Fully Alive in God

  M. Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard ( Isaiah 9:2-7 ; (Ps. 96; Titus 2:11-14 ); Luke (1:26-38; 2:1-20)   The first thing I have to share tonight is that our dog tried to eat Christmas! ¡Nuestra perra trataba de comer la Navidad! Well, not literally, but let me tell you. One night early in Advent I left the Advent Wreath on the dining table, along with our butter dish with butter on it. And on the Advent Wreath was perched the smallest nativity, made out of a large enameled nut shell from Latin America. Yo dej é un plato que contenía mantequilla en mi mesa por error al lado de mi corona de adviento que también tenía un pequeño nacimiento de América Latina hecho de una cascara pintada. I got up in the morning and it was a disaster. The dog had carefully coaxed the butter dish onto the chair and licked almost a whole stick of butter up. Not so bad, really, as long as her system could handle it. La perra había comido toda la mantequilla muy cuidadosamente, no quebra...

  M. Campbell-Langdell All Saints, Oxnard ( 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 ; Romans 16:25-27 ; Luke 1:26-38 ; Canticle 15 )   Happy Advent Four! Today we light the fourth candle of our Advent Wreath, even as our Jewish siblings are just extinguishing their Hanukkah candles. A rabbi friend told me the other day that in the mystical tradition of Kabbala there is a concept about candles representing human beings and our capacity for kindness. In ancient times a candle was made up of a wick in a vessel of oil. And in this tradition, the human being is the wick. And that person’s acts of kindness are the oil. Those acts of kindness make their spiritual flame burn brighter as they are more generous with others. And this makes me think of Mary. If ever a young woman lit up the world, it was Mary of Nazareth. We celebrated her last Saturday, noting her apparitions all over the world to let us know that God is with us. And we know that this simple humble girl from back of the beyond Naz...

M. Campbell-Langdell Todos los Santos, Oxnard ( 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 ; Romanos 16:25-27 ; Lucas 1:26-38 ; Cantico 8) ¡Feliz cuarto domingo del Adviento! Hoy encendemos la cuarta vela de nuestra Corona de Adviento, incluso cuando nuestros hermanos judíos apenas están apagando sus velas de Hanukkah. Una amiga rabino me dijo el otro día que en la tradición mística de la Cábala existe un concepto sobre velas que representan a los seres humanos y nuestra capacidad de bondad. En la antigüedad, una vela fue una mecha en un recipiente con aceite. Y en esta tradición, el ser humano es la mecha. Y los actos de bondad de esa persona son el aceite. Esos actos de bondad hacen que su llama espiritual brille más, mientras son más generosos con los demás. Y esto me hace pensar en María. Si alguna vez una joven iluminó el mundo, fue María de Nazaret. La celebramos el sábado pasado, notando sus apariciones en todo el mundo para hacernos saber que Dios está con nosotros. Y sabemos que esta sencil...

M. Campbell-Langdell All Saints, Oxnard ( Isaiah 64:1-9 ; Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18 ; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 ; Mark 13:24-37 ) Genesis told me about a meme that my father shared with her at Thanksgiving. Ringo Starr shared it, and as you will expect, it is Beatles themed- the classic Abbey road pic you may remember of the Beatles walking on a Zebra crossing, with George Harrison, Ringo Starr Paul McCartney going one direction and John Lennon going the other direction. In it, George Harrison asks John Lennon, “What happened?” and Lennon replies, “I forgot my mask...” [1] Of course this is a humorous take on our modern predicament, but I think it also highlights a point made about the readings from today by the Rev. Dr. Courtney V. Buggs. She says that the speech of Mark 13 in which Jesus asks his disciples to remain awake during the perhaps chaotic times to come before his arrest and crucifixion, points out the dangers of falling asleep, or of not being aware of surroundings during chal...

  M. Campbell-Langdell Todos los Santos, Oxnard (Isaías 64: 1-9; Salmo 80: 1-7, 16-18; 1 Corintios 1: 3-9; Marcos 13: 24-37) Génesis me contó de un meme que mi padre compartió con ella en el dia de Acción de Gracias. Ringo Starr lo compartió, y como es de esperar, tiene el tema de los Beatles: la clásica foto de Abbey Road que quizás recuerden de los Beatles cruzando una calle, con George Harrison, Ringo Starr Paul McCartney yendo en una dirección y John Lennon en la otra dirección. En él, George Harrison le pregunta a John Lennon: "¿Qué pasó?" y Lennon responde: "Olvidé mi máscara ..." [1] Por supuesto, esta es un comentario humorístico sobre nuestra situación actual, pero creo que también resalta un punto sobre las lecturas de hoy que hizo la reverenda doctora Courtney V. Buggs. Ella dice que el discurso de Marcos 13 en el que Jesús pide a sus discípulos que permanezcan despiertos durante los tiempos quizás caóticos que vendrán antes de su arresto y cruc...

  M. Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard (Ezekiel 34:11–16, 20–24 Ps 100 Eph. 1:15–23 St Matt. 25:31–46)   Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king When I was a young person and I envisioned the scene of judgment that we hear in today’s gospel, I found it all a bit overwhelming. So for many years I broke it down like this. I don’t know where I will be at the last judgment but I do know that I can control my actions. I can attempt to feed the hungry, clothe those without clothes, and heal the sick, at least through my prayers. I can give a cup of cold water when it is asked. In my years of being a priest I have had so many moments when I have been able to do just that. But I haven’t done it alone. Whatever I did was always with the support of the community. I am sorry to admit that there have also been moments when I turned someone away without fully understanding or responding to their need because I felt ...

  M. Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard Cristo Rey + 11.22.20 (Ezequiel 34:11–16, 20–24 Salmo 100 Efesios 1:15–23 San Mateo 25:31–46) Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king Esto cantamos en la misa de inglés. Pronto veremos el rey. Cuando era joven e imaginé la escena del juicio que escuchamos en el evangelio de hoy, encontré todo un poco abrumador. Así que durante muchos años lo entend í así. No sé dónde estaré en el último juicio, pero sí sé que puedo controlar mis acciones. Puedo intentar alimentar a los hambrientos, vestir a los que no tienen ropa y curar a los enfermos, al menos mediante mis oraciones. Puedo dar una taza de agua fría cuando me lo pidan. En mis años de sacerdote he tenido muchos momentos en los que he podido hacer precisamente eso. Pero no lo he hecho solo. Todo lo que hice fue siempre con el apoyo de la comunidad. Lamento admitir que también hubo momentos en los que rechacé a algui...

  God Knows Our Weakness All Saints’, Oxnard The Rev. Alene Campbell-Langdell Matthew 25:1-13                The kingdom of God is like a bunch of people showing up for a protest march, but half of them forgot to bring signs.   Everyone hangs out and talks with each other waiting for the protest to start.   At least the leaders announce that the protest is beginning and the people begin to line up.   Those who showed up without any signs begin to feel embarrassed at their lack and look around for something with which to make signs.   Not finding anything readily available, they head off to the nearest store to buy supplies.   By the time they get back, the protest is over and everyone has gone home.                I retell Jesus’ story this way because it is far too easy to read this as a story of opposite sides....