Second Sunday in Lent
As you enter into this Lenten season, I hope that you have taken notice of the gift offered to us by the Diocesan Youth – a Kindness Calendar. It is featured in the latest "Iowa Connections", and is available on the diocesan website. The theme could not be more appropriate for our time. And so, we decided to build on it in developing a diocesan-wide Lenten project, Living Kindness. We meet for an hour on Wednesday evenings, 7:00-8:00pm on zoom; read a Scripture related to the concept of loving-kindness; listen to a brief reflection on how we have “bumped into the Scripture,” share how we might have utilized the Kindness Calendar this week, and then breakout into conversational groups for more personal connection. All of this is part of my hope that we can use the liturgical seasons to pull us through this dark winter of COVID-19; and I believe that it is working. We had a really fun time at the first gathering on Wednesday, and I invite you, if you do not have a local congregational program on Wednesday nights, to join us.
In thinking about the concept of kindness, I found myself focusing on the Hebrew root word HESED; and so, on Wednesday, I offered the opening reflection around this word. It is one of those Hebrew words that takes several English translations to come close to doing it justice. The earliest English translation of the word in the Old Testament dates from the mid-16th century. In the Coverdale bible we read of God’s “loving kindness” or HESED. The word is used more than 250 times, including repeatedly in the Psalms. Psalm 136, for example, invites the refrain “Your loving kindness endures for ever” as it recites God’s actions. And, in the 23rd Psalm, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me” refers to HESED.
When a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures was launched in the third century BC, the Greeks also found themselves stifled in interpreting HESED in just one word. Predominantly they used eleos, or mercy, again as in Psalm 23, or as we may use especially during Lent, in the phrase “Kyrie Eleison” or “Lord, have mercy.” The most familiar reference is probably found in Micah’s question: “And what does the Lord require of you – but to do justice, love kindness (HESED) and walk humbly with your God?” When carrying the word over to the New Testament, several Greek words were tried – meaning goodness of heart, integrity, kindness, moral goodness, and steadfast love. The apostle Paul describes God’s loving kindness to the Ephesians when he writes: “so He may show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Jesus Christ.” (Eph 2:7)
Over all HESED appears to communicate God’s kindness in love toward humanity as well as humanity’s love for one another. It is the love indicated in the second part of the Great Commandments – to love God, and love your neighbor as yourself.
The question I was asked for tonight is where have I bumped into this kindness, and I see it in those people who have a strong sense of justice, act upon it, and also carry broadly the gift of forgiveness. I think of our own recently departed beloved Bishop companion, Ellinah Wamukoya, or one of her mentors, Desmond Tutu, or our Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry. Love and a sense of embracing others is the predominant aspect of their lives, while showing the strength of seeking justice for others. In fact, I heard the ethics professor Scott Bader-Saye of the Seminary of the Southwest describe justice as “the minimal standard of love; while love itself exceeds justice in its mode of giving and forgiving.” HESED calls for the combination of justice and love. It also carries a sense of love and loyalty that inspires merciful and compassionate behavior toward another. It is what God showed to Moses by establishing a second set of commandments after the incident with the Golden Calf; and it is what Moses called God back to as God offered to destroy the people in the wilderness and set up a new people under Moses. (Lois Tverberg, ourrabbijesus.com)
Finally, HESED goes beyond feeling and warm emotion. It includes courage and imagination because it is above all, a word about action.
Contemporary Jewish thinking sees HESED as a core pillar of human behavior, bearing transformative power. “The reward for charity depends entirely on the extent of kindness in it.” (MyJewishLearning.com: Acts of Loving Kindness) In articulating external aspects of charity – i.e. money, goods, or even physical support—the word used is tzedakah. HESED, however, is concerned with the care and “bother” or the going out of one’s own comfort or way that showing practical love may require. In other words, in HESED, you give your heart and mind to the well being of the person you are coming alongside. It is an active representation of the covenant between people and engages us in relationships of understanding.
“Through acts of HESED (assisted or suggested by tzedakah, giving support with goods, money) where you treat someone like a human being (in the image of God), with the respect they deserve, that person can be restored to the community; they can overcome the stigma of poverty frailty, disease or loneliness, and become themselves engaged and empowered actors of HESED.” (My Jewish Learning.com: Acts of Loving Kindness)
The aim of HESED is the embodiment of loving kindness in our relationship. It is what Jesus referred to in calling for a “righteousness that exceeds” that of the religious leaders of his day. It is what we desire to anchor our engagement with “Living Kindness” this Lenten season.
In the peace and love of Christ,
+Alan
The Rt. Rev. Alan Scarfe, Bishop of Iowa
Joint Chapter Meeting & Leadership Training
Join us on Saturday, February 27 from 10am-12pm for a Joint Chapter Meeting (with breakouts by individual chapters)
COVID update
Bishops Search News and Electing Convention
2021 Budget update
Calendar Announcements
GILEAD Grant information
In the afternoon, congregational leaders are invited to breakout sessions in the following areas from 1:00-2:30pm:
• Vestry member orientation
• Treasurers and bookkeepers
• GILEAD grant information session
• Technology forum (live-streaming and communication)
• Safeguarding administrators
• Licensed Ministries: Pastoral Leader, Worship Leader, Preacher, Eucharistic Minister, Eucharistic Visitor, Catechist
Diocesan Online Worship
Join us this Sunday, February 28 as we highlight the Holy Eucharist offered by St. Timothy’s, West Des Moines at 10:15 am.
