Forward Day By Day – August 1, 2018

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Oops…they did it again. The Israelites, whom God has hand-selected, seem to excel at screwing up. They do it again and again. Sound like any folks you know?This certainly sounds like me. I know I’ve disappointed my family on many occasions. I want to do what’s right...

A Narrative of Abundance: Mark 6:30-42

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Over half of my life I operated from a perspective of scarcity. During that time, according to my skewed perception, everyone was a competitor or a critic, always judging and potentially threatening, and nothing felt secure. It seemed just when I had something in...

#GC79 Highlight: New Life for Old Boots

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Members of Episcopal Church Women used 100 boots as Texas-style table decorations at its 49th Triennial Meeting in Austin and as donations afterward. The Rev. Cathy Boyd, formerly of Austin, and Pam Link of Texas helped secure the boots, at the suggestion of the Rev....

Hospital Plans in Hong Kong

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

At just 40,000 adherents, but the Anglican Province of Hong Kong punches above its weight as a contributor to well-being of residents in the territory. It runs 133 Anglican schools and is the third-largest provider of social welfare services in Hong Kong. Its latest...

Help for World Mission

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

The Rev. Titus Presler, a veteran of world mission, writes about General Convention reviving the Standing Commission on World Mission, but without any funding: [T]he resolution was adopted by both the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies, so Resolution A208 is...

Forward Day By Day – July 31, 2018

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Several students in our campus ministry held signs proclaiming, “God Is Love, Not Fear” and “Give Love a Chance.” The students were there to face the fury of the fire-and-brimstone preacher who visits our campus several times a year. His usual spiel: “You’re wearing...

It’s VBS Season

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

You hear the letters VBS. I imagine thoughts and images immediately come to your mind. Perhaps you smile a bit and fondly remember your experiences with VBS. How as a kid you loved the stories and singing and being crazy for five days. How as a parent you loved...

More from Oxford on Lord Carey

Monday, July 30, 2018

The Rt. Rev. Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford, provides further background on his decision to grant Permission to Officiate at the request of Lord Carey: We recognise that there will be renewed questions concerning Lord Carey’s Permission to Officiate following the...

8/5: A Parable of Truth

Monday, July 30, 2018

11 Pentecost, August 5 2 Sam. 11:26-12:13a or Ex. 16:2-4, 9-15 Ps. 51:1-13 or Ps. 78:23-29 Eph. 4:1-16 • John 6:24-35 Speaking truth to power in terms explicit and direct is not only dangerous but also frequently pointless. Using the words adultery, deceit, and...

Forward Day By Day – July 30, 2018

Monday, July 30, 2018

Whether it’s slavery or war or bullying in school or sexual harassment, no one likes to say, “I did it.” Embarrassed, we don’t want to own the fact that our actions—or lack thereof—might have created a situation in which people have been psychologically or physically...

William Wilberforce, Anthony Ashley-Cooper, and Anglican Mission

Monday, July 30, 2018

Today is the feast day of William Wilberforce, who probably will stay in the revised Lesser Feasts and Fast proposed by the 79th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, and Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, who will probably not. Both are called...

Forward Day By Day – July 29, 2018

Sunday, July 29, 2018

“I doubt that.” Those were hardly the words I expected to hear. Having told the story of the Feeding of the Five Thousand with what I thought was great skill, I had envisioned this table of five-year olds beaming at me in wonder, marveling at the miracle I had just...

The Basket Ceremony

Sunday, July 29, 2018

2 Kings 4:42-44   I’ll tell you a secret: I believe in miracles.   It’s true. I’m a believer. It’s not that I believe that Jesus walked on water, it’s that I believe the power of God lifts us up out of a sea of chaos. I...

The Boys in the Band

Saturday, July 28, 2018

There is a line in one of my favorite British thriller series where a highly educated detective sergeant is listening to a distinguished professor of English literature at a very respectable college in Oxford. The professor is discussing some of the great poets of...