NEWSLETTER
Advent A.D. 2003/04

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In the old translation of the Collect or Opening Prayer for Christmas Day we used to pray “that the new birth of Thine only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us free, who are held in the old bondage under the yoke of sin.” I lament that the newer translations of this venerable prayer do not preserve the description of our Lord’s birth as new. Granted, it does seem a little strange to describe an event that took place over two millennia ago as new, but there is a good reason for doing so in this case. The Church’s celebration in Word and Sacrament of Christ’s coming is more than just a reminder, a liturgical memento of something long past. When we gather together for the Liturgies of Christmas Eve and Day, the birth of the only-begotten Son of God in our human flesh, is something that is fresh, bright, vivid, and above all active in the here and now. It is, in short, new to us and for us.

Of course, this birth is an event that took place at a definite moment in the history of the world, and as such is subject to the calendar as are other events. To downplay this would be to undermine the concrete, factual basis of the Christian faith. Jesus Christ is not a myth, floating unattached in history. But faith teaches us that His coming, death, and resurrection was a pivotal moment that has brought all human history under its sway. The purpose of God has been set forth in the Son of Mary “as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” Human history has its center in the new born King, and like the spokes on a wheel no matter how far human history has or will extend it remains in exactly the same relationship to this hub and axis. Thus there is an immediacy to the Christmas mystery that each age can experience as new and powerful.

“Repeat the sounding joy” the familiar carol exhorts. That is what the Church in her liturgical observance of Christmas has been doing down through the centuries. Each celebration is an authentic echo of the historical birth of the Savior. Like an echo, although not the event itself, it originates in that event and is a witness and sign of it. It conveys the exact form and substance of the original message. The message of this echo from past history does not grow stale or become distorted, for every year the Christmas Liturgy refreshes and renews it in the living memory of the Church. In this regard the Church is imitating the example of Mary who “kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.” The sound and the joy do not grow any the less for having been repeated and pondered so often.

It is interesting that even in the secular world there still remains a dim memory of the promise and power of the true Christmas Gospel. Even among those who will ultimately squander the spiritual opportunity that Christmas presents there persists the notion, the tentative hope that there might really be something miraculous or at least magical about the Holy Night and Christmas Day: the stars will shine more brightly, generosity will prevail over selfishness, sadness will unexpectedly be turned to joy, the elusive ideals of peace and love in the world will find a firmer footing, the day will dawn with a brighter hope for all. But when the connection between holiday and Holy Day has been forgotten and the day has lost or been deliberately stripped of its religious content, nostalgia alone cannot long sustain such hopes.

Such assurance is, however, still offered year after year in the Church’s reverent and prayerful proclamation of the birth of Christ in Word and Sacrament. Here the Holy Night still shines with the brightness of the true Light and the Day brings deliverance from old bondage. The present celebration shares in the power of the first and again becomes a pivotal moment in our lives and in the history of our world.

The Christmas mystery is not something old and getting older, a fading ghost that we must labor each year to resurrect with our mental efforts. Rather it is something that can be received each year as a new grace of God in our lives and for our world. It is not we who awaken the spirit of Christmas but the spirit of Christmas that awakens us. There is a saying to the effect that Christ can be born a thousand times in Bethlehem, but if he is not born in you it will do you no good. Perhaps the saying could be adapted this way: Christ is born only once in Bethlehem, but he can be born a thousand times in us. May this Christmas be one of those times. May we all be able to join the herald angels and without apologies to history sing with them, “Glory to the new born King!”

Sincerely,
Fr. Richard G. Herbel

News & Notes

On the Eve of Holy Cross Day Fr. Thomas McElwey was clothed as an Novice Oblate of our community. Also this fall the Council of the Southeastern Michigan Synod (ELCA) extended him a call granting him “Special Minister” status for his pastoral service here at St. Augustine’s.

Isaias Beh Ramirez, a theological student from Mexico continues to live with us and to faithfully share in the daily prayers and work. He is eagerly anticipating seeing it snow this winter.

