Charles Henry Brent vs. Julia Chester Emery

March 7, 2014 | Author: Tim Schenck

Today’s match-up features two amazing people with six names between them (insert Trinitarian reference here). Charles Henry Brent, bishop and missionary vs. Julia Chester Emery, lay woman and organizer of what we now know as the ECW (Episcopal Church Women). We hope you enjoy getting to know them and then, well, sending one of them into Lent Madness ignominy.

Yesterday’s Lent Madness 2014 kick-off was a historic day in the annals of the Saintly Smackdown. Record turnout saw Basil the Great live up to his name while Christina the Astonishing  was sent packing (given her penchant for levitation, we hope she’s aware of those steep extra baggage fees). Nearly 7,000 votes were cast as Basil defeated Christina 55% to 45%. He’ll now advance to the Round of the Saintly Sixteen to square off against the winner of Antony of Egypt vs. Mary of Egypt.

For those new to Lent Madness, congratulations! You’re now a seasoned veteran. If you tracked the nearly 300 comments you also know that Lent Madness isn’t just voting and learning about saints — it’s an online community where people share some pretty personal stories and connections as well.

Of course yesterday also saw the emergence of our first controversy. In the opening ceremonies video there was lively debate over whether Dean of the Washington National Cathedral Gary Hall’s cassock was purple, as he claimed, or blue. It’s a Lent Madness scandal!

Are you curious about when the various first round battles will take place? We thought so. Thus, you are invited to check out our handy Match-Up Calendar. Go ahead and print it out. Have a teenager add all the dates to the calendar on your smart phone. Put it on your refrigerator, your bathroom mirror, or have it tattooed to your spouse’s forehead. Once you do, you’ll know that tomorrow’s battle between Alcuin and Ephrem is the only Saturday pairing in the entirety of Lent.

Bishop Brent legitCharles Henry Brent

In 1901 as the Philippine-American War drew to an end, Charles Henry Brent was elected as the first missionary bishop to the islands, arriving a year later on the same ship as its Governor-General, William Howard Taft.

Bishop Brent brought with him $100,000 that he had raised before his departure in order to build churches, schools, and a hospital. Instead of staying within the American enclave, Brent worked with a wide range of people, including the Chinese community in Manila and the Igorot people. He fought tirelessly against the opium trade, chairing the U.S. delegation to the International Opium Conference.

Twice elected bishop of Washington, D.C. and once of New Jersey, he turned down these appointments to remain in the Philippines. After the first election, he sent a telegram to the head of the standing committee that read, “Must decline. I would have gone, but God bids me stay. John 3:30.”

After serving as the senior chaplain of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I, he became bishop of Western New York. Prior to this, he established himself as a leader in the ecumenical movement, having attended the World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh in 1910. He continued to work for the cause of Christian unity, presiding at the World Conference of Faith and Order in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1927. He died in 1929.

Bishop Brent may be best remembered for this prayer that summarizes well his life and ministry:

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, p.101)

Collect for Charles Henry Brent
Heavenly Father, whose Son prayed that we all might be one: deliver us from arrogance and prejudice, and give us wisdom and forbearance, that, following your servant Charles Henry Brent, we may be united in one family with all who confess the Name of thy Son Jesus Christ: who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

— Laura Darling

jcemeryJulia Chester Emery

Julia Chester Emery (1852-1922) was an extraordinary woman. At age 24, she took over from her sister Mary the job of national secretary of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Episcopal Church. It was the only ecclesiastical post she ever held, and she held it for forty years (and not the Biblical kind of “forty years,” either). She was a missionary whose calling was to do the often unglamorous work of organizing, administering, educating, and supporting. Her work enabled thousands of women to realize their potential for ministry at a time when women’s roles were severely limited. And she encouraged the church to broaden its own understanding of faithful lay ministry.

The Women’s Auxiliary of the Board of Missions of the Episcopal Church was created by General Convention in 1871 mostly through the work of the four Emery sisters. Mary Abbott Emery was the first national secretary, and Julia stepped into the job in 1876. During her tenure, she visited every diocese in the United States and helped organize branches of the Women’s Auxiliary in more than 5,600 parishes—nearly two-thirds of all the parishes in the U.S. Many of these branches continue today as the Episcopal Church Women, or ECW.

