Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. James! In keeping with my pledge to support our small congregation in acceptable ways during this time of our separation, I attach [see separate post] my homily for the Third Sunday of Easter. I attempt to ring in to one or more of you each week, with the hope and …
2 Easter, 19 April 2020 Homily from the Rev. Clarence E. Smith Acts 2:14a, 22-32; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31 “…the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear …” John 20.19 Sheltering in place, i.e. literally remaining behind closed and locked door, except for greeting my daughter who insists that I remain removed …
Dear People and Friends of St. James, This e-epistle comes to you with much thanksgiving to you and to the Divine One that I should be so privileged with the assignment to be among you and to serve you during these trying times. To be sure, I lament not being able to celebrate and to share Eucharist …
“Does being a Christian make a difference? Why should I believe? Not surprisingly in a culture concerned with both appearance and results, these are questions seeking answers. The bottom line? What’s in it for me? We struggle for answers, as a defense of our worth and of the value of our life and worship. Does …
St. James Church, Somerville Jesus said, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him, ‘Rabbuni!’ (which is Hebrew for ‘Teacher’) John 20:16 Celebrant: Alleluia, Christ is risen. People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia. This, my sisters and brothers in Christ, is the greeting with which I had hoped to greet and be greeted by …
Good Friday, 10 April 2020 Reflection on “When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said “it is finished…” John 19:30 Each year, when I hear or read the words of Christ from the Cross “It is finished.”, two competing questions present themselves in my mind: Are these words of defeat and resignation? Or, are these …
Psalm 31:9 – 16; Isaiah 50:4 – 9a; Philippians 2:5 – 11; Matthew 26:14 – 27:66 “After a little while some of the bystanders came up to him and said to Peter, ‘Certainly, you are also one of them, for your accent betrays him.’” Matt. 26:73 Today is Palm Sunday. And how often have …
Good People and Friends of St. James! I attach* my reflections (the usual 95 minutes!) on the Passion Gospel according to Matthew [that] you would have heard had we been able to meet on Sunday next in public, i.e. in-person worship. I confess to you that I gave serious thoughts to the permission of our …
From Rev. Clarence, Ps. 130; Ezekiel 37:1 – 14; Rom. 8:6 – 11; Jn. 11:1 – 15 When one reads or hears too often the same thing, a certain familiarity threatens to set in and lull one into a “hearing but not hearing” mode. So it is often with the chapter-long rehearsal of the Lazarus …
A letter from Rev. Clarence, 3/27/2020 Good people and friends of St. James! This epistle is sent you with much longing and hope that we are all observing the mandates issued by diocesan, local, and state authorities for the good of us all during these days and months of crisis. This particular weekly is especially …