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SERMON: Pentecost 4, Proper 9, July 6, 2025

When someone says the word mission, what do you think about? What is the first thing that comes to mind when you say the word, mission? I asked this question in a sermon in 2001, and the overwhelming response was, the Mormons who go around door to door selling Jesus. The young men in white shirts and blue or black pants and a tie, knocking on your door. That was an overwhelming understanding of the word mission about 24 years ago. Some other responses I heard to that question were the arrival of the pilgrims and the immediate exploitation and subversion of the indigenous population residing here. The Poisonwood Bible was released right around that time and had become popular, it depicted a certain style of mission work as well. The other image I often recall is the movie Mission with Robert DeNiro and Jeremy Irons. Erin received a letter from a woman who lives around the corner. We never met her, so we spent a few minutes trying to figure out where the address was, just a few blocks aw...
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Happenings Lead Article, Tuesday, July 1, 2025

This past Saturday I found myself walking around the Church property and explaining to a rapt crowd the plans for the pet memorial garden and the rainbow bridge. Most people were amazed and very excited about the opportunity. I talked about the walking path I envision for the church around the outside of the property, with the couple of meditation spots as well. Most of the folks gathered this past weekend had never been to St. Edward’s, and were impressed with the property and the solitude it has the potential to provide. It was a moment where I was reminded that we have something special, and even though I haven’t carried out the “One Thing” plan to perfection, it is still a ministry that catches the attention of people who hear about it. It catches the imagination of folks and the uniqueness of the ministry to pets and their owners energizes the imagination. So I thought I would revisit with you all, where we are at, and what it looks like will happen by October 5, when we will cele...
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Happenings Lead Article from June 24, 2025

FROM YOUR RECTOR I was reminded while writing the sermon about Enmegahbowh and doing the research about his life, how the government has been in the business of breaking promises since the beginning of this country’s creation. On paper we have processes and promises that give the citizenry great power, but in the end, if the people decide to remain silent, those rights slowly dissipate and go away. Could the government, after it decided the Indigenous population were all savages, be convinced they were wrong? Could the men who signed into law ideas such as the Indian Removal Act forcing the Native Americans further west been shown a different way to govern? What does it take to see a clearly human shaped and formed person as a savage who is not at all human? Our country offers great freedoms and amazing rights, but we have also found ways to oppress and keep silent vast segments of our society. Women, Black people, Indigenous peoples of all sorts, Irish, Hispanic and so many other peop...
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Sermon, June 22 2025, Enmegahbowh celebration observed

Sermon, Celebration of Enmegahbowh “I was once as you are, but when the Great Spirit gave me little light, I followed it and more came and it made me all that I am.” Enmegahbowh was known as a bridge-builder and peacemaker. He was a mediator between the government and the Ojibwe in 1862, he helped negotiate peace between the Dakota and the Ojibwe in 1869. He was well known for giving away his own belongings. Enmegahbowh was a humble individual, he often felt he was not smart enough to do the work that was set before him. Early in his time of education and learning he was quoted as saying, “If they cannot do this work, how can I?” However, after five years of preparation, at the age of 36, he was ordained to the Diaconate and his profound and impactful ministry began in earnest. Listen again to the Collect from Enmegahbowh’s lection: “Almighty God, you led your pilgrim people of old with fire and cloud; grant that the ministers of your church, following the example of blessed Enmegahbow...
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Sunday, June 29th Texts, Proper 8, 3 Pentecost

First Reading:  2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel. Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan." But he said, "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you." Elisha said,...
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HAPPENINGS LEAD ARTICLE: From Your Rector

FROM YOUR RECTOR As I mentioned in my little speech on Sunday before the service started, Naomi and I attended the Loons game, Major League Soccer, on Saturday evening. The moment of silence to commemorate the victims of the violence earlier that day was something to experience. It caused me to choke up a little, and be so impressed with Minnesota’s ability to come together in the face of unspeakable adversity. At the end of the silence, we sang the National Anthem, and after that Naomi asked me an interesting question. She asked me if I thought any of the players really cared about the politically motivated assassinations that happened earlier that day. At that moment I didn’t have a good answer, I told her I imagined they had been briefed on the situation and given notes if asked about it. But as her question lingered in my mind I realized something important. We are privileged not to have this kind of violence in our country on a level that it is present in so many other countries. ...
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Enmegahbowh - Patron Saint of Minnesota

ENMEGAHBOWH John Johnson Enmegahbowh, an Odawa (Ottawa) Indian from Canada, was raised in the Midewiwin traditional healing way of his grandfather and the Christian religion of his mother. He came into the United States as a Methodist missionary in 1832.  At one point Enmegahbowh attempted to abandon missionary work and return to Canada, but the boat was turned back by storms on Lake Superior, providing him a vision: “Here Mr. Jonah came before me and said, ‘Ah, my friend Enmegahbowh, I know you. You are a fugitive. You have sinned and disobeyed God. Instead of going to the city of Nineveh, where God sent you to spread his word to the people, you started to go, and then turned aside. You are now on your way to the city of Tarsish....’”  Enmegahbowh invited James Lloyd Breck to Gull Lake, where together they founded St. Columba’s Mission in 1852. The mission was later moved to White Earth, where Enmegahbowh served until his death in 1902. Unwelcome for a time among some Ojibway...
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