Enough (with Amy Malick)

 We are in the midst of "Stewardship Season" at Canterbury.  As we invite our members and friends to prayerfully consider making a financial commitment to support God's work at Canterbury, we are also inviting our members to share their personal experiences of gratitude, generosity, and stewardship. In this week's blogpost Amy Malick, a new member of Canterbury, shares her experience of discovering that there is always enough. (This reflection originally appeared on Amy's blog, "Faithbeat", faithbeat.wordpress.com )


Three years ago I quit a good job with benefits to create time to work alongside people experiencing homelessness. I’m beginning to appreciate the financial consequences of that decision. OK, let’s be honest. I’ve been a little freaked out.

“How much is enough?” I’ve been asking myself. Enough money? Enough stuff? Enough house? Enough service? Enough time?

So, pondering that question, I run into a woman I’ll call Posey who’s lived on and off the streets (mostly on) since I met her when we moved to Albuquerque two years ago.

“Guess what?” she says. “I got an apartment.”

“No way!” I respond in that no-way-that’s-amazing tone. Posey is the last person I’d guess would end up housed.

“How’d that happen?” I ask.

“I signed up for Heading Home (a collaborative program here that houses the most vulnerable) when the city closed down Tent City in June,” she says. “My name came to the top of the list. They even furnished the apartment. Not a bunch of used stuff – all new furniture!”

Something seems be working well here right now. I’m hearing from more and more people who are getting housed.

Then Posey says, “I’m going to sponsor an African child. $25 a month. Soon I can start writing her letters.”

“How’d that happen?” I ask again. I’m scratching my head since I know Posey doesn’t have much to live on much less give away.

“I saw it on TV,” she says.

“Jesus blessed me, so now I’m blessing someone else.”

“You know how that works,” she says, eyes straight on me.

Yes I do, thanks to Posey’s reminder. In love’s economy, there’s always enough.

Do you have a story or experience about generosity, giving, or stewardship to share?  Email your story and a photo to sylvia.miller.mutia@gmail.com!

Making the Time to Give (with Anna Cummings)

 We are in the midst of "Stewardship Season" at Canterbury.  As we invite our members and friends to prayerfully consider making a financial commitment to support God's work at Canterbury, we are also inviting our members to share their personal experiences of gratitude, generosity, and stewardship. In this week's blogpost Anna Cummings, a stay at home mom and  member of Canterbury, writes about making the time to give.

by Anna Cummings

I’m a stay at home mom.  I don’t have a job outside of the home, like many parents do.  I don’t bring home any form of an income, and that affects how I am able to be a “good” steward at church in regards to money.  As a stay home parent I am home more than most other adults.  I should find it easy to have time to give.  Most days I start the morning off fixing breakfasts for the kids and a sack lunch for Jacob, my third grader.  Then I make sure the kids get dressed and brush their teeth.  After I send Jacob off to school, I do some quick chores around the house, and work with Lorelei, my four year old, on learning her preschool skills.  After that I sit around and relax with the kids, read several novels, and binge watch Netflix.  Ok so maybe that last sentence is a bit of a stretch and more wishful thinking.  Truthfully I don’t know quite what I do with my days.  The morning is usually a flurry of activity and somehow time spins into a vortex of chaos and gets used up in the afternoon.  In theory I know I must have time.  Time to spend how I wish, time to get projects done, or to spend in deep quality with the kids.  Maybe somewhere in that vortex of time I could get the things done that are sitting on that mental list that we all have.  That mental list of things that need to be accomplished soon or else our brain may explode from an odd mix of guilt, anxiety, and fear.  Or perhaps that is just my mind?

So yes, I also struggle with good stewardship of my time.  Yet somehow, in the midst of all this chaos of toys and naptimes, of children’s tears and laughter, I can make time.  Make time, is the important key to this.  As much as I struggle with finding time, because I just can’t seem to find the time, I can always MAKE time.  I can create some space after dinner and before bath time, between breakfast and packing a lunch, in between this and that, to do what needs to get done.  In that space of time that I have created I can sometimes only accomplish a tiny amount.  But it doesn’t really matter how much that I have accomplished, sometimes it only matters that I have accomplished, period.  I don’t need to have a huge accomplishment to feel like I have succeeded, small steps are fine with me.  I have checked a piece off of the mental to-do list before it has exploded.  

I find joy in small steps that I am able to accomplish, especially when it is something for someone else.  I have been able to do so much lately (all in small steps) for the church’s online presence.  I find it gratifying.  Although I may struggle with finding the money, and finding the time is sometimes impossible, it is gratifying to make the time whenever I can.  Make the time to accomplish those small little jobs that I can do in five minutes from home, but makes a difference for St. Thomas.  It allows me something I can give, even if it is just myself, for five minutes, and that makes all the difference.  

Helping on the webpage, or somewhere else for church isn’t my job, and it shouldn’t feel like one.  Devoting your time to church, when you can, and if you can, should feel freeing and joyful.  Not always during, some chores just are not joyful, but in that sense of accomplishment that you have given a small piece of your life for something larger than yourself. I recently read a blog post online, the author stated “But here is the thing that I believe: we need to do the work we were meant to do in order to be who we were meant to be. And what’s more, I believe that honours God.” (http://sarahbessey.com/when-you-feel-a-bit-selfish-for-pursuing-your-calling/).  

