The Episcopal Church & Our Nation’s Beginning Saunter Along a Timeline Ever wondered about the origins of the Episcopal Church of the United States? Ever notice how the governance structure of the Episcopal Church has strong parallels with the governance of our country? Both were emerging together and the blessings and curses of that shared […]

In On the Ground Floor An Idiom well-suited for CYFM “In on the ground floor” is a common idiom. It means getting involved with something from the very start, from the beginning. It connotates a kind of “lucky break” or a great opportunity. Most often it is used for business opportunities in some form. And […]

God Helps those Who Help Themselves Is this a biblical saying or not?    In my youth I was advised on many occasions, “Dick, you know that God helps those who help themselves.” I always interpreted this to mean, “Dick, get to work.” I always followed this teaching, as after all, it was in the Bible. As a […]

A Hump Day Message Thank You! We have had a wonderful program year and look forward to celebrating with you this coming Sunday with our parish picnic following worship. Thank you, teachers, ministry leaders, and staff for jumping in on a year that saw a lot of changes and celebrated a lot of “new!” If […]

Being Sent & Given Strength Jesus said to [his disciples] again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”(JN 20:21-22)  What does it mean to “be sent” and be offered, not commanded […]

Open to Understand & Everything Comes Next Jesus said to his disciples, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you– that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. (LK […]

Embracing Uncertainty Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd, “Let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (ACTS 2:14a, 36)  Paul proclaims Jesus as Lord and Messiah to all who will hear. He had an agenda. […]

Resurrection and compass. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” (Jn 20:26-27)  Compass This clock for telling space turns your attention to the […]

Blessings this Eastertide. The Hump Day messages during these 50 days of Easter will be poetry. The intention is reflection on resurrection. On Easter Day we explored an aspect of resurrection as being hope that is indestructible. We can have different experiences about what resurrection is throughout our lifetimes. I hope you can make time […]

The Practice of Self-Compassiona reflection offered by Parish Life member Anne JohnsonTherefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. – Colossians 3:12 This week, I would like to talk about self-compassion. Self-help books promise to solve all your problems, magazines at the check-out counter make outlandish […]