Lenten Offerings
Journey with us during Lent as we explore and practice kindness as a spiritual discipline.
The season of Lent is a time for penitence and reconciliation, an invitation to take steps toward a right relationship with ourselves, each other, creation, and God. What might it look like to turn toward relationship this Lent using kindness intentionally, during this time of pandemic and seemingly increasing division and conflict? What small steps might we take, both alone and together?
Living Kindness
Wednesdays from 7-8:00pm
March 3, 10, 17, 24
Join us Wednesday evenings for an intergenerational conversation where we'll practice and learn more about nurturing kindness as a spiritual discipline. You're welcome to join for as many conversations as you're able, but you must register to receive the Zoom information. We also invite you to follow along with a daily Lenten Kindness Calendar.
Lenten Kindness Calendar
A daily Lenten Kindness Calendar is available now on the Youth Ministry page of the diocesan website. Each day offers a simple prompt towards an act of kindness for someone in your life, each tied to the Gospel reading from the Sunday before. You will be able to follow along from the webpage, Facebook, and Instagram.
Planting Seeds of Hope
Lenten devotions from ‘Green Anglicans’ to honour the memory of Bishop Ellinah Wamukoya.
nature of the dream: February 25 - March 7
Over the next few days (Feb 25-Mar 7) the Des Moines Playhouse is streaming "nature of the dream" -- a new production featuring Black Iowans, including Donna Scarfe among the cast and co-creators.
"nature of the dream" is an exploration of maintaining Black identity in predominantly white spaces. The film has its origins in devised theatre, a freeform style in which all members of the creative group work collectively and collaboratively to create a performance completely from scratch. There is no script involved prior to the devising process, but rather the script gets written along the way.
Following the film’s Feb. 25 premiere, there will be a conversation with the creators posted on The Playhouse’s Facebook page.
The conversation will also be posted on The Playhouse’s website and YouTube channel and on Two Steps to the Left Productions’ website for future viewing. (Read more)
Annual Parochial Reports
The due date for the 2020 Parochial Report is fast approaching, March 1, 2021. The report has been revised to also capture the statistics during the pandemic. Tina Austin is more than happy to assist you with questions in filling out the report. Please feel free to reach out to Tina by email at taustin@iowaepiscopal.org or phone 515-277-6165 ext. 201.
Mini Retreats: H.O.P.E.
The Small Church Core Team in the Diocese of Iowa invites you
to a series of four mini-retreats focused on HOPE during these changing times.
Join us on Saturday, March 6.
From 9:00 am to 10:00 am. We will gather using Zoom technology.
Topics for each session include:
Healing and Hope in December
Opportunity for Community and Hope in January
Patience and Hope in February
Expectation and Hope on March 6
Dismantling Racism Training
Grounded in The Episcopal Church's commitment to dismantling racism as essential to our formation as Christians, this ONLINE training is open to all persons who would like to deepen their understanding of racism, prejudice, and privilege.
The training will consist of 2 sessions from 10:00am-12:00pm and 12:30pm-2:30pm, with a break for lunch.
Pathways for Baptismal Living at Bexley Seabury
Pathways for Baptismal Living knows how important it is to "find your peeps" when trying to live into your call. We are using the language of "community of practice" to help you find fellow practitioners to share your journey.
The concept of communities of practice was first proposed by cognitive anthropologist Jean Lave and educational theorist Etienne Wenger in their 1991 book Situated Learning. They defined a community of practice as a group of people who "share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly."
We hope that these gatherings provide a space for you to share your hopes and dreams, challenges and successes, questions and learnings so that we can glean wisdom from each other as we each claim our role as members of God's Beloved Community and seek to fulfill God's Mission.
We currently have four communities of practice that meet monthly. Click on the buttons for more information about each community.
Joint Intercession List
The heart of diocesan companionship is joining together in mission. To this end Iowans and their companions in Nzara, Swaziland, and Scotland pray for one another daily through the Joint Intercession List.
You can find the list on our diocesan website or download the list.
GILEAD Grant Spotlight: St. Timothy's, West Des Moines
St. Timothy's received an "Expanding Tools and Technology" GILEAD Grant.
They have worked hard to get their new tech up and running, and are now able "to provide online streaming of our services to give our church community a vehicle for worship and to provide outreach to those outside our community searching for a worship service or a church."
Viewing this project as "broader than an expansion of tools and technology," St. Timothy's has realized the potential to reach and serve those who may not be able or willing to attend in-person services. They also hope this project serves as a foundation investment for future projects and outreach opportunities.
Check them out this Sunday! They're our highlighted Diocesan Worship service this week - links to the service and bulletin can be found at the beginning of this enewsletter.
Podcast Corner
New Episode Alert: Queering Lent Parts 1 & 2 of The Middle Way podcast dropped this week
"This season, we are turning Lent upside down and inside out. Listen in as we chat with friends & colleagues about reading scripture with a queer lens and what it means to engage a theology that disrupts the status quo."
If you haven't already, check out this podcast from Rev. Eric Rucker & Hannah Landgraf (members of St. Andrew's, Des Moines). Listen on Apple podcasts, or on their website.
"The Middle Way is a podcast that explores the interplay between the church calendar and… pretty much everything else.
It's like Sunday School with cussing. Or, the Easter Vigil with dubstep."
