I am so glad to see you. It is good to be home. You have been on my heart these last two weeks as I have been on pilgrimage with 22 other Epiphany parishioners in the Holy Land. It was a rich experience, AND I am glad to be home with you. I wrote a
St. George and Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine
The Good News
Good morning Christians, seekers, and friends! I have been thinking this week about that old question, “What do you want to hear first… the GOOD news or the BAD news?” We’ve probably all heard this question in one context or another. Do you have a personal preference? Good news first; then bad news? Or is
Getting to the Heart of the Matter
I’ve been hearing lately about conversations people have had with family members and good friends who refused to get vaccinated. (disqualify people who are immune-compromised) These conversations are exasperating! Nothing they say inspires their loved one to change their mind. Nothing works. It is crazy making. This is life and death, and there are not
Thoughts and Prayers and…
Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved. Our thoughts and prayers are with the hungry. Our thoughts and prayers are with the homeless. “Thoughts and prayers”: a very common phrase these days. We hear about thoughts and prayers for Haiti; thoughts and prayers for Black Lives
Ambassadors in Chains
Today we find the apostle Paul in very unfortunate circumstances. He is in a Roman jail with a death sentence hanging over his head. He is literally in chains, and there is a date set for his execution. It had been his calling to carry the message of Christianity throughout the world. That was his
David
In my life I have seen three versions of Michelangelo’s Statue of David. One is the original that before the pandemic millions visited each year in Florence at the Galleria dell’Accademia. The other is a stunning full-size bronze copy purchased by John Ringling to be the centerpiece of his art museum in Sarasota. It was
Unity in the Kingdom of God
We find ourselves today in the midst of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. It is a beautiful letter that we have recently worked our way through in Bible study (restarting September 17, Friday 10:30 am). One reason we study the Bible, particularly the New Testament, is that it gives us a path forward for the
This Sunday, the Fourth of July
Good morning Christians, Seekers, and Friends! Happy Fourth of July everyone. I am offering up a special prayer of thanksgiving for everyone joining us today both here in the church building and at home because I am so glad that you are taking the time to celebrate our Lord Jesus Christ and our Epiphany community
A Treatise on the Devil
The devil shows up in scripture today. He is going by Beelzebub, which is sort of a great word, even though it is the name of Satan. It rolls off the tongue… Beelzebub. I’d like to invite you all to say it with me, but that might be a little weird in a church. Sometimes