Bible Study: Proper 10 (B) – 2018
2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 The books attributed to the prophet Samuel tell the history of the Israelites and explain God’s law for Israel under the guidance of the prophets. In chapter 6 of 2 Samuel, King David, after uniting the tribes of Israel under his leadership, takes possession of the Ark of the Covenant, containing a jar of manna, […]
United Thank Offering grants: More than $1 million for Episcopal Church, Anglican Communion mission and ministry
The United Thank Offering of the Episcopal Church awarded 34 grants for a total of $1,257,778.17 for the mission and ministry of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. The announcement was made during the 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, meeting July 5 – July 13 in Austin, TX (Diocese of Texas). The […]
Lenten Series: Week 5 Sacred Space for Debate
Everliving God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Prayer […]
Lenten Series: Week 3 Values-Based Conversations
“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” Romans 2:1 Too often, we can find ourselves jumping into partisan debates over solutions without first acknowledging the values we hold individually, and […]
Beneath the Trees, Proper 6 (A) – 2017
Where do you go to encounter God? Do you have a favorite place for divine inspiration? Some of you will instinctually think of going to church. Another way to phrase the question is, “Where do you go when you really need to think and make a decision?” Perhaps some of you embrace nature by going […]
Today on Thursdays at 2: Presiding Bishop’s 2017 World Refugee Day Message
On Thursday, June 15, Thursdays at 2 features Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael B. Curry in his 2017 World Refugee Day Message. “In the name of Mary, Joseph and the Lord Jesus, aid all refugees today, for most of the refugees like the Holy Family themselves, are families, and most are children,” the […]
Bible Study: Proper 7 (A) – 2017
Genesis 21:8-21 Outside of the book of Genesis, the word “Abraham” appears in the Bible 142 times. Compare that with Sarah, which appears 24 times, and Hagar who only appears 3 times—once in Baruch and twice in Galatians. Given that father Abraham is remembered for the covenant God makes with him to provide descendants as […]
Today on Thursdays at 2: Jericho Road
On Thursday, June 1, Thursdays at 2 features Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative of New Orleans, a neighborhood-based nonprofit homebuilder that provides families with healthy and energy-efficient affordable housing opportunities. Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative partners with neighborhood residents, organizations and businesses to create and maintain a stable and thriving community. Thursdays at 2 is […]
Today on Thursdays at 2: Presiding Bishop and Thy Kingdom Come
On Thursday, May 25, Thursdays at 2 features Presiding Bishop Michael Curry leading the Thy Kingdom Come videos for the Worldwide Anglican Communion. Thy Kingdom Come is a campaign initiated by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby calling for prayer by individuals, congregations and families. The video is available here Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer […]
Today on Thursdays at 2: Presiding Bishop Curry calls for action
On Thursday, May 18, Thursdays at 2 features Presiding Bishop Michael Curry presenting For Such a Time as This: A Call to Prayer, Fasting, and Advocacy, calling for fasting on the 21st of each month through December 2018, at which time the 115th Congress will conclude. Presiding Bishop Curry joined Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton of […]
Bible Study: Easter 4 (A) – 2017
Acts 2:42-47 During the Easter season, lections from the book of Acts are used in place of the Old Testament because they record the early response of the church to Christ’s resurrection. In its larger context, the assigned text for Easter 4A serves as a transition from Peter’s first sermon (2:14-36, 38-40, cf. Easter 3A) […]
Digging into Our Certainty, Lent 2 (A) – 2017
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” Martin Luther called John 3:16 “the Gospel in a nutshell.” Without a doubt, this is the most famous verse in the New Testament. And yet, as most preachers […]
Jerusalem: Pilgrimage – Past and Present
“The history of Jerusalem is the history of the world,” so begins historian Simon Sebag Montefiore’s book Jerusalem: The Biography. I love history. It was always my favorite subject in school. As a person of faith, the opportunity to experience the history of Jerusalem takes on a deeper meaning. While walking to a meeting in […]
The Baptism of Our Lord, Epiphany 1 (A) – 2017
God, our strength and our hope, grant us the courage of John the Baptist, constantly to speak the truth and boldly to rebuke injustice, with eyes open to recognize God among us. We are in the season of Epiphany, the season of growing light, the season of the Magi and the revelation of Christ to […]
Bible Study: Advent 4 (A) – 2016
Isaiah 7:10–16 During this season of Advent, it is easy to read the prophet Isaiah and immediately jump to the birth of Jesus. Isaiah is directly quoted in Matthew’s gospel, which we also read today: Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. While it is […]
Justified by Faith, Proper 6 (C) – 2016
“Justification” and the related verb “to justify” are funny words because they can have different meanings depending on the context. In regular modern American English, to justify something (often an action like a big purchase or some bold statement) is to be put on the defensive possibly after being accused. It requires answering the why’s […]
Green and Growing, Proper 5 (C) – 2016
Today, we continue our journey in “ordinary time.” Sounds rather boring when you say it like that, but the term “ordinary” does not mean common or plain or boring, but rather it comes from the term ordinal which means “numbered.” These are the numbered weeks of the church year outside of the major feasts and […]
Episcopal Church House of Bishops Spring 2016 retreat meeting: Daily Account for Monday, March 14
The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church is meeting in retreat March 11 – 15 at Camp Allen Conference Center in Navasota, TX. The following is an account of the activities for Monday, March 14. The day began with a service of Holy Eucharist. The worship team powerfully reflected the diversity of The Episcopal […]
Gender Violence: 16 Days of Activism That Last the Entire Year
Today, November 25th, we invite you to join us in prayer and meditation for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (http://www.un.org/en/events/endviolenceday), the first of the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, an international campaign that began in 1991 at the Center for Women’s Global Leadership at Rutgers University (http://16dayscwgl.rutgers.edu/). […]