The primary focus of the Women’s Auxiliary was to empower women for mission and address the issue of funding for women who felt called to dedicate themselves to mission work. Chapters raised money and awareness for the support of local, national, and international mission. The Auxiliary sought to connect women one to another, to encourage them to know that they each had something to do for Christ and the coming of the Kingdom of God, in the company of Episcopal women everywhere. “There are hundreds more earnest, faithful, devoted women who would be cheered if only they knew what is being done by their sisters in the church and see their offering, small and insignificant as it seems, increased and multiplied by the union with the gifts of others” (Spirit of Missions, volume XXXVII, 1872).

Emery also created The United Thank Offering, represented today by small blue boxes with slots for coins to encourage daily giving and thanks to God. The UTO is still under the purview of the ECW, having awarded $1,517,280 in grants for mission in 2012. Thanks to Emery’s foresight and diligence, the work continues.

Collect for Julia Chester Emery 
God of all creation, you call us in Christ to make disciples of all nations and to proclaim your mercy and love: Grant that we, after the example of your servant Julia Chester Emery, may have vision and courage in proclaiming the Gospel to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our light and our salvation, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Vote!

Charles Henry Brent vs. Julia Chester Emery

  • Julia Chester Emery (73%, 4,449 Votes)
  • Charles Henry Brent (27%, 1,642 Votes)

Total Voters: 6,091

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Posted in First Round, Lent Madness 2014 | 224 Comments

Basil the Great vs. Christina the Astonishing

March 6, 2014 | Author: Tim Schenck

New this year, we are pleased to offer a brief Opening Ceremony video for Lent Madness. It might not involve a cast of thousands like the Olympics, but it does feature two dead archbishops introducing a true Episcopal celebrity wearing a purple cassock. See, we win!

Isn’t it just “astonishing” how many people have been looking forward to the start of Lent? Isn’t it just “great” that Lent Madness has finally begun? The Supreme Executive Committee has fired the starting gun (don’t worry, it’s metaphorical) and…we’re off! The 2014 Saintly Smackdown has officially commenced.

So, hang onto your halos as we begin whittling down our field of 32 saints. All are worthy (yes, they have already received their respective crowns of glory) yet only one will attain the coveted Golden Halo. There will be debates, ire, angst, rejoicing, and holy trash talking. Just remember, it’s all in the spirit of this season specifically set aside to grow closer to God through our relationship with Jesus Christ. On behalf of the Lent Madness team, we’re delighted you’ve decided to spend some of this holy season with us.

If this is your first year playing Lent Madness, welcome. You’re in for a fun, informative, engaging, occasionally wild, ride. (Looking for a Lent Madness primer? Click here). If you’re back for more heart-stopping saintly thrills, it’s good to see you!

After you vote we encourage you to do three things: First, like us on Facebook. Second, follow us on Twitter (if you just can’t get enough of the Madness, social media is the perfect way to continue the conversation). Finally, visit the Lentorium where you can purchase ebook versions of the Saintly Scorecard: The Definitive Guide to Lent Madness 2014 and other Lent Madness paraphernalia such as mugs. Your hairdresser, local barista, cousin, etc. will be thrilled with such thoughtful and wholly unexpected gifts.

Make sure you watch LentMadnessTV regularly for updates from Archbishops Thomas Cranmer and John Chrysostom, as well as the Supreme Executive Committee. Each week you’ll find a video about that week’s match-ups. Here’s a video about the competition of Ash Week.

P.S. Here’s a Lent Madness “Pro Tip” — if you want to receive all the daily match-ups in your e-mail inbox, we encourage you to go to the home page and “subscribe” by entering your e-mail address (near the top right). This will insure you never miss a vote!

245_0035133313_Basil-The-GreatBasil the Great

In the early years of Christianity, much of what we take for granted was in flux. Exact points of belief were the source of schism and argument. In the 4th century, one of the great controversies was Arianism, or the belief that Jesus was subordinate to God and was not created with God the Father, but at a later time; therefore, Jesus was distinct from God. The initial Council of Nicea addressed the issue, but the debate would not rest.

In the region of Cappadocia, particularly, the Arian controversy threatened to divide the region. One of the priests in the region, Basil, stepped firmly into the fray.

