Costly Grace - Sept 5th

There is absolutely nothing subtle
about this Gospel reading today, is there?

Sometimes in our long Pentecost summer readings
the lectionary offers us
interesting parables, miracle stories about fig trees and such…
which can leave us scratching our heads
wondering what in the world Jesus wants from us.

But not today…
you’d have to have been taking a nap to miss out on this one.

Jesus says very clearly to the large crowd traveling with him…
“Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me
cannot be my disciple.”

In other words --
”Do not begin something
if you are not sure, you can successfully complete it.”

Remember about 20 years ago…
the popular Steven Covey book
7 Habits of Highly Effective People?
Habit number 2,
has always been one of my favorites
and maybe the most challenging --
“Begin with the end in mind.”

Jesus is pretty much telling his followers
before you begin this journey with me to Jerusalem,
and you’ll remember Luke verse 9:51 –
when he sets his face toward Jerusalem,
he knows what the End will look like.

So, He begins his journey with the Cross in mind.

But Jesus turns to us today and says once again,
costly discipleship means --
we must change.

Change our view of everything…
in business, family, at school, and here at Church…
from Self to All.

Because this call is to walk away from
the way the world, of culture, and of society
which encourages “me before you.”

This theme hits pretty close to home for us, doesn’t it?
As we begin our relationship
between rector and congregation.

We’re in this early honeymoon period aren’t we?
thinking, dreaming, expecting and waiting
to see what God has in-store for us,
as disciples…
and just what the cost is going to be?

Saint Luke’s Gospel has Jesus using the story of the king
going off to war
without sufficient soldiers and strategies
and then the man who begins building and can’t finish,

But, probably the one that troubled me the most
from my childhood --
“but why must we hate our fathers and mothers,
brothers and sisters….” Well,

Seriously, make no mistake…
Jesus is not asking us to literally hate those we love,
what he wants to get everyone’s attention on is this…
we can not let any one or anything
come between us and God.

This would simply become a good definition of Sin.
Anything which separates us from the Love of God alone is Sin,
and must be forgiven.

For all would be followers of Jesus,
this has to be a foundational faith question –
“Are we able to measure up to the demands of this Gospel?”

And in our own unique context here at St Simon’s
we would do very well to reflect on this
both individually in our spiritual lives
and again corporately in our call to future ministry
to those who do not know
the healing, forgiving Love of God.

Adam Clayton Powell, Sr…
the great preacher and pastor
from Harlem’s famous Abyssinian Baptist Church,
in the 1940s coined the phrase Cheap Grace.

Later Dietrich Bonhoeffer would expand on this,
saying…
"cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness
without requiring repentance;
Cheap grace is without the cross,
grace without Jesus Christ."

And that’s why this question is so tough…so fundamental for us.

In his sermon on the Mount, Jesus says…
“if you want to be my follower
here is what you’ve got to do…”

You will have a moral, ethical and spiritual responsibility
not to the Real Housewives of New Jersey…this is Cheap Grace

But to Costly Grace which is to the poor, the grieving,
the hungry, the peacemakers,
and those being persecuted.

Discipleship is tough and serious business…
are we up for it?
In our church and in our lives…

Remember at Baptism --
we are called on to respect the dignity of every human being?

that means --
ALL God’s Children…Everyone.
Desmond Tutu preaches this over and again…
ALL means ALL

So, Costly – how can I do it?

Not to despair…
this is not a message of hopelessness,
in fact, this text is rooted in Hope.
Because, “the rest of the story” is…
God has assured us we will never be alone,
or separated from him.
Romans 8, right?

But Psalm 139:1 –
“Lord you have searched me out and know me…”

We can do this…God knows me, has searched for me.

So, working together with God,
we can embrace whatever is to come…

Just think of what has happened
since that hot and steamy July 1st, 1945 evening
when The Rev Dr Charles Farrar,
Rector of Christ Church Pensacola
drove over here to Camp Walton
for that historic first Evensong.

Do we have what it takes to follow Jesus?
You bet we do.
And more than ever.
After 60-plus years,
this is a strong, proud parish full of faithful disciples.

Christ calls us now to imitate
His spirit of humble generosity and compassion
by picking up the crosses of others
who are stumbling under even heavier crosses than ours.

