tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26674506640806279002024-03-21T10:52:28.586-04:00Angels in the AlleyThis blog is written by the Rev. Dr. Hilary B. Smith, a priest of the Episcopal Church. The title, Angels in the Alley, refers to experiences of grace in places or circumstances that are out-of-the-way, unexpected, or often experienced as dark. Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.comBlogger230125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-58752233204344032732015-01-10T11:15:00.000-05:002015-01-10T18:14:09.903-05:00Alcohol and the Episcopal Church<h3>
<span style="color: #444444;">I Never Felt Peer Pressure to Drink Until I Joined the Episcopal Church</span></h3>
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The tragic death of Tom Palermo grips me. So sad...and there is no going back. The consequences for his wife and children, family, and friends will be felt and lived every day of their lives. I'm also gripped by complex and, at times, conflicting feelings about Bishop Heather Cook. The consequences for her will also be felt for the rest of her life -- she will probably go to jail for a number of years; she will be disciplined in some way by the Church as our process goes forward -- but more than this, she will live with the reality that she killed someone while drunk. The texting is beside the point. The drinking led to unsafe driving practices.</div>
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In news stories and comments that I have read, I'm hearing about the need for accountability, and indeed there is a need. In fact, some are posting audio of a sermon given by Heather Cook, in which she speaks of the need for people to be accountable in a society that often wants to give people "a pass." (Well, that is true if one is white, college-educated, and well-spoken.) But what about accountability for the Episcopal Church? </div>
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Perhaps the Angel in the Alley, the grace to be known in the darkness, will be a serious look at how the Episcopal Church relates to alcohol. And perhaps, Episcopalians and others who struggle with issues of alcohol dependence and alcoholism will seek help, and/or be offered help. </div>
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Sure, we in the Episcopal Church have official policies about having alcohol at Church gatherings. We say that "equally attractive non-alcoholic beverages" be at church events when alcohol is present. There is the official position, but what is the culture in our Church and in our churches?</div>
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I never felt peer pressure to drink until I joined the Episcopal Church. Let me give you a few examples of what I mean. So many times at church events, when I am offered a glass of wine or a beer, and I decline...immediately the person follows up with, "it's ok, you can have a drink." I usually have to refuse the drink two or three times before the person will let it go. During an interview process for a position in a church, I was offered a drink by a vestry member during the social time before dinner. When I stated that I was "good" with the water I was drinking, this vestry member stated, "We like to drink with our priest." I didn't get that job. </div>
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There is culture in the Episcopal Church of drinking and being proud of it. Now, I'm not saying that drinking is inherently wrong or that no one should drink, but we need to be aware of the messages we are sending by how we act around alcohol and what we say about it. It is easy to drink too much in the Episcopal Church; the over-all culture encourages it. Many times at Diocesan conferences, Council/Convention, I have seen people, leaders in the Church, hungover the next morning. </div>
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The Episcopal Church's culture around drinking did not do Bishop Cook any favors. I pray that those who read this blog, which I acknowledge is just my personal point of view, ...I hope and pray that if you are struggling with alcohol you will consider getting help...and I hope and pray that the Episcopal Church will develop a culture that takes seriously the need to support those who choose not to drink, for whatever reason.</div>
Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-2455307846047432752014-10-12T22:46:00.000-04:002014-10-12T22:46:29.250-04:00Rethinking the Narrative<h3 style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why I like Science Fiction and Susan Boyle</span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I spent many years being ashamed of my childhood. Numerous things happened that embarrassed me, scared me, made me anxious, lonely...alone. I realized recently that I like science fiction, at least in part, because life is not normal in most of the stories. Take the show </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Falling Skies</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">...after the aliens invaded, there were no more picket fences, lacrosse games, or mom and dad at home for dinner with the family. No, instead the small scrappy band of resistance fighters are on the move, fighting hard, for a good cause --survival; the women don’t spend time putting on makeup because they are working with the men to keep everyone safe. They are in stressful, scary situations, but they work together and they are honorable. Things were so crazy in my childhood that it might as well have been aliens invading, but instead it was alcohol, drugs, broken relationships, and moving all the time. None of this was honorable or for a higher purpose. Until very recently, I thought there were no heroes. But I've been rethinking this...and I've realized that I was the hero of the story...too young to do a lot...but I took care of myself the best I could, and I survived. </span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was a really messed-up kid behind all that. I had good moments, especially as I got older, but it is hard to find a picture as a child in which I’m smiling. I learned to stay quiet, not need anything, and get along with whatever was happening. I gained a lot of weight, and by the time I was thirteen I was obese. I also had trouble spelling, which caused my 9th grade social studies teacher to suggest I would be better off in the “basic” classes; the kids in those classes generally did not go to college. And this is why I like Susan Boyle. Whenever I need to smile at the end of the day, I go to youtube and watch the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Britain's Got Talent </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">show from 2009 when Susan Boyle walked out on stage, not looking that great and seeming to be anything but talented. And then she starts to sing, and people explode with clapping and positive emotions, even tears of joy for her. Did they see themselves in her? Probably-- that part of themselves that they doubt is worthy...but then she is worthy...and so are they? What a surprise. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-86758685227156601642014-08-15T15:33:00.001-04:002014-08-15T15:33:08.708-04:00Embodied Awareness<h2>
