Dear Members and Friends of St. James, [Being] bound by Canon Law, it is my responsibility to make available to you any and all communications that come from our bishops under the tag “A Pastoral Letter.” Under more normal circumstances, I would read such epistles in place of a homily and/or post them in St. …
24 Pentecost Psalm 123; Judges 4:1 – 7; I Thessalonians 5:1 – 11; Matthew 25:14 – 30 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. —I Thessalonians 5:11 Today, I give you a “pop quiz.” Please use your #2 mental pencil. Question: Where might one find the …
Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. James, In my conversations—AKA social-distanced pastoral visits with some of you, required due to the pandemic—several of you raised the question: ‘Rev. Clarence, be honest and tell me about regathering; will we be back in church by Christmas?’ In response, I could only repeat what I have said before, …
23 Pentecost Ps. 78:1 – 7; Joshua 24:1 – 3A, 14 -25; I Thessalonians 4:13 – 18; Matthew 25:1 – 13 But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15b This week I had a personal debate with myself, whether I should not declare the 23 Sunday after Pentecost …
Dear Members and Friends of St. James, My weekly report will of necessity be extremely brief. I sit in a virtual Diocesan Convention as I write my update. As your priest, I am obliged to attend and I do so willingly. However, the genius of modern technology of the vendor for votes has assigned my …
All Saints 11/1/2020 Ps. 34:1 – 10, 22 Revelations 7:9 – 17 I John 3:1 – 3 Matthew 5:1 – 12 O Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord: Grant us grace so to follow the blessed saints …
Dear Members and Friends of St. James, Because of the hold which Covid-19 has imposed on our assembly, I recalled mid-week that I had not engaged in my/our semi-annual ritual of reminding each other of the time change, presently from summer to fall (back!). That humorous ritual, like many others in our faith community, was …
21 Pentecost Ps. 90:1 – 6, 14 – 19; Deut. 34:1 – 12; I Thess. 2:1 – 8; Matthew 22:34 – 46 On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets. Matt. 22:40 The year was 1984. That was year that the singer Tina Turner, in a ballad, captured and occupied for …
Dear Members and Friends of St. James, Admittedly, a sense of normalcy seems to have set in: Zoom meetings; pastoral connections via email, telephone calls, and handwritten notes to and on your and our communal behalf; and visits to our church grounds and buildings. I rush to assure you that on my part, I have …
Please join us and many throughout the nation in prayer on line in a service of healing. “Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will lead a live-streamed prayer service from Washington National Cathedral, Holding on to Hope: A National Service for Healing and Wholeness, on All Saints Sunday, November 1, at 4:00-5:30 p.m. EST.” Join the Episcopal Church live on …