Basil was one of the three Cappadocian Fathers, three men who, along with their sister Macrina, profoundly influenced Christian orthodoxy in the 4th century. Basil was born into a family of wealth and privilege and educated in the classic Greek style of the era and the Christian faith. When his sister Macrina used her wealth and status to establish a monastery, Basil himself traveled in the area of Mesopotamia and lived the life of a solitary monastic. He soon shifted his interest to a community of faith rooted in prayer and work. Assisted by Gregory of Nazianzus, he  wrote a monastic Rule, which would become the foundation for Eastern monastic discipline.

He retired to a life of monastic living and writing, but was called out of retirement to defend against the heresy of Arianism. Through his intellect, profound and deep faith, and no small amount of political savvy, Basil did just as he was asked. In his On the Holy Spirit, Basil wrote that both the words of Scripture and the traditions of the Church require that the same honor, glory, and worship are to be paid to God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. For Basil, correct worship would include the formula, “Glory to the Father with the Son together with the Holy Spirit.”

Basil lived what he preached. He never allowed his concern for proper orthodox belief to distract from his focus and work for the poor. He, in his life and after his death through bequests, built homes, hospitals, churches, and other support agencies for the poor and outcasts.

Basil died in 379 at the age of fifty. Two years later, the Second Ecumenical Council affirmed the Nicene faith as understood and presented by Basil and his supporters – the very same words we affirm today in the Nicene Creed.

Collect for Basil the Great
Almighty God, you have revealed to your Church your eternal Being of glorious majesty and perfect love as one God in Trinity of Persons:  Give us grace that, like your bishop Basil of Caesarea, we may continue steadfast in the confession of this faith, and constant in our worship of you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; for you live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

 — Laurie Brock

Christina-the-Astonishing-June-04-2Christina the Astonishing (also known as Christina Miribilis)

In 1172, in St-Tronde (Belgium), the body of a twenty-something orphan named Christina was brought into church, surrounded by a priest, her sisters, and other mourners, for her funeral mass. After the Agnus Dei, Christina rose from her open coffin and levitated into the rafters, where she perched like a bird as all the mourners except for the priest and one sister fled, amazed.

Christina then came down and told what had happened to her while she was “dead.” Angels had guided her into a dark place where she saw many people she had known, in torment. This was Purgatory. Then she was taken to Hell, where she saw others suffering. Finally, she was taken to Heaven and given this choice: stay in Heaven, or return to earth to make penances for those in Hell and Purgatory, that they might be released; and suffer to convert the living, too.

She chose to return. And, she said, “my life will be astonishing, like nothing you have ever seen.”

Christina, the patron of both the mentally ill and therapists, embarked on a life of extreme behavior. She became homeless, dressed in rags, begging for food. During intense prayer, she threw herself into fiery furnaces or into the frozen river for days, emerging unscathed. She recoiled from human contact and often was found perched in treetops, towers, and other remote places, because the smell of human sin was too much for her.

Her family, thinking her possessed, once had her captured and her leg broken by a thug in an effort to control her. Then they called a doctor. And then Christina escaped.

Yet she lived out her last three years obediently at St Catherine’s Convent where locals — saints, counts, villagers — came to her for counsel and confession. She died in 1224 at the age of 74.

In addition to being immortalized in plays, poems, and a song by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Christina’s original story was written down by a contemporary, Thomas de Cantimpre, a Belgian Dominican, based on eyewitness accounts from villagers and Cardinal Jaques de Vitry, who knew Christina. This astonishing woman was a great puzzle to everyone, who were never sure if she was a mystic or insane. Perhaps she was shattered by an encounter with the Divine.

She herself was convinced she was called to suffer for others, to be a different kind of witness. And that she was.

** Image of Christina the Astonishing by Cookie Scottorn. Used with permission.

Collect for Christina the Astonishing
Eternal God, in the example of Christina, we are reminded of the fine line between mysticism and mental illness. You gave to her a passionate spirit, a vivid mind, and the call to suffer for others. Through her example, may we be awakened to passionate and compassionate witness to your glory. In the name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(Collect written by Nancy Hopkins-Greene.)

— Penny Nash

Vote! (Only once per person!)

