The Pink Flamingo :: Celebrating the Life of Endicott Peabody

I have a very special affinity for Endicott Peabody. Last year the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona added him to their liturgical calender. That is the 1st step toward Anglican sainthood. Every once in awhile, we do something good in life. One of the greatest things a writer can do is influence the world, for the better. I have the honor of having transcribed Endicott Peabody's 1882 Tombstone Diary and turning it into a book: A Church for Helldorado. It is because of my book that Peabody is now being cosidered for sainthood. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of the book, it is $19.99. Just contact me and I'll get one to you.

"...Endicott Peabody, second time around
by Bishop Kirk S. Smith

On Nov. 17, the Diocese will celebrate for the second time the feast of Endicott Peabody, Missionary to Arizona, +1944. You will remember his story, how he came to Tombstone in 1882 as a 25-year-old seminarian and within six months had founded St Paul's church there and built a church building which still remains, the oldest Protestant church structure in Arizona.

I thought about Peabody again last week when I was asked to give a talk to some young Episcopal clergy at the Gathering of Leaders' meeting about what constitutes "missionary-minded" leadership.

The example of a leader from more than 100 years ago might at first seem to be stretching it. But I continue to be impressed that in Peabody's approach contains all the ingredients for success. And let's not forget that Tombstone in its "Helldorado" days was a precursor of 21st century America. It, too, was a society characterized by displacement, materialism, and violence. How then did Peabody manage?

First, he was absolutely clear about his goal-to build a church and to do it in a very short time. He made the main thing the main thing! This focus on a clearly articulated goal seems to me to be essential. It is what is behind all my talk of our "Big Hairy Audacious Goal" as a Diocese-to start ten new congregations in ten years.

Second, he was tenacious. His diary reports that he would make upwards of 15 house calls a day. And his message was simply an invitation-come be a part of what we are doing.

Third, he realized that growth takes places at the edges. Peabody himself came from a wealthy and privileged Boston family, but he came out West to the frontier, there he gained his converts from the miners and the cowboys. I suspect we have some new frontiers of our own to explore-youth, immigrants, young urbanites.

Fourth, his strategy was to take the church to where the people were. For example, he started a baseball team (still in existence) to channel the destructive energy of the desperadoes onto the sports field. He gained the respect of the townspeople who regarded him as "one of their own."

I hope you will remember Endicott Peabody in your worship celebrations next week. We as Arizona Episcopalians could not ask for a better patron saint...."

Propers for the Feast Day of The Rev. Dr. Endicott Peabody, Missionary and Educator + November 17, 1944

Collect: Almighty God, we give you thanks for your servant Endicott Peabody, missionary to the Arizona territory and educator of Presidents. May his courage and zeal always remind us of the need to combine learning with action, belief with practice. May we, like him, be always ready to share our faith with those who are near and those who are far. This we ask through the Name of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Old Testament Reading: Ezra 7. 6-10.
Psalm 139. 1-12
New Testament Reading: Acts 1. 1-8
Gospel: Matthew 9. 35-38 or Matthew 18.1-5

First Commemoration on Nov. 17, 2007 at Trinity Cathedral, Phoenix, the 150th year of Endicott Peabody's birth..."

Ezra 7:6-12

6this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses that the Lord the God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was upon him.

7 Some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants also went up to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. 8They came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9On the first day of the first month the journey up from Babylon was begun, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the gracious hand of his God was upon him. 10For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach the statutes and ordinances in Israel.
The Letter of Artaxerxes to Ezra

11 This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to the priest Ezra, the scribe, a scholar of the text of the commandments of the Lord and his statutes for Israel: 12‘Artaxerxes, king of kings, to the priest Ezra, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven: Peace. And now

Psalm 139

The Inescapable God

To the leader. Of David. A Psalm.
1O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
2You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
   you discern my thoughts from far away.
3You search out my path and my lying down,
   and are acquainted with all my ways.
4Even before a word is on my tongue,
   O Lord, you know it completely.
5You hem me in, behind and before,
   and lay your hand upon me.
6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
   it is so high that I cannot attain it.

7Where can I go from your spirit?
   Or where can I flee from your presence?
8If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
   if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
9If I take the wings of the morning
   and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
10even there your hand shall lead me,
   and your right hand shall hold me fast.
11If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me,
   and the light around me become night’,
12even the darkness is not dark to you;
   the night is as bright as the day,
   for darkness is as light to you.

Acts 1. 1-8
The Promise of the Holy Spirit

1In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; 5for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’
The Ascension of Jesus

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ 7He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’

Matthew 9. 35-38
The Harvest Is Great, the Labourers Few

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’

Dime con quien andas y te digo quien eres.

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