The end of the rainbow...

I will spare you all the cheesy references to pots 'o gold and leprechauns, but I can't resist connecting our legends about the ends of rainbows with where this rainbow ends. Our church, represented by the building, is a great symbol of what we value in our lives. The Bible refers many times to God's law and God's wisdom as more valuable than gold, like in this passage from Job, "It cannot be gotten for gold, and silver cannot be weighed out as its price. It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire. Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls." The church, the body of Christ is who we are, and we come together as a community of faith not to seek material wealth or gain, but to inherit the wealth of a life lived seeking after God's wisdom. This is where life is found, at the end of the rainbow.

I can see clearly now...

After a good rain, blue skies, white clouds and the possibility of a rainbow makes me feel hopeful. Something new is on the wind. I took this picture yesterday afternoon at 4:15 p.m. What a beautiful sky after so many days of darkness, clouds and rain.

We are in an election year this year. It is on everyone's minds, of course. Something new is on the wind. One of Epiphany's newer members asked if the Episcopal Church sponsors or supports one particular candidate OR if there is a candidate that particularly embodies the values of the Episcopal Church. Two great questions! The answer to both questions is NO. The Episcopal Church does not endorse a candidate nor is there a candidate that embodies the values of the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church thrives on its diversity which includes political diversity as well.

However, that being said, there is plenty of religious rhetoric being tossed around in this election year and, in the interest of us all seeing clearly as Super Tuesday approaches, I thought I would send you to a couple of websites that address this issue of religion, politics, and the election. The first is The Revealer: A Daily Review of Religion and the Press. There is a great article called Holy Iowa that I referenced in a sermon not too long ago. This website is new to me but it seems worth exploring.

And, hot off the presses of Religion and Ethics Weekly is this article/video on Religion and the Presidential Primaries. If you go to the home page of Religion and Ethics Weekly there are other resources there as well.

What in the world....

...is the Episcopal Church doing about the climate crisis, asked one of Epiphany's newer members. Participants in The Way of Jesus, a class for those newest to the church as well as those interested jumpstarting their faith, were asked to write down the questions they had about Epiphany, about the Episcopal Church, about religion in general, and about anything in the world that was on their mind! Over the next week or so, we will post responses to those questions, beginning with the question of what the Episcopal Church is doing about climate change.

Where to begin with the question of climate change? The Episcopal Church is responding in numerous ways to the climate crisis on local, diocesan, national and international levels. There is so much out there on the World Wide Web that shows what we are doing to make a difference, and yet there is still so much more we can still do! Below are a series of links for your exploration of the Episcopal Church's response. These are only a few. I encourage you to explore and let me know if you find anything that we should publish on the Epicenter and spread the word about. And now, on with the show...

Click here for information on what the Anglican Communion is doing in terms of environmental ministry and mission.

The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Los Angeles have both chosen the U.N. Millennium Development Goals as a focus for mission, including the goal of environmental sustainability.

The Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN)
This group is not limited only to environmental advocacy but spans the breadth and depth of issues we face.

EPPN's Lenten series, For the Beauty of the Earth
I believe you can subscribe to this series and receive reflections, information and prayers during the Lenten season. I just signed up so we will see what happens.

Environmental Stewardship
Also on the national level, this is a focus area of the Peace and Justice Ministries office. This site has numerous articles and resources. Lots to browse here!

Our diocese, The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, has a Minister for the Environment who wrote this article on the spiritual implications of global warming.

The LA diocese also sponsors Camp Stevens, an Episcopal Church camp that operates year round teaching children and adults about the importance of continuing to work toward environmental sustainability as an important part of the practice of our faith.

Arise! Shine!

For your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Isaiah 60.1
Here we are in the season of Epiphany and the Epicenter is back online. After a bit of a winter break, new posts are on the way! As promised in December, I want to follow up on our last class with Dr. George and give you his recommended reading list for further study and reflections. But first let me direct your attention to Dr. George's blog. The blog links to a great essay written by Dr. George on dreams. Once you are at the blog, look on the right side of your screen under "Categories" and then click on "Dream Interpretation." Enjoy!

And now for Dr. George's recommended reading...
On Dreams
Some Must Watch, While Some Must Sleep by William C. Dement
This text covers the laboratory research on sleep and dreams in a most readable way.
The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud
The classic on dreams. Dreams are in italics throughout the book and the fascinating psychoanalytic interpretations follow.

Inner Work by Robert A. Johnson
Half of this book is about interpreting your own dreams.

Memories, Dreams and Reflections by C.G. Jung
Dreams: A Way to Listen to God by Morton T. Kelsey
Kelsey shows that dreams are an integral part of the spiritual life. His book also contains many practical tips for working with one's own dreams.

Dreams and Healing by John A. Sanford
Using case studies this book shows how to arrive at a concise statement of a dream's message, and contains an excellent section on working with one's own dreams.


For couples

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work : A Practical Guide from the Country's Foremost Relationship Expert by John M. Gottman and Nan Silver

The Relationship Cure: A 5 Step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family, and Friendships by John M. Gottman

Why Marriages Succeed or Fail: and How You Can Make Yours Last by John M. Gottman
Three of Gottman’s popularly-written descriptions of his research on couples in which couples were video-taped from 9am to 9pm on weekends. The results enabled Gottman to predict which couples will probably divorce based on their interaction patterns. Shows how marriages fail and what can help them succeed. Any of his books is good.

How Can I Get Through to You: Reconnecting Men and Women by Terrence Real
Filled with actual case studies from his couples counseling. (Real is also the author of I Don't Want to Talk About It, on men’s depression). He says because of men’s socialization not to deal with feelings, women hold the key to helping men open up, change and get what they need from their relationship and their life. Respects both male and female viewpoints.

The Drama of the Gifted Child by Alice Miller
Explains the devastating results of narcissistic parenting: selfish parents create selfish children. But selfishness may come out in caretaking of others with expectations that they will then take care of you. Lots of good examples and case studies by this psychoanalyst. Shows how important it is for each member of the couple to understand their own wounding childhood experiences and how these play into their relationship.

Between People by John A. Sanford
A concisely written little book on couples’ communication using Jungian ideas and vivid examples from Sanford’s counseling of couples and individuals.

Please Understand Me by David Kiersey
Gain self-understanding and acceptance of your mate’s differences from you through Jung’s psychological typology. The typology test is included in the book, or you can take it free at www.humanmetrics.com.

Gifts Differing by Isabel Briggs-Meyers
Title taken from St. Paul (Romans 12:6). The classic and readable book on Jung’s theory of psychological type by the originator of a Jungian typology test, the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator. Gives you a basic understanding of the system of categorizing people’s personality preferences (thinking-feeling, sensing-intuition), plus applications to relationships, work life, etc.

You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation by Deborah Tannen
Analyzes men’s and women’s diverse conversational styles to understand the why they disagree so much in daily life. (Probably a precursor to John Gray’s Mars and Venus.)

Adult Attachment by Judith A. Feeney and Patricia Noller

Marriage: Dead or Alive by Adolf Guggenbuhl-Craig

Fair Fighting website
Because we all need help fighting fairly!