The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it....

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it……

It is Christmas Day and I am sitting at my parent’s house with my Grandmother, my Aunt Sally, my Uncle Donald, my brother Thomas and my parents. Of course Lucille (Thomas’ dog) and Owen are with us too. I am certainly missing my brother Knox’s presence.

Brunch is in the oven and we have just returned from the Christmas Day service at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Daddy officiated and I preached. I also got to stand at the altar during Eucharist and learn from one of the best. It was a glorious Christmas present! One of my gifts to Daddy was to preach my sermon without him reading it. As you know, Daddy reads everything I write. I really wanted him to just enjoy the sermon. I think he did and so did the rest of my family. So, I thought you all might enjoy reading it as well.

My heart is full and I am so thankful for the amazing Christmas present that God gave us, His son Jesus. Happy Birthday Jesus and Merry Christmas to you all!

Christmas Day Sermon
December 25, 2011
John 1:1-14
Preached at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Murfreesboro, TN

I will never forget the moment, I was in deep pain and felt I couldn’t go on. It was a few days before I was to meet with the Commission on Ministry and I was petrified! How could I possibly do this? How could I sit in front of a whole lot of people that I didn’t know and pour my guts out on the table? I just couldn’t fathom the fact that God was calling me to be a priest. I would have to walk away from this meeting and just have faith. Extreme faith. Faith I wasn’t sure that I had. I had convinced myself that I couldn’t possibly become a priest. I called your rector, who happens to also be my Dad, and cried and cried and expressed all of my fears. He listened and let me panic for a minute. Then, he very calmly said to me, Mary Balfour, look for the light. He repeated himself, look for the light. Once more, look for the light.

In today’s Gospel reading, John tells us, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome us.” John is rejoicing that the light had come! The people needed to know then and now, the light had come in to the world! “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.” Hallelujah, he is here! His Father, our Father made this miraculous day happen. He sent us His son. To teach us to love our neighbor, to show us God’s immeasurable love and most importantly to love us no matter how dark the day may feel. Our Lord and Savior is here. He will help us find the light and not be overcome by the darkness.

John states, “the world did not know Him.” It is a hard concept to get our minds around now, the world did not know Jesus? How can that be? How is that possible? You mean there wasn’t a huge party for Him! That seems impossible, doesn’t it?

One thing I have learned this semester in seminary is how much understanding the context in which the Gospels were written can help us to grasp their full meaning. When studying the Bible, I often have to think about what it would mean to live during Jesus’ days. I guess it would seem pretty strange, doesn’t it? right? There is a baby, born in a manager to a virgin no less. He grows up to be young man performing miracles all over of the place. He asks the people to trust and to have faith. Sometimes they didn’t except him. Often He was rejected. As humans, I think we can understand that the concept of rejection. It is not a comfortable feeling to be unwelcome or isolated. Several times this semester, far away from home and lonely, I have had to tell myself to look for the light, look for Jesus.

Jesus didn’t give up though. He was persistent. He taught them and us how to be children of God. John goes on to express to us, “But to all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of man, but of God.”

Even though it is His Birthday, Jesus is the one giving us a present. He is teaching us how to be in relationship with God. In actuality, it is the greatest gift of all time. There isn’t a box big enough for it. There isn’t enough wrapping paper to wrap it. There isn’t a bow big enough. There is a card though and it says: “Here is your present. Here is your gift. Trust me this is the greatest gift I can give you. Be in a relationship with God. Be His child. He loves you so much and I am here to show you. I am here to show you that He is the way out of the darkness. He is your light.”

Finally, John says, “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” We have seen His glory, working in us everyday. He is helping us be the people He is calling us to be. Helping us be His children. Just think, Jesus walked this earth. He helped so many see the light then and now and all the time in between. All we have to do is say YES! Show me the light!

So, Jesus thank you for helping me find the light. I did look for you that day in my fear and anxiety and I found you. You helped me get through that day and many others. Thank you for helping me to realize my call in life. Thank you for the best present you could ever give me, showing me the way in the midst of my own darkness and loving me for exactly who I am, your child.

Today is a holiday for gift giving. God gave us Jesus. Jesus gave us a way back to the Father. Be like our God, and give yourself and each other the gifts of grace and peace, forgiveness and light. May these be with you today and throughout the year. Merry Christmas. Amen.

Blessings to you all as the ride continues…Mary Balfour

Give thanks with a grateful heart.......

Give thanks with a grateful heart…

I will admit this was a tough week. Here are the words that have been playing over and over in my head all week: Papers, Lord give me the strength, papers, get your thoughts organized about what you are writing, papers, Samuel (I am writing a paper on him), theological reflection (I am writing a paper on it), papers, Lord thank you for giving me the strength, oh and a bit of little Hebrew…

I am so thankful to have completed my first semester of Seminary!!! Thank you Lord for guiding me all the way. I did it with your help and I give thanks with a grateful heart.