Workshops that I recommend. </h2>
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This sort of practice has been part of my healing journey.<br />
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<br />Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-88593679958627458782014-08-12T21:24:00.000-04:002014-08-12T21:27:29.282-04:00Still Thinking about Angels in the Alley - the Alley of Depression<h2>
The Alley can be Very Dark</h2>
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With the death of Robin Williams yesterday, I'm thinking about how dark the alley of depression can be. I'm sure angels were there for Robin and for all who have died as a result of the struggles with mental illness. The angels were there, and God shed tears as God embraced him and took him home. Robin's death reminds us that the alley of depression can be very dark - no amount of money or fame provides a way out of the darkness. Even laughter is not enough - sometimes; even faith is not enough - sometimes. In our dark alleys, may we find the angels among us - to be our light - to show us the way. They are there: doctors, therapists, friends, spiritual directors, clergy...who have been yours? Sharing the darkness with even one other person can make some space for light to enter. Sometimes that light takes the form of medication, sometimes on-going therapy, sometimes rehab when self-medication practices become part of the struggle.<br />
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The story I've started to tell on this blog, about my childhood, which I described recently in a sermon as featuring divorce, alcoholism, and chaos (and I can add here deep loneliness and fear), it is a story of knowing God in that alley--some sort of spiritual awareness that gave me strength and hope at the time. I've learned over the years that for me and for many people, when one goes through a dark alley as a child, there is often, perhaps always, work to be done, healing to experience. I'm so thankful for the people who have been my angels, messengers of grace, midwives to grace in my life...grace always there, God's gift to all, but needing an angel to point the way or witness the way forward out of the alley and into the open space.<br />
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Three prayers from the healing service offered at my church, Holy Comforter, Richmond, every Wednesday at 12:15pm:<br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Grant to all who seek your guidance, and to all who are lonely, anxious, or despondent, a knowledge of your will and an awareness of your presence;</b></span><br />
<i><b>Hear us, O Lord of life.</b></i><br />
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<b><span style="color: #20124d;">Mend broken relationships, and restore those in emotional distress to soundness of mind and serenity of spirit;</span></b><br />
<i><b>Hear us, O Lord of life. </b></i><br />
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<b><span style="color: #20124d;">Hear us, O Lord of life;</span></b><br />
<i><b>Heal us, and make us whole.</b></i>Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-6427695216859812322013-09-28T10:20:00.000-04:002013-09-28T10:20:17.031-04:00Faithful Followers of this BlogDear Friends,<br />
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I will post to this blog again! I do want to finish my story of my angel in the alley and reflect upon other experiences of grace in unexpected places. I have also established a Facebook closed group by this name, which I plan to make available in the next month. <br />
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Right now I am primarily posting to my new blog for my new church Holy Comforter. You can sign up to follow that blog as well...links to my sermons are found there, along with many interesting reflections and images...by me and others. You can find the blog here<br />
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<a href="http://lifetogetherhoco.blogspot.com/">Life Together</a><br />
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I hope that you are well!<br />
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Peace,<br />
Hilary+Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-81231586864397303802013-06-28T00:17:00.001-04:002013-09-28T20:55:57.502-04:00Come As You Are<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-85893227287410232002013-06-27T22:19:00.002-04:002013-06-27T23:17:20.956-04:00In God's Time<span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent"><span style="font-size: large;">I am delighted to announce that I have been called to be Priest-in-Charge of Holy Comforter, Richmond, in the Diocese of Virginia. Everything in God's time. I'm coming home to Richmond and to a church I have loved since I was a summer intern there in 1999!</span></span></span><br />
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Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-29019561683700977822013-05-28T21:54:00.002-04:002013-05-28T21:54:35.105-04:00Women's Retreat May 31 - June 2I'm looking forward to leading the Women's Retreat at Shrine Mont this weekend. To see the full flyer go here: <a href="http://shrinemont.indigofiles.com/womensretreat13.pdf">http://shrinemont.indigofiles.com/womensretreat13.pdf</a><br />
