Saturday, November 24, 2018
When I was a child, my mom would say, “If you point a finger in judgment, know there are three fingers pointing back at you.” I’m sure most of us have heard this advice growing up, and unfortunately too few of us follow it. Another piece of advice was common in my...
Friday, November 23, 2018
One of the greatest displays of patience I have ever witnessed was nearly eighteen years ago when my wife was pregnant with our first child.With eight weeks remaining, she was ordered on hospital bed rest by her physician. I think back to those days and wonder how she...
Thursday, November 22, 2018
It has been my practice to pray for the leaders of the nation by name each week in the Prayers of the People during Sunday liturgy. For me, that means praying for Donald, our president, and Matthew, our governor.On any given Sunday, I suppose about half the...
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
The children in our parish after-school program engage each week in an “attitude of gratitude” exercise. During this time, the children offer up thanksgiving for events in the previous week. The kids learn to look for the good that God is doing all around them. But...
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Does this framing verse sound familiar? I hope so. This psalm is one of the hymns at the beginning of the Morning Office in The Book of Common Prayer. It begins the day, sets the tone, and focuses us on the true reality in which we live—joy at the heart of the...
Monday, November 19, 2018
Wednesday afternoon from three to five is my favorite time of the week. That’s when our parish’s after-school club meets to give choral instruction, teach the faith, and help with schoolwork for more than twenty elementary-school age children.Recently, our faith topic...
Sunday, November 18, 2018
As I type these words, the church’s tower bells ring out the noon hour. I wait patiently for a random hymn played on the carillon. This happens every day at noon, and it never gets old. I’m excited, trying to guess what the hymn of the day will be.Today, as the bells...
Saturday, November 17, 2018
Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in...
Saturday, November 17, 2018
I work every day in a religious tradition that tries to plot a middle way faithfully through a complex life. I know firsthand how difficult the course can be. Yet for many, drawing a hard line is an easy path to take.Sometimes, the Christian advice to the world reads...
Friday, November 16, 2018
Sometimes I feel like I live in the most divided time in history. I know this is not true; it just seems like it because reminders of division stare me in the face every day. This is both the light and dark side of instant global communication. While I’m thankful I...
