How About a Smaller Camel?
Last century I had the privilege of growing up surrounded by four generations of mymother’s family. My great grandmother lived with my grandparents across the streetfrom our house. I still have a vivid memory of my great grandmother Zura, short for herfull name Missouri, seated in a bentwood rocker, attired in her Church of the Brethrenblack dress, talking to her pet parakeets. I spent many summer weeks in the 1960’s with my mother’s father on a Christmas Treefarm he had…
Marriage As Metaphor
Mark 10:2-16 Some Pharisees came, and to test Jesus they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man shall…
The Capacity for Heaven and Hell
Mark 9:38-50 – John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink…
Impossible Thinking
Late Thursday afternoon, when I left church, the sky here was incredible. There was a storm east of us, and in the direction of Atascadero the sky was a heavy, dark grey-mauve – and there was this short section of rainbow schmeared across the storm clouds that looked like it was being raked by rain bands, and kind of above us, here, was the edge of the system, the sky off to the west was blue, and here the sun…
Start Again Together
My first Sunday here with you marks the end of a whole heap of work by a lot of people in this community. As part of the effort of finding your new priest, a tremendous amount of thought, love, intention, and creativity went into compiling and writing the Parish Profile, which was posted to St. Ben’s website during the search process. This Profile was the way you all shared with the world ‘who you say you are,’ who you understand…
God’s Unconditional Love
Once again, I stand before you humbled and honored to open God’s word and share it with you. Now may our Creator and the Creator of the universe who holds all things together show us how to apply these scriptures this morning to our daily lives. Please be seated. I learned a few weeks ago that September was creation care month. My first response was I can’t preach this month. What are the new scriptures passages? To my surprise the…
Doubt and Belief
Today, we encounter the final installment of the Bread of Life discourse in John’s Gospel. We see many of those following Jesus leave as they give in to their doubts about his teachings. Those remaining affirm their belief in Jesus, deepening their commitment to follow him.
Holy Flesh
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing to you, Holy One. Amen. Today we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the ordination of Women to the Priesthood in The Episcopal Church. We’ve had a long history of women clergy serving here at St. Benedict’s. The ability of women to live out their full call as Priests in The Episcopal Church was an important step towards the open and inclusive church we have become and…
The 12th Sunday After Pentecost
May I speak in the Name of the Holy, Living, and Undivided Trinity, One God, now and forever, Amen. Good morning! It is a joy to be here with you and to worship here with you today. These Ministry or Liturgy of the Word services have marked a special time in our parish life, and I’m not saying or suggesting that we won’t still have them from time to time going forward, but I think it’s fair to say that…
Bread of Life
In today’s Gospel, we begin John’s Bread of Life discourse and are called to sit with the confusion of those who have gathered as Jesus begins to teach them what it means to be a people of faith, yet realize they are not ready to hear the full message so leaves them and us to wonder what might come next. Asking us to sit with the question, have we come only for the bread or to follow Jesus?