Dear Members and Friends of St. James, Today we observe a feast day that, in liturgical speak, bears resemblance to the “neglected stepsister” in a Grimm nursery rhyme. With the homily that I offered today at Eucharist and attach here [see separate post] to my weekly greetings, I hope to open the possibility of a …

25 Pentecost Canticle: I Sam. 2:1–10; I Samuel 1:4–20; Hebrews 10:11–25; Mark 13: 1–8 As Jesus came out of the Temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’ Mark 13:1 At an electric traffic signal, while driving on Friday afternoon to the parish, I came along …

Dear Members and Friends of St. James, Today we did a test run.  Winter is before us, and to be met with almost frigid weather (50 degrees Fahrenheit) in our buildings presented us with a challenge.  As in 2015 (before my arrival on the scene in 2018, when confronted with a similar situation, documented by …

24 Pentecost Psalm 127; Ruth 3:1–5; 4:13–17; Hebrews 9:24–28; Mark 12:38–44 Unless the Lord builds the house, their labor is in vain who build it.  Ps. 127:1 I begin my reflections this morning with two citations.  There are both from the Rev. Richard C. Halverson (1916–1995), a Presbyterian minister who was Chaplain to the United …