Trinity Sunday, 5/30/21
The readings for Trinity Sunday, the First Sunday after Pentecost, 5/30/21 can be found here. Hymn 362, Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
From Rev. Clarence & the Wardens, 5/30/21
Season of Pentecost 2021 REOPENING: SUNDAY, 6 JUNE 2021 The Celebration of the Eucharist at 10:00 a.m. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4 Dear Members and Friends, With songs of praise and thanksgiving on our tongues, we write to announce that the doors of our beloved parish, St. James …
An Open Letter from Rev. Clarence, 5/29/21
Dear Members and Friends of St. James, You find attached not my usual 2-hour long sermon, a.k.a. brief reflections on the lectionary of the day. Rather, you find two attachments [see separate posting], pages one and two, of a letter which, so hope I, will bring you as much indescribable joy, as the writing thereof …
Sermon, 5/23/21. Pentecost: What Tongue Do We Speak?
Pentecost Psalm 104:25–35, 37; Acts 2:1–21; Romans 8:22–27; John 15:26–27, 16:4b–15 “In vino veritas”, “in wine is the truth.” Zenchio, Greek Philosopher Others said contemptuously, ‘They have been drinking!’ Acts 2:13 But does such an accusation make the truth any less valid or applicable? It was an almost too casual comment, which my …
An Open Letter from Rev. Clarence, 5/22/21
Dear Members and Friends of St. James, Although constrained this week by only two Zoom meetings, this week has not been without a truly exciting and positive development. On Thursday, 20 May, our diocesan and suffragan bishops posted a Pastoral Letter and Updated COVID-19 Guidelines to all clergy and congregational and diocesan leadership. As this …
Sermon, 5/16/21: A Conundrum “That Passeth all Understanding” or, “The Ascension”
7 Easter Psalm 1; Acts 1:15 – 17, 21 – 26; I John 5:9 – 13; John 17:6 – 19 And to this the Spirit bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. I John 5:6 Unless a parish is what we Episcopalians used to call “high church” (or Anglo-Catholic), Ascension Day, the Feast of the …
An Open Letter from Rev. Clarence, 5/15/21
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 …
Sermon, 5/9/2021. Measuring Up: A Class Reunion in 2021
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 …
An Open Letter from Rev. Clarence, 5/8/21
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 …
Sermon, 5/2/21. Branching Out: A Different Image of Intimacy
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 …