April 2, 2025 A Practice of Opennessexcerpt from the 2025 Living Compass Lenten Devotional (Pick one up in the Narthex!) It is in giving that we receive.—St. Francis of Assisi The practice of Centering Prayer invites us into a profound paradox: by giving our complete attention to God, we receive more than we could imagine. […]

March 26, 2025 Discovering Joy’s Presenceexcerpt from the 2025 Living Compass Lenten Devotional (Pick one up in the Narthex!) Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy. —1 Peter 1:8In our search for […]

March 19, 2025 A Practice of Peaceexcerpts from the 2025 Living Compass Lenten Devotional (PIck one up in the Narthex!) You will keep in perfect peace those whose mindsare steadfast, because they trust in you.—Isaiah 26:3 (NIV) Peace often feels elusive in our busy, overconnected world. Today, we’ll explore a simple practice called Receive & […]

March 12, 2025 Walking in Faithexcerpts from the 2025 Living Compass Lenten Devotional (PIck one up in the Narthex!)You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,and with all your soul, and with all your mind.—Matthew 22:37 Each Wednesday during Lent, we will explore a contemplative spiritual practice to help integrate and deepen […]

March 5, 2025 Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Downexcerpts from the 2025 Living Compass Lenten Devotional (PIck one up in the Narthex!) The children’s song “Ring Around the Rosie” is memorable as much for its words as the actions that go with it. Holding hands and moving in a circle, we either all fall down […]

February 26, 2025 The New Testament in the NRSV & the First Gospel by parishioner Dick Fichter with assistance from Rev. Dina Each new book in the NRSV Bible has an introduction. There is a general introduction before the narrative books, the Gospels and Acts, noting that the original manuscripts of the several books of […]

February 19, 2025 Acceptance & Reorientation – Rev. Dina Ada Limón, the 24th U.S. Poet Laureate wrote a beautiful poem. Many beautiful poems. The poem below reminds me of Jesus’ sermon on the level place which we started last Sunday and will continue with this coming Sunday. Ada Limón’s words capture in a lovely way how […]

February 12, 2025 Exegesis by parishioner Dick Fichter with assistance from Rev. Dina Background Last time we discussed the NRSV (New Revised Standard Version) of the Bible and how groups of scholars, clergy, laity, committees, etc. made the decisions to arrive at the content of the NRSV. This made me wonder: What techniques did they use […]

February 5, 2025 Translations of the Bible, continued by parishioner Dick Fichter with assistance from Rev. Dina The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible Last time we referenced the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible in our discussion.  I use the Oxford annotated version which contains detailed footnotes and explanations which I find very helpful […]

January 29, 2025 Translations of the Bible by parishioner Dick Fichter with assistance from Rev. Dina The Geneva Bible When I was looking into translations of psalms, I came across the Breeches Bible. This stopped me in my tracks. What is the breeches Bible all about?Officially known as the Geneva Bible, this translation is referred to as the […]