Ember Letter: Holy Cross Day 2012

Dear Right Reverend J. Jon Bruno, As always, I hope this Ember letter finds you well, full of health and life. This year I am struck by the line from Isaiah in the readings for Holy Cross Day, which reads, “Thus says the LORD, Declare and present your case.” In the Hebrew Scriptures, I see […]

Abundance Right in Front of Us

Readings for the Tenth Sunday after Trinity (Year B) 2 Samuel 18: 5-9, 15, 31-33 Psalm 130 Ephesians 4:25-5:2 John 6:35, 41-51 This sermon was preached at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church in Berkeley CA on August 12, 2012. One day in Sunday school, the teacher was sharing the story of creation with the children, specifically […]

Teresa’s Butterfly and Paul’s Thorn

Listen to sermon here: Teresa’s Butterfly and Paul’s Thorn Readings for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity (Proper 9 Year B) Psalm 123 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 Mark 6:1-13 This sermon was preached at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Monte-Carlo, Monaco on July 8, 2012 Although Meister Eckhart said, “If the only prayer you ever pray is […]

Dancing with the Trinity Through Common Prayer

Listen to Sermon Here: Dancing with the Trinity Readings for the First Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday (Year B) Isaiah 6:1-8 Psalm 29 Romans 8:12-17 John 3:1-17 This sermon was preached at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church in Berkeley CA on June 3, 2012. One day, Jesus asked his disciples, “Whom do people say that I […]

Ember Letter: Pentecost 2012

Most Lovable J. Jon Bruno, You have certainly been in my prayers a lot these last few weeks and I am pleased and grateful to learn that the leukemia is now in full remission. I continue to pray for you and for your complete recovery. I have been thinking a lot about the letters of […]

A Way Out of Burnout: Cultivating Differentiated Leadership Through Lament

This is the final paper I wrote for the class “Leading Through Lament” with Dr. Donn Morgan at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. INTRODUCTION On August 1, 2010, New York Times published an article titled “Taking a Break From the Lord’s Work,” which began with the following statements: “Members of the clergy now […]

The Pastoral Theodicy of the Good Shepherd

Listen to Sermon Here: The Pastoral Theodicy of Good Shepherd Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter Acts 4:5-12 Psalm 23 1 John 3:16-24 John 10:11-18 This sermon was preached at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church in Berkeley CA on April 29, 2012. In 1940, Anglican author and apologist C.S. Lewis wrote a book titled The […]

Receiving the Hyssop

Listen to Good Friday reflection here: Receiving the Hyssop Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Psalm 22 Hebrews 10:16-25 John 18:1-19:42 A Good Friday reflection for the Seven Last Words service at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church on Sunday April 6, 2012. “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” Luke 23:34 “They put a sponge full […]

The Gospel of John as Pastoral Theodicy

This is a concluding reflection for the class “Gathering the Winnowed Community” (John 12:20-33), part of the Lenten series “Beholding the Lamb, Being Held by the Shepherd: Exploring the Question of Suffering in the Gospel of John” taught at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church on Sunday March 25, 2012. We began this course six weeks ago […]

Lifting Up the Serpent in the Wilderness

This is a concluding reflection for the class “Lifting Up the Serpent in the Wilderness” (John 3:14-21 and Numbers 21:4-9), part of the Lenten series “Beholding the Lamb, Being Held by the Shepherd: Exploring the Question of Suffering in the Gospel of John” taught at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church on Sunday March 18, 2012. Somehow […]