St. Anselm of Canterbury Episcopal Church

13091 Galway Street

Garden Grove, CA. 92844

(714) 537-0604

5/27/09

Dear Parish Family,

Happy birthday to all as we prepare to celebrate Pentecost, the birthday of the Church in our beloved Jerusalem, the heart of Palestine.  It was there that that the Holy Spirit descended upon the first disciples of our Lord giving rise to a movement unparalleled in the history of religion.  What was dramatically different about it?  In a region of the world still terribly divided by ethnic divisions and religious loyalties, the Pentecost message was clear: the Gospel of Jesus -- the “Good News” -- would not be the exclusive domain of one particular group, it was for all people and all nations.  Gathered there were Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Capadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and parts of Lybia belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome who were both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs (Acts 2:5- 12). 

Jerusalem was a place that obviously attracted people from all parts of the Middle East and Europe.  People from these regions each heard the disciples speak in their native tongues.  The message of inclusiveness was clear. Are we not called to be brothers and sisters to each other, and go beyond the confines of our particular comfort zones and groups, the “them versus us” mentality?  More than two thousand years later, although we have made progress particularly in the last five decades, we still have a long way to go before we can say we have arrived.  Most recently our struggles center on same-sex marriages.  The California Supreme Court ruling amending our “Swiss Cheese Constitution” (hundreds of amendments have been made to our state constitution since it was first written) is yet another sign of our very human resistance to inclusiveness mostly out of fear and prejudice. 

In a day and age when science informs us better than a few insignificant Bible passages concerning homosexuality, many religionists insist on using these very passages as their basis for denying gays and lesbians the right to marry.  Contrary to what the Bible says, the world is not flat.  We know better now. The inclusive nature of the Pentecost message can now be understood to also include those who are  “gay or straight.”  Why should any segment of our population continue to live in fear and uncertainty because we, the straight majority, refuse to understand them?  Why? 

The Church is for all those drawn to the goodness and love of God, Gay or Straight.  I trust that in time, the inclusive nature of the Gospel will break the barriers that still persist.  We are all God’s children, and I have faith that our differences will someday fade over a very long and distant horizon.  I ask that we all continue to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

During the latter part of June I will be attending CREDO, a retreat designed to help Episcopal clergy remain true to their vocation and calling.  I am looking forward to this experience which covers many aspects of a priest’s life including vocation, health, financial stability, retirement, prayer, etc.  The retreat will take place in Del Rey, Florida.  Please keep me in your prayers for safe travel.

General Convention will be held in Anaheim from July 8 through 17.  Ten thousand Episcopal delegates will descend on the Anaheim Convention Center.  During this time I will be engaged with convention events and St. Anselm’s will be in the spotlight as a church in support of economic justice, and peace between Israel and Palestine.  Plans are underway to host a Sabeel Conference here at the Church. 

Plans are also underway to have the Episcopal Bishop of Jerusalem join us for the inauguration of a Peace Garden adjacent to the parking lot.  Outside sources are funding this project which will include three “Olive Trees for Peace” each representing the Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.  A symbolic Apartheid Wall will also be built representative of the Israeli walls that imprison those who live in Palestinian cities such as Bethlehem, Gaza, and Ramallah.  When those walls come tumbling down, as they did in Jericho thousands of years ago, then our Peace Garden wall will be taken down.  This is a small gesture aimed at raising awareness of the plight of Palestinians.  Although only 2% of that population has ever engaged in terrorism, all are treated as terrorists by the Israeli authorities who seem to be accountable to no one for their violation of international laws against humanity.  The recent siege of Gaza destroyed thousands of homes--the equivalent of destroying the whole city of Irvine, California, yet aid to Gaza is virtually nonexistent.  This is shameful.

On a brighter note, during General Convention at the main Sunday Eucharist, my photography will be shown on their mega screen as part of the Eucharistic Celebration.  The theme is Ubuntu, an African word that means living in harmony.  I’ve been chosen as the L.A. area artist for this “Visual Prelude” during General Convention.  What an unexpected honor!  Last month I was also surprised by the honor of receiving the OC Labor Federation Award, as well as a nomination to be Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of Puerto Rico which I declined after prayer and discernment.  All of these have been total surprises. 

I am also happy to announce the exciting news that Mother Minh Hanh was the recipient this week of an award by the Orange County Labor Federation for women in support of economic justice.  Through her leadership, our parish continues to distinguish itself as a church committed to social transformation and peace.

In closing, as we move through the season of resurrection, Easter joy, and now Pentecost, it is my prayer that the Holy Spirit guide us in extraordinary ways.  I believe we are at the threshold of new and exciting things.  Our parish, although struggling, will reflect the power of God’s Holy Spirit in a world in need of transformation.  Come Holy Spirit!

 

In the Spirit of Pentecost,

Wilfredo Benitez+

The Rev. Wilfredo Benitez,
Rector

PS  Thank you for your prayers for my safe travel to Turkey.  What a gift that was, and for those of you who haven’t heard, Fr. Warren Pittman, former rector of St. Anselm’s now living in North Carolina was assigned to the aisle seat next to mine on the flight from Frankfurt to Istanbul.  His trip had nothing to do with mine.  Could that be a sign of something?  Coincidence or Godincidence?  Fr. Pittman sends his regards and love. We had a great visit!