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Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-23804209547680897762013-05-20T19:48:00.001-04:002013-05-28T21:47:34.829-04:00The Angel, 1974Here is a picture of my angel taken by my dad in 1974.<br />
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Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-76261232362189732492013-04-16T17:43:00.001-04:002013-04-16T17:43:51.378-04:00Women's Retreat, Shrine Mont May 31 - June 2, 2013I will be leading a retreat for women at the Shrine Mont Retreat Center in Orkney Springs VA, Friday May 31 to June 2, 2013. This retreat is open to all women -- it is not connected to a particular parish but is an offering of Shrine Mont. Here is the plan for our time together:<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Women at the Well: Deepening Relationship with God and Self</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Take time away from the busy routine of life to enter a special time of encounter with God as we reflect on our lives and relationships. God is with us in every moment of every day, but how often do we have time to savor the moments of grace that we have known? When Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:7-19), he offered a new life grace. When we come to the well of our lives with God, what will the Spirit share with us? What wisdom does God have for us? The retreat will include reflections by Hilary, as well as opportunities for silence, group Celtic prayer, personal prayer, journaling, art, small group sharing, walking the Labyrinth, Centering Prayer, and individual spiritual direction. All activities are optional. Suggestions for prayer will include the use of scripture; bringing a Bible is recommended. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">For additional information and to register: <a href="http://shrinemont.indigofiles.com/womensretreat13.pdf">Women at the Well Retreat</a></span></div>
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Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-28376531819442921802013-02-26T12:03:00.001-05:002013-02-26T13:08:30.324-05:00Surprised by Grace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have discerned that I am not called to monastic life after
all. When I left my position as rector of St. Paul’s on-the-Hill, I believed
that God was calling me to be a postulant with the Society of St. Margaret in
Massachusetts, where I would have the opportunity to discern if I was being
called to a life-long commitment to their order. What happened really surprised
me (a sure sign that I’m letting go of control and really listening/hearing
God). As soon as I left St. Paul’s on-the-Hill, I felt more open to God and God’s
will for me. I went on a seven-day silent directed retreat at the Jesuit Center
in Wernersville PA a on January 7<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>. The picture of the tree in the
fog was taken during the retreat. Early in the morning, I would wake up to this
fog surrounding the grounds and the retreat center, which spoke to me of God’s
loving embrace…the Holy Spirit surrounding me with care and a gentleness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">During the retreat, I realized that I had made the decision
to go to the convent (apply to go) based on good reasons; it was reasonable for
me, but not based on an actual call from God. So I prayed about what had
caused me to think I was called to monastic life, and in the prayer I knew it
had to do with wanting to serve God with the sort of devotion that the Sisters
have…I too wanted to be transformed to God’s greater glory so as to live my
life to God’s glory and in the service of others. In this prayer, God was
helping me with what we, in spiritual direction, call the discernment of
spirits. The idea being that we are called by God to live life to the fullest
and that everyone is called to glorify God in his or her life, and that to do
so we have to make choices. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In order to know what to choose, we take part in a process
of discernment. In the lives of those who are seeking to do God’s will –seeking
to be faithful followers of Christ—we can be faced with two good choices…either
one could be good for us and good for the world. But as St. Ignatius said, we
are called to what is most in tune with God’s purpose for us, which always has
something to do with freeing us to be more fully ourselves and to be servants
to others. This is what I knew I was being called to address on the retreat, and
I felt the freedom to do so, and the grace to have the courage to do so. It has
taken courage for me because I’m the sort of person who does not change a plan
that has been made and publicized widely, including being reported in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Virginia Episcopalian</i>! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I wanted to go the convent. But, in my prayer, I received a
clear sense from God, direction from God, to continue to live my life in “the
world” and not go to the convent. Instead, I heard God say to me that I am
being transformed now, in the life I live, in the life God has given me as the
person God has created me to be, right here and now. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I share this with you because I know some of
you want to know more than can be put on Facebook, or that I wanted to put on
Facebook, and also because what has been going on in my life has taught me a
lot about discernment and perhaps hearing my story will be helpful to you in your
discernment now or later. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As well, this was an “angel in the alley” experience
for me, in that I experienced grace in an unexpected way. I’m living now with a
deep sense of joy and freedom even though all of my plans have, in a sense,
fallen apart. But in my plans falling away, I’m more able to live my life for
