If_They_Cry

Part One of the Rector’s Annual Report by the Reverend John E. Kitagawa at the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, 17 January 2010 (Second Sunday after the Epiphany, and Annual Meeting Sunday I), St. Philip’s In The Hills Parish, Tucson, Arizona

IF THEY CRY OUT TO ME, I WILL SURELY HEED THEIR CRY

We watch in horror the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. Photographs and television images sear themselves into our brains. The statistics are mind boggling. The stories heart-wrenching. Kathy and I quickly sent a contribution to Episcopal Relief and Development—and I hope you have or will—but we still feel helpless in the face of a tragedy of such massive proportions. Conditions are beyond our comprehension. Conditions were unbelievably miserable in 1990 when I was part of a delegation visiting Haiti[1]. Despite the best efforts of the international community, crushing poverty continued to plague Haitians until things became exponentially worse on Tuesday afternoon.

During our visit, we got a glimpse of the Diocese of Haiti’s loving and compassionate response to misery we could scarcely comprehend. The Diocese supported hospitals and clinics; and 75 schools, serving 15,000 students. We visited Holy Trinity School serving 1,400 students, and a vocational training school serving about 1,000. Both were on Cathedral grounds. These schools educated and gave students a sense of dignity and self-worth. We also visited St. Vincent’s School for Handicapped Children. I use the past tense, not only because my visit was twenty years ago, but because the buildings housing these institutions in Port-au-Prince have collapsed, including the Cathedral and the Bishop’s house.

After reading an email about the devastation to Episcopal institutions, I turned to photographs of the Biblical murals of Trinity Cathedral. The pictures awakened a sense of connectedness to people who faithfully carried out incredible ministry. One of my most vivid memories is of an experience in one of the poorer neighborhoods. What we saw and smelled assaulted and offended our senses. In the middle of the chaos, we saw one of the little busses known as “tap taps”. Emblazoned on it were remarkable words: “GOD IS LOVE”. We were astonished and speechless. We were even more amazed as we talked with clergy and lay members of the local parish. Their sense of hope was undiminished and unflagging in the face of conditions one would not wish on one’s worst enemy. They did the very best they could with what they had. Their faith was strong. And, I realized that the words on that “tap tap” bus were also deeply inscribed on the hearts of those Haitian Episcopalians. It was humbling. “GOD IS LOVE”.

This Friday, there was a story, I think on CNN, about a young man who had been rescued from

the rubble. The reporter asked him how he managed to survive. I shall not easily forget his

answer. I paraphrase:

I had faith that God would take care of me. My life was in the hands of Jesus, and that was enough to keep me going.

A reporter also asked a rescued young woman the same question. Her answer was simple and to the point:

I prayed a lot.

What I learned from Haitian Episcopalians twenty years ago, and again this week recalls verses from the Book of Exodus.

If … they cry out to me, I will surely heed their cry .. (Exodus 22: 23). [and]

If your neighbor cries out to me, I will listen, for I am compassionate (Exodus 22: 27).

Even in today’s extreme and desperate circumstances—when many have died, and the living are frustrated and angry, feel abandoned and alone—there are witnesses to the power and presence of God’s saving love. Let us hear their witnesses with our ears and receive such witnesses as nourishment for our faith. Let us enscribe these witnesses to God’s unshakable and compassionate love on our hearts.

Today is Annual Meeting Sunday, Part I. I speak about Haiti because we all need to make some sense of it, and because it is normal to wonder where God is and what God is doing in such times. I also want to make a connection to who we are and what we do as a parish. In January 2006, I preached about the work of Claude Payne, retired Bishop of Texas. I noted his encouragement for every parish to become a

“profound community of spiritual growth, miraculous expectations, and personal transformation,” a community “living the Great Commission to make disciples and [living] the Great Commandment to love … [a community in which disciples] find immense fulfillment and meaning in their lives”[2].

