The human heart plans its own way, but the Lord establishes the steps. Proverbs 16:9 Way back in the late 1990s, before some of you were even born, Emmanuel bravely chose to undertake a substantial capital campaign. The parish hall needed a serious rehab, but the real work needed to be done in the sanctuary. In our old sanctuary,…
A number of years ago my husband Jack offered me a challenge. I wrote the words on an index card and kept it taped to the fridge for at least a year. The words were: “If I were not afraid I would…” Tremendous blessings came from allowing myself to imagine not being afraid. The one…
Post #3: Talking Tattoos (A Voices Blog Series) The challenge of this entry for me was choosing which of my tattoos I would select to talk about. I have four – a large tree of life on my right leg, a butterfly on my right wrist, a Celtic cross on my back, and a quote…
Clergy are notorious for encouraging others to take care of the important things in their lives — but in practice we are really horrible about taking care of them in our own. We postpone the most basic of life’s tasks, always trying to somehow squeeze them in between Sundays, meetings, and pastoral appointments. So, I…
A very good friend gifted me with a delightful and nerdy book: A Field Guide to the English Clergy: A Compendium of Diverse Eccentrics, Pirates, Prelates and Adventurers; All Anglican, Some Even Practicing. Written by The Rev. Fergus Butler-Gallie, a reviewer describes the book as “Ridiculously enjoyable” and I agree. The chapters are divided into various galleries…
This morning, I see several calls for celebration: in our country, it’s Mother’s Day, when we acknowledge mothers and mother figures who have touched our lives. In the Episcopal Church, today marks the commemoration of early Christian mystic and theologian Julian of Norwich, whose words are as relevant and beautiful today as when she wrote them in the 14th century. And…
This post needs very little introduction. Memorial Day weekend will be here before you know it — time to pack our beach bags full of books. But what books? I reached out to the voracious readers of Emmanuel and collected a treasure trove of recommendations! I promise you there is something on the list (listed…
Who Do You Say That I Am? Lenten Series Post #3 Growing up a little Catholic kid, I collected holy cards: dreamy other worldly little pictures of Jesus and the saints. An ethereal and mysterious being, I recall Jesus appeared to be floating on a cloud, his feet barely gracing the ground. Holy Card Jesus…
Who Do You Say That I Am? Lenten Series Post #2 Who is Jesus to me? Well… The hard lesson for me is to learn that at a certain point, my accomplishments are not helpful for my spiritual life. They inflate my ego and fortify my false self. I begin to think that I can make…
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…
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