Basil the Great vs. Christina the Astonishing

  • Basil the Great (55%, 3,801 Votes)
  • Christina the Astonishing (45%, 3,143 Votes)

Total Voters: 6,941

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Posted in First Round, Lent Madness 2014 | 283 Comments

Welcome, dear feast of Lent

March 5, 2014 | Author: Scott Gunn

keep-calm-and-live-lent-2Every year on Ash Wednesday, it is the custom of Lent Madness to take a brief hiatus from our yearlong sojourn of silliness. We like to take this occasion to remind ourselves, and you, dear reader, of what we think this is all about.

The title of this blog post is taken from the opening line of George Herbert’s exquisite poem, “Lent.” In the poem, Herbert writes movingly about the invitation of Lent to embark on a holy journey to grow closer to God.

It’s true, we cannot reach Christ’s fortieth day;
Yet to go part of that religious way,
Is better than to rest:
We cannot reach our Savior’s purity;
Yet are bid, Be holy ev’n as he.
In both let’s do our best.

This season of Lent is about the journey. We won’t get it all right, but in trying, we will gain something for ourselves. Lent Madness is surely not the best Lenten discipline for everyone. As Tim reminds us regularly, Lent Madness is optional. Some will find here their very first encounter with the practice of a Lenten disciple, while others will discover that levity and saints do not sit well with their idea of Lent.

Above all, we must remember that this season is about recommitting to following Jesus, to follow him with lives of worship, prayer, study, and service to others. Lent invites us to set aside unimportant things and to focus on what matters most. We think that the ridiculous veneer of Lent Madness covers something much deeper and holier. Scott often reminds us that the Book of Common Prayer describes Lent as a season to “prepare with joy for the Paschal feast.” And that’s what we’re doing. We are preparing with joy for the Easter feast, and for our eternal feast with all the saints.

So, dear friends, we invite you to the observance of a holy Lent. Partake in Lent Madness. Try some other disciplines. Spend this season in the company of fellow pilgrims as we grow ever closer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And know that you will be in our prayers on this day and throughout these next forty days and forty nights.

Tim+           Scott+
The Supreme Executive Committee of Lent Madness

Note: George Herbert was the first-ever Golden Halo winner (see this post from Tim’s blog). Over on Scott’s blog, named for another Herbert poem, he’s got George Herbert’s “Lent” with original spelling (read it here).

Posted in Color Commentary, Lent Madness 2014 | 26 Comments

New to Lent Madness?

March 4, 2014 | Author: Tim Schenck

Hello-Im-New-LOGOAre you new to Lent Madness this year? If so, we welcome you with arms open wide in sackcloth and ashes. We’re delighted you’re along for the ride, hope you learn a lot about some pretty amazing folks, and have some fun along the way.

A couple of points to remember. First, Lent Madness is purely optional. If you disagree with the results or loathe the entire concept of saintly competition, do yourself a favor and find another Lenten devotion. We particularly like the daily videos by the monks at the Society of St. John the Evangelist in Cambridge, Massachusetts, created for Lent 2014 called Love Life. There are many ways to mark this holy season that don’t involve Lent Madness. In other words, if you don’t bring a sense of humor to your faith life, this little online devotion may not be for you.

Second, you’ll quickly notice something amazing taking place on your computer screen before your very eyes. Lent Madness transforms itself into a true community of faith during Lent. We don’t always agree and everyone comes to Lent Madness from different places theologically, liturgically, and geographically. We see this diversity as a great gift to be celebrated. How does this community form? Through the comment section of each battle, on Facebook, and on Twitter. People share how a particular saint has touched them or what they’ve learned or why they’re voting for a particular saint. We’re always amazed at how gracious people are in their comments — this is very unusual for an online community of course. We insist that people follow the norms of civilized online behavior. We have the power to block those who engage in hurtful behavior, and we’re not afraid to use it!

Please vote only once. If there are multiple voters in your household you may use other devices to vote more than once. That’s fine. But we have had voter fraud issues in the past and we’ve dealt with them swiftly and fairly. Yes, Big Brother is watching. Play fair!

To make sure you never miss a vote, go to the home page and enter your e-mail address where it says “subscribe” (top right under the countdown clock). The daily match-up will magically appear in your inbox at about 8:00 am Eastern time on the weekdays of Lent. Once the match-up starts, you’ll have about 24 hours to vote.

