman
Poet-in-Residence
All Saints’,
Dancing also finds expres- Chevy Chase, Maryland
sion in the “New Covenant.”
Jeremiah’s prophecy in Chap-
ter 31 speaks of God’s people
being redeemed and return-
ing to Zion (the Church, the
living City of God, Hebrews
12:22) with joy and radiance
over the goodness of God.
Their expression in worship
is found in verses 12 and 13:
“They shall come and shout
for joy on the height of Zion...
Then the Virgin shall rejoice
in the dance, and young men
and the old, together, for I will
turn their mourning into joy.”
Lord, why do we so often lose
God has truly redeemed us in our way
Christ! He has given us sal- when we want most to come
vation! He has turned our to You?
mourning and emptiness into At times we all mimic earth-
joy! More than ever before, moored Peter
we have reason to be exuber- who, while walking toward
ant and respond to His Great- You from a
ness with gladsome song and storm-rocked boat on waves,
dance! was fine
gathering telling
when his eyes were locked on Peter’s lesson well: always

Yours, we need to keep
but…when he felt the strong our eyes on You. But that
wind tossing up is not the whole
lake water around his feet, of this Gospel lesson: there
lost all his focus is more.
and his nerve and started to For You, Lord, always kept
sink. Had not Your eyes
impulsive Peter willed on Peter, even when he lost
himself to take that his way
water walk on the lake of on the roiling water.
Galilee? Wasn’t it You stretched out
his idea? Some way of testing Your hand to save him.
Your supernatural Just so, Lord, You
powers, Lord? (In truth, always keep Your eyes on us,
maybe Peter’s bravado and You
masked a wish to share in always stretch out Your
those powers.) hand to save us.
What about us, Lord? Like Peter, all we have to do
Like Peter, we’re fine is ask.
when we’re wholly focused
on You, Copyright ©
but…when we allow by Peggy Eastman, 2023
ourselves to be tossed
about
by the storms that beset us,
and when the wind
is against us, we often lose
sight of the very One
who can save us. Please,
Lord, help us to learn
winter 2024 57
connecting
BOOK REVIEW —
JOY: POET, SEEKER,
AND THE WOMAN
WHO CAPTIVATED
C. S. LEWIS
Reviewed by J. Scott Jackson
Joy Davidman’s image has

long stood in the shadow of
her famous husband, C.S.
“Jack” Lewis. In Richard At-
tenborough’s 1993 film Shad-
owlands, Debra Winger riv-
etingly portrays Davidman as
the blunt Jewish writer from
the Bronx who sweeps the
hapless, middle-aged Oxford
don (portrayed by Anthony Joy: Poet, Seeker, and the
Hopkins) off his smug bach- Woman Who Captivated C.S.
elor pedestal. Shadowlands Lewis, by Abigail Santamaria,
does capture something of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt,
Davidman’s tenacious, pas- 432 pages, $25.88
sionate relationship with her
idol, whose popular theolog- raphy renders a story more
ical works, such as The Prob- complex and more compel-
lem of Pain and The Screwtape ling than earlier portrayals.
Letters, had helped turn her From an early age, this daugh-
from atheism to Christiani- ter of self-made Russian im-
ty. Still, Abigail Santamaria’s migrants was driven toward
groundbreaking 2015 biog- projects of “serious purpose,”
gathering telling
and was a remarkable, gifted Ten Commandments, Smoke

