A Sign for CHoni, King Ahaz, and St. Joseph

On this Winter Solstice, this shortest day of the year, as our Jewish friends light the final candle of the hanukkiah, and as the circle of our Advent wreath comes to completion, I want to share a beloved story about a Jewish sage who asked God for a sign of his loving presence during a […]

Thomas Merton and the Angels of Advent

Readings for the Feast Day of Thomas Merton This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on December 10, 2025 I’d like to begin by reading a poem by Thomas Merton titled “Advent.”[1] I invite you to let these words wash over you and fall gently upon you like a morning dew. Let go […]

“Do But Make Room for Him this Advent and Christmas”

This article was written for the December 2025 Chronicle newsletter for Christ Church Eureka. This Advent, I’m reading a book by an Anglican theologian named Donald Allchin who enjoyed a spiritual friendship with the Trappist monk Thomas Merton, whose feast day happens to be this month (Dec 10)![1] Donald Allchin was an Anglican priest and author who […]

Matthew’s Mini-Apocalypse

Readings for the First Sunday of Advent (Year A) This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on November 30, 2025. On this first Sunday of Advent, we generally wish each other a happy new year as we begin a new liturgical year together. So, happy new year! Today, we begin our three-year journey […]

Mary, Myrick, and the Magnificat

Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year C) This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on Sunday December 22, 2024. During my recent trip back East, I had the opportunity to sing Christmas Carols with Harvard students as well as visit my favorite Anglo-Catholic parish, St. Mary the Virgin at Times Square […]

Dies Irae

Readings for the Second Sunday of Advent (Year C) This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on Sunday December 8, 2024. This week, I was reading and reflecting on today’s Gospel, especially Luke’s words from the prophet Isaiah who says, “Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill made low” (Luke […]

“Look at all the Trees”

Readings for the First Sunday of Advent (Year C) This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on Sunday December 1, 2024. Today marks the beginning of a new liturgical year and the first day of the Advent season when we eagerly await and silently anticipate the coming, the Adventus, of the Christ. Tis […]

Affirming “Brother Ass”

Readings for the First Sunday after Christmas Day This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka on Sunday December 31, 2023. 800 years ago, a 41-year-old deacon travelled to the Italian town of Greccio, where he pondered the mystery of Christmas expressed in the words of the Gospel we just heard read. Although his younger years […]

The Heavenly Peace of Silent Night

Readings for the Feast of the Christ Mass This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka for the Christmas Eve service on Saturday December 24, 2023. Merry Christmas! Some authors have argued that the spiritual character and contribution of each Christian denomination can be represented well with a great feast day of the church, claiming that […]