September 28, 2025 - The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Lectionary Readings

Be with us, O Lord, for if you are with us nothing else matters; and if you are not with us, nothing else matters. Amen.

So there was a guy who found himself at the pearly gates of heaven and St. Peter asked him, “Tell me about one good deed that you did during your lifetime?” The man said, “Sure, this one time, I saw a group of mountain lions circling some deer and I charged at them to try to scare them away.” St. Peter replied, “What a kind and generous act. When did that happen?” The man said, “About two minutes ago.” It’s a setup for a joke that we all know – someone finds themselves at the pearly gates and some sort of twist delivers the punchline.

September 21, 2025 - The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Lectionary Readings

Gracious God, guide us to seek your Truth: come whence it may, cost what it will, lead where it might. Amen.

“And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth.” If I’m honest with you, and I’ll always be honest with you, I don’t have a clue why Jesus told this parable or what he was getting at by commending the actions of this weasel of a manager. The guy is self-serving, conceited, and conniving. He’s a cheat. If this manager asked to be on our Finance Committee, we’d give him a very firm, “Thank you, but we’re not sure that we need your, um, gifts, should used for the finances of the church.” And yet in this story that Jesus tells us the scoundrel is commended for his actions. It’s outrageous and I can’t say that I get it.

September 14, 2025 - The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Lectionary Readings

In the name of the God who is love ☩ Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

What a joy and blessing it is to be here with you all at Grace and St. Stephen’s! There I was, minding my own business and trying my best to do faithful ministry in Salisbury, North Carolina when the Holy Spirit did what the Holy Spirit so often does – stirring things up. One of the things that makes grace so amazing is how it surprises us and comes unexpectedly. About a year ago, I was celebrating my 10-year anniversary as the Rector of St. Luke’s and I distinctly remember thinking, “I can’t imagine that I’d ever encounter another parish that I’d want to serve.” Truly, I was not looking for a new call, and I wasn’t even open to the idea at first. But the Holy Spirit’s clear call, along with the fantastic parish profile that you developed and your energy and hospitality during the interviews helped to open my imagination enough to know in my heart and mind that, indeed, I was being called to Grace and St. Stephen’s. And I’m so incredibly excited to see what the Holy Spirit has in mind by bringing us together.