God in the Darkness, the Silence, and the Desert

This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka on Sunday December 6, 2020. Worship Program here Readings for the Second Sunday of Advent (Year B) Isaiah 40:1-112 Peter 3:8-15aMark 1:1-8Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 We have begun a new liturgical year; and with a new liturgical year comes a new Gospel. Last year (Year A), we read from the […]

St. Andrew’s Cross Marks the Spot of God’s Advent

A reflection on St. Andrew the Apostle inspired by the oil painting of Fr. George Leonard Shultz (1896 – 1971). This same reflection was published in the Times-Standard on December 5, 2020: “St. Andrew’s Cross Marks the Spot of God’s Advent” The symbol associated with St. Andrew the Apostle is the X-shaped cross, also known as the saltire […]

Sauntering with St. Nick and Thich Nhat Hanh

Readings for the Feast Day of St. Nicholas This reflection was shared at Sacred Saunter Outdoor Eucharist on Saturday December 5 2020 at Freshwater in Eureka. Very little is known about the life of Nicholas, except that he suffered torture and imprisonment during the persecution under the Emperor Diocletian. It is possible that he was […]

The Kin-dom of Heaven

This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka on Christ the King Sunday November 22, 2020. Worship Program here Readings for the Last Sunday after Pentecost (Year A) Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24Psalm 100Ephesians 1:15-23Matthew 25:31-46 Today’s Feast of Christ the King marks the end and culmination of the liturgical year, which began last December as we here at […]

People of God’s Shalom

This reflection on peace was presented at the Humboldt Interfaith Fellowship Peace Prize Award Ceremony, honoring Humboldt Public Health Officer Dr. Teresa Frankovich. Watch the entire ceremony here. I want to begin with a fairly provocative statement attributed to Jesus of Nazareth, who in Matthew’s Gospel, says, “Do not think that I have come to […]

Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness

This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka for Christ Episcopal Church in Sausalito CA on their Consecration Sunday November 15, 2020. Readings for the Twenty Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 28 – Year A) Judges 4:1-7Psalm 1231 Thessalonians 5:1-11Matthew 25:14-30 Greetings to you, my Christ Church Sausalito friends! For those who don’t know me, I’m […]

Learning from the Generosity of Trees

This talk on Stewardship was given at the Dinner for Clergy and Lay Leaders of Christ Episcopal Church in Sausalito CA on on Monday November 9, 2020. I’m deeply honored to be the special guest leader and preacher because Christ Church Sausalito is honestly one of my favorite Episcopal parishes in the world; and I […]

With Charity for All

This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka on Sunday November 8, 2020. Worship Program here Readings for the Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 27 – Year A) Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25Psalm 78:1-71 Thessalonians 4:13-18Matthew 25:1-13 In his Second Inaugural Address, the first Republican president acknowledged the deep division within our nation. And in the wake of […]

Those Who Came Out of the Great Ordeal

This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka on All Saints Sunday November 1, 2020. Worship Program here Readings for the Feast of All Saints (Year A) Revelation 7:9-17Psalm 34:1-10, 221 John 3:1-3Matthew 5:1-12 “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” … “These are they who have come out of the great […]

Remarks about the November Election and St. Alfred the Great

These remarks were offered during Compline prayer at the Transfiguration House on Tuesday October 27, the day after the Feast Day of St. Alfred the Great (October 26). You can watch the Compline prayer service in its entirety here. Reading for the Feast Day of St. Alfred the Great, King of the West Saxons Wisdom […]