Singles Magazine -

The Scroll A Periodic newsletter for SAM's Lambs http://www.samslambs.org	*The Rev: A View from Upstairs*
*Why God Will Never Get Tenure at Any University* Only published one book. It was in Hebrew. It had no references. He did not publish it in referenced journals. Some doubt He even wrote it Himself. He is not known for his cooperative work. Sure. He created the world, but what has He done lately? He did not get permission from any review board to work on human subjects. When one of His experiments went awry, He tried to cover it up by drowning all the subjects. When sample subjects do not behave as predicted, He deletes the whole sample. He rarely comes to class. He just tells His students to read the Book. It is rumored that He sometimes lets His Son teach the class. Although He only has 10 requirements, His students often fail His tests. He expelled His first two students for learning. His office hours were infrequent and usually held on a mountain top. (From faculty members at Kansas State University and instructors at Allen County Community College) Internet References: Singles in the Church: Is There Seating For One In The Church?	The Rev: Romance - or Real Intimacy? Do you know the difference? by Reverend Lance Robbins Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd Not long ago I ran across a story as romantic, loving and touching as it could be. It speaks to me not only of romance but what real loving may entail. Part of the story goes like this: "I stand by the bed where a young woman lies, her face postoperative, her mouth twisted in palsy, clownish. A tiny twig of the facial nerve, the one to the muscles of her mouth, has been severed. She will be thus from now on. The surgeon had followed with religious fervor the curve of her flesh; I promise you that. Nevertheless, to remove the tumor in her cheek, I had cut the little nerve. Her young husband is in the room. He stands on the opposite side of the bed, and together they seem to dwell in the evening lamplight, isolated from me, private. Who are they, I ask myself, he and this wry-mouth I have made, who gaze at and touch each other so generously, greedily? The young woman speaks. "Will my mouth always be like this?" she asks. "Yes," I say, "it will. It is because the nerve was cut." She nods, and is silent. But the young man smiles. "I like it," he says. "It is kind of cute." All at once I know who he is. I understand, and I lower my gaze. One is not bold in an encounter with a god. Unmindful, he bends to kiss her crooked mouth, and I'm so close I can see how he twists his own lips to accommodate to hers, to show her that their kiss still works. I remember that the gods appeared in ancient Greece, and I hold my breath and let the wonder in." That marvelous story by Richard Selzer speaks to me in so many ways. It does not have to be a husband and wife, it could be anyone. But I believe this story is romantic because it is so symbolic of romance and real love. As important as romance is to our lives, caring and loving the other goes beyond candlelight dinner and roses. As a famous psychologist once said, "It is impossible to fall in love. Love is much too hard to fall into. It takes discipline and a teacher." Through our faith communities and this person of Christ are we given to real glimpse and description of what love entails. To love the neighbor as much as we love ourselves. And when we love God's images in others we love God. A final thought. Our romantic feelings and thoughts, as important as they are, perhaps simply reflect a divine love. I hope all romance may lead to real intimacy. One of the most driving forces in a life even beyond the instinct of survival is one of intimacy. Our need for love and intimacy with God and each other. Our story gives us a great example of intimacy and a love witch will ever grow and deepen. Why? Because he was able to "accommodate to her," and she was able to "accommodate to him." Faithfully, (The Rev) Lance Robbins, Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Webster NY Tel: 585-872-2281 Good Shepherd church has begun a new Singles Ministry which is open to all single people in the Webster NY area, of any denomination and any single marital status. You can view their progress on their site. Bishop Jack McKelvey of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester NY recently visited Good Shepherd where he delivered an address on "Marks of an Effective Congregation" It looks like Good Shepherd’s congregation and clergy would definitely fall in the Effective Congregation category.

The Scroll
A Periodic newsletter
for SAM's Lambs
http://www.samslambs.org

The Rev: A View from Upstairs

Why God Will Never Get Tenure at Any University

Only published one book.
It was in Hebrew.
It had no references.
He did not publish it in referenced journals.
Some doubt He even wrote it Himself.
He is not known for his cooperative work.
Sure. He created the world, but what has He done lately?
He did not get permission from any review board to work on human subjects.
When one of His experiments went awry, He tried to cover it up by drowning all the subjects.
When sample subjects do not behave as predicted, He deletes the whole sample.
He rarely comes to class. He just tells His students to read the Book.
It is rumored that He sometimes lets His Son teach the class.
Although He only has 10 requirements, His students often fail His tests.
He expelled His first two students for learning.
His office hours were infrequent and usually held on a mountain top.

(From faculty members at Kansas State University and instructors at Allen County Community College)

Internet References:

Singles in the Church: Is There Seating For One In The Church?

The Rev: Romance - or Real Intimacy?
Do you know the difference?

by Reverend Lance Robbins
Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd

Not long ago I ran across a story as romantic, loving and touching as it could be. It speaks to me not only of romance but what real loving may entail. Part of the story goes like this:

"I stand by the bed where a young woman lies, her face postoperative, her mouth twisted in palsy, clownish. A tiny twig of the facial nerve, the one to the muscles of her mouth, has been severed. She will be thus from now on. The surgeon had followed with religious fervor the curve of her flesh; I promise you that. Nevertheless, to remove the tumor in her cheek, I had cut the little nerve.

Her young husband is in the room. He stands on the opposite side of the bed, and together they seem to dwell in the evening lamplight, isolated from me, private. Who are they, I ask myself, he and this wry-mouth I have made, who gaze at and touch each other so generously, greedily? The young woman speaks.

"Will my mouth always be like this?" she asks.

"Yes," I say, "it will. It is because the nerve was cut."

She nods, and is silent. But the young man smiles.

"I like it," he says. "It is kind of cute."

All at once I know who he is. I understand, and I lower my gaze. One is not bold in an encounter with a god. Unmindful, he bends to kiss her crooked mouth, and I'm so close I can see how he twists his own lips to accommodate to hers, to show her that their kiss still works. I remember that the gods appeared in ancient Greece, and I hold my breath and let the wonder in."

That marvelous story by Richard Selzer speaks to me in so many ways. It does not have to be a husband and wife, it could be anyone. But I believe this story is romantic because it is so symbolic of romance and real love. As important as romance is to our lives, caring and loving the other goes beyond candlelight dinner and roses. As a famous psychologist once said, "It is impossible to fall in love. Love is much too hard to fall into. It takes discipline and a teacher."

Through our faith communities and this person of Christ are we given to real glimpse and description of what love entails. To love the neighbor as much as we love ourselves. And when we love God's images in others we love God.

A final thought. Our romantic feelings and thoughts, as important as they are, perhaps simply reflect a divine love. I hope all romance may lead to real intimacy. One of the most driving forces in a life even beyond the instinct of survival is one of intimacy. Our need for love and intimacy with God and each other. Our story gives us a great example of intimacy and a love witch will ever grow and deepen.

Why? Because he was able to "accommodate to her," and she was able to "accommodate to him."

Faithfully,

(The Rev) Lance Robbins,
Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd,
Webster NY Tel: 585-872-2281

Good Shepherd church has begun a new Singles Ministry which is open to all single people in the Webster NY area, of any denomination and any single marital status. You can view their progress on their site.

Bishop Jack McKelvey of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester NY recently visited Good Shepherd where he delivered an address on "Marks of an Effective Congregation" It looks like Good Shepherd’s congregation and clergy would definitely fall in the Effective Congregation category.