Almighty God our heavenly Father, guide the nations of the world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.  — A Prayer for Peace Among the Nations, Book of Common Prayer p. 816   Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heave

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” From John 3:1-17 This Sunday in Lent, we hear perhaps one of the most misconstrued, or at least limited in its context, verses in Scripture. We’ve all seen John 3:16 written on signs held up at ball games, on billboards

“Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” From the Ash Wednesday Liturgy Most of us do not like thinking about our own mortality. Despite knowing that we will not live forever, there is a general avoidance of really sitting with that fact. I knew a colleague long ago who led a Lenten retreat where everyone had to write their own obituary and then lie prone on a pew while the burial rite was read. That seemed like quite a lot, but I understand the impulse. Our tra

While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” – Matthew 17:5-7 What was the most recent unexpected joy you encountered? Did you share that story with someone, who also got to share in that enjo

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” From Matthew 5:13-20 The morning light at this time of year is particularly beautiful. Some days I am really good about taking a moment to pause and trul

“The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God….But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God." — 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 It continues to be heart-rending as we bear witness

"As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left th

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry, He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. Happy are those who make the Lord their trust, who do not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after false gods.” - Psalm 40:1-4 The real-life title of this reflection should ha

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” — From Matthew 3:13-17 What a beautiful and meaningful Advent and Christmas season we had at St. Mark’s. As always, I am grateful for the many people who make our services and gathering times possible. As we enter the new year, we are in a good position to imagine what staffing will allow us to continue the good work of last year. Many of you have asked if we will hire another assisting

Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” From Matthew 1:18-25 This Sunday, we

“When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” From Matthew 11:2-11 The woman made an appointment to come see me at St. Peter and St. Paul early in my ministry. She wanted to discuss some troubles she was having at work and how she imagined her future. She worked in a bank and had a lot of interaction with the public. She had been struggling with co-workers

“Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.” — From Matthew 3:1-12 We know we are fully into the Advent season when we encounter the endearing cry to attention from John the Baptist, who calls those who seek him in the wilderness “you brood of vipers.” To say John doesn’t suffer fools gladly is an understatement. He refuses complacency o

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen. — Collect for the First Sunday of Advent

“When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." — From Luke 23:33-43 This last Sunday of Pentecost is always a bit jarring. Ending the liturgical year with the crucifixion right before we prepare for the birth of Jesus catches our attention in its stark imagery compared with the arrival of a baby born in

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen .  - Collect for Proper 28C I really like the collect appointed for this Sunday. The Rev. Ann Fraser used it a few week

“Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me under the shadow of your wings” Psalm 17:8 This line from Psalm 17 is one of my favorites. One of the main reasons is that we often chant it at the end of evening prayer at my beloved retreat center. St. Augustine said, “He who sings prays twice.” And I do find that scripture, when set to music, finds a deeper place of resonance in my soul. There is something about a line of song that calls me back to a place of centeredness and allo

It was such a gift to gather this fall and reflect together on our common life.  Rooted in Christ, Living Generously  has given us a rich starting point for imagining the role faith has in our daily lives. We cannot be generous people if we don’t have a foundation that is deep, and as Christians we claim that rootedness in Jesus Christ. What I’ve loved about our conversations is that our connections at St. Mark’s are both deep and wide. We share a love of community life, whet

Jesus told his disciples a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, `Grant me justice against my opponent.' For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, `Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and...

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour...