Dear Members and Friends of St. James, Because I am pleased to report no major development or change in our common life, I share with you several prayers from our Book of Common Prayer that have this week forced their way into my mind. I pray that you also might find them beneficial. For Ascension …
6 Easter Psalm 98; Acts 10:41 – 48; I John 5:1 – 6; John 15:9 – 17 This is my commandment, that you love one another. Jn. 15: 12 It may not (perhaps, even should not) come as a surprise to any of you that at this time of the year my mind turns to …
Dear Members and Friends of St. James, Such updates as they are are centered on discussions of how we may meet diocesan guidelines for regathering for in-person liturgies. Our regathering shepherd/liaison, a member of St. John’s Church, Chelsea is, so I learn, acquainted with St. James and our area in Somerville. For that reason, although …
5 Easter Psalm 22:24 – 30; Acts 8:26 – 40; I John 4:7 – 21; John 15:1 – 8 I am the vine; you are the branches. John 15:5 A spoiler alert to my reflections on this Fifth Sunday in Easter 2021: When reading the gospel lesson for this Sunday, a fairly long string of …
Dear Members and Friends of St. James, In an earlier communication from our Bishops (Massachusetts and Western Massachusetts) regarding reopening after Covid-19, when it became clear that Easter, the Celebration of Feast of the Resurrection, could not be held as traditionally observed, the hope was that we could look forward to regathering after 19 April. …
4 Easter Psalm 23 Acts 4:5 – 12 I John 3:16 – 24 John 10:11 – 18 But there are other sheep of mine, not belonging to this fold; I must lead them as well, and they too will listen to my voice. John 10:16On the corner of Brimmer St. and Beacon St. in Boston, …
Dear Members and Friends of St. James, Like many of you, I, too, relish those days which allow me to engage in more than superficial reflection. Absent Zoom meetings—although troubled deeply by the continuing, if not acceleration of death(s) at the hands of our law enforcement officers—I was able this week to spend more time …
3 Easter Psalm 4Acts 3:12 – 19I John 3:1 – 7Luke 24:36b – 48 While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, Jesus said to them, ‘Have you anything to eat?’ Lk. 24:41 Aside from my early youthful years, when, on a Saturday with parental permission, I would accompany childhood friends to the …
Dear Members and Friends of St. James, Sighs of joy and relief probably escaped your lips, as you awakened to discover that the snow which had fallen has melted and the temperature is again upward bound. I share other news which, so hope I, will bring positive thoughts for your consideration. Your senior warden and …
2 Easter Psalm 133; Acts 4:32 – 35; I John 1: 1 – 2:2; John 20:19 – 31 Late that same day, the first day of the week, when the disciples were together behind locked doors for fear…John 20:19 In our joy to get to the good part of the Resurrection Story, namely of Mary Magdalene’s encounter …