Jan 6, 2026
Dear friends in Christ, Today the church celebrates the Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This is a rich feast day, and there are plenty of aspects we could focus on. Since I can only cover one small facet here, I hope you’ll find your way to church today to celebrate the fullness of the […]
Dec 3, 2025
Dear friends in Christ, This year marks the 90th year of Forward Movement’s ministry. We’ve been celebrating low key, because our aim is always to point to Jesus and to his church, not to ourselves. But I also want to acknowledge God’s presence in our ministry of inspiring disciples and empowering evangelists all these years. […]
Nov 19, 2025
Dear friends in Christ, This Sunday, our readings focus on the kingship of Jesus Christ. It’s always like this on the Last Sunday after Pentecost, pointing us toward Advent as we prepare to greet Jesus Christ when he comes in glorious majesty and when we meet him in our Christmas celebrations. But for Sunday, we […]
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 […]
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 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 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 6, 2025
Dear friends in Christ, I was recently re-reading Forward Movement’s first publication from 1935. On the last page, there’s a powerful prayer “For Zeal.” Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ came to cast fire upon the earth, grant that by the prayers of Thy faithful people a fire of burning zeal may be kindled and pass from […]
Jul 23, 2025
Dear friends in Christ, This coming Sunday, the lectionary gives us the gift of Jesus teaching his disciples the Lord’s Prayer. Sometimes when I pray this prayer, it occurs to me that I’m saying a prayer that Jesus himself taught, and it knocks me over. I invite you to go look up Luke 11:1-13 in […]