“You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious to God.” 1 Peter 3:4

Dear Friends:

This Hump Day message is a day late. I’m sorry for the delay. I’ve been on a silent retreat. This week our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Shannon S. Johnston, graciously extended a four day quiet retreat to the clergy at the Roslyn Retreat Center in Richmond. On Monday I scooted down to Richmond for a twenty-four hour get away. What a gift. Thank you Bishop Johnston. Thank you Epiphany and friends for giving me the time!

While on the quiet retreat I pondered some about the gift of quiet. Experts tell us that our world flushes us with noise more than we’ve ever known. In fact, if we situate ourselves in what we think is quiet, we do actually hear something; the humming of the HVAC system, cars driving by, the wind blowing. Folks studying school environments measure the level of noise in a lunch room, a gymnasium, the hallways. Even though we’re often plugged in with headsets, the noise is still coming and can be harmful. One study tells us that of the more than forty-five million Americans suffering from hearing loss, as many as half of these folks suffer because of noise. Constant noise creates other physical challenges. With unwanted noise our muscles contract causing shallow breathing which can lead to high blood pressure, stress increases and panic attacks are known to occur. While we’re hardwired to communicate with a certain level of sound, there is a point at which our communication becomes only noise. Benedictine monk Christopher Jamison, in leading folks on silent retreats in Wales says, “if we spend time in silence we bump into our deepest selves.” Maybe bumping into our deepest selves is uncomfortable. But, be assured, in our silence, through periods of quiet, we will know the overwhelming comfort and peace of God in Christ.

We’re in the season of Easter. With Easter there is much to talk about, much to make noise about. Christ is Risen! Alleluia! The Lord is risen indeed! In this week’s lesson from John’s gospel, who knows how much Jesus’ disciples are talking to one another as they sit holed up behind closed doors afraid, as Jesus appears announcing, peace. Could it be that their Easter time together has brought for them a quiet that opens them up to believe in the glory of our risen Lord?

How about creating a quiet for ourselves? Each day, set aside a time to be silent. I do my best to arrive early each morning before the noise begins and grab a short block of uninterrupted quiet. Silence invites listening. Listen intently to the noise around you. The birds are telling us, spring is here. In anticipation of the growing season, the law mowers are busy at work. Listen to the sound of your breath. Do you need to hear a deep, soothing breath or the breath of anxiety? Finally, what do you hear God saying? Is it just one word? Doubting Thomas, upon seeing the risen Lord and touching the holes in his hands and at his side, hears Jesus say, “Believe!”

Believe in God’s love working continually in the words and works of Epiphany. On Saturday, rain or shine, we’re holding a flea market/yard sale. The proceeds will benefit our mission partnership with Haiti. Bake some goodies for the bake sale. Come help throughout the morning with the sale of items.

This Sunday is known as Bright Sunday! Brightness surrounds our every breath and each step as we embrace the joy of a resurrected life. That may often call for the sounds of exclamation as we embrace our resurrected life and cry out, “My Lord and My God.” We’ll invite folks to come forward for the birthday and anniversary prayer. Come and then, following worship, we’ll pack 200 meals for Fairfax County School kids with Food4Thought. EYC Youth Group will gather following their supervision of the packing. As Epiphany, we’ll take our interludes of quiet, listen for God’s brightness and go, with joy, as God in Christ leads us to be about making his kingdom world known.

God bless you, Epiphany, and Happy Easter,

Hillary