We hereby dub you a Lent Madness Evangelist! We need your help in spreading the Lent Madness love and drawing more people into learning about the saints. Talk about it around the water cooler, send people links, chat it up on social media.

Last year the mysterious Maple Anglican created a Lent Madness 101 how-to-vote video. If you have any questions at all on how this works, this brief video should clear things up

Welcome to Lent Madness! Thanks for being along for the ride.

Posted in Color Commentary, Lent Madness 2014 | 25 Comments

Brackets to Go 2014

March 4, 2014 | Author: Scott Gunn

photo-6For the third year in a row, we are taking Lent Madness to the streets. These days, you simply can’t expect everyone to come to Lent Madness, so it’s important to bring Lent Madness to the people. Coming inside and asking for a bracket can be intimidating to many people, so we like to go to train stations and street corners with the Good News of Lent Madness.

Pictured at right (Lent Madness Press Bureau file photo) is a bracket distribution taking place at a train station on…wait for it…the purple line. Proving that Lent Madness is ecumenical, this grateful commuter is a Methodist. “It was @#$!@# cold outside waiting for the train, and then when I got my bracket, I was strangely warmed — by my rage at being forced to choose between John Wesley or Charles Wesley in the first round.”

Brackets to Go

Offering a bracket to a grateful passer-by

Another bracket recipient said, “As a cradle Episcopalian, I thought this whole Lent Madness thing was garbage until I noticed Julia Chester Emery on there. The founder of the UTO? Now I am a fan.” The contest is not without controversy. A passer-by saw the bracket and exclaimed, “Haven’t the people of Egypt been through enough? How dare you put Mary of Egypt against Antony of Egpyt!”

The experience was clearly powerful. “I didn’t think the SEC really cared,” said one man, “but then when I saw that Lent Madness was coming into the streets, I knew there was more to them than shallow personalities and grandiose egos. Perhaps not much more, but at least something.”

NOTE: The SEC is having a bit of fun with the Ashes to Go media sensation. We’re not mocking it, but rather riding the coattails of this internet meme. One member of the SEC has gone on record in support of Ashes to Go. So there. Of course another is on record as being a bit skeptical. So there.

Posted in Lent Madness 2014, News | 9 Comments

Monday Madness — March 3, 2014

March 3, 2014 | Author: Scott Gunn

Monday MadnessWell, friends, it’s almost here. Less than three days until Ash Thursday, the formal kickoff off Lent Madness 2014. This week, Tim and Scott talk about how you can get instant gratification by buying the Saintly Scorecard for your Amazon Kindle, B&N Nook, or Apple iThing. (Visit the Lentorium for more indispensable items for your Lenten journey.) Scott and Tim also give you instructions on how to take Lent Madness to the streets with Brackets to Go. Last, but not least, they tell you the precise moment that this year’s competition begins, including a sneak preview of an addition to this year’s opening day ceremonies.

If you enjoyed this — and who wouldn’t — you’ll want to watch the Archbishops’ latest update from Quinquagesima Sunday.

Make sure you encourage everyone you know to like Lent Madness on Facebook or follow Lent Madness on Twitter. Getting through Lent without that would be Lent without the Madness, like Ash Wednesday without ashes or Palm Sunday without palms. Inconceivable, yes? So evangelize for Lent Madness!

Posted in Lent Madness 2014, Monday Madness | 7 Comments

SEC Day

March 2, 2014 | Author: Tim Schenck

429956_198552396917973_1933645540_nFollowing an exciting Celebrity Blogger Week (okay, we use the word “week” loosely — it was 10 days), today is SEC Day. Think Presidents Day but without the car sales. As everyone knows the self-appointed (anointed?) Supreme Executive Committee of Lent Madness comprises Scott Gunn and Tim Schenck.

What exactly are the SEC’s responsibilities? In addition to drinking herculean amounts of coffee throughout Lent (oh, who are we kidding? — we do that all year), we oversee every detail to insure Lent Madness doesn’t go off the rails and plunge into the Lenten wilderness. In addition to our Emmy Award-worthy-if-not-winning Monday Madness videos this includes the recruitment and cajoling of Celebrity Bloggers (the backbone of the whole operation); using a ouija board to determine which saints will be included in the bracket; moderating lots of comments; zapping any evidence of voter fraud; autographing copies of the Saintly Scorecard; managing the social media presence; hawking mugs and brackets; and generally living a Supreme lifestyle.

