November 3, 2024 - The Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Lectionary Readings

Grant us to be scandalized by your subversive grace, O God. Amen.

            “The Bible says it, I believe it, that settles it.” Perhaps you’ve heard that phrase used in a conversation before. It’s often used to end a debate by appealing to the sovereignty of God. Sure, we might be tempted to dismiss such brazen logic as lazy or closed-minded; but in actuality, there’s something beautifully simplistic about putting our trust in God more than anything else. Goodness knows, I wish faith was that easy; that I always knew how to follow Jesus.

November 2, 2024 - All Souls

Lectionary Readings

In the name of the God who makes all things new ☩ Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen

            A week ago, I attended a week-long clergy wellness retreat hosted by the Church Pension Fund. It was a rich and deep time for both spiritual renewal and forming relationships with clergy from around the country. In a few conversations, the question of All Saints and All Souls came up and I realized that if the group of 25 clergy is representative of the wider Church, we are in the very slim minority of congregations that mark All Soul’s Day. In fact, only one other priest said that their congregation marks this holy day.

November 1, 2024 - All Saints

Lectionary Readings

In the name of God ☩ Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Perhaps more than any other message, the Church needs to celebrate and proclaim All Saints. Many of us have already voted in the upcoming election and if you haven’t, please plan to do so on Tuesday. In this election season, not only is our nation divided, but the Church has been ripped apart by partisanship. If we speak about “red churches and blue churches” we all know what that means. And that is a travesty – that the Church can so easily and neatly fit into partisan labels. 

October 20, 2024 - The Feast of St. Luke

Lectionary Readings

Come, Holy Spirit, and fill us that we might be your action in this community. Amen.

            You know how sometimes in school we have vocabulary tests? We study the definitions so that we know how to properly use the words. Having the right word for the right moment can be like a treasure. Well, this morning as we celebrate our patronal feast of St. Luke, I want to think about the word “church” and what it means. In particular, I want to think through what part of speech church is.

October 13, 2024 - The Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost

Lectionary Readings

God of possible impossibilities, help us to open our hands and let go so that we can receive your gracious love. Amen.

            The rabbi and leadership consultant Edwin Friedman has a collection of fables that offer insight into the human condition. One is called “The Bridge.” The protagonist is a person who spent the first part of their life searching for truth and trying out different things, encountering both successes and failures. Through prayer and reflection, they finally have a sense of purpose; they feel like their life has a direction and destination.

October 6, 2024 - The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Lectionary Readings

Lord, help us to remember that your kingdom belongs not to us, but to children. Amen.

            A lot of people turn to religion for answers. We want to know, like Job, why bad things happen to good people. We want to know what the meaning of life is. We want to know how to live more peaceful lives. So we turn to faith, hoping for an answer. And while it’s true that faith is more about helping us to ask better questions than it is about giving us pre-formed answers, in today’s Gospel reading from Mark, Jesus actually does give us a very clear answer about life and faith. Jesus tells us that the Kingdom belongs to the little children.

September 29, 2024 - The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost & the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels

Lectionary Readings for Michaelmas & Epistle of James

Thank you, God, for all that you do for us which we will never know about. Amen.

            You’ve heard me quote part of an Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem before and it bears repeating. “Earth’s crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God; but only they who see take off their shoes, the rest sit round and pluck blackberries.” I carry the imagery and wisdom of that poem around with me because, indeed, fantastical things are happening all around us, earth is crammed with heaven, Creation is enchanted with the grandeur of God.