Fully Alive in God

(from: looktohimandberadiant.blogspot.com) Melissa Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard (Joel 2:23–32; Ps. 65; 2 Tim. 4:6–8, 16–18; St Luke 18:9–14) “Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command (from the Collect of the Day).” This collect touched me especially this week as I really needed the reminder to have faith. As many of you know we are in the process of potentially fostering and adopting a girl who will hopefully be placed in our home soon. And on Monday there is a decision in the courts that may decide this for us. And we cannot be there. And sometimes I get a bit anxious about that, wondering, what is going to happen if I cannot go and say my piece? And one of the most wonderful things about being known as a pastor in this community is that on those rare moments when I lack complete faith in God, others sometimes come and inspire me to place my faith...

(de: looktohimandberadiant.blogspot.com) Melissa Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard ( Joel 2:23–32 [= 2:23–3:5 DHH]; Salmo 65; 2 Timoteo 4:6–8, 16–18; San Lucas 18:9–14) “Todopoderoso y eterno Dios, aumenta en nosotros tus dones de fe, esperanza y amor; y para que obtengamos tus promesas, haz que amemos lo que mandas.” [Del colecta del d í a.] Esta colecta me toc ó mucho esta semana porque yo necesitaba el recordatorio de tener fe. Como algunos de ustedes saben continuamos en el proceso de posiblemente traer una niña a nuestra casa como hija foster que eventualmente puede ser adoptada. Y el lunes hay otra decisión en la corte que puede decidir esto para nosotras. Y no podemos estar allí. Y entonces esto me llena de vez en cuando con un poco de ansiedad— ¿qué va a pasar, pienso, si no estoy allí para hablar por mi punto de vista? Y una cosa tan linda de ser una pastora conocida como si en la comunidad es que en los raros momentos cuando uno falta un poco de fe, las o...

(Image from God's Dream by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams) M. Campbell-Langdell Our Saviour’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Oxnard (Genesis 32:22–31; Ps. 121; 2 Tim. 3:14–4:5; Luke 18:1–8) Good morning, I am Pastor Melissa Campbell-Langdell from All Saints Episcopal Church in Oxnard, and I am honored to be among you today. Let us hear again these words from Genesis: “Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me." So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." Then the man said, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed (Genesis 32:24-...

(Image from God's Dream  by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams) M. Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard (Genesis 32:22–31; S. 121; 2 Tim. 3:14–4:5; Lucas 18:1–8) Escuchamos de Nuevo estas palabras de Génesis: “ Cuando Jacob se quedó solo, un hombre luchó con él hasta que amaneció; pero como el hombre vio que no podía vencer a Jacob, lo golpeó en la coyuntura de la cadera, y esa parte se le zafó a Jacob mientras luchaba con él. Entonces el hombre le dijo: —Suéltame, porque ya está amaneciendo. —Si no me bendices, no te soltaré —contestó Jacob.  — ¿Cómo te llamas? —preguntó aquel hombre. —Me llamo Jacob —respondió él. Entonces el hombre le dijo: —Ya no te llamarás Jacob. Tu nombre será Israel, porque has luchado con Dios y con los hombres, y has vencido” (Génesis 32:24-28). Este pasaje me habla mucho porque es la historia de origen no solo de un hombre llamado Jacob, pero de una nación llamado Israel. Es la naturaleza del pueblo de Israel de luchar...

(image: https://mannamustardseeds.wordpress.com/) M. Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard (Lamentations 1:1–6; Ps. 137; Tim. 1:1–14; Luke 17:5–10) “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you (2 Timothy 1:5).” This passage always makes me smile because it reminds me of our Lois, and a moment I had just this summer at the Ventura County Pride Festival. There we were at the booth, hanging out and enjoying our spot with a great view of the Ventura Surfers, our space bedecked with supplies to share with those wishing to know just how inclusive and embracing God’s love really is, and I spotted that the booth next to us was for the Rainbow Umbrella Youth Program. I went over to say hello and to check out the awesome pins they were making, and then one of the youth spoke to me. “I remember you from my grandma’s funeral.” She said. And come to find out that she is the granddaught...

(image: https://mannamustardseeds.wordpress.com/) M. Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard (Lamentaciones 1:1–6; S. 137; Timoteo 1:1–14; San Lucas 17:5–10) “Porque me acuerdo de la fe sincera que tienes. Primero la tuvieron tu abuela Loida y tu madre Eunice, y estoy seguro de que también tú la tienes.” (2 Tim. 1:5) Este pasaje siempre me hace sonreír porque me acuerda de nuestra Loida, o en ingles Lois. Y me acuerda de un momento que tuve cuando tuvimos nuestro quiosco en el Festival de Orgullo de Ventura este verano. This phrase reminds me of our Lois, one of our long-time members, and a fun experience I had at the VC Pride Festival this summer. Yo estaba en el quiosco y estábamos listos para compartir el amor de Dios con la gente del festival. Y vi que al lado de nuestro quiosco qued ó un lugar para los jóvenes lesbiana, gay y transg é nero y sus amigos. Y los visit é , admirando unos pins que estaban haciendo para dar a la gente. Y una joven me dijo: “Te recuerdo del ...