Indwelling the Story, Indwelling the Spirit
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Receiving • Living • Sharing THE ABUNDANT LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST ST. GEORGE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH • WINTER 2015/2016 INDWELLING THE STORY, INDWELLING THE SPIRIT What Are Essential Marks Of The Holy Spirit? Faith Is A Journey Clergy Focus: Clint & Theresa Wilson ST. GEORGE’S CLERGY The Rev. R. Leigh Spruill Rector [email protected] The Rev. Dr. Kristine Blaess Senior Associate Rector [email protected] The Rev. Samuel Adams Associate Rector Letter From The Rector [email protected] The Rev. Michael Blaess Associate Rector [email protected] INDWELLING THE STORY, INDWELLING THE SPIRIT The Rev. Clinton Wilson Associate Rector ove needs a person to be real. One can read about gospel. He also confessed in his own life to many among us and he pursues us with his love. He is [email protected] L love and talk about love, and from the beginning inconsistencies between what he believed and what he familiar with rejection but is undeterred. And he is here of time these have been favorite human pastimes, actually practiced. even now, pursuing us with his love.” The Rev. Richard Kew preoccupations of all people. Philosophers and theolo- Priest Associate McManus wrote that the men in his audience related What does our spiritual conviction about the Incar- gians and poets can describe love, and we are thankful [email protected] to each of these shortcoming from their own experi- nation, utterly unique among all the world religions, and enriched for their ruminations. But real love – ence as Muslims, but what they really wanted to know reveal concerning how God regards us? We much more godly love – is incarnational, embodied, enfleshed. The Rev. Sarah Puryear was how Christianity was different. Why be a Christian easily spend our energies sorting out our own views of Love needs a person to be real. Priest Associate in the first place? So McManus began to explain: God. But what does the Incarnation of Jesus say about [email protected] The month of December, wherein we live into the God’s view of us? Do we first have to say “yes” before He once met a girl named Kim. He fell in love. McMa- season of Advent pulling us into Christmas, invites God will love us with mercy, forgiveness, rebirth, joy? nus pursued her with all the love he had and finally he The Rev. Roger Senechal deep contemplation of love. Our Christian tradition Is that our story? Or does the Incarnation function as asked her to marry him. But she said “no.” Priest Associate and the Bible point to a God who will stop at nothing the ultimate love story, the revelation of a relentlessly [email protected] to show us how he regards us. And that leads to God McManus writes that as he told his story, he felt the hopeful divine suitor who will not be foiled or defeated setting down in history as a person, Jesus, the one empathy of all the Muslim men in the room. What man and whose object may yet be won? The Rev. Timus Taylor whose birth we celebrate and whose life is perfect love cannot sympathize with such a story? Our God knows rejection, and yet the pursuit continues Priest Associate that changes everything. McManus continued sharing, recounting how in the even unto this day. For God’s love is far too strong to A few years ago I was inspired to some fresh thinking face of his beloved’s “no,” he was nevertheless unre- remain bottled up in heaven. So across the shortening on the Incarnation through a meditation I read of Erwin lenting. He came to her again and again, wooing her. and darkening days now turning toward winter, may McManus who is lead pastor of a diverse congregation He loved her more and more. And eventually–finally– our longing hearts once more turn toward this greatest in Los Angeles called Mosaic. McManus has some she did say “yes!” And all men in the room appreciated of all miracles, toward this love made flesh that rather innovative and interesting ideas about the that part of the story as well! entered then – and may enter anew – into history, into church, and I particularly appreciated his sharing about our world, and into our lives. For love needs a person to a visit to the Middle East. He had been invited to speak McManus ended his testimony by saying this: “I did be real. And he is.... And he comes.... to a group pf Muslim men about Christianity. First, not send my brother to tell this woman I loved her, nor www.stgeorgesnashville.org 615.385.2150 McManus acknowledged that the church was far did I send a friend. For in issues of love, you must go [email protected] from perfect, often failing to witness faithfully to the yourself. This is the story of Jesus. God has walked 2 WINTER 2015/2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 LETTER FROM THE RECTOR Indwelling The Story, Indwelling The Spirit 4 WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIAL MARKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT? WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL MARKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT? 6 FAITH IS A JOURNEY 9 ST. GEORGE’S WELCOMES NEW 4 PRIEST ASSOCIATE 10 CLERGY FOCUS FAITH IS A JOURNEY CLERGY FOCUS: Clint & Theresa Wilson Clint & Theresa Wilson 12 IN THE WATERS OF BAPTISM 14 CONFIRMATION/INQUIRERS CLASS 6 10 16 NASHVILLE FELLOWS Finding Faith In Music City IN THE WATERS ST. GEORGE’S INQUIRERS/ OF BAPTISM CONFIRMATION CLASS 18 BEYOND OUR WALLS The Episcopal School Becomes A Reality 19 THE EPISCOPAL SCHOOL ANNOUNCES 14 LOCATION OF CAMPUS 12 14 20 GOING BEYOND Living Up To Our Potential NASHVILLE FELLOWS: BEYOND OUR WALLS: Finding Faith In Music City The Episcopal Dream 22 MUST READ Becomes A Reality Book Review 23 IN REACH 23 TRANSITIONS 16 18 23 BOOK NOOK Book Review 3 T WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL MARKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT? By the Rev. R. Leigh Spruill he theme of this issue of The Shield Christ, and adopted as God’s own. The for the sake of the world. We call the But each of us possesses some gifts is on the indwelling of the Spirit. ongoing Pentecost story of the church Spirit “holy” because it is about the of the Holy Spirit. And collectively, we TJesus himself notes that it is in the very is that the same affirmation offered to power of God to set us apart, to be the as church possess them all (“to each is nature of the Holy Spirit that it “blows Christ at his baptism is intended for us Lord’s chosen people, to live distinctly given the manifestation of the Spirit for where it chooses” (John 3:8). Therefore, as well: “You are my beloved child, in holy lives in Christ such that we are the common good,” 1 Corinthians 12:7). one is wise to adopt a posture of humil- whom I am well pleased.” Thus, a first then sent forth to share the Good News That is why we need each other. That is ity before offering any comprehensive mark of the Holy Spirit is ASSURANCE: with all. People who are truly open to why church unity is so important; when list of the Spirit’s marks in the life of a spirit-filled church is one where God’s the Holy Spirit are not those who simply one part of the body is cut-off, the whole Christian community. By definition, the desire to assure us of this message is claim an experience of God. They are body suffers (1 Corinthians 12:21). Holy Spirit as the powerful yet mysteri- shared and accepted again and again those who are compelled to engage ous life-force of God is not encapsulated as the defining feature of our identity. others and society through the love of Yes, the Holy Spirit defies domestication within any tidily packaged theological Christ. Spirit-filled churches are mission- or easy formulaic definition. Yet the box. In one of his sermons on the Holy Spirit, ary in orientation, evangelistic in the Bible and the witness of the church is John Wesley preached, “the testimony pure sense of that word, outreach- that the Spirit is ever real and opera- Nevertheless, I believe it is helpful to of the Spirit is an inward impression on driven in ministries. tive, the ongoing power of Christ in our consider three essential realities born the souls of believers, whereby the Spirit world whose purpose in the church is to of the Holy Spirit. First, I recall Christian of God directly testifies to their Spirit, Third, the Holy Spirit EQUIPS us. Our assure us, commission us, and equip us psychiatrist Larry Crabb in his book that they are children of God.” God is not a God who calls us to holy to continue God’s plan of salvation for Connecting: Healing Ourselves and Our tasks without also providing requisite the world. In other words, the indwelling Relationships writing that the initial step Second, the Holy Spirit COMMISSIONS resources to accomplish our mission. of the Spirit among us represents the in leading a life more like Jesus is to us. The gift of the Holy Spirit is not As you know, there are several places fulfilled promise of Jesus himself: “very trust that God takes delight in us. The offered as a private endowment nor in the New Testament that discuss the truly I tell you, the one who believes in Holy Spirit is operative in us if we are does it lead to a static state of being.