My mother was an artist by profession, proficient in oils, watercolors, pen and ink, pastels, metalwork, sculpture, and flower arrangement. Not excelling in any of these as I grew up, I never considered myself particularly creative. The summer after I graduated from college, I prepared to travel through Europe with friends: my first trip overseas!…
NOTE: This post is the first in a new series: “From the Desk of” featuring theological reflection and a Christian response to current events and the state of the world. Like many of you, Joani’s recent homily “Ticked at God” elicited many thoughts and conversations in our family. In advance of an upcoming conversation on this…
The 31st chapter of the Book of Proverbs presents us today with the resume of a “spiritual Martha Stewart.” Telford Work, in Feasting on the Word, characterizes it as “an impossible job description…she makes her own clothes; she gets up in the middle of the night to get everyone else going; she takes care of…
Introduction This fall’s Emmanuel Voices blog series, The Artist Within, explores the intersections between creativity & art, and our personal & public lives. This first entry, Painting Patriotism, is by watercolorist & parishioner Hayes Willingham. I was recently asked to share a piece of artwork and the story behind it for our church blog. The…
As you know, it’s unusual for me to focus more on one of the other Sunday readings, when ordinarily I focus on the Gospel. Today’s reading from the Book of James was just too intriguing for me to pass up. James refers to the blessings and curses which come from the use of our tongues…
You may already know this about me but I am not by nature a quiet person. Third child in a household of six, I had to speak up loud and clear to be heard. An extrovert par excellence, I feel compelled to fill awkward silences in awkward conversations. An extrovert, who also happens to have…
There is a book in the Bible called Ecclesiastes. It is called one of the Wise Books in the Bible. It contains many helpful sayings, like little prayers, to guide us through our lives. This is very famous and beautiful one: For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven...…
Read more A Time to Be Quiet & A Time to Make Noise (A Children’s Homily)
Seven years ago, Robin Williams, gifted actor and comedian left this world by his own hand. The world was incredulous. How could a person so full of light struggle with such darkness? He was Mork, right? The hysterical alien who took up residence in Mindy’s attic. We loved this lovable visitor from outer space. Weekly,…
Read more Remembering Mork: The Inner Sanctum of Outer Space
Bread and more bread huh? Every three years in our lectionary cycle we have a summer of “Bread of life” sermons from Jesus in John’s Gospel. Now many Episcopalians are not at church during this time but since I have been a priest in training or a new priest or a supply priest for the…
Offensive. It is amazing how little our culture finds offensive: in films, on the internet, on primetime, cable, and streaming TV. There’s a cornucopia of binge-worthy series to watch with all kinds of sketchy situations and deliciously salacious scenarios. (Which I am totally guilty of watching myself!😊) Now I am no prude. I do not…
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