I do have a few things to finish: papers, finals and Bishop Parsley visiting! Owen and I will be heading to the Deep South on Thursday. I am going to my cousins wedding, spending time with friends in Birmingham and then heading home to TN for Christmas with my precious family.

I want to take this opportunity to thank my classmates and all of those here at the Seminary of the Southwest for a wonderful first semester. You have welcomed me with open hearts. You have supported and loved me, and for that I will be eternally grateful. We come from all walks of life, but we are one in the Body of Christ. Watch out world, you have an amazing group of future priests coming your way!

I really can’t thank you all enough for supporting me on this journey. It is an incredible ride and let me tell you I am one lucky girl to be a part of it. I am so excited about what the future holds for all of us. I look forward to continuing to share my journey with you next semester.

One last thing, if you haven’t read Bishop Sloan’s reflection on his future as the next Bishop of Alabama please do so. Here is the link: www.dioala.org/dfc/newsdetail_2/3150632. Together we can do it!

Blessings to you all as the ride continues…Mary Balfour

Saints and Bishops.....

Saints and Bishops…

Every time there is a feast day on the liturgical calendar, we celebrate it at Christ Chapel! Wednesday was St. Andrew’s day and we rejoiced with a high mass Scottish service using the 1637 Scottish Book of Common Prayer. It was such a magnificent service! I am not sure I have ever been to a mass that “high” and I really appreciated it. The service was filled with old language, incense and bagpipes. St. Andrew’s day was a highlight in my week.

Bishop Parsley is coming to Austin to visit my fellow postulants and me from the Diocese of Alabama. We are thrilled that he is coming to visit. It will be exciting to show off our school to him. This news was another highlight of my week.

Several of my classmates and I have been working on a project to show off the new SSW videos. (If you haven’t checked them out, please do: http://www.ssw.edu/videos.) Every bishop will receive a copy of the video in January. We have been writing our bishops and other bishops we may know, encouraging them to watch the video and share the video with people interested in coming to SSW. This is a really fun project. I love SSW and I want to do all I can to make sure that future seminarians come to visit! If you are a bishop and you are reading this, be on the look out for your videos!

I also want to encourage you all to check out the SSW Advent meditations. I had the honor of writing one myself. You can go online everyday and hear the person that wrote it read their meditation. I really enjoy starting my day off listening to these thoughtful and meaningful meditations. www.ssw.edu/advent2011.

I continue to work on papers and exams and I am making it! I have a full weekend of writing and preparing for a group project that is coming up next week. I ask for your continued prayers as my classmates and I finish out our first semester of seminary.

I continue to whisper your names in Chapel and I celebrate you all in my heart and prayers.

Blessings to you all as the ride continues…Mary Balfour

Tennessee and Texas.....

Tennessee and Texas….

I had a wonderful week in Tennessee and I am back now in my 400 square foot apartment in Texas! I spent some much needed girl time with Mama on Monday. It was great to run errands and just be together. I have missed her so much over the last three months. She is a wonderful friend and mother.

Tuesday and Wednesday were VERY lazy. I don’t have TV in my apartment. I took the opportunity of catching up on all of my favorite shows. I think I really needed time to just be. Not to think, just rest. I did get a paper written, so I didn’t beat myself up too much ☺

Thursday we headed to Chattanooga for Thanksgiving with the Pratt’s. I just love my family. They lift me up, they care and we have so much fun together. I am so thankful to have them - each and every one of them. I am also so glad that my brother Thomas knows how to fry a turkey so well! All of the food was wonderful, but the best part was just enjoying each other’s company.

Friday I spent the day with Daddy. We have so much in common. I guess those commonalities will only continue to grow as I persist in my studies. We have a playful rivalry between Sewanee and Seminary of the Southwest. He is big SSW fan now so I thought he would enjoy a SSW sweatshirt for his birthday. He told me jokingly that he would wear it inside the house ☺. I am so thankful for my Daddy and our time together. Believe me, it helps to have an amazing father, who happens to be a priest, while attending Seminary.

I am back in my apartment and so glad to see my sweet puppy Owen. I told Owen when we woke up this morning that this weekend was all about writing! I have several projects and papers due by December 12th. I have a feeling that my computer will get lots of good use in the coming weeks. I ask your prayers during these difficult two weeks.

I really did miss my seminary community while I was in Tennessee and I am excited to be with them again in Texas. I am also very thankful for all of you and the many blessings God has given us all. I celebrate you all in my heart and prayers.

Blessings to you all as the ride continues…Mary Balfour

Home Sweet Home!

Home Sweet Home!

