A reflection on St. James the Less inspired by the oil painting of Fr. George Leonard Shultz (1896 – 1971). This same reflection was published in the Times-Standard on Saturday April 30, 2022 as “St. James the Less’ Unflashy Faithfulness” Because the name “James” was so popular in the first century AD, scholars often debate about the identity […]

The following reflection on John 21:1-19 was written for and published in the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California E News “Explorations in the Gospel of John” on April 26, 2022. May 1 – The Third Sunday of Easter  John 21:1-19 After casting their net to the starboard side of the boat for a tremendous catch, […]

This reflection was shared at the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California’s WordFest on Saturday April 23, 2022, following reflections on Psalm 23, Ezekiel 34. The Good Shepherd tradition of the Bible continues and even reaches a climax of sorts in the Gospel of John chapter 10. Now the purpose of the Gospel of John is […]

Readings for Easter Sunday (Year C) This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on Easter Sunday April 17, 2022. “Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened” Luke 24:12 In the Name of […]

This homily was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA at the Great Easter Vigil Service on April 16, 2022. This is the night. This is the night, when Christ broke the bonds of death and hell, and rose victorious from the grave. How holy and blessed is this night. This is the night we’ve been […]

Readings for Holy Saturday Job 14:1-14 Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16 John 19:38-42 This reflection was shared at Sacred Saunter Outdoor Eucharist on Holy Saturday April 16, 2022 at Sequoia Park in Eureka.  “For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease. […]

Readings for Good Friday Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Psalm 22 Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 John 19:1-37 This sermon was preached on Good Friday at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on April 15, 2022.  During the first few months of this year (2022), I taught a class online at Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley. The class was […]

Readings for Maundy Thursday Exodus 12:1-14 Psalm 116:1, 10-17 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 John 13:1-17,  31b-35 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on April 14, 2022 Last month, I spent a day hiking the Headwaters Forest Trail, a 5 ½ mile trail along the Elk River that winds up into an old-growth redwood […]

Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week, named after the palms that were used like confetti when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey. On this day, we carry palms and shout, “Hosanna!” which means “Save!” or “Saviour” to commemorate Jesus’s Triumphal Entry. Palm Sunday is also called Passion Sunday because we read the account of […]

Readings for the Feast Day of William Law 2 Peter 1:3-11 Psalm 1 Matthew 6:1-8 This reflection was shared at Sacred Saunter Outdoor Eucharist on Saturday April 9, 2022 at Sequoia Park in Eureka.  William Law was a Church of England priest in the 18th century who challenged Anglicans to take Christian living seriously in […]