 To work and to give in a way that we find self-fulfillment in what we have done. Sometimes we may be able to give of our time, of our money, and of our talent.  Sometimes it feels like a struggle to give in anyway at all.  It is worth the space on all of our mental to-do list to have a space for church or others.  To give in some way that is beyond ourselves.  Looking for a way to give beyond yourself?  There are plenty of ways available.  Sign-up to feed the hungry at St. Martin’s, check to see if there is someone who is struggling with a health or other problem and may need some help, sign up to greet newcomers at church, or feed some hungry college students at campus ministry by signing up to make a meal. Lots of opportunities.  Reach out to give some of yourself, whether it is your time, your money, or your talent.  If you are ready to help then in closing let me leave this link that gives some great advice on ways to help someone who is struggling with health or other issues.   The article suggests paying attention to how you help and change saying “God will never give you more than you can handle” to “Let me come over and help you do some laundry.”  ( http://communicatingacrossboundariesblog.com/2015/09/28/stupid-phrases-for-people-in-crisis/)  So even if you can’t find the time to give, it can be worth it to MAKE the time to give.  Good stewardship can come in many different forms. 

Do you have a story or experience about generosity, giving, or stewardship to share?  Email your story and a photo to sylvia.miller.mutia@gmail.com!

Gratitude and Generosity (with Victor Torres)

 We are in the midst of "Stewardship Season" at Canterbury.  As we invite our members and friends to prayerfully consider making a financial commitment to support God's work at Canterbury, we are also inviting our members to share their personal experiences of gratitude, generosity, and stewardship. In this week's blogpost Victor Torres, a CNM student and member of Canterbury, writes about the generosity and gratitude involved in sharing our stories.

by Victor Torres

Gratitude and generosity  have  always been a major part of my life. I have been filled with gratitude on many occasions. Family, friends, community, and acts of love are all reasons why I have been filled with gratitude, and in turn I have tried my best to show generosity to others.

I want to focus on my community activism as an example of how both gratitude and generosity go hand-in-hand. When I was 17, I had already had my share of battles, and many moments of activism in pursuit of a fair and quality education, so when I had to choose a media internship at school I was directed to a project called the KUNM Youth Radio Project,  which is now Generation Justice. Generation Justice is a project that trains youth to use media as a tool for social change. It was the perfect fit!  Throughout my years with this wonderful project I learned about community, social justice, diversity, but most of all I learned about generosity and love. I did many interviews at Generation Justice, and what I took away each time I finished an interview was that it wasn’t difficult to give generosity, because I realized each interview is a story. A story told by a unique and special person. A story that has meaning. The person sharing the story  deserves respect, kindness, and love, and the story must be shared with dignity. When we realize that we are all people created by God, and that we should love one another the way that God loves us then generosity becomes a major part of our lives. Those  people that shared their stories with Generation Justice, with me, and with the community  taught  me that it is easy to extend generosity to one another when we choose to listen instead of judge, share instead of ignore, and most importantly love instead of hate. After each interview I was also filled with gratitude, because of the kindness I felt from our guests and thankful for their stories. It was honor to help them share their stories, and for that I will always be grateful.

In 2 corinthians we see that  in being generous  we also give God thanksgiving. I was reflecting on this, and relating it to my life, and I think giving and receiving generosity is one of the greatest acts to show God how thankful we are. When we extend generosity we are giving to one another and showing kindness in the way that God wants us to. When we receive generosity we are also receiving God’s blessing and love.  To close, I just want to encourage that we all show generosity and extend gratitude, because it can make all the difference. As I always say we should all try our best to come from a place of love in everything we say and do, and I believe if we do so everything else will fall into place.

Do you have a story about gratitude or generosity that you'd like to share?  Email your story and a photo to Sylvia+ at sylvia.miller.mutia@gmail.com.

There is Enough! (with Emily Wirth)

by The Rev. Sylvia Miller-Mutia

Some of you were in church this summer (7/26/2015) when I preached the following sermon, and we sang together the refrain "There is Enough" on our way to share communion.

Well, a couple weeks ago Emily Wirth came in for our Wednesday Eucharist and looked at me sideways.  "Sylvia," she said, "my life would really be much easier if you would quit teaching us these musical refrains!"   I looked at her quizzically, and she told me a story (below)...

This week you should receive a letter in the mail from Canterbury inviting you to consider making a financial commitment to support God's work at Canterbury in the coming year.  Enjoy Emily's story and prayerfully consider how God is calling you to respond.

"There is Enough" by Emily Wirth

There is enough!  There really is!  The chorus seems so simple.  However, it presents itself when I least expect it.

The first time was as I was gathering items for the rummage sale.  I’d select something to donate, then decide to keep it . . .and then the chorus would play in my head.  I’d end up adding the item to the box for the sale.  Also, as I was getting ready to go grocery shopping, I looked in the pantry and freezer, and there was the chorus again.  I cancelled my grocery trip.  And when I went to pay my bills, there was enough and some to share.