God and be more fully the person God has created me to be…more than ever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-55788548522628490292013-02-25T13:21:00.000-05:002013-02-25T14:04:36.898-05:00An OutsiderThe angel in the alley made an impression on me when I was a young girl. Why did it? What was that? I saw the angel in the stained-glass window from the outside only. Did I feel the energy and the power of God, the love of God, reaching out to me, using this angel in a stained-glass window? God will use the circumstances of our lives to connect with us. I never saw the inside of that church, or the angel in her full glory, with bright colors, as visible from the inside. I was always looking at that icon from the outside. I was an outsider when it came to the Church, organized religion...my parents were going to save me from all that...all the negative aspects of the Church as an institution. I never saw the inside of that church, as a child. We left Winchester when I was seven years old; my mom and dad and I moved to Miami. We left, but the angel never left me. Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-19983880498776866582013-02-11T19:35:00.000-05:002013-02-11T19:35:11.953-05:00An Angel in one Alley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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God connects with us all the time through what we know and the circumstances of our lives. Praying about what has happened to us in the past gives God a chance to show us more than we could understand at the time. A prayer experience that I had a few years ago on retreat is the inspiration for this writing project, "Angels in the Alley." In this post, I will share the experience that happened in the 1970s, and in future posts, more will be shared about my experience. As the blog develops, concepts about God, knowing God, experiencing God, will be considered in a way that I hope will be helpful to you as you reflect on your relationship with God. <br />
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When I was a little girl living in Winchester Virginia, my Dad and I would walk our dog around the streets and side-streets of Old Town Winchester. We often walked down what I thought of as an alley, a bit of an out-of-the-way area, away from the cars and other people. A pocket of silence in a busy world. As I think about it now, it feels still. We walked by this large building, I'm not sure if I knew it was church when I was four years old, but it was. We walked by, and I would look up, and I would see this angel, right there, and I thought of her as "my angel," (probably not "her" but to me she was). I don't remember thinking about the angel much when we weren't walking by that church, but the image and the memory never left me.Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-80602034135786864372013-01-03T11:24:00.001-05:002013-01-03T11:24:43.638-05:00Angels in the Alley - New TitleGreetings Friends,<br />
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My blog now has a new title, Angels in the Alley, which refers to experiences of grace in places that are out-of-the-way, unexpected, or often experienced as dark.Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-25391917815415572232012-12-31T10:24:00.000-05:002012-12-31T10:24:04.037-05:00Grace Upon Grace<br />
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Greetings Friends in Christ,<br />
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The picture above is from the service yesterday. I'm wearing the new stole made for me by church member Cari Sherwood. As you can see, it is made to represent the church windows behind me. Cari made it for me so that I can always remember and feel connected to everyone at SPOTH. I'm so thankful for this gift, and the gift of the past nine years as priest-in-charge and then rector of St. Paul's on-the-Hill Episcopal Church. Standing with me is the Rev. Dr. Ellen Richardson, who has been my colleague in ministry since 2010; she remains priest-in-residence at the church.<br />
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This will be my last post from this blog as a blog from St. Paul's on-the-Hill. In the next few days, I will rename this blog and begin posting here from the reality of my current transition to new ministry.<br />
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We had a great day yesterday, December 30th, the 1st Sunday after Christmas. The service was lovely and included within the liturgy was a form of The Ending of a Pastoral Relationship, which I include below. I'm also including here a link to yesterday's sermon from my new personal sermon site, where you will be able to hear my future sermons.<br />
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<a href="http://sermon.net/hilarybsmith/sermonid/1199926188">The Meaning of Incarnation</a> Sermon given by Hilary+ on December 30, 2012<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Ending of a Pastoral
Relationship<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Rector</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> In September of 2003, I began my
ministry with you as priest-in-charge and was later called to be rector. I
have, with God’s help and to the best of my abilities, exercised this trust,
accepting its privileges and responsibilities. After prayer and careful
consideration, it now seems to me that I should leave this charge, and I
publicly state that my tenure as rector of St. Paul’s on-the-Hill ends today at
the conclusion of this service. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Rector</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Do you, the people of St. Paul’s
on-the-Hill recognize and accept the conclusion of this pastoral relationship?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">People</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <b>We do.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Symbols of our shared ministry
will be given to representatives of the congregation, after which the following
prayers are said. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Rector</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Let us pray. O God, you have
bound us together for a time as priest and people to work for the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> advancement
of your kingdom in this place:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Rector
and People</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <b>We give you humble and hearty thanks for
the ministry which we have shared in these years now past. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Rector </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We thank you for your patience
with us despite our blindness and slowness of heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Rector
