In my sixth St. Mark's choir pilgrimage, I've learned that these journeys mean many surprises. In fact, you can count on it! (Fish pedicures in Exeter, anyone?) Before we arrived in Salisbury, we knew we'd be discovering this vibrant city and, of course, the Cathedral. What we didn't know was that we would also discover a city within the city…a green oasis called the Cathedral Close. "Close" is a versatile word, but here it's used to describe an enclosed space. The Close surp

Singing in the Cathedral is an experience during which everything is heightened: desires for accomplishment and communication, fears of failure and distraction, openness to direction and deeply reassuring words, gratitude for composers and musicians whose music carries people to again feel their faith fully (at least while they listen and when they remember being carried). Speaking as an old hippie, it's quite a trip. Though surprised at my physical limitations, weariness, ph

I normally see myself as a pretty competent, easygoing person, but the time leading up to this trip/pilgrimage was rife with anxieties: will I remember everything I "need" to take, could I manage going outside my daily routine of maintenance, would I be able to sing the music well enough, etc. However, when I answer the question posed to me in our reflection booklet, "What does the word 'pilgrimage' mean to you?," my answer includes—journey, search, clarification, new meaning

The tour has been delightful. Much of it has been spent connecting with people. Groups form and break and reform. I didn't realize how much the size and walkability of the town would matter for chance encounters. On walks and outside restaurants, one can spot others and start conversations that would never happen otherwise. I have deeply enjoyed slow breakfasts and hearing about what people will do that day. Slow and deliberate days lead to walks on the cathedral grounds and

St. Mark's Choir in Salisbury Cathedral, July 2026 After landing at Heathrow outside London, the St. Mark's choir stopped at Windsor on the way to Salisbury. I visited the Windsor Parish Church, where, as a St. Mark's singer, I paid attention to the choir stalls and the organ — a large 19th-century instrument with three manuals and 60 stops. From there, the choir continued on to Salisbury. On our second day, some of us took an optional trip to Portsmouth, where a walking path

“And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on g

Dear Friends, At long last the St. Mark's Choir and Senior Choristers have reached their goal, and we'll soon begin our journey together at two of England's finest cathedrals. Our choirs have evolved immensely over the course of the past three years since our last pilgrimage. It is a privilege and honor to serve with them in a total of nine Evensongs and four Choral Eucharists over the course of two weeks. In her letter to the choir pilgrims, the Rev. Ann Fraser states, "A pi

He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. (Genesis 22:10-11) Jesus said, “…whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple-- truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.” (Matthew 10:42) What is it that God requires of us? In Genesis this week, we have the weighty story of the Akedah, the binding of Isaac. Abraham is asked

They said to Abraham "Where is your wife Sarah?" And he said, "There, in the tent." Then one said, "I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?" - Genesis 18:9-12 Well, i

O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. — Collect for the Sunday Closest to June 8 As many of you know, Vacation Bible School week is one of my favorite weeks of the year. Now that we have a full-day program with Music Camp, it's even better. The kids a

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of

This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, which is when we liturgically celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is sometimes called the birthday of the church, which gives us a good excuse to eat cake at 9:15 in the morning during breakfast between the 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. services this Sunday. I invite you to cheerfully wear red and celebrate the new life we are offered.

Living into the fullness of the Resurrection is a lifelong journey. Tomorrow we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension, when Jesus returns to his Father in heaven to allow the gift of the Holy Spirit to descend and enliven the entire church. We ask for the guidance to trust that the Holy Spirit will come, undergirded by our communities and support structures as we wait.

Jesus said, ”If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. From John 14:15-21 During Jesus' Farewell Discourse he is spending a lot of time preparing the disciples for what life might look like for them after he departs.

“Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works.’” From John 14:1-14 I was at the Mustang Island Conference Ce

“The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” — from John 10:1-10 What a joyful Sunday we had with our Bishop visiting, sixteen confirmations, and two baptisms! Easter abundance was all around us. Our Easter season continues this Sunday with what is usually called "Good Shepherd Sunday." But the image of Jesus with a soft fluffy lamb draped

Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” Luke 24:31-32 The gospels give us only a handful of stories of the risen Jesus appearing to his friends and followers, but each one is rich with mystery, longing, and hope. The most out of the ordinary details—angels in white at an empty tomb

Good Friday Service - 2024 During our Passiontide Lessons and Carols service, we read this poem by Ann Weems. It has grounded my prayer practice as we walk these days together with these special liturgies. I hope you will take time to pause and imagine yourself as part of this great story. If you are overwhelmed by the state of the world, I hope you will walk these days in community. If you are in a place of unadulterated joy, I hope you will still walk with us. Whether we ar

“And the rhythm of life is a powerful beat, Puts a tingle in your fingers and a tingle in your feet, Rhythm in your bedroom, rhythm in the street, Yes, the rhythm of life is a powerful beat.” from the musical Sweet Charity I remember singing these lyrics in a small ensemble group in junior high school. It's high energy and peppy. Despite its upbeat nature, it can be a way to think about the invitation to Holy Week. To experience the fullness of our journey to Easter means in

“Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her