Share your Sacred Space

Share your Sacred Space

It feels odd that Holy Week begins this coming Monday.  Most years it’s a sense of surprise, something like, “I can’t believe it’s already Holy Week!”  This year, however, there is not much surprise. When suspension of public worship was announced most of us had the...
Share your Sacred Space

We Will Worship

Palm Sunday holds a special place in my heart. This Palm Sunday, April 5, is the 28th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood. It was on Palm Sunday that I first preached and presided at the Holy Eucharist. One could say it was a baptism by fire, but I loved...
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Seeing God in the Routine

This past Sunday was the Fourth Sunday in Lent. It was also the second Sunday without congregations gathering together in person for public worship.  As far as a name for a liturgical season goes, that’s a mouth full.  But before this day arrived my family, like...
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Good Things Come

“Good things come to those who wait.” It is a hard saying, whether or not you are waiting for a sip of Guinness at the day’s end, or for a splash of ketchup to land on your cheeseburger. In this season of Lent, we are waiting for good things. We are waiting for the...
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An Opportunity to Pray Together

If you’ve visited St. Paul’s website recently then you’ve probably noticed a new link on the home page. It reads “Online Prayer Service via Zoom Tuesdays and Thursdays”. As we are faced with growing uncertainty and disruption to our daily lives new routines that are...
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On Being a Non-anxious Presence

Dear Friends in Christ, In normal times, I think the number one job of the clergy is to be a non-anxious presence— a non-anxious presence in worship, in Bible Study, in Vestry meetings, in pastoral encounters, in fellowship, and in outreach. In abnormal times, the job...
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You Are Invited To Nothing

Among the things that I’m not great at: sitting still.  During my first year of seminary, the D.C. area and much of the North East saw record snowfall; we had over two feet in Alexandria alone.  Of course a city that far south is not accustomed to that level of snow...
Share your Sacred Space

Interim Rector Letter March 12, 2020

      Abbott and Costello’s iconic comedy routine, “Who’s on first,” seems a useful metaphor to me as I begin my ministry as your interim rector here at St. Paul’s. It is good to be here and I am grateful for your welcome and hospitality. The name tags...