Jesus’ Great Commission calls us to make disciples; and, his Great Commandment calls us to bear witness to God’s love through ministry. Many of you will remember we used a catch phrase, “maintenance to mission”, to help us focus on growing our capacity to make disciples and to be active and engaged agents of God’s love. Many of you participated in the early stages of Mission Discernment through Dream Catching sessions. One and half years ago, your diverse and numerous dreams were distilled into five areas of ministry development. During the 10:15 hour, there will be (there were) brief presentations about “dreams” realized, and pathways to bringing what remains to fruition.

Most of us like action plans, transparent budgets, realistic funding schemes, and measurable results. Especially in hard economic times, we want to make sure we get “a bang for our buck.” So it is quite natural to ask questions to satisfy these desires. I want, however, to remind you that reports on Mission Support, Finances, the 2010 Budget, Buildings and Grounds, the Preservation & Endowment Board are on the agenda for Annual Meeting, Part II, next Sunday. Today, I want you to focus on yourself and our parish in relationship to Jesus Christ’s Great Commission to make disciples, and his Great Commandment to put God’s love into action.

Keep what the rescued Haitian man and woman said in the backs of your minds:

I had faith that God would take care of me. My life was in the hands of Jesus, and that was enough to keep me going. [And,]

I prayed a lot.

Think about the spiritual formation processes that inspire and help individuals to develop such peace, and profound faith in the power and presence of God’s saving love. Ask yourself what value you assign to such faith development in your life and the lives of others. When I say “value”, I do not mean dollar figures. Let me tell you what I mean. Last Sunday, I was paired with a parishioner for an exercise about “values-based life planning”. During our conversation, he placed a very high value on spiritual and faith development because he believes they offer his children a firm foundation for a good life, and for making the world a better place—another high value. And, his value system wants and supports faith and spiritual development for others too.

Testimony like that of the rescued Haitians always leads to an assessment of the ways our faith has or has not sustained and empowered us through difficult times, difficult decisions, or unhappy circumstances. If you have any sense that your faith is less than what you want it to be, remember God is always with you, and that St. Philip’s offers many spiritual formation opportunities through worship, classes, and retreats.

Generous financial responses to the earthquake in Haiti are one way to witness to the power and presence of God’s saving love. As humanitarian aid reaches the desperate people of Haiti, we are hearing about profound systemic issues facing that nation. Cataclysmic events like earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunami floods make the many layers of need evident. The truth is that these kinds of concerns are before our eyes in our own community. The truth is that people are crying out, neighbors are crying out, we ourselves are crying out and waiting for Christ’s disciples to hear, heed and respond with God’s compassionate love. These responses are not normally spectacular or dramatic. For example, not long ago, I was listening to a parishioner talk about the stresses and strains of family life. At the end, he wanted me to know that being part of this caring community has helped a lot. Similarly, a parishioner who moved to another state explained why she is willing to include St. Philip’s in her estate planning. She wrote about how significant the support of the St. Philip’s community was at the time of her husband’s death, and subsequently in raising her children. For both families, God’s love and compassion flowed through specific programs, and through clergy and parishioners.

So, this week, I ask you to think about the ways you have experienced God’s compassionate and saving love through St. Philip’s. How has being a member made a difference in your life? I know many of you experience God’s compassionate and saving love through individual St. Philippians, or through our many ministries. On the flip side, how are you contributing to making a difference in the lives of parishioners of all ages, and “all sorts and conditions” of people in the wider community. If you feel you are not fulfilling your call to make manifest Christ’s love, look in Sunday bulletins for opportunities to get involved. And/or, please sign up for the Ministry Development Workshop on Saturday, 6 February 2010—details are on page 33 of the bulletin.

To aid your prayers and reflections, and to help you think about St. Philip’s future, I commend words from hymn #528.

Lord, you give the great commission, “Heal the sick and preach the word.”

Lest the Church neglect its mission and the Gospel go unheard,

help us witness to your purpose with renewed integrity;

with the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry.

Lord, you call us to your service, “in my name baptize and teach.”

That the world may trust your promise, life abundant meant for each,

give us all a new fervor, draw us closer in community;

with the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry.

Lord, you bless with words assuring, “I am with you to the end.”

Faith and hope and love restoring, may we serve as you intend,

and amid the cares that claim us, hold in mind eternity;

with the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry[3].

AMEN.