Faith embraced at baptism
is unfailing hope
which transforms the crosses we are to carry in this life
into instruments of Amazing Grace
and Resurrection Power.
Amen.

Great to be back along the Gulf Coast

View from my office! Well, actually the back of the church building.

Nevertheless, we are off to good start at St Simon's and appreciate all the prayers and support. Our family feels very blessed with so many wonderful friends - it's made a huge difference with this transition from Connecticut back to the Gulf Coast.

First Sunday at St Simon's

There are moments in life,

which come to us…it seems,

from beyond the stars .

Moments which are precious, loving and so grace-filled…

we never want them to end.

You can probably think of a few, I am sure, in your life.

And so it is today,

we find ourselves in just such a moment.

Because today we gather here at St Simon’s and are filled to the brim

with an abundance of new blessings…

It is a blessing to worship God in such a beautiful sacred space.

It is a blessing for a fresh opportunity

to regroup and rethink

how we can better serve God’s people.

I am indeed honored and excited

to be called as your eighth Rector,

and to claim these moments with you, along the way.

Jesus loved people…

and he loved observing people –

he would have been a great Walmart greeter.

Jesus had an eye for the person in the corner,

the blind man, the woman scorned

and, today, the one so crippled by a spirit,

she couldn’t even stand up straight.

Jesus’ first instinct

was to touch others with Compassion.

But, Sabbath is supposed to be about rest.

And there is no rest for one who is crippled by pain.

So with a word and a touch of his hand,

Jesus heals this woman,

and immediately she stands up and praises God. Something old has been made new!

Well, let me just warn you,

God is fixing to do a whole lot of new and exciting things

right here at St Simon’s…

Old things are now ready to be transformed

into something New!

As many of you know, my wife Cheri Smith grew up here,

and I was born and raised over at Trinity Church, Mobile.

It’s still hard to believe, isn’t it?

Who would have ever dreamed…

only wish our dear friend Ed Horton,

my dad, and Cheri’s dad were here…

*Gen. Doolittle and Malcom at Eglin/Hurlburt.

Well, a few weeks ago,

I said good-bye to many wonderful dear friends and colleagues

at Christ Church Greenwich, Connecticut.

And in the midst of saying good-bye and thinking of this ministry…

I realized something significant…

I believe there is a disconnect taking place

between Religion and Spirituality.

What I mean by this is…

many folks in their 20s, 30s, and even a few 40s/50s…

have grown up in a totally different spiritual environment,

than their parents or grandparents did.

Church is different now.

Church membership and financial giving are clearly different…

Making time for God, has changed.

But, what I am discovering,

as someone who is almost 50, is…

there remains in every human being

a very deep longing for Spiritual Connection,

for transformation….

for a better way to live and breath.

Especially when life hurts…

Connecting to the sacred mystery of life is important…

and longing for answers to profound questions and doubts,

about personal and professional ethics

for conflicting societal standards,

are indeed all appropriate and good.

But, unfortunately, there is bad news for us…

because many now see The Church –

mainline protestants, and Roman Catholics --

as a less relevant community for spiritual growth.

In fact, I think you will discover

that even among some evangelicals

there is push back now…

Because what is emerging

is this deeper longing for

authenticity, relevance

and connection with The Living God.

Who is real…and knowable.

This is not about Mega Church,

Conservative or Liberal…

its all about what am I to do

with this dark emptiness inside…

I am tired of keeping up with the latest,

cars, boats, clothes, house…

In other words,

many are saying…

there’s got to be more to this life,

than managing my daily appearance.

Seekers of Jesus Christ

need a safe space to connect with Him.

To fall in love with Him.

To Worship Him.

This is really not rocket science…

It’s called FAITH.

And as you know,

“Faith is the evidence of things hoped for

and the assurance of things to come. “

Maybe one of our first faithful tasks together

may very well be to ponder all this…

Asking for God’s help

as we seek to serve Christ in all people.

My immediate predecessors,

Bill Richter, Jim Spencer and Ed Campbell

all provided solid leadership here.

And you certainly have a long rich history

of successful ministry here…

You already know what is needed

to nourish a healthy congregation.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, in his book,

Where God Happens,

says -- “A healthy church is one in which we seek

to stay connected with God

by seeking to connect others

with God.”

