Celebrating St. Brigid of Kildare

01Feb
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing your praise. Though the Lord be high, he cares for the lowly; he perceives the haughty from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe; you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies; your right hand shall save me. The Lord will make good his purpose for me; O Lord, your love endures for ever; do not abandon the works of your hands.
- Psalm 138:1,7-9

This is the day we celebrate St. Brigid of Kildare, Abbess (1 FEB 523). St. Brigid is remembered for many things, primarily for taking Christian vows at a very early age and weaving the Druidic customs of the earth with the wisdom of Christ in heaven. (Kildare means Church of the Oaks). Legend has it that she was the midwife at the birth of Christ - quite imaginative since she was living some 500 years after the fact. But she ushers divine life into humble human experiences. John Philip Newell suggests that she is inspiring us not to be frightened by the pain of labor and the uncertainties of passing through new doorways, but to faithfully serve in times of fear and transition. 

Brigid stands in the thin place between pagan and Christian, human and divine, abundance and need and was a strong female leader in a male dominated church. She had a particular ministry to the poor and frequently got in trouble with her family for her extravagant generosity on their behalf.

As we celebrate her feast day today, we find ourselves mid-way between Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, and on the cusp of Epiphany, (Mardi Gras) and Lent. What does it mean for us to stand in the threshold here? What polarities in our lives need to be brought before the eternal flame of Christ’s love. 

Musical Reflection - St Brigid's Day/Lá Fhéile Bríde: Caitlín Nic Gabhann

O God, whose servant Brigid, kindled with the flame of your love, became a shining light in your church: Grant that we also may be aflame with the spirit of love and discipline, and walk before you as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

PsalmsWomen

Posted by Maria Elliott

Maria Elliott has been Trinity since 1994, first as a parishioner and then for sixteen years establishing the office of stewardship and development, and currently as the Director of Pastoral Care and Spiritual Life. 

WIth a degree in Music and Business from Drake University in her native state of Iowa, Maria went first to New York to work for a concert artist management and then for the Arts department at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.  At the Cathedral, Maria was confirmed, met and married her husband, The Reverend Michael Kuhn, and began an accidental career in the Episcopal Church. She has served on the Diocesan Stewardship Committee, the boards of The Episcopal Network for Stewardship and the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes, as a Stephen Minister, and currently Education for Ministry Mentor.

Maria’s interests include playing the oboe in the New Orleans Civic Symphony and she is currently training to be a Narrative Enneagram mentor. Her daughters, Hallie Wilkins and Sophie Bedaña are Trinity School alumni. Maria has two grandchildren, Celeste and Alden Wilkins.

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