It’s a lot of work but it’s all for the love of God and the Lent Madness faithful. For two priests who both consider the other one his archnemesis (think Spy vs. Spy), it only works because they give up their rivalry for forty days and forty nights. Easter season is another matter entirely.

So who exactly are Tim and Scott? Thanks for asking and enjoy their bios.

Image

The Rev. Tim Schenck

The Rev. Tim Schenck is rector of the Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist in Hingham, Massachusetts, on the South Shore of Boston. He is the author of What Size Are God’s Shoes: Kids, Chaos, and the Spiritual Life (Morehouse 2008) and Dog in the Manger: Finding God in Christmas Chaos (Forward Movement 2013). Tim writes a monthly syndicated column for Gatehouse Media titled “In Good Faith.” When he’s not tending to his parish, drinking coffee, or blogging at Clergy Family Confidential, he’s likely hanging out with his family that includes his wife Bryna, two sons Benedict (14) and Zachary (13), his dog Delilah, and a ferret named Mimi. Friend him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter @FatherTim.

DSC_6879-e1315428467832-297x300

The Rev. Scott Gunn

The Rev. Scott Gunn is an Episcopal priest and self-confessed technophile. He serves as the Executive Director of Forward Movement in Cincinnati, OH, whose historic mission is “to reinvigorate the life of the church.” Scott also serves in the inner sanctum of churchgeekery as a Deputy to General Convention, which will raise or lower his “street cred” depending on your perspective. Though Scott is happily married and the proud owner a dog named George (named after the first winner of the Golden Halo), he will never, ever have ferrets at home. His blog is Seven whole days, where you’ll read church rants and raves, thoughts about technology, and random musings. You can find him on Facebook,Twitter, flickr, or LinkedIn. His dog George is on Twitter at @GeorgeTDog.

We hope you enjoy Lent Madness 2014, learn a lot about some amazing people, and grow closer to Jesus. And if you don’t? Scott and Tim each blame the other one.

Unrelated, but important note: make sure you watch the Quinquagesima video update from Archbishops Thomas Cranmer and John Chrysostom. With lens flare!

Posted in Color Commentary, Lent Madness 2014 | 6 Comments

Celebrity Blogger Week: Robert Hendrickson

March 1, 2014 | Author: Tim Schenck

Congratulations! After today you have officially survived Celebrity Blogger Week. See? That wasn’t so hard. But first, our last but not least (or last shall be first depending on your perspective) CB. Read on.

New to the world of Celebrity Bloggerdom, Robert Hendrickson promises to bring us to the mountaintop this Lent. Well, that’s not as impressive as it sounds since he lives in Denver but we like the metaphor and we’re sticking with it. With a dog named Becket and a cat named Cuthbert, is it any surprise Robert was tapped as a Celebrity Blogger for Lent Madness 2014?

The Rev. Robert Hendrickson

The Rev. Robert Hendrickson

Robert Hendrickson was born into this world by a battalion of angels. This cosmic entry into the mortal coil has ingrained in him an interest in the supernatural and the fantastical. He will not readily admit to going to the occasional Renaissance Faire nor will he admit that he has been known to play the occasional video game (Skyrim being among his oft-denied favourites). Like any serious Anglican, he reads Tolkein, Lewis, and Arthurian legends and knows them like a badger knows snakehide. Robert is the Sub-Dean of Saint John’s Cathedral in Denver. He attended General Theological Seminary, was ordained to the priesthood in 2011, and served as a curate at Christ Church, New Haven where he started the Saint Hilda’s House young adult intentional community. He has also worked with the Ecumenical Office of the Episcopal Church, co-founded the Society of Catholic Priests of the Episcopal Church, and recently completed a book on young adult ministry titled Yearning: Authentic Transformation, Young Adults, and the Church. He is married to Dr. Karrie Cummings Hendrickson and who are the proud companions of Becket (a dolorous basset hound), Penelope (a fearless dachshund), Cuthbert (a once indomitable raccoon fighting cat), and Marshmallow (a rotund cat prone to wild fits of napping).

