[Liturgical Pop-Up] Evensong

Dear Trinity,

I went to Evensong for the first time on Saturday night and despite having a husband (your pastor!) who initially had mixed reviews about the service, I loved it! I discovered the difference between his experience and my own: he looks out at a group of muffled, masked parishioners whose expressions he has difficulty reading. My experience? I felt that I was back in church – but outdoors, with a delightful breeze, grass under my bare feet, birdsong, liturgy in my bones, and to my left and right, my body (of Christ!) 

The whole service was under 40 minutes (to this pastor’s wife, that’s a good thing). 🙂 As I was sitting there, I thought to myself: if ever there was a service to introduce a seeker to church (and/or liturgical worship), this is it! Church can be scary. Even for seasoned church goers, attending a new / different church can be intimidating. But … outside? Masked (so no one can read my expression or level of participation)? In an experimental setting? 

Evensong is an innovation of the Anglican Church – combining the monastic “Compline” service with Reformed theology and song. Matt and I first fell in love with this evening service when we began taking holidays in French monasteries. We would simply throw the kids, pajama’ed, into the car at 8pm and when they awoke 12 hours later, it would be to a breakfast of baguettes and bowls of hot chocolate at the welcoming Monastery of Bec Hellouin. Every evening we would attend the 8pm Compline service which was summed up by Amie Kate at age four: “Is this how the monks get tucked into bed?” Yes. The whole service is designed to “tuck us into bed” with wonderful Scriptures referring to rest, God’s protection, and the hope that we will wake again in the morning. (In medieval Europe, this was not a guaranteed thing! I suppose it still isn’t guaranteed, but we aren’t as aware of this fact …)

Our Evensong service is neither very high brow, nor even very musical. Aside from a couple of songs, it is spoken (familiar) liturgy at the close of day (at the “even” between day and night). In England, it is called “The Atheist's Favorite Church Service” because it packs so much beautiful poetry (the Psalms), Scripture, and music into a short period of time. It descends from the time of Jesus when the Jews were praying at regular times throughout the day, which was then picked up by the Christian monastic communities. Evensong’s strength is that it is working with a tried and true liturgy that has sustained people for more than three millenia. (For people who like to geek out over music or history, watch this very funny history of evensong). 

So while we have the weather, and we need one another, consider coming to Evensong! And even better yet, bring someone who just may need a nudge toward Jesus and his wonderful, awkward body (that includes you and me). 

Julie

Sign up for this Saturday's 7:30pm Service

Liturgical Pop-Up: The difference between outrage & justice

Dear Trinity, As one mom said to me today (as we watched a dozen happy Trinity youth walk from Pybus to Walla Walla and back again – hooray for Caleb our summer intern!), “All I talk about is Covid19 because nothing else is happening in our life!” We want to get back to “normal” but personally, I’m worried that some of what has been brought to the surface over the past weeks will be pushed under the rug in order to achieve “normal” again.   So I’ve been starting to read and look into the Scriptural roots of justice, precisely so that I have a firm foundation to stand on – even if things begin to return to “normal.” If they are based in Scripture, they can’t be pushed back under the rug, but will only help us return to “true” normal, true north. As Fleming Rutledge wrote in her 80s:

if, when we see an injustice, our blood does not boil at some point, we have not yet understood the depths of God. It depends, though, on what outrages us. To be outraged on behalf of oneself or one’s own group alone is to be human, but it is not to participate in Christ. To be outraged and to take action on behalf of the voiceless and oppressed, however, is to do the work of God (The Crucifixion, p.143).

It is easy for “outrage” to become the property of a certain political party, or subgroup. It is easy for “outrage” at injustice to justify further injustice. But this quote calls us beyond human outrage (and there is plenty for us to be outraged about!) to a really strange “mystical union” with Jesus. 

… that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, being conformed to His death – Philippians 3:10

(See also 1 Peter 4:13, Philippians 3:10, Colossians 1:24)

If you are wanting to go deeper in Scripture, here are some entry points with Tim Keller & John Piper, who have both been involved in race relations for decades. Their reflection comes from not only having done deep digging in Scripture, but also having lived this for years. I’m also going to throw in the Bible Project’s video on Justice for those of you who missed it (love these guys!) This is not “official church position” but just where I’ve been digging over the past weeks, and I have found that others are digging too, and it is nice to dig in Scripture together during these disorienting times. And finally, an article from David Taylor highlights how many of the Psalms are oriented precisely toward justice – not just our current crisis in America, but the injustices that go unnamed, unsung, unreported and have done so in our broken world for thousands of years. He says that from the Psalms, he learned that “no true account of God makes justice an afterthought to his redemptive work in the world.” So God help us! Jesus to lead us! May we be able to discern our human outrage from that of the Holy Spirit. May all the upheaval of the past few months direct us to participate with Christ in new ways. May our participation in the eucharist, to which we drive weekly (weakly? 🙂 ), lead us to participate with Christ in deeper and deeper ways.  Learning alongside you all (and thank you to those who continue to teach me, and cause me to re-examine my “certitude” again and again), Julie  PS - Many of you are asking “when will we start meeting again?” because pandemic fatigue is hitting an acute level. We are pioneering a Saturday “Evening Song” (Evensong) Service for those most vulnerable in our congregation. (Evensong is unique to the Anglican tradition, similar to our Sunday morning liturgy with an evening twist). PPS - My friend Paul Hardy is a fashion designer in Canada, and has set up a tailoring school for children of the Rwandan genocide who lost both their parents. He graduated his hundredth tailor a few years ago. The current women learning the sewing trade have put their gorgeous Rwandan fabrics and skill to COVID19 masks. 100% of profits goes to Paul’s tailoring school if you are in need of more masks! (Note that the US dollar is stronger, so take about 25% off of your purchase).