woman in her own right. on the Mountain (1954), pref-
aced by Lewis.
During the Depression, Da-
vidman bristled at her par- In heartrending detail, San-
ents’ ambitions that she follow tamaria explores Davidman’s
them into the educational pro- ultimately failed first mar-
fession. She detested teaching, riage to the writer, folk singer,
pursuing instead a literary ca- and veteran William Lindsay
reer, and matriculating rapid- Gresham, with whom she had
ly from Hunter College (BA) two sons. After Gresham at-
and Columbia (MA). Drawn tained success with his noir
into the heady New York classic Nightmare Alley, the
leftist literary scene featur- family, often struggling with
ing such luminaries as W.H. money problems, bought a
Auden, Langston Hughes, large farmhouse in upstate
and William Carlos Williams New York.
— the young idealist joined As Santamaria shows, David-
the U.S. Communist Party, man’s materialist utopianism
then in its halcyon days. She had always masked a yearning
wrote myriad reviews for the for the transcendent, which
party magazine, New Masses, in her youth was manifest in
and clung to Marxist ideology ecstatic experiences of beau-
after the Hitler-Stalin non-ag- ty. Once as a teenager, tak-
gression pact of 1938 facilitat- ing a winter walk in a park,
ed a mass exodus of members Davidman perceived the sky
from the party. She published and trees glimmering in the
a book of poems, Letters to golden sunset light: “I heard
a Comrade (1938), two nov- the voice in the burning tree;
els-Anya (1940) and Weeping the meaning of all things was
Bay (1950)-and a study of the revealed and the sacrament
winter 2024 59
connecting
at the heart of all beauty lay and that the essential claims
bare; time and space fell away, of Christianity were true. The
and for a moment the world Greshams joined a Presbyteri-
was only a door swinging an church in Staatsburg, New
ajar” (p. 22). Davidman and York. Meanwhile, the couple
Gresham began reading Lew- dabbled in L. Ron Hubbard’s
is, and Davidman eventual- Dianetics, practicing psycho-
ly abandoned Marxism as a logical “audits” on friends in
worldview. distress.
Suffering from trauma and
Gresham and Davidman’s lit-
alcoholism, an absent Gresh-
erary aspirations butted heads
am once phoned that he was
amid the demands of sup-
having a nervous breakdown.
porting their household. As
Davidman suspected (uncon-
their marriage imploded, they
firmed) adultery. Distressed,
invited Davidman’s cousin,
she suddenly felt the personal
Renee Pierce — who, with her
presence of a gracious God,
two children, was fleeing an
an experience which trans-
abusive marriage — to their
formed her life.
home. Davidman, who had
Gresham (initially) con- become a regular pen-friend
curred with her new insights, of Lewis, idealized the Oxford
and Davidman studied world don and fantasized about se-
religions. Initially averse to ducing him. Through a for-
Christianity, she considered tuitous discovery of personal
Judaism, having always read papers that eluded previous
the Bible with respect for its researchers, Santamaria dis-
literary merits. Lewis’s work covered that, beginning in the
helped convince her that the early 1950s, Davidman had
accounts of Jesus in the Gos- penned plaintive love sonnets
pels were (mainly) accurate dedicated to Lewis. On the
gathering telling
pretense of researching an ar- homestead Lewis shared with

ticle on Charles II, Davidman his brother Warren. As Da-
took a months-long trip alone vidman faced the prospect of
to England, where she first an expiring visa, Lewis agreed
met Lewis, whose romantic to wed her in a civil marriage
affection — vainly, at first — so she could stay in England.
she sought to win. Gresham
wrote to her that their mar- After her femur snapped, Da-
riage was over and that he and vidman was diagnosed with
Renee had fallen in love. aggressive, metastasized can-
cer in her bones and breast;
After returning to the States, a dire prognosis gave her
Davidman later moved her months, at most. Lewis real-
two sons to London, over ized he loved her, and, despite
Gresham’s fierce objections, objections from the Anglican
while their divorce was in bishop of Oxford against re-
process. Settling in London marriage after divorce, Peter
in 1953, with few prospects Bide, a priest friend, married
as a single mother in a foreign Davidman and Lewis in her
country, she enrolled them in hospital room, laying hands
boarding school while col- on Davidman for healing. She
lecting inconsistent child sup- experienced an apparently
port payments from Gresh- miraculous recovery. Amid
am. Lewis and Davidman health struggles, the couple
spent an increasing amount enjoyed marital bliss for two
of time together, enjoying and a half years, while she
debates and warm repartee, re-organized the household
while Lewis introduced her and traveled with Lewis to
— his American friend — to Ireland and Greece. The can-
often incredulous peers. Da- cer returned aggressively and
vidman moved closer to the she died, age 45, in 1960, and
winter 2024 61
connecting
Lewis retained custody of the