How has Lent Madness transformed your life?
Lent Madness had given me both clarity of purpose and of skin. It has done remarkable things for my overall demeanor and disposition. Whereas before, I had been a bit of a curmudgeon, I have now become something really more of a crank. This is thanks to the adulation and adoration that has come from the ranks upon ranks of fervent Lent Madness fans. This transformation is one that has given me a renewed commitment to a life of kindly dissolution in which I can write and contemplate the saintly virtues.

unnamed

Robert with Becket atop Mount Evans.

Obviously being a Celebrity Blogger is your greatest lifetime achievement. What perks have you enjoyed as a result of your status?
The chief perk of my newfound status has been the countless bouquets of flowers and edible arrangements that have arrived from delirious fans of Nicholas Ridley.

What do you hope the Lent Madness public will learn from the lives of the saints?
I hope that the Lent Madness readers will see the complexity of each of the lives of the saints. There is little in our own day that they did not face. Each was viewed with an amount of skepticism and even derision in their day and rarely does one become a saint without traveling a path that differs from the wider culture and even Church. We are each, in the lives of the saints, being given models for challenging ourselves to an ever more faithful journey with Christ as his story becomes ours and others see in us a glimpse of the divine image.

Someday, when you become the answer on Jeopardy, what will the question be?
“Who was martyred with a crossbow bolt while celebrating High Mass on Corpus Christi?”

Posted in Color Commentary, Lent Madness 2014 | 3 Comments

Celebrity Blogger Week: Adam Thomas

February 28, 2014 | Author: Tim Schenck

All Lent Madness fans should be grateful for one of the true unsung heroes of Lent Madness, Bracket Czar Adam Thomas. Adam created the now iconic fancy bracket we use for our little saintly competition. A former Celebrity Blogger, Adam now enjoys a title that clearly impressed the search committee at St. Mark’s Church in Mystic, Connecticut, where he now serves as rector.

adamthomasAdam Thomas, Lent Madness Bracket Czar, was a 2012 Celebrity Blogger (most closely identified with upstart Philander Chase) who has morphed into our keeper of the bracket. This Lent is his first as rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Mystic, Connecticut. Adam is the author of Digital Disciple: Real Christianity in the Virtual World (Abingdon 2011), which you should read since you are using the Internet right now and you are more than likely a Christian. His first novel Letters from Ruby, which is about an Episcopal priest (imagine that!) arrived in August 2013. Adam lives in Groton, Connecticut with his wife Leah, who is wonderful and lovely and every other good adjective you might think of. Check out his website WheretheWind.com, for six years of content. You can fan Adam on Facebook or follow him on Twitter@RevAdamThomas.

How has Lent Madness transformed your life?
Somehow Tim and Scott got me to convince myself it was a good idea to get up early every morning during Lent to make new graphics. Very Tom Sawyer of them. And all they had to do was throw me a nice title like Bracket Czar.

Obviously being a Celebrity Blogger is your greatest lifetime achievement. What perks have you enjoyed as a result of your status?
As the Bracket Czar I get all the fame of the Celebrity Bloggers without having to do research. I’ll call that a win.

What do you hope the Lent Madness public will learn from the lives of the saints?

When it comes to brackets, Adam is as efficient as a droid.

When it comes to brackets, Adam is as efficient as a droid.

In all seriousness, I hope that Lent Madness instills in people a sense of hope that their lives can be reflections of God’s love and glory as the lives of the saints are. I guarantee you that the people we write about this Lent didn’t consider themselves saintly during their own lifetimes. They just were. They resonated with the movement of God in this world and their lives demonstrated the powerful results of such resonance. And so can ours.

Someday, when you become the answer on Jeopardy, what will the question be?
Pretty sure you guys wrote this question backwards: if Alex Trebec desires the contestants to say “Who is Adam Thomas?” then the words that will appear on the question board will say, “He singlehandedly upped the production values of the Lent Madness bracket; I mean, seriously, look at the 2010 one.”

[Editor’s note. It’s true. The 2010 Bracket created by Tim was perhaps utilitarian but no work of art.]