Wednesday Prayer, Fasting & Lament: Instructions Inside

Tomorrow (Wednesday), we invite you to pray with us on the hour, from wherever you are (longer descriptions below).

Feel free to come in person on the Trinity lawn at 9am, 12pm, 3pm. 

Join Carson on ZOOM @ 6pm + Matt at Rotary Park @ 7pm

Dear Trinity Church, God is calling us into a conversation that is laced with tension, grief, and honesty. We are all disoriented right now. Regardless of our race, we are called to mourn with those who mourn. We may not have experienced deep injustice, but we have brothers and sisters who have. The world is desperate for the mercy, intimacy, hospitality, justice, and dignity that God's kingdom promises. So what is the church's response right now? 

Lament is an age-old way to keep grief from self-pity; it is a way of bringing our disorientation to God (and to keep us from feeling like victims). 

Lament is a form of prayer that proclaims "this is not the way things are supposed to be." 

Together we will lament: the pandemic and its losses (sickness, death, loss of livelihood, loneliness, schools, small businesses, the medical community) and the wounds of racial brokenness (conscious and unconscious racism, systemic injustice, those in authority needing prayer and those wounded by authority). 

What is a biblical view of Justice? Watch this 6-minute video by The Bible Project and see how it leads us to Jesus:

If one-third of the Psalms are Lament, that should be a good indication that our negative emotions need a good place to go. At Trinity Church, we are getting better at prayer, lament, and pursuing justice...

• We are learning to walk the stations of the cross with Jesus.

• We are waking up to the needs of the most vulnerable.

• Some are giving sacrificially to neighbors it took a virus to meet.

• We continue to bring groceries for Serve Wenatchee with joy.

• Some are mentoring struggling youth.

• Others are reaching across ecumenical divides.

• And our church has become a safe place for the Parque Padrinos to meet.

In the midst of it all, we are small business owners, farmers, school teachers, police officers, and the newly unemployed who are "familiar with sorrows and acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53). We bless you in your suffering, and we want to walk alongside you, and lament and ask (and sing!) "how long?" We also want to walk alongside those in the worldwide church who are (and have been) braving injustice and suffering for a very long time. 

Let's pray we walk in repentance and with listening hearts, Julie

PS - Need help praying? Download this short liturgy for lament.

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10 Things to Pray For

We, the Trinity Staff, tried to articulate these requests with the help of members in our congregation who themselves are facing these hardships. They are meant to inspire you to prayer, not to limit your prayer or express a particular point of view. May God's Holy Spirit guide us into all truth.

9am - Racial Brokenness Lord, we acknowledge the hold that racism and prejudice has on our national psyche. We acknowledge that violence has been matched by violence, and many are in pain and distress. May we have the courage to face racism as a country, and to receive this as an invitation to see ourselves anew. Lord, how are we part of the problem?  10am - The Church For the church in the US to be broken open and be an example to the world of lamenting, listening, learning, empathy, and humility. That we would serve as visible advocates and give voice to and make space for our brothers and sisters of color. In this moment and always. 11am - Our Government For those in positions of authority - our leaders both in government and civil society. That they would lead with courage, moral conviction, and gentleness. That they would reflect your heart of being a "father to orphans and the oppressed. 12pm - Law Enforcement For law enforcement:  against discouragement, for integrity, patience, courage, support, safety. For family healing and soft heartedness. For the next generations of officers, that they would always deserve the trust of those they protect. For those whose trust has been wounded:  we pray for justice & for forgiveness. 1pm - Doctors & the Dying For doctors: May they know the Healer of all. May their hearts be held in the compassion and tenderness of God. May suffering and the vulnerable be their teachers. May they be sustained. For the sick: May they know the good physician. May their fear give way to trust and renewal. May their families be held in the compassion and tenderness of God. May they be healed. *Covid-19 is currently highest in minority groups in America. 2pm - Loneliness & Intimacy For those who are lonely, and whose isolation is another unseen cross to bear. May they know they are image-bearers and know that they long for what is good. For those who turn to unhealthy outlets for their loneliness, may they be given strength and courage, and healing from shame. For those being exploited, for God's protection and the global rising of justice. 3pm – Economic Instability For small businesses: For the ongoing struggle to cope with government policies changing every week, and making it extremely difficult to run a business and take care of employees. For God to sustain their creative dreams, in prosperity and in hardship. For our communities to rally and support them, and for the families that are supported by their income. And for those who have lost their livelihood, that God will fill their hearts with hope. 4pm - Schools & Youth For the miracle of opening again, with full education, this autumn so that children will not fall behind. For schools to be able to innovate, and that love and resources would be distributed equally among schools and children. For teachers - creativity; for children - that they would not be depressed or discouraged; for parents - the wisdom (and grace) to carry on with work and the new (and ever changing) 'normal' with educating their children. For private schools faced with possible permanent closures & for public schools (particularly in the least resourced areas) which serve the most vulnerable. And finally, that schools themselves could become centers of restorative justice, and that society will begin to address the inequalities in wealth and privilege that no amount of education can overcome.  5pm – Farmers & those that tend our land Thanking God for small farmers and the migrant workers who put food on our tables. For the impact of Covid-19 on an already fragile industry (four-year recession), with small farms going under. For courage and creativity to face the limited opportunities to export produce, and for the community to understand and value what they do to provide us with food. For opening our hearts with His hospitality toward those who help us gather in our food, as a demonstration of Christ's love for us. 6pm - BYOLament on Zoom We bring to this place our own private brokenness, griefs, losses, and lament. "How long, will you turn your face away?" It is good to wait for the salvation of our God.