Fortunately, we don’t have to do this alone…

Jesus shows all of us the fundamental way to be:

and that is -- be Compassionate Observers.

Prayerful Observant Christians point the neighbor to Christ,

and show the same compassion that Jesus did.

Jesus says,

“come to me all you who are heavy-laden;

and I will give you rest. “

We at St Simon’s,

are called to serve all those who seek

the Face of God

and need rest.

As St Francis loved to say so long ago…

“Always, we begin again.”

We begin with this moment…

A moment when The Word

has come very near to us

from across the stars,

and has landed right here in our hands.

So, let’s grab it,

claim it,

love it,

and then give it away to others.

If you are ready,

I am ready!

Let’s get this started…

Amen.

Photos from final Sunday at Christ Church

Many thanks to Joanne Bouknight for these wonderful photos on such a glorious final Sunday of worship for us at Christ Church Greenwich. Cheri, Emma, Ella and I will always cherish these seven years with you all and look forward to visiting next summer. Until then, my heartfelt thanks go out to Clawson Smith, Lynn & Scott Smith, along with Audrey Schaus and Kamal Browning for helping host such a beautiful reception for all of us at the Tomes-Higgins House.

Saying Good Bye to A Ministry and Friends at Christ Church Greenwich

Let me just say,
it feels great to be here with all of you this morning.

Somehow I can not believe this will be my last time
to stand here in this great pulpit,
but it’s safe to say, it could be a quite while
before I am back to preach.

Nevertheless, it always feels good to be in this
beautiful sacred space.
I will miss it.

I have to admit I am already wondering
what Christmas Eve is going to feel like in Florida.
It just won’t be the same…

Today is Sad for me in a lot of ways.
Sad because I love the people of this church so much.

Cheri and I could never ask for better friends here…
especially the distant members of her Smith family tree --
Clawson and all your family,
and more Smith’s - Scott and Lynn.

But, anyone who knows me, knows that I love all people.
Not just Smiths…
I am an extrovert off the charts, sometimes…
Cheri, Emma and Ella will tell you,
I enjoy talking, maybe too much…
I hear - “can we go now!”
Happy clergy families = 2 cars.

It has been both a blessing and privilege
to serve along side you.
I feel like I have learned a lot…grown in so many ways.

One of my brothers who is about 12 years older than me
and a banker in Mobile, said –
“Oh, this Church business will be good for you.
It’s easy work.
You only have one book to read,
and it’s a one-day work week!”

I said,
actually, Episcopalians have two books…

Nevertheless, I will miss you all.
Cheri, Emma and Ella join me in saying
thank you for our time together.

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about our time…
the baptisms, weddings, confirmation, divorces, funerals,
staff meetings, chaplain at Belle Haven.
It’s been a long ride hasn’t it…

Thank goodness for my three-years of CPE chaplaincy training
at Greenwich Hospital.

But through it all,
to follow in the path of other assistants like
Sydney, Terry Ellsbury, Sandy Stainer, Al Votow,
Ted Babcock, Lee Walker, and Pam Strobel, etc…
has been a real honor for me.

But let me just say this from MY heart,
there has never been anyone
who is more thankful to God than I am
for these last seven years of my life here.

Our girls have grown up in a comfortable
clergy home at 8 Ridge Road,
benefited from the Cos Cob School,
our friends in the Cos Cob community.

Where, Cheri says,
we have been more embedded than the Russian spies!
ALL will be forever a priceless gift…

Now, speaking of friends,
we meet three of Jesus’ closest in Luke’s classic story…

Mary and Martha of Bethany and their brother Lazarus.
I read recently that some scholars now believe
Lazarus was “the Beloved Disciple” at the foot of the cross.
Of course, we don’t know this…

But, what we do know is this --
Jesus makes it very clear to ALL Martha’s –
past and present,
stop the worrying!

He says, we are “worried and distracted by many things.”
Boy, that’s the truth, isn’t it?

Stop. Settle down and listen,
especially to those you love.

Even St. Paul jumps into this…
and says, “Do not be anxious,”
especially, the men and women
who are trying to work out the practicalities
of living the Faith in a hostile world,
and among people who believe religion and
a personal relationship with God
is a total waste of time.