Posted in Color Commentary, Lent Madness 2014 | 5 Comments

Celebrity Blogger Week: Laurie Brock

February 27, 2014 | Author: Tim Schenck

Entering her second year as a Celebrity Blogger, Laurie Brock is also the owner of Nina, the Official Horse of Lent Madness. Of course everybody in Kentucky owns a horse so we realize this is only a big deal to those outside the Bluegrass State. When she’s not riding, writing, snarking up the joint on Twitter, tending to her congregation, following Alabama football, drinking bourbon, or walking her puppy Evie, we really have no idea what Laurie does all day.

Oh, she also has the distinction of teaching Tim how to ride a horse when he was in Kentucky to lead Clergy Conference for the Diocese of Lexington last year. He was not a natural.

The Rev. Laurie Brock

The Rev. Laurie Brock

Laurie Brock is a returning Celebrity Blogger because she loves getting free coffee mugs. Clergy never have enough coffee mugs or crosses. She serves as the rector of St. Michael the Archangel Episcopal Church in Lexington, Kentucky. She blogs at Dirty Sexy Ministry and is the co-author of Where God Hides Holiness: Thoughts on Grief, Joy and the Search for Fabulous Heels (Church Publishing). She is also the creative force behind Fifty Days of Fabulous from Forward Movement. She frequently shares her quirky, snarky views on faith, Alabama football, and popular culture on Twitter at @drtysxyministry, but don’t follow unless you can laugh at yourself and your religion. Otherwise, you’ll just be offended. When she’s not doing priest things, she is riding her horse Nina and trying to avoid another spot on the Celebrity Blogger injured reserved list like last year.

How has Lent Madness transformed your life?
Well, I now have something to do during Lent other than repent. And I know way more about Hilda of Whitby and the other saints I’ve celebrity blogged for than I learned, even for seminary exams. Being a Celebrity Blogger engages one in the lives of the saints (not to mention a competitive Lenten discipline) beyond just a set of dry facts to the humorous, spiritual, tragic, and even oddly insane lives they lived. Plus Nina the Official Lent Madness Horse enjoys wearing her purple sheet (a sheet is the horse version of a light coat). And I can’t go to any Church event without being mobbed by people wanting autographs. Well, maybe not so much that last sentence.
Obviously being a Celebrity Blogger is your greatest lifetime achievement. What perks have you enjoyed as a result of your status?
This year, Thomas Merton is one of my saints (vote THOMAS!), so I trekked to Gethsemani, the monastery where he lived and wrote not too far from where I live in Kentucky. I met one of the monks who knew Brother Louis (as Thomas was known to his fellow monks) who told me personal stories of their time together and quoted poetry about God as we sat in the garden where Thomas himself sat and prayed decades before. It was a lovely moment realizing I would have never had this ethereal opportunity without the generosity of the SEC, Scott and Tim, and without my ability to snark in 140 characters or less on Twitter (which is how I’m still convinced I got the call to the major leagues of Church blogging).

What do you hope the Lent Madness public will learn from the lives of the saints?

Laurie with Nina, the Official Horse of Lent Madness

Laurie with Nina, the Official Horse of Lent Madness

I was intrigued with the small scandal that erupted over Frances Perkins winning last year’s Golden Halo. I had some people argue, “She’s not really a saint.” Well, no, her hair and fingernails didn’t continue to grow after her death, and as far as we know, she didn’t put a pickled barrel full of children back together after a mean shopkeeper had enough of their shenanigans and dismembered them (why no one tells that story from the life of St. Nicholas is beyond me). Do these qualities make a saint? Or is a saint someone who heroically lived his/her faith in a daring and courageous way? Frances is a wonderful example of using her faith to guide her decisions and influence others to help the least of these in this country at a time when women’s leadership was considered suspect and rarely given heed. That seems heroic to me…I mean, imagine if we all lived our love for God and neighbor the way Frances did.

That, quite honestly, is part of being a saint. Fantastic stories of ancient saints are part of the hagiography of a saint, but saints, as the hymn says, are here and now. So I hope that Lent Madness is a way for people to feel their pre-concived ideas of who a saint is gently (and sometimes irreverently) expanded as they come to know saints past and present in a very real way.
Someday, when you become the answer on Jeopardy, what will the question be?
“Who is the first Episcopal priest to host Saturday Night Live?”
Posted in Color Commentary, Lent Madness 2014 | 10 Comments