1 Advent Psalm 25:1–9; Jeremiah 33:14–16; 1 Thessalonians 3:9–13; Luke 21:25–36 There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars…Be alert at all times.Lk 21:25f. Spoiler alert. Should you remember nothing else of what I share with you this morning, remember this: Advent is not about counting down until Christmas Eve and …
Dear Members and Friends of St. James, Almost as if by surprise, the Season of Advent is with us. The appearance of wreaths, the lighting of the first candle of Advent, and a change in altar hangings and vestments were and are visual evidence of the beginning of another liturgical year. Appropriately, the first Sunday …
Christ the King, Last Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 132:1–19; 2 Sam. 23.1–7; Rev.1:4b–8; John 18.33–37 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 Many things fascinate us human beings. We are intrigued by paradoxes. You know, those things that seem contradictory to common sense and experience but …
Dear Members and Friends of St. James, Today we observe a feast day that, in liturgical speak, bears resemblance to the “neglected stepsister” in a Grimm nursery rhyme. With the homily that I offered today at Eucharist and attach here [see separate post] to my weekly greetings, I hope to open the possibility of a …
25 Pentecost Canticle: I Sam. 2:1–10; I Samuel 1:4–20; Hebrews 10:11–25; Mark 13: 1–8 As Jesus came out of the Temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’ Mark 13:1 At an electric traffic signal, while driving on Friday afternoon to the parish, I came along …
Dear Members and Friends of St. James, Today we did a test run. Winter is before us, and to be met with almost frigid weather (50 degrees Fahrenheit) in our buildings presented us with a challenge. As in 2015 (before my arrival on the scene in 2018, when confronted with a similar situation, documented by …
24 Pentecost Psalm 127; Ruth 3:1–5; 4:13–17; Hebrews 9:24–28; Mark 12:38–44 Unless the Lord builds the house, their labor is in vain who build it. Ps. 127:1 I begin my reflections this morning with two citations. There are both from the Rev. Richard C. Halverson (1916–1995), a Presbyterian minister who was Chaplain to the United …
Dear Members and Friends of St. James, “Spring forward; Fall back!” I am pleased to note that no one appeared to forget that jingle which alerts us semi-annually to change in times and change in seasons. The major hurdle in “getting to the church on time,” inasmuch as we are an urban parish, remains still …
All Saints Sunday, 23 Pentecost Psalm 24; Wisdom of Solomon 3:1–9; Revelations 21:1–6a; John 11:32–44 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals.’ Revelation 21:3 Everyone knows—even fourth and fifth graders—who saints are and where they can best be seen. In paintings in museums or …
The Feast of All Saints and parish notes Dear Members and Friends of St. James, We observed today at Eucharist the Feast of All Saints, to celebrate the lives of those who contributed to the life of our parish. Our senior warden produced for me, the original Charter of Founding and Admission into the Diocese …