There are daily emails with great sales.  One was a two day special from Cost Plus with 25% off all throw pillows.  And, I had a coupon for another 10% off the total.  So I went to Cost Plus and was considering patterns and colors when that chorus began again.  I stopped, thought about the throw pillows I already have, and ended up not spending a penny.  There is enough!  

3 Ways Singing "Paperless" Can Support Canterbury's Mission

Sylvia in the chapel at Holy Cross

 by the Rev. Sylvia Miller-Mutia

I spent last Wednesday and Thursday at the Holy Cross Monastery in New York with a group of fellow leaders from a project I'm involved with called Music that Makes Community.   We are a group of clergy and laypeople, highly trained and un-trained (aka "natural") musicians, who are passionate about the power of congregational singing and interested in exploring the age-old practices of teaching and leading communities in singing "by ear".

Don't get me wrong, we believe hymnals are AWESOME.  And musical scores enable people to make music that is incredibly beautiful, complex, and consistent.  But including "paperless" music in our congregational repertoire, alongside other beloved musical forms, creates unique and powerful possibilities.

Here are just a few of the ways that I can see the practice of singing "paperless" music supporting the three areas that our vestry has identified as top priorities for our life together at Canterbury in the coming year:

1) Welcoming the Stranger 
When we learn a new piece of music together in the moment, it puts everyone on equal footing.  In a sense, everybody is a "newcomer."   Furthermore, singing a "paperless" song supports the full participation of those who are often excluded from our congregational music-making: children who cannot yet read, elders with failing eyesight who can no longer see printed text or notes, and people of all ages who cannot read music.
  
2) Nurturing the "Household"

Singing a "paperless" song can deepen the sense of community among those who sing together.  When authority does not rest on a printed page, we begin to discover authority and wisdom within the community, itself.  When we miss a note or word, we listen more carefully to the person beside us to discover what we're missing. We make mistakes and negotiate solutions together, non-verbally.  We intuitively decide together when a song comes to its conclusion.   We discover new harmonies lurking in the room and in our hearts.

3) Renewing Campus Ministry
 "Paperless" music can be very flexible, and makes singing together possible in settings where other sorts of singing might be impractical--like outdoors, or in the dark.  For example, at Tuesday Night Campus Ministry singing "paperless" songs enables us to sing compline by candlelight (since we don't need to be able to see a hymnal.)  Throughout October singing "paperless" songs will enable us to celebrate creation with several outdoor Eucharists (aka "Mass on the Grass") at UNM (without killing any trees to print service leaflets!)

Music that Makes Community is hosting a 3 Day Conference/Retreat in California January 17-20, 2016.   Edwina (Canterbury's organist) and I are hoping to pull together a team of 9 members from Canterbury to attend the conference together.   If you are interested in joining us, please let me know.  If you can make a donation (of money or frequent flier miles) to help a member of Canterbury attend who couldn't otherwise afford the trip, please let me know. Email sylvia.miller.mutia@gmail.com.  Thanks for your support!

Serving at St. Martin's: A really fun morning!

by Cyrus Mingley, age 11

Serving at St. Martin's

We left early one Sunday morning (July 26, 2015)  to go to Saint Martin’s Hospitality Center to serve breakfast to the homeless.  When we got to the center, there were lots of homeless people outside drinking coffee, and others were just getting there.  A lot of the homeless men and women were Hispanic or Native American, but we saw a big mix of people.  Most people looked to be about 30 to 70 years old.  We walked in and got directions to the kitchen.

We walked into the kitchen and met up with the other volunteers from Canterbury to help get the breakfast ready.  First, we made some fruit punch with Kelsey.  The punch had orange juice and cranberry juice.  After that, Eileen set us up with supplies and we wrapped about 200 sets of napkins with a spoon and fork inside.  Then, it was time to serve breakfast.  We opened up the window cover and started to fix the plates for the disabled homeless people.  My dad, Hadrian, Sally, and I put some pieces of ham, a bun, some cantaloupe, watermelon, and a tub of yogurt on a plate.  Then, we put the plate on a tray and other volunteers (Don and Pam) added a bowl of cereal, a cup of milk, and gave them to the disabled people.  Then, the non-disabled people formed a line and we started serving them the same food as the disabled people.  Kinsey and her parents (Dave and Stephanie), along with Ken, helped bring us more food and supplies when we were running low.  After everyone got something to eat, some people came back for seconds and a few came back for thirds.  I felt really good about helping them get enough to eat for breakfast.  After that, we went to Canterbury for church service.

It means a lot to me helping the homeless, and people down on their luck, get food and drink if they can't afford it.  I thought they were lucky to get some breakfast that they didn’t have to pay for, and they were very grateful.  Most said “God bless you” or “Thank you so much,” and one person said, “It’s good to see some boy’s helping out here.”  I felt sorry that they had such poor living conditions.  After helping the homeless people at Saint Martin's Hospitality Center, I felt really good and that I should do it again sometime soon.  It was a really fun morning!