This summer, Father Ed is spending four weeks as a Chaplain at Philmont Scout Reservation – the national ranch of the Boy Scouts of America, in New Mexico. These posts are his daily reflections from Philmont.
Day Four – The Twelve
July 13, 2019Jesus saw Simon and Andrew fishing and told them to follow and he would make them fish for people; then sees two others, James and John, and called them… Mark 1: 16-20
A typical Crew at Philmont has twelve participants, no more and none less than eight, So, of course, “The Twelve” makes me think of similarities between the Big 12 and these 12 who come here as a motley Crew:
First there’e Pete and his younger brother Andy;
Pete’s kind of thick headed and impetuous,
and Andy is just the annoying kid, but likeable – he gets others to join ... Read more
Day Three – Jews and Gentiles
July 12, 2019In the past several days’ Epistle readings (Acts 9-10), St. Peter is made to know that there is no difference between Jew and Gentiles, or as we heard on Sunday Paul’s lack of distinction between circumcised and uncircumcised (again, the Jew and the Gentile).
Our Jewish chaplain made arrangements to hold Shabbat service and a festive Shabbat dinner at one of our three major (and original base camps) where she would meet a Jewish Crew. No problem, I said. I’ll do the Chaplains’ Aide Training today. And as we approached our usual 7:00pm Chapel Service time (each faith tradition holds a ... Read more
Day Two – God Thunders
July 11, 2019from today’s Psalm 18:
The Lord parted the heavens and came down with a storm cloud under his feet.
He mounted on cherubim and flew; he swooped on the wings of the wind.
He wrapped darkness about him; he made dark waters and thick clouds his pavilion.
From the brightness of his presence, through the clouds,
burst hailstones and coals of fire.
The Lord thundered out of heaven; the Most High uttered his voice.
He loosed his arrows and scattered them; he hurled thunderbolts ... Read more
Day One – A Road to Emmaus?
July 10, 2019It was a perfect opportunity. My favorite Easter story – the two followers encountering the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus. In fact, that is my favorite of our two Tiffany windows at Grace Church – the one in the Baptistry.
So when the Spirit blew things out of the water this afternoon, and the Chaplain who was to take the Vespers service at one of our back-country chapels was called elsewhere, I was asked to take it in his stead. Great! I have the perfect sermon on this Gospel: two hikers and the possibility of encountering Jesus on the ... Read more
Notes from Camp – Intro
July 9, 2019Well Friends,
For those of you who weren’t a part of last year’s Ed-Ventures, each time I’m away for an extended period like this, and especially when I’m serving as a Chaplain at Philmont, the national Boy Scout Ranch in New Mexico, I like to reflect on the daily readings for Morning and Evening Prayer and something that has impacted me that day. To begin tomorrow (as I was driving at 5:00am this morning!)
I arrived today at lunch time (2:00 your time) after three days (28 hours) of driving. And all is good. From Base Camp all seems back to normal, ... Read more