We Encounter Two Voices, Advent 2 (B) – 2008
We encounter two voices crying out from the wilderness on this Second Sunday of Advent. The prophet Isaiah calls, âComfort, O Comfort My People,â and John the Baptist shouts, âPrepare the Way of the Lord.â These stories are joined by more than the prophetic voice. In both our gospel reading and the reading from Isaiah, […]
Marks of mission
Who(se) are you? Why are you here? What are you doing about it? That's a shorthand way of thinking about our identity and vocation as Christians. It's also a way of leading us as individuals and Christian communities into thinking about our mission — or better, our partnership in God's mission. Mission literally means "sending," […]
Covenant Is an Interesting Word, Epiphany 1 (A) – 2008
“Covenant” is an interesting word. Mind you Episcopalians hear so much about the “Baptismal Covenant” nowadays that it is in danger of becoming one of those pious slogans often used and seldom contemplated. When The Book of Common Prayer was revised in the 1970s, some of the leading thinkers in our church were developing a […]
In Today’s Gospel Reading…, Proper 27 (C) – 2007
In today’s gospel reading, the Sadducees, who did not believe in resurrection, confronted Jesus with the question of what life would be like if there truly was life after death. They wanted Him to assure them that the human laws, given by Moses, would also apply if there was life after death. In a powerful […]
How Much Is Enough?, Proper 22 (C) – 2007
This is a fundamental question for all of us: How much is enough? Especially at this time of year when words such as âstewardship,â âpledge,â âproportional giving,â and âtitheâ are in the air. Luke has told us in no uncertain terms that Jesus has set his face toward Jerusalem. On the way, Jesus talks endlessly […]
How Could Anyone…, Proper 21 (C) – 2007
How could anyone stand to have a poor man lying in the doorway, covered with sores, those sores being licked by stray dogs â a poor man who longs for nothing but the crumbs that fall off the table? Arenât we outraged that a rich man, dressed in purple and fine linen, who feasted sumptuously […]
Presiding Bishop’s testimony to the Senate on global warming
Written Testimony ofThe Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts SchoriPresiding Bishop ofThe Episcopal ChurchBefore the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee June 7, 2007 God has not given us a spirit of fear, but power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 Good Morning. Madam Chair, Senator Inhofe, my fellow panelists, it is […]
According to Those Who…, Trinity Sunday (C) – 2007
According to those who study such things, there are well over five hundred parishes in the Episcopal Church named after the Trinity, making it, along with Christ Church and Saint Johnâs, one of the all-time favorite names for our parish communities. Episcopalians seem to know instinctively the importance of the Trinity in defining their faith […]
Easter Moves Around…, Easter Day (C) – 2007
Easter moves around a lot from year to year. Unlike Christmas, which always falls on December twenty-fifth, no matter the day of the week or the number of shopping days since Thanksgiving, Easter can fall on most any Sunday between March twenty-second and April twenty-fifth. There is, in fact, an entire section of the Book […]
Presiding Bishop: Three mission questions
How do we understand our mission — as Christians, as Episcopalians, as congregations in this church? We might begin with the catechism's definition of it as “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ” (p. 855 in the Book of Common Prayer). We're meant to understand that in the broadest […]
Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold: A reflection on the Millennium Development Goals
The Church’s engagement in the fight to end global poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals stems not from a vague sense of care for the poor, but rather from our faith in a God whose deepest desire is communion with and between all people. From that perspective, I’d like to reflect for a few […]
The Fact That We Have…, Independence Day – 2006
Note: Collect 17 âFor the Nationâ (BCP p. 258) may be used instead of the Collect for Independence Day (BCP p. 242). The fact that we have the option of two Collects for Independence Day hints at the possible ambiguities associated with a national holiday. Such ambiguities also reside within our Gospel. This section of […]
Who Hasn’t Been Impressed…, Lent 1 (B) – 2006
Who hasnât been impressed by the beauty of a rainbow? Rainbows have the quality of wonder: yes, there is a scientific explanation for how light is refracted in a certain way, but really they seem more like magic. After a rain, a colorful bow appears in the sky, a pure gift, a delight to the […]
Remember, Ash Wednesday – 2006
âRemember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.â BCP 265 The season of Lent begins with one word: Remember. âRemember,â says priest or minister as a cross of ash and dust is traced on our brows, âthat you are dust, and to dust you shall return.â It is a sober beginning to […]
Presiding Bishop’s statement on the life and witness of Coretta Scott King
On behalf of the Episcopal Church, let me express my sense that with the death of Coretta Scott King our nation has lost a tireless witness for racial equality and justice. In the wake of her husband’s assassination, Coretta Scott King, with immense dignity and grace, helped to lead the nation in healing while at […]
There Is a Temptation to Say, Epiphany 1 (B) – 2006
The voice of the Lord is upon the watersâ¦the Lord is upon the mighty waters.â – Psalm 29 There is a temptation to say too much about this Feast of our Lordâs Baptism and the lessons before us. The texts speak mightily for themselves: The spirit-wind of God and Godâs voice is upon the mighty […]
An intimacy with Scripture
Several weeks ago, I returned to St. Paul’s School in Concord, N.H., for the 50th reunion of my graduating class. It was a great joy to reconnect with those who had been part of a very important chapter in my life. During the weekend, at odd moments I found myself drawn again and again to […]
They Are Fondly Heard…, Epiphany 4 (A) – 2005
This passage from the Gospel of Matthew is known commonly as The Beatitudes. They are fondly heard by people of good will, and treasured as words of comfort to the afflicted and distressed. But like many popular passages in Scripture, they need to be placed in the context of their original hearers, and then brought […]
It’s Time to Clean House, Advent 2 (A) – 2004
Today may we consider what it means to find springtime in December. In the name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In many parts of the country, late fall weather can be surprising. In fact, it can seem like spring. Temperatures can be unseasonably mild and people can even walk around in their shirtsleeves […]
The New Gentiles, Christmas 2 – 2004
Where should we look to see the magi, the wise men, the Gentiles of today, the people perhaps different from us who are following the star to Jesus? May we consider this question with open hearts. In the name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Today’s Gospel presents an epiphany. Epiphany comes from a […]