NEWSLETTER
SUMMER A.D. 2004
XPAX
In this half of the year, however, no proleptic imagination is needed. The dawning light of day provides a visual accompaniment to our chanting at Lauds. In the window above the altar the glowing eastern sky shows itself, sometimes golden and sometimes rosy, and gradually fills the upper spaces of the chapel with its light. Through the lower windows we can see "the colors glimmer back to sight," as one of the morning hymns puts it. It is an added delight when the local birds also choose this time to greet the morning with their own songs and calls.
Of course, the images used in morning prayer are symbolic and are to be understood at a deeper, spiritual level. Our prayers and praise are not directed to the phenomenon of the earth turning on its axis but to Jesus Christ as our Light and Day: "O Light of Light, light's living spring, / O Day, all days illumining." Yet for these images to remain powerful they need to be refreshed by the earthly experiences to which they allude. Some years ago when we still grew a large vegetable garden guests would sometimes ask if we were able to feed ourselves for the whole year from it. My standard answer was, no, but it does bless the food for the whole year, because it reminds us what the vegetables are supposed to taste like. So these light filled mornings of spring and summer remind us of the drama of a new day and renew the metaphors of light and day in the morning prayers.
The climax of the office of Lauds is the singing of the Gospel canticle, the Benedictus (Luke 1:68-79). Perhaps Zechariah the father of John the Baptist was inspired by the sight of the rising Sun in a brilliant morning sky as he composed the final part of his song of praise: "when the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death." However that may be, certainly in celebrating the birth of his son, the forerunner of the Lord, he was standing in the light of the dawn of salvation. Prophetically his words point forward also to the morning of the Resurrection when the light of Christ dispelled the darkness of death. Each day as we sing this canticle at Lauds salvation history, Christ's coming and His resurrection, is being invoked as a blessing upon the present day that is dawning on our world.
Earthly day and night seem locked in an inconclusive struggle. Each one must eventually give way to the other. So also good and evil, joy and sorrow are mixed so confusingly in this life. We must seek another day, another morning to resolve this contest. In the Christian creed this decisive day is called the "third day," the day of Christ's resurrection. This "third day" knows no setting of the sun, for it is the era of salvation. It has broken through the old ambiguity between night and day, light and darkness, good and evil, life and death. Every day may now be begun in its clarity.
"Life after death" is a misleading expression if it is allowed to imply that the new life of the resurrection is postponed until after death. A better, more comprehensive way to express the Christian belief would be to say that we believe in life greater than death. This greater life will, of course, outlast death, but even now it can disperse the "shadow" that death casts forward into our lives. This is true whether the shadow is the vague anxiety, the angst, that seems to lurk within the human psyche or whether the fears and worries are the more concrete and identifiable troubles of the day. Christians believe there is nothing they can run into that will prove greater than this life, than Him who is this life.
When we say of this life that it is eternal we must understand by this that it is constantly new and renewing, innovative and surprising, always fresh in its relevance to every situation. Theological eternity is not to be simply equated with the mathematical concept of infinity. If endless time is all that is meant here, how could the experience not eventually succumb to dull tediousness and boring monotony? Eternal life really means divine life in this context; our life is eternal only in the sense that it is a participation in God who is eternal. In the life of God, the creative Origin of all that is, we need never fear that we will find anything tired or stale. God's eternity is always fresh like an open-ended morning. Each day we can begin a new adventure in the wilderness of this eternity. "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning."
The weather is not always cooperative, and even in summer not every day breaks forth bright and clear to fill the chapel with light during morning prayers. The weather of life is also changeable and unpredictable. Yet every morning our faith can arise clear bright to meet whatever the day may bring. When life is unsettled we can look to the dawn from on high to provide the light that will overcome the darkness. And even when the clouds linger we can still confidently make our morning prayers to the Lord for, "even the darkness is not dark to you, the night is bright as the day; for darkness is as light with you."
Sincerely,
Fr. Richard G. Herbel
News & Notes
The Fourth Wednesday in Lent Fr. Richard was the preacher at Christ Church Cranbrook (Episcopal) for a mid-week Lenten prayer service. The Lenten series covered the spiritual disciplines and Fr. Richard spoke on prayer.
The great and moving Liturgies of Holy Week and Easter were kept in our beautiful new chapel, now already for the third time. The great commemoration of our Lord's death and resurrection renews our prayer life for the whole year. On Easter Monday we confirmed our joy in the Resurrection as we gathered with our dear friends the Sisters of Mt. Thabor to celebrate Vespers and enjoy a supper afterward.
During the month of May it was a special joy to have Br. Boris from our sister monastery in Sweden with us. Many willl remember him from five years ago when he lived with us for nearly half a year.
Br. Boris, Fr. Richard, Br. Isaias, Fr. Thomas
The annual meeting of the chapter or governing body of our community was held on May 3\super rd\nosupersub . Three new associate members were added: Fr. W. Adam Boerstler and Daniel and Barbara Susan. The financial report for the past year showed an income of $100,712 against operating expenses of $102,130 leaving a slight deficit of $1,418. A new roof for the Retreat House was authorized along with a separate appeal for funds for this project.
For a second spring in a row we are indebted to the Boy Scouts for spending a work day cleaning up our grounds and clearing and raking the hiking trails. The weather turned a bit rainy, but they soldiered on and completed the job. Thanks also to Red Knapps American Grill in Oxford for free pizzas to feed the workers.
Last winter it became evident that we could not postpone a new roof for the Retreat House another year. The total cost for the new roof came to $13,947 which included repair and replacement of the underlying decking. We are grateful for $5,267 in gifts designated to help with this expense. Another $500 is expected in matching funds from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.
A new roof for the Retreat House
On the Friday after Ascension a one day outing took us to Grand Rapids. We were the guests of our associate Donna Engstrom as we toured the beautiful Meijer Gardens and also the Gerald Ford Presidential Library there.
Christopher Crandall from Oregon arrived toward the end of May and is now staying with us as a Long Term Guest. LTGs share in the monastic life here for one to six months participating in the daily prayers and contributing with help in the work and chores.
Readers may want to mark their calendars for several upcoming events here in August. On Sunday afternoon, the 22nd a "Bach Festival" is being planned with local musicians. On Friday evening, the 27th there will be a choral Vespers featuring the organ and hymn singing. Then on Saturday the 28th the annual Fellowship Day will be held. More information on these events will be forthcoming later in the summer.
Chapel Sponsor
DOROTHY E. BIGELOW
TRUDY CARTNER
ALBERT R. HERBEL
CHARLES A HERBEL TORSTEN & MARGARETA LINDSKOP SANDRA STELMACH |