I can’t even begin to count the number of funerals I have done
where I see such an emptiness in certain loved ones
who appear to have no experience or interest in a life of faith.

It’s like they have been transported to a foreign land,
with no language, feelings, or means to express
human pain and grief
to a Living, and Loving God.

There is a Richard Dawkins, blankness which is sad.

Unfortunately, religion in this post-modern, post-Christian world
is often viewed by some people as untrustworthy.
Maybe in some cases, with just cause!
Nevertheless, there is a vast sea of emptiness in our complex world.
My hope is we can now move beyond distractions
and into a more sacred non-anxious place,
called un-conditional Love.

There is a clear task ahead for us Episcopalians…
we can not mess this thing up!

We are in prime position to welcome seekers.
Seekers who are looking for a new way forward,
away from hatred, judgmental religious anger,
into a Faith/Church filled with big welcoming tents
just like Abraham at Mamre.

St Paul said, “The Lord is very near to us.”
What this means for 21st century Christians is this --
our hearts must be fixed where true joy is to be found,
and when “we make our requests known to God
in prayer and with thanksgiving,”
the peace of God will be ours.

Mary was right! Peace is still possible…

But let us act NOW and move forward in ministry,
both at St Simon’s and right here at Christ Church
to gain confidence,
live in love,

because underneath each one of us
will always…ALWAYS be
God’s everlasting arms.

May God bless you in this Journey.
And - I’ll see ya down that road!
Amen.

Christ Church Greenwich Letter

Dear Members of Christ Church Greenwich,

I write to make an important announcement regarding the ministry of our priest and colleague, The Rev'd Mark L. Fitzhugh. I am proud to announce that Mark has been called to serve as the Rector of St. Simon’s on-the-Sound Episcopal Church in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He will begin this new ministry in August.

Mark has served Christ Church Greenwich faithfully for the past seven years. He has been a pastor for this congregation and has helped to introduce new educational and evangelism initiatives for the congregation. Mark has also functioned more broadly for the church and its mission in Greenwich and the larger Church. He now will be in a program size congregation offering leadership for its development and growth.

We wish Mark, Cheri, Emma, and Ella, Godspeed as they make the transition to a new community; a town and region where there are extended family and many friends. I know that they will relish your expressions of best wishes and thanks. We will have the opportunity for farewell worship together on Sunday, July 18, with a reception for Mark and his family immediately following the 9:30 am service. You are welcome to thank them by giving a gift in their honor to a place which is special to the family, Kanuga Episcopal Conference Center, near Ashville, North Carolina, or your contributions are invited as we assemble a purse to honor his ministry here at Christ Church Greenwich.

May God bless the Smith Fitzhugh family and St. Simon’s Church in this time of new beginnings and transition. And... may we offer thanks for their presence in our community of faith.

With best wishes, I am,
Yours faithfully,
The Rev'd Dr. James B. Lemler
Rector
Christ Church Greenwich

Acceptance Letter to the people of St Simon's on the Sound

“Our vocation is not simply to be, but to work together with God in the creation of our own life, our own identity, our own destiny… This means that we should not passively exist, but actively participate in God’s creative freedom, in our own lives, and in the lives of others, by choosing the truth.” Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation

I proudly accept the vocational call of the Vestry of St Simon’s on the Sound to share my gifts in ministry as your next Rector. I am especially grateful for the work of your search committee, wardens, and vestry.

The quote from Thomas Merton is exactly right. Our calling or vocation is to come together and share our own unique special gifts in ministry in order to build up the Body of Christ. God has called me to come and join your leadership efforts to do just this work in the Fort Walton Beach community.

I was born and raised in Mobile and grew up at Trinity Episcopal Church. For the past seven years, I have had the privilege of serving on the clergy staff at Christ Church Greenwich, Connecticut. And now, Cheri, Emma, Ella and I are excited to come back “home” to our beloved Gulf Coast and for this we are extremely thankful.

Clearly, St Simon’s Church has a long tradition of excellent ministry and I am pleased to team up with the countless number of amazing volunteers and staff members who make this church such a special and well respected part of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast.

We look forward to meeting all of you and please keep us in your prayers as we begin our transition.

Every blessing,

The Rev’d Mark L. Fitzhugh