A sermon on 5 Pentecost, 5 July 2020 Psalm 145; Deut. 10:17-21; Hebrews 11:8-16; Matt. 5:43-48 By faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land. … Hebrews 11:9 In some church circles, there is the general expectation that the job of a preacher is [to] make his or …
4 Pentecost, 28 June 2020 A Psalm 13; Genesis 22:1-14; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:40-42 After these things God tested Abraham. Gen. 22:1 One would think that, [after decades of existing as pupil/student or professor on one side or another of a desk in a learning situation in a classroom, I would have overcome my aversion …
Dear Members and Friends of St. James, I begin my weekly report with a quote from the letter of Paul to the Church at Corinth: “All things are lawful … but not all things are helpful.” (I Cor. 6:12) And so it is that I ask: Is there a dichotomy between transparency and truth-telling? My …
Ps. 86:1-10; Genesis 21:8-21; Romans 6:1b-11; Matthew 10:24-39 “I have come not to bring peace, but a sword.” Matt. 10:34b In one of the authorized contemporary forms of our Eucharistic Liturgy, the Presider at Mass recites the following words: Lord God of our Fathers; God of Abraham…and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: …
Dear Members and Friends of St. James Church, I attach [see Sunday’s post] my thoughts re: today’s lectionary readings and hope that they provide you with thoughts how we might address the issues [that] are literally before us on this third Sunday after Pentecost. I remain optimistic that we have the capacity as a nation, …
Psalm 116: 1, 10–17; Genesis 18: 1–15; Romans 5: 1–8; Matthew 9: 35–10:8 Is anything too hard for the Lord? (Genesis 18: 14a) I. The Backstory: Art tells a Story When I matriculated at my undergraduate college, I declared myself to be a pre-med major, not that such a major existed. One could major in …
Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. James, I give you today a brief update as we come closer to the date which our bishop has tentatively set for re-opening our parishes. That date remains 1 July 2020. It is subject to revision, as he receives further information and recommendations from those who advise him. Bishop …
Ps. 8; Genesis 1:1–2:4a; II Corinthians 13:11–13; Matthew 28:16–18 So God created humankind in his image, In the image of God he created them; Male and female he created them. —Genesis 1:27 The year was 1992, now almost three decades ago, when Rodney King made on television a plea to those in his Los Angeles …
Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. James, As you have wished and as I have pledged to you during these times of personal distancing as mandated by our Bishop due to COVID-19, I attach my weekly reflections on the lessons presented to us in our lectionary. When that is not possible, as a wily …
“When the day of Pentecost had come…. suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind….and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:1-3 Ps. 104:25–35, 37; Acts 2:1–21; I Cor. 12:3b–13; John 20:19–23 Several decades it has now been since I first heard a priest proclaim from the …