“Lord, you consoled Martha and Mary in their distress; draw near to us who mourn, and dry the tears of those who weep.” (BCP, page 497) This week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Catherine Gilbert, the Program Director of Walking the Mourner’s Path, and Rev. Dorian Mulvey, the Rector of St. Anthony …
I’ve been reading the book Seculosity by David Zahl. He’s a friend of a friend, and his subtitle drew me in: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do About It. When I think of my non-churchgoing friends, it’s tempting to think that because they are not engaged in active …
I celebrated the Eucharist on Wednesday at Trinity Cathedral during our New Ministry Orientation Day, where new clergy and lay staff from around the diocese gathered to meet our diocesan staff and their bishop, ask questions, and learn about the resources we offer. We observed the feast day for Prudence Crandall, a woman I admitted …
“…I was in prison and you visited me…” Matthew 25:36 Last night, I was privileged to lead worship with Deacon Gay Romack and two lay volunteers from St. Peter’s (Litchfield Park) at Perryville Women’s Prison. It was my first time inside a prison, and while I was eager to meet the women, and see what …
At our Diocesan Convention in October, we will be electing new clergy and lay members of our Standing Committee, and clergy and lay deputies to General Convention. Might God be calling you to serve in one of these roles? My prayer is that both bodies will reflect the wisdom and diversity of our whole diocese. …
This week’s E-pistle is excepted from Bishop Reddall’s presentation earlier this week at Adult Camp at Chapel Rock. Twenty years ago this fall, I started seminary, and one of the requirements of our first semester was to go out and visit different churches’ worship services (I really wish I had done more of this!). I …
This week, we are experimenting with presenting the E-pistle message in a new format. Please click below to watch Bishop Reddall’s video message.
I spent two days last week in the Episcopal Church in Navajoland. I began at Good Shepherd Mission in Fort Defiance, Arizona, getting a tour with two recently ordained Navajo clergy: the Rev. Cathlena Plummer and the Rev. Leon Sampson. They spoke eloquently about the way their churches are learning to be authentically Navajo and …
I had the joy of heading up to Chapel Rock on Sunday afternoon to be present for the first night of Children’s Camp. I’ve experienced a variety of approaches towards “church camp” in my life. I would say that most of them have been “church CAMP.” It was a fun camp experience that had a discrete …
I am away at the College for Bishops this week, and attended the “Hats and Sticks” liturgy class for new bishops by retired Bishop Neil Alexander. It was humbling. I thought I knew what I was doing, but some of my received and experiential knowledge about our liturgical practices is outdated. None of this is …
As Episcopalians, we confess our sins during worship most weeks; some of us seek out individual confession; we teach that through repentance, amendment of life, and God’s saving mercy we are promised forgiveness and redemption. But I would say that as a whole, our culture does not demonstrate a true conviction in the power or …
O Judge of all the nations, we remember before you with grateful hearts the men and women of our country who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy. Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly …