The Cross and the Cross Beam
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Sloughing Towards Galilee!
The Cross and the Crossbeam!
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, they must deny themselves, and take up their cross and follow Me." Matthew 16:24.
"For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God. .2 Corinthians 13:4.
Ramdam
Begins Monday,? March 11, Ends April 9:
Ramadan is considered one of the holiest months of the year for Muslims. In Ramadan, Muslims commemorate the revelation of the Qur’an, and fast? from food and drink during the sunlit hours as a means of drawing closer to God and cultivating self-control, gratitude, and compassion for those less fortunate. Ramadan is a month of intense spiritual rejuvenation with a heightened focus on devotion, during which Muslims spend extra time reading the Qur’an and performing special prayers. Those unable to fast, such as pregnant or nursing women, the sick, or elderly people & children, are exempt from fasting.
In our heading above there is a photo of a pin, "All Are One" symbolizing that Christians, Jews, and Muslims all worship the same God, we are siblings. (We have pins available for $125.00 ( all silver).
During this time of war and unrest, rather than look for the divisions see that all three have the same Commandment of Love. I will take part in the fast to stand in solidarity, except for times of eating out with friends).
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The cross was originally portrayed as stauros, a vertical pole; Yet for much of history, Christians have placed a crossbar on the stake.
Early in Christian history, a crossbar appeared, symbolizing the outstretched love of God. The outstretched love of God is extended to the world.
The stauros the vertical pole, ( the stake): represent not a high way to heaven, but the empire, Caesaer, the power of empire, of the government, the sinful choice of a broken, wounded world toward violence and death.
The horizontal beam represents the reign of God, the sacred community, and the extension of love through the whole universe.
The vertical stake points to the sacrifice of Jesus, whereas the horizontal call each one of us to the sacrificial love for the world. We are called to serve others, giving of ourselves, giving wholly that others might experience the same wholeness as we do, the life of the reign of God. The cross beam disrupts empire as it disrupts structures of power and privilege.
The crossbeam is an expression of the deep feminine of God, about birth and love, nurture and protection, and deliverance.
Julian of Norwich once said, "I understand three ways of contemplating motherhood in God.
The first is the foundation of our nature's creation.
The second is God taking our nature where motherhood of grace begins", and the third,
Julian said, "is motherhood at work Christ's death on the cross. And it is all one love. Creation, incarnation, crucifixion, God's motherly love."
My calling in taking up the horizontal cross to hang out on the dark streets, hold the hands of young men and women when they are bloody and dying, listen to individuals on the corner of the street, put bandishes on wounds, and most importantly be a presence of someone who cares for them on their level.
What keeps me going is summed up by Father Henri Nouwen:
"I deeply know that I have a home in Jesus, just as Jesus has a home in God. I know, too, that when I abide in Jesus I abide with him in God. “Those who love me,” Jesus says, “will be loved by my Father” (John 14:21). My true spiritual work is to let myself be loved, fully and completely, and to trust that in that love I will come to the fulfillment of my vocation. I keep trying to bring my wandering, restless, anxious self home so that I can rest there in the embrace of love. Father Henri Nouwen.
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The question I raise with others "What is your call?"
"That sweaty, bloody, tear-stained labor of the cross bears new life. Our mother, Jesus gives birth to a creation and you and I are his children. If we're going to keep growing into Christ's image for the world around us, we have to give up fear in favor of the love of birth.
Bishop.( Katherine Jefferts Schori).
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Thirtieth Anniversary Celebration
October 5, 2024
6:00 p.m.
Victor's Piazza pm Polk
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(Temenos and Fr. River seek to remain accessible to everyone. We do not endorse particular causes, political parties, or candidates, or take part in public controversies, whether religious, political or social--Our pastoral ministry is to everyone!
Fr. River Damien Sims, sfw, D.Min., D.S.T.
P.O. Box 642656
San Francisco, CA 94164
snap chat: riodamien2
415-305-2124
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We will be having our Annual Good Friday Remembrance of The Haunting!" on Good Friday, March 8, 2024 beginning at 11:30 a.m. If you would like to participate by reading one of the Stations please let me know!