As some of you may know, I recently spent two weeks with about 10,000 of my closest Episcopal friends—including our own Alan Murray—in Austin Texas at the 79th triennial General Convention of the Episcopal Church. Alan was an alternate deputy for our diocese, so he had a legislatively official reason for being there. I … Read the rest
Continue reading "Awkward Episcopalian" »Category: Sermons
Loving, Liberating, Life-Giving
Proper 10B
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I bring you greetings from the nearly 10,000 Episcopalians who have gathered in Austin Texas for the past two weeks, for the 79th General Convention of the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church has an historic relationship with the Anglican Church of Mexico, as we were partners in its birth in the 1860’s. And now … Read the rest
Continue reading "Loving, Liberating, Life-Giving" »The Crossing and the Storm
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“Come, let us go across to the other side,” said Jesus. And they did. With no apparent purpose. Even though it was evening, and a storm was afoot, Mark didn’t bother to report any objections from the disciples. As far as we know, they were eager to embark on a dangerous boat trip to the … Read the rest
Continue reading "The Crossing and the Storm" »Staying with the Source
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Before I begin, I need to preface my remarks by saying that I don’t like raisins. In fact, I think of oatmeal raisin cookies as a kind of mean-spirited bait and switch. They look like chocolate chip cookies but then turn out to be something that more like a healthy breakfast than a decadent dessert. … Read the rest
Continue reading "Staying with the Source" »Body of Hurt and Hope
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“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” Ah… our dear friend Thomas, the icon of outspoken doubt. Since Easter fell on April Fool’s Day this year, I find myself particularly grateful … Read the rest
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Cup of Death and Life
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I well remember that bleached out pink plastic cup, a survivor of more wash-tub ablutions than it was ever designed for, filled with a warm cloudy liquid. I could smell the cloying sweetness wafting upward from the rim, and I think I may also have seen a few spongy white spheres suspended in the fluid. … Read the rest
Continue reading "Cup of Death and Life" »The Lent of Our Discontent
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No. No more of this.
Lately I’ve been finding myself in a something like a state of chronic lament. Waking up, as I do, to a news feed filled with very public cases of domestic abuse and #metoo harassment , cruel deportations that divide families… and now yet another massacre of school children. I fear … Read the rest
Continue reading "The Lent of Our Discontent" »Fever & Faith
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Someone in this house has just recovered from a fever, has been lifted up, and is serving God. I don’t necessarily know who it is. Although… you may. The person recovered from the fever may even be you.
I know that it has been me. Lord knows I’ve had some debilitating fevers in my life: … Read the rest
Continue reading "Fever & Faith" »God’s Renewable Energy
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So it’s a week to be an Oregonian, no? I have to love it when our gas-pumping habits make the national news. On Thursday I woke up to the Washington Post headline that read “I don’t even know HOW: Some Oregonians panic about the new self-service gas law.”
Great. The rest of the country already … Read the rest
Continue reading "God's Renewable Energy" »The Word is Good
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- How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger.
- The Lord has bared his holy arm.
- Let the rivers clap their hands.
- He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty.
- The Word became flesh.
This morning’s lessons contain something like a sacred inventory of body parts: Feet. Arms. Hands. Flesh. In … Read the rest
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