I am in Tennessee with my family and it feels so good!!! I made it home on Friday in time to spend the evening with my two wonderful brothers, Knox and Thomas, and my amazing parents. I can’t tell you what a treat it is for the five of us to be together. Knox lives in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, so we don’t get to see him often. We have been blessed this year by having the opportunity to see him twice. It was wonderful to share a meal together and just be in the same room with them!

Yesterday we made the short journey to Franklin to celebrate with my cousin Nerren and his bride to be Victoria. All of my cousins and their spouses, on my Mom’s side, were there except one. My cousin James and his wife Courtney were not able to join us. Again, a huge treat to get to hang out with them!!! We had a ball being together and celebrating with Nerren and Victoria.

Today my heart was full when my Daddy gave me communion then gave Mama, Thomas and Knox communion. This hasn’t happened in many years, worshipping together! It was great to worship Christ together. My brothers and I just go back from lunch. I am so thankful to spend time with them.

I really needed to see my family. As much as I love seminary, there is nothing like home sweet home. I look forward to updating you all on my week in Tennessee. May you all enjoy this special week remembering all that God has blessed us with.

Blessings to you all as the ride continues…Mary Balfour

The importance of Hospitality.....

The importance of Hospitality…

We have just completed Fall Visitor’s Weekend here at the Seminary of the Southwest. It was an exciting weekend! There were prospective students on campus from all over the U.S. The weekend reminded me of the importance of hospitality. Hospitality is a ministry. It is an important ministry that God we are called to by God.

The prospective students visited classes, participated in Chapel services and took tours of different students’ homes (my apartment was on the tour). We treated them to our local pub, finishing the weekend with a festival Eucharist, a fabulous dinner and dancing to a bluegrass band.

I was a part of team clean. I now know how the kitchen at SSW runs! It really takes an army to pull off this massive event. Everyone, and I mean everyone, helped make this weekend so special. I think our visitors got a real sense of our amazing community and what life as a seminarian is all about. I am honored to have been a part of this weekend and I can’t wait until we get to do it all over again in the spring!

I finished off the weekend by being a part of St. Mary’s, Birmingham, my home parish, annual meeting. I was “Skyped” in. It was AWESOME to see my Church again and of course all of the people that make it the special place that it is. What a gift to be able to be a part of the annual meeting even though I am so far away. I can’t wait to see them all in person soon.

I am heading to Tennessee on Friday, so next week’s post will be from there. I can’t tell you how excited I am to see my family and to get to attend a party for my cousin Nerren. Nerren is getting married in December and I am thrilled to be a part of the celebration.

Remember, I keep you all close to my heart and continue to love you all even from far away…

Blessings to you all as the ride continues…Mary Balfour

Formation.....

Formation…

Formation is a word that we use often here at the Seminary of the Southwest. All that we are participating in, Chapel, classes and community, are a necessary, hard, fulfilling and loving part of this formation. It is this formation will make us great priests and leaders of the Episcopal Church.

Two of the events that were a part of my formation this week were:

Working on a group project. This is one of those very difficult projects that lead to a great ending. I worked with several of my classmates on a group presentation. Of course we all have different styles and organizations skills. When these differences were put together there was friction. One of my classmates described our differences and the difficulties we encountered as a storm. As a result of this storm we found ourselves having to communicate and pray about the issues at hand. Ultimately we were able to put together a project that made us all proud. Emotions are sometimes difficult to deal with, but often they lead us exactly were we need to be. This group project is great example of how our faith in God and others can lead us to a wonderful end result. Thank you to my classmates, who pushed me, loved me and helped form me this week.

Christ Chapel and its loving attendees. Christ Chapel is a teaching Chapel. You might think of the students much like residents working in a hospital. It is a place that we can make mistakes and learn from them, and yet feel safe at the same time. That was certainly true for me this week. I was the lector at Morning Prayer on Thursday. I have read in Chapel a few times, so I was aware of the flow of the Daily Office. I somehow got the order confused and got up to read before we said the Psalm. Fortunately one of my classmates quietly stopped me. Once I did get up to read, it was a tough passage! You all know those passages in the Bible with lots of difficult names that you stumble over. This particular passage was from Ezra. It was chock full of difficult names! This wasn’t my finest reading moment even though I had practiced reading it several times. But with the help of God and those who were praying for me, I got through it. Despite stumbling through the passage, we worshipped God in Christ Chapel that day, just as we do everyday.

For a sneak peak at next week’s love note I will tell you more about my work-study and some of the amazing work that is being accomplished at SSW. I will also be able to report on Visitor’s Weekend. Please pray for our community as we welcome prospective students to our school. My prayer is that we can convey our love for this place to them.

I have many of you of my mind. I am specifically praying for those who are hurt, lost and broken and are looking for God to open a door for you. Trust, believe, have faith. He is holding both you and me tightly as we continue on this journey together.

Blessings to you all as the ride continues…

Mary Balfour