Well, Pope Francis is in town. Well, not really in town … here in St. Augustine … but today in Philadelphia. And before that in Washington, DC, and New York City. Let’s see, Washington … the seat of government of the most powerful nation on earth. New York City … the financial capital of the world. And Philadelphia … the City of Brotherly Love and the place where these United States came into being. You don’t think Pope Francis has an agenda, do you?

He landed in Washington and rode to the White House in his little Fiat with the windows rolled down, while the Secret service accompanied him in their SUV retrofitted to be as secure as a military tank. Pope Francis has eaten with the homeless, visited prisoners, and blessed the disabled. Obviously he takes seriously what Jesus took seriously. And it is as if he is turning the world upside down.

Good afternoon! This evening we are celebrating the return of our Jazz Vespers service after a summer sabbatical with the music of the Marc Dickman Jazz Quartet, and we are remembering the patron saint of this church, Cyprian of Carthage.
This congregation is the namesake of Cyprian, a third century bishop in Carthage, a North African city in what is now Tunisia. There are 12 Episcopal Churches in the United States that are named St. Cyprian’s. The main reason for naming a church after Cyprian of Carthage is that it is assumed that he was a person of color, and all of these congregations were originally formed as churches for African Americans. The feast day of Cyprian of Carthage in the Church’s calendar is September 14 … this past Monday … thus the occasion for remembering Cyprian this evening. An interesting sidebar is that the Rev. P. W. Cassey, who is memorialized on the brass plaque near the door to the church, and who served this congregation in its early years, was affiliated with three of those twelve congregations named St. Cyprian’s.

There is a way the world looks at things, and then there is the way that God looks at things. There is a culture of the world, and then there is the counter-culture of God. There is a wisdom of humans, and then there is divine wisdom. There are worldly values, and there are God’s values. Today’s lessons are about these contrasts.

The 450th is over! The stages are gone … the musicians have moved on … the fireworks are all exploded. Things can now get back to normal … or can they? Yes, it was 450 years ago that Pedro Menendez set foot on the land that became this city of St. Augustine. And, as historian Tony Horwitz said in his book, “A Voyage Long and Strange,” [St. Augustine] was a precarious outpost beset by mutinies, pirate raids, plagues, fires, Indian hostility, and other woes. … But the Florida city survived.” We have survived our 450th celebration. What's next?

Good evening.  It is an honor and a joy to share this event with my sisters and brothers of various faith traditions … especially tonight on the 25th anniversary on my wedding to Caren Goldman.  Happy Anniversary Caren!

Orange is the New Black is the edgy Netflix production about inmates in a women’s prison. One of the characters, Norma, does not speak, but she does a lot of listening.  Other inmates gravitate to her and she offers an understanding, compassionate and sympathetic ear … always engaged … just never responding with audible speech.  Women bring her their troubles and leave feeling accepted and affirmed … even blessed … and eventually a small cult begins to build around her.  One morning they see her image on a piece of toast, and it validates their growing faith in all things Norma.  However, when the group gathers in the prison chapel they are driven out because they are not part of a “formal religion.”  So they start their own religion with Norma as its central figure.  That gives rights to the prison chapel … the prison chapel which has a door that opens and shuts.  Soon they start making rules … and the rules begin to define who is in and who is out.  That is the moment things start to fall apart.  They have institutionalized the Religion of Norma, and with it come all the needs of an institution.