Guests are not usually kept permanently, but when a large, black, and very friendly dog showed up at our door, an exception was made. After all attempts to locate his owner failed, we decided this was meant to be his new home; he was licensed and given the name Ben. His affectionate ways have proved a hit with guests—and with residents too!

The later part of September Fr. Richard and Fr. Thomas attended the annual retreat of the Society of the Holy Trinity in Baltimore. Fr. Richard was one of the preachers at the retreat. During their absence our resident associate David Blythe kept an eye on things at home.

The drive to Baltimore was broken up by spending a night each way in Pittsburgh. Our associate Pastor John Cochran provided housing and also attended the retreat in Baltimore. The first evening in Pittsburgh he arranged a gathering of area friends and associates of St. Augustine’s House.

On October 16th a successful benefit auction was held to raise funds for the tile floor in the new church. The auction itself raised $6,720. In addition there was more than $4,000 in outright gifts and matching funds from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. This brought us to within reach of our goal of $12,000. Special thanks to Ernie Baker for hatching the idea and then coordinating the overall effort. Mention also needs to be made of Boris Sellers whose auctioneering skills were indispensable to the event. A full list of other volunteers and benefactors would be too long, but we are grateful to each and every one.

On All Saints’ Day the community attended the solemn profession of Sr. Mary Catherine of Jesus at Mt. Thabor Monastery in Ortonville. The profession was a moving and inspiring event and we are grateful to have shared this moment with our dear friends, the sisters.

The Congregation of the Servants of Christ—St. Augustine's House—is an ecumenical Christian community whose life of discipleship is inspired and shaped by the Holy Rule of St. Benedict. We are affiliated with the Lutheran tradition, understood as a movement within and for the one holy catholic and apostolic Church of Jesus Christ. We are committed to the growth of the permanent resident community, to the pursuit of ecumenical understanding, and to the provision of retreats for members of the Fellowship of St. Augustine and others. We seek to serve the whole Church by our life of prayer and by the use of our facilities.

Building News

A number of improvements have been made this fall. In September steps and a walkway were finally added in front of the entrance to the Church. The paving tile is attractive and now provides a hard surface for the frequent journeys from the Retreat House to the Church.

In October the area around the flooring of the old Quonset Hut Chapel was landscaped and several different kinds of bushes were planted. It is hoped they will eventually grow into “walls” setting off the old foundation as an outdoor meditation space. Our thanks to Bradley Haney who planned this work toward achieving rank as an Eagle Scout.

In November the interior of the Church was considerably improved by the installation of a ceramic tile floor. The cost of this was almost entirely covered by the benefit auction mentioned elsewhere in this newsletter and by those who sent in gifts specifically for this project. The new floor completes all the physical aspects of the new church. In two years we have also managed to pay off just over a quarter of the mortgage on the building, a small milestone in that regard.

Chapel Sponsors

• December
by Donald R. Fritz in thanksgiving for a 30 year anniversary and numerous blessings.
• January
by Dr. William D. Boesenhofer in memory of the Rev’d John J. Zoppi.

A gift of $1000 supports our use of the chapel by paying the mortgage for a month.

AWAKE, mankind! For your sake God has become man. Awake, you who sleep, rise up from the dead, and Christ will enlighten you. I tell you again: for your sake, God became man.

Let us then joyfully celebrate the coming of our salvation and redemption. Let us celebrate the festive day on which he who is the great and eternal day came from the great and endless day of eternity into our own short day of time.

Let us then rejoice in this grace, so that our glorying may bear witness to our good conscience by which we glory, not in ourselves, but in the Lord. That is why Scripture says: He is my glory, the one who lifts up my head. For what greater grace could God have made to dawn on us than to make his only son become the son of man, so that a son of man might in his turn become son of God?

Ask if this were merited; ask for its reason, for its justification, and see whether you will find any other answer but sheer grace.

~St. Augustine