and People</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <b>We thank you for your forgiveness and mercy
in the face of our many failures.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Rector </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Especially, we thank you for your
never-failing presence with us through these years,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Rector
and People</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <b>and for the deeper knowledge of you and of
each other which we have attained.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Rector</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> We thank you for those who have
been joined to this part of Christ’s family during these years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Rector
and People</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <b>We thank you for opening our hearts and
minds again and again to your Word, and for feeding us abundantly with the
sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">People </span></i><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Now
we pray, be with Hilary+ who leaves and with us who stay;</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">Rector
and People</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"> <b>and grant that all of us, by drawing ever nearer to you, may always be
close to each other in the communion of your saints. All this we ask for the
sake of Jesus Christ, your Son our Savior. Amen. </b></span>Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-47178417747296395962012-12-29T16:47:00.002-05:002012-12-29T16:47:18.894-05:00Sermon Preview for the 1st Sunday after ChristmasSermon for the 1st Sunday after Christmas; December 30, 2012<br />
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<b><span style="color: #660000;">The Meaning of Incarnation</span></b></h2>
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Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-90718581295723213902012-12-28T23:50:00.001-05:002012-12-29T11:05:36.557-05:00My Last Sunday at SPOTHSeeing this sign last night was very emotional for me. I'm so thankful for everything my faith community for the last nine years has shared with me. Tomorrow we will celebrate our shared ministry and our Savior who has made everything possible. It is all by God's grace.<br />
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Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-63751852310860107492012-12-25T21:04:00.004-05:002012-12-25T21:04:37.836-05:00Christmas Sermon 2012<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;">Go Now to Bethlehem</span></h2>
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<a href="http://sermon.net/spoth/sermonid/1199921348">http://sermon.net/spoth/sermonid/1199921348</a>Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-79323107147813001012012-12-25T09:13:00.001-05:002012-12-25T21:23:51.968-05:00Merry Christmas<br />
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Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-92185651571444252182012-12-23T23:40:00.003-05:002012-12-23T23:40:59.317-05:00Christmas Sermon 2012 Preview<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;">Go Now To Bethlehem</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #274e13;">I will be preaching a shorter, kid-friendly, version of this sermon at 4:00 pm, though still with enough for the adults to be engaged at a deep level, I hope. Full sermon at 9:00 pm and Christmas Day at 10:30 am.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13;">wordle.net</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span>Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-75776457002565406772012-12-23T17:42:00.000-05:002012-12-23T17:42:25.092-05:00Christmas Services <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-3757158858053612252012-12-23T17:41:00.003-05:002012-12-23T17:41:33.534-05:00Sermon given on the 4th Sunday of Advent<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;">The Good and the Bad News of Christmas</span></h2>
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Sermon given by the Rev. Bruce Gallup on the 4th Sunday of Advent, December 23, 2012. Bruce continues where Ellen left off last week, in a sense, with the tragedy in Newtown CT and how we are dealing with it personally...and all within the context of Advent 4. Well done.<br />
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<a href="http://sermon.net/spoth/sermonid/1199919280">http://sermon.net/spoth/sermonid/1199919280</a>Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-34976599516153728322012-12-22T11:53:00.001-05:002012-12-25T21:27:35.635-05:00Join Us for the 4th Sunday of AdventOn December 23rd, we will celebrate the 4th Sunday of Advent. Join us to worship at 8am or 10:30am. No Saturday service this weekend. <br />
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Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-31764478599062744272012-12-19T11:38:00.000-05:002012-12-19T12:02:17.703-05:00Sermon given on the 3rd Sunday of Advent<h2>
<span style="color: #351c75;">Lament</span></h2>
Sermon given on the 3rd Sunday of Advent, December 16, 2012, by the Rev. Dr. Ellen Richardson.<br />
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Ellen does an excellent job of addressing the tragic events of last Friday in CT.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 17.981481552124023px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17.96666717529297px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://sermon.net/spoth/sermonid/1199914829">http://sermon.net/spoth/sermonid/1199914829</a></span></span>Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2667450664080627900.post-23975767292920708892012-12-19T11:30:00.003-05:002012-12-19T12:03:08.193-05:00Sermon given on the 2nd Sunday of Advent<h2>
<span style="color: #20124d;">Preparing for Salvation</span></h2>
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My sermon given on the 2nd Sunday of Advent, December 9, 2012.<br />
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<a href="http://sermon.net/spoth/sermonid/1199908913">http://sermon.net/spoth/sermonid/1199908913</a><br />
<br />Hilary Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15520092522880161424noreply@blogger.com0