Nov 12, 2025
Dear friends in Christ, This Sunday, our church prays one of my favorite collects. Composed by Thomas Cranmer almost 500 years ago, it invites us to savor and be transformed by the riches of scripture. Here’s the Rite II version: Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us […]
Nov 5, 2025
Dear friends in Christ, Advent is coming soon. It might seem to be a bit much for me to write today about the need to prepare for a season of preparation, but I think it could really help! Almost everyone I speak with is exhausted by the headlines, worn down by the news of the […]
Oct 15, 2025
Dear friends in Christ, As I have mentioned here before, each month I pray my way through the complete psalter as I say morning and evening prayer. This practice is a rich gift that I commend to each of you. (You can find the headings within the prayer book’s psalter so you know which psalms […]
Oct 8, 2025
Dear friends in Christ, As this message goes out, the Forward Movement board is finishing its semi-annual meeting in Cincinnati. Our board meets twice each year in person, and our meetings are steeped in prayer, rooted in scripture, and sustained by faith. Of course, the board does all the things they need to do in […]
Oct 1, 2025
Dear friends in Christ, Last Sunday I visited a church to hear a preacher. It turns out I’m married to the preacher, so I wanted to hear her! I thought the sermon was excellent, but that’s not the point of this week’s reflection. Sherilyn (my spouse) was preaching at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Terrace […]
Sep 24, 2025
Dear friends in Christ, On Monday, the church celebrated the feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. Every year, we give thanks for his apostolic witness, especially in the Gospel of Matthew. Imagine how many lives have been transformed by his willingness to bear witness to Jesus Christ. I’m still thinking about this feast day, and I […]
Sep 17, 2025
Dear friends in Christ, This coming Sunday, we will hear a lesson from the First Letter to Timothy, in which St. Paul writes that God “desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” St. Paul here is echoing his Lord Jesus, who commanded us to preach the Gospel to […]
Sep 3, 2025
Dear friends in Christ, The collect from last Sunday, which we use every day this week in the Daily Office, is a good one: Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with […]
Aug 20, 2025
Dear friends in Christ, As you receive this, I am beginning a brief vacation. Seeing the world is a great joy of mine, and I find time away from work to be refreshing and even essential. We who follow Jesus would do well to notice how he rested in his earthly ministry. He kept the weekly sabbath, […]
Aug 13, 2025
Dear friends in Christ, I’m writing this week’s email from Camp Allen, the camp & conference center of the Diocese of Texas. This week I’m attending a gathering of church leaders from all over, focused how we can share resources as a church so that we can carry out God’s mission. It’s tempting to view […]