Complete Readings Found Here

Job 38:1-7, 34-41

We’ve been following the story of Job, a man who once had it all, and now he grieves the loss not only of his wealth and status, but also his children. Job has been pushed to the ultimate breaking point. He is at a complete loss as to how he is supposed to keep his faith in the God he loves when he has lost absolutely everything else.

This passage has fascinated readers for centuries, probably because this is the moment that God finally shows up for Job, and God shows up in a way that is completely unexpected from a benevolent, loving God. God has a knack for doing the unexpected.

What is unfathomable to Job is also unfathomable to us. If God is good, then why do bad things happen? God’s answer to Job shows of God’s goodness. Look at all of these wonderful things I have created. I have created a world full of good things that all interact with one another. Sometimes in those interactions, creatures are hurt. Job finds himself the victim of hurtful interactions with creation.

• What if you were at the point of despair, and all you wanted was an answer from God, and this was the answer you received? What would you think about God?
• Can you think of other times in scripture when God gives unexpected answers?
• Can you think of other victims in creation that suffer hurt from interacting with other creatures?
• What is one way we, as a human family, can lessen our negative impact on the other creatures that God has made?

Psalm 104:1-9, 25, 37b

• In this psalm, we have another beautiful description of the good things that God has made. When one stands back to consider all the manifold works of the creator, it can be overwhelming.

  It is often easier to see the glory of God in the majestic ocean or a beautiful mountain range than it is to see it in ourselves. The truth that we see in this psalm, as well as in Job, is that the same God that created the sun, moon, and stars also knit us together with the same care and love.

• Do you remember the first time you saw the ocean, or a beautiful mountain range? How did it make you feel about God?
• Why can it difficult for us to see ourselves as beautiful creations of God, fearfully and wonderfully made?
• Why is it hard sometimes for us to see one another the same way?
• In what ways does this hold us back?

Hebrews 5:1-10

Evidently, the author of Hebrews is obsessed with Melchizedek. He reads this figure from the Old Testament as a type for Christ, as one whose kingly priesthood points to Christ’s own kingly priesthood. Incidentally, the Old Testament itself says very little about Melchizedek. He shows up briefly in Genesis 14 as a priest-king who blesses Abram and his God. And he is referenced once in Psalm 110, which Hebrews cites in today’s reading: “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” Frustratingly, the Psalmist never bothered to explain what on earth he meant by “the order of Melchizedek,” but the author of Hebrews offers his own creative elucidation in today’s text: he maps the priesthood of Melchizedek onto the life of Jesus. In Jesus’ “reverent submission” and compassionate self-sacrifice on behalf of others, Jesus is living into a priesthood just like Melchizedek’s priesthood.

This explanation certainly gives us some meat to put on the bones of Melchizedek’s limited presence in the Old Testament. But by the same token, this explanation also allows the author of Hebrews to argue that the priestly work of Christ is not new, but very old: for the priesthood of Melchizedek predates the founding of Israel and the Levitical priesthood of Aaron. Hebrews is making the case that the Christ event is continuous with something very ancient, part of the slow work of God enacted through centuries and generations. It is not an interruption, but a continuation of a long salvation story.

• How might we understand our own ministry in light of how Hebrews describes the priesthood of Christ?

Mark 10:35-45

It’s hard to fault the sons of Zebedee for their zeal, but this passage reveals them to be more than a bit woolly-headed. They come to Jesus asking to be glorified with him, one on his right and one on his left. They still see the reign of Jesus as mimicking human paradigms of power and authority. They expect Jesus to be an authoritarian Lord, and they want to be his vicegerents, his seconds-in-command. But they are missing the point. All the more embarrassing for them, given that, literally just before this excerpt, Jesus explained to his disciples that he would be mocked, tortured, and then killed by the imperial authorities. It seems that James and John were unable to hear this. Perhaps they ignored Jesus when he foretold his death; perhaps they misunderstood him, perhaps they were in denial. Whatever the case, in this scene, they come to Jesus assuming that his glory entails power. Jesus, however, shows that glory is found in weakness and humility: “Whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.” 

In the end, in Mark’s Gospel, there are indeed two people who are at Jesus’ side in glory. But they aren’t two disciples lording it over all the others. They aren’t even two saints. They are rather two bandits crucified next to Jesus, unwittingly close in their powerlessness to the foolish glory of his cross. God’s logic of power is so drastically different from our own.

• How do members of the Church today find themselves reflected in the power-hungry aspirations of James and John? How can we, instead, seek the glory of being last, the glory of servanthood, the glory of the cross?

Aidan Luke Stoddart is a third-year seminarian at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. His primary academic interest is the theology of prayer. He is excited to be ordained in just over a year, and in the meantime plans to spend some time working as a hospital chaplain after he graduates. In addition to Jesus Christ, Aidan’s passions include video games, fantasy literature, ambient music, and walks to tea-shops.

Both the Finance Committee and Vestry met this week. 

The Finance Committee has begun work on cleaning up and simplifying our Quickbooks accounts in preparation for the 2025 budget. We'll be working on that for presentation to the Vestry in November.

Vestry activity included review and passing of our 2025 Benefits Resolution for the Diocese, current financials, review of new AB506 background check and training requirements, planning for Clergy coverage in 2025 and a review of facility maintenance issues. 


-Robert Tarleton

We have been given the opportunity to partner with Michelle Whiteside of Leveling Up with Michelle to host the first annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner. This free dinner will take place in Block Hall on Thanksgiving Day from 11am to 2pm. We are hoping to serve approximately 100 guests. To do so, we will need volunteers to help prepare and serve the food. We would also be so grateful for any food donations you can contribute to this wonderful event. Please contact Nova at Nova@StFrancisNovato if you would like to help!

It's time to get to know another dear member of our church!

This parishioner has lived in Novato for 49 years, with her husband of 53 years.  She was born in Arizona and grew up in Pasadena, CA.  She loves to cultivate roses and orchids, play piano, and read books of a wide variety.  She worked in education with elementary students for Marin County, but has been primarily a homemaker.  She has two adult children who live in the Bay Area.  Her favorite part of the service is the sermon.  She loves St. Francis for the “community spirit, loyalty, and kindness that we show to one another.”   The final clue is:  her favorite ice cream is ‘any kind of chocolate.’   Who is she?!   
 

See the answer in next week's Transitus!

The Preschool has started its annual food drive, which will benefit the St. Francis Community Pantry and North Marin Community Services. The drive will run through November 6, 2024. We are grateful to be in partnership with the school and their amazing families!

Please consider singing with the choir to help St. Francis prepare for and have a wonderful Advent and Christmas season this year. Rehearsals are only one hour (6:00pm to 7:00pm) on the 1st, 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month. Please speak with Ray for more information! 

So, come one, come all that would like to try the choir as a ministry that is a fun, learning experience and the chance to make beautiful music together.

- Ray

Curious about why our weekly e-newsletter is called The Transitus? The name comes from the most important feast day in the life of St. Francis, his death on October 3 and his entrance into the joy of our God. This is known as the Transitus, or Journey. Just as Francis was sent into new life, we pray our community worship, events and education help send you into new life - a journey -  as well!

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