boys.
Davidman collaborated with
Lewis on several of his finest
later works — especially The
Four Loves, Til We Have Fac-
es, and his autobiographical
Surprised by Joy, whose title
was not inspired by her name
but, rather, expounded Lew-
is’s life-long obsession with J. Scott Jackson is an
a transcendent desire that independent scholar and
animates life remaining un- theologian who lives in
fulfillable this side of heaven. Northampton.
According to Santamaria, this
unlikely couple shared the
same spiritual quest: “Both
Joy and Lewis longed, all their
lives, for a spiritual realm that
transcended both the beau-
ty and the quotidian sting of
earthly existence” (xi). Af-
ter Davidman’s death, Lewis
wrestled with God amid his
devastating loss in A Grief
Observed.
From Abundant Times, a
Publication of the Episcopal
Diocese of Western Massachu-
setts.
gathering telling
NECROLOGY
The Rev’d Judith Anne Alli- The Rev’d Canon William
son, 86, on 23 January 2024 in V. Rauscher, Jr., 91, on 3 July
San Diego, California. 2024, in Woodbury, New Jer-
sey, served as Rector of Christ
The Rev’d Donald Bell Har- Church, Woodbury, for 36
ris, 88, on 16 March 2024 years.
in Williamsburg, Virginia, vvv
served as an Episcopal U.S.
Navy Chaplain, providing O God, whose days are with-
council and support to Sail- out end and whose mercies
ors, Marines, and “Coasties,” cannot be numbered: Make
at sea and on land. us, we beseech thee, deeply
sensible of the shortness and
uncertainty of life; and let thy
The Rev’d Sarah Thompson Holy Spirit lead us in holi-
Putnam, 84, on 5 February ness and righteousness all our
2024 in Aiken, South Caroli- days; that, when we shall have
na, served parishes in South served thee in our generation,
Carolina. we may be gathered unto our
fathers, having the testimony
of a good conscience; in the
The Rev’d Gordon J. Sten- communion of the Catholic
ning, 94, on 21 March 2024 Church; in the confidence of
in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, a certain faith; in the comfort
served parishes in Rhode Is- of a reasonable, religious, and
land and as Senior Vice Pres- holy hope; in favor with thee
ident for Pastoral Care of the our God; and in perfect char-
Church Pension Fund from ity with the world. All which
1988 to 1995. we ask through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
winter 2024 63
connecting
St. James Church, Texarkana, Texas, founded 1876.

Original Clapboard sided building constructed in 1893.
Bricked over in 1926.
64
gathering telling
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WINTER A.D.

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connecting gathering telling

Founded in 1958 by the Rev’d Howard Lane Foland (1908-

TAD is sent to anyone who desires to receive it, and is supported

Dear Digest Family,

A Letter from the Editor

The Rev’d Dr. Fredrick A. Robinson, Editor

THE LIGHT SHINES unimproved section of the

and the way through it inti- dropped them somewhere

far less illuminating than such THE THIRD ADVENT

On our journeys, we have an

Christ came to visit us in great

Advent’s double aspect, of

we may cast away” with “put ADVENT: A SEASON

Waiting for Christmas brings Christmas? A Christmas tree,

When in our mind we go Holidays like Christmas trig-

important: Do the expensive bination of suffering and joy,

Their old, familiar carols play, FLOATING ALONG IN

vice last year, I noticed that I

Immediately, I heard this re-

a time. That’s truly fine with teach them a study based on

I would find a question or pels once, and it was when I

gospels, I will learn how not next verses, I paused and

wanted me to consider his I am so glad that Robbie said

After that realization, I went

THE STAR set out; and there, ahead of

Now, if you were to go out-

and the wonderful star, about of Judea! Thus, a king of the

Well, in 6 BC, when the moon

“star stopped over the place ST. JOSEPH

He had a peculiar dream,

Into the night to land It’s hard for us to understand

ST. JAMES A year later the General

In 1873 the Texas and Pacif-

thedral in Omaha, Nebraska. course, one of his stops was in

This zealous Missionary Bish-

the Texas and Pacific were In 1895, St. James, along

In 1948 the Rev. Thomas Car- tions, as well as sitting on the

In prior years, the first Boy

has recently been reactivated, tragically killed in an automo-

Most recently, as St. James

CHURCHMANSHIP tor selling off the Sanctuary

natural slate to last another James has an active Men’s &

and is dedicated to remaining has forgotten all about him,

THE PEACE you” in Rite Two). The Book of

What is “passing the peace”

It happens every time. The Liturgically speaking, the

sign of peace in some form at 2 Cor. 13:12, 1 Thess. 5:26,

bolically a gesture like a hug vvv

Blend and serve

COULD THIS BE HOW First, Questions about

What does the last-minute