The Magi as Proto-Anglicans

Readings for the Second Sunday after Christmas Day This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on January 4, 2026. Happy Eleventh Day of Christmas! Tomorrow night will be this season’s Twelfth Night, which is the name of that Shakespeare comedy in which the character Duke Orsino says, “If music be the food of […]

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Awaken the Inner Child

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, 2025. Moments before walking the prayer labyrinth a few days ago here at our monthly labyrinth walk, I picked up a quote from a basket of Advent quotes prepared by parishioner […]

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“Peace and Plenteousness within these Walls”: Rector’s Report on 2024

Readings for the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka on Sunday February 2, 2025.  Today we celebrate one of the most ancient feasts of the Church, the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, also known as Candlemas, which is always celebrated 40 days after Christmas. […]

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Putting it all Together in our hearts

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, 2024. “Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.” Mary treasured the words of the angels, the words of the shepherds, and she treasured the Word made flesh, […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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