A Shepherd In The Field

Diocese of Pennsylvania reopens 3 churches in 5 years by rediscovering their communities : [Episcopal News Service – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania] By the time St. John’s Episcopal Church in the Philadelphia suburb of Norristown closed in 2015 after 202 years, the parish’s membership had dw…

  Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 1 John 3:18 We are in living in our awareness of Easter. We proclaim He is Risen because it is the truth.  The landscape is awash in color, the buds on the trees are opening, and the streams are flowing. Spring reminds us of new life after a long, dark season. This promise, the inner knowing, and the subsequent truth occur each year.  Similarly, we are assured that the tomb has been overcome and Christ is with us.  In the midst of this Easter fulfillment, as disciples of Christ, we must live into the truth. Easter is not simply a day or a season of the Church, it is how we are called to live our lives every moment of the day. When we do so, each day provides a new opportunity to encounter Jesus. Each day offers the chance to discover life in a new way. Each day is a new opportunity to experience life in Christ.  During this time, I ask that we approach our faith differently. Let us celebrate the truth of th

  But he said to them,  ‘ Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him.  Mark 16:6 Alleluia, He is Risen. He is Risen Indeed. Alleluia. After a long, cold, and snow-filled winter, signs of new life are evident in our landscape.    Easter reminds me of something that is intimately connected to the depth of my faith, the intensity of hope. This Easter, let us not lose this perspective. We have endured a challenging and painful year. Despite the challenges, we hoped upon hope, dreamed, prepared, and acted. Think of what we have learned, how we have grown stronger since Easter of 2020.    This Easter, hope continues to spring forth from the truth that Christ is Risen and with us as we take our next steps forward. Like the light of life found in the empty tomb, we discard the linens of despair and dream as to how we further our Lord ’ s kingdom in the years to come. Do not hope for too

 I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.   Philippians 4:12-13 Proximity. Over a year ago, our understanding of control and normalcy was radically altered. Overnight, in our lives and the life of the church, our proximity to regularity seemingly vanished. Every part of our human family has suffered loss, grief, and endured the toll taken on our physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Our deepest societal pains were revealed once again while our weaknesses bare. Despite the challenges, we found enormous strength in community, discovered an inner resiliency, and were willing to step forward in faith. As St. Paul wrote, we found we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.  Many have compared this past year to a perpetual Lent, but Lent does not come unexpectedl

  As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’  Mark 1:16-17   God planned for us to do good things and to live as we were created to live. That’s why he sent Christ to make us what we are .  Ephesians 2:10 My siblings in Christ, When Jesus says “follow me,” he is inviting us to be part of something real, something bigger than ourselves alone. Jesus is entrusting us to collaborate with him to restore what it means to be fully human, created in the image of the Almighty. As Paul writes, “to live as we were created to live.” Jesus is calling us to this holy purpose, saying, “Follow me. I have special work for you to do. I will teach you, and I will show you the way if you just follow me.”    Part of following Jesus means following him into the holy season of Lent. Let us seize this opportunity to draw closer to God in prayer. This

  You can watch the message in video here. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair We had everything before us, we had nothing before us. We were all going direct to Heaven. We were all going direct the other way. In short, the period was so far like the present period.” This past year we have seen much of what Charles Dickens described in   A Tale of Two Cities: the best and the worst.  When COVID hit, it was challenging and, at times, grueling. Yet, we did not wane nor recede into the shadows; we were resilient knowing Christ always leads us to new life. If these coming days are to be the best of times, we must answer the call to serve our Lord. While the journey will not be easy, we have the gifts, the faith, and the people to meet the

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me. ” John 18:37 (You can also watch it on  Facebook  or  YouTube .) From Philadelphia, our nation's birthplace, to witness this behavior in our nation's capital is deeply troubling. No, it is an assault on our country and her citizens. Prior to ordination, I spent a career in government and politics. I come from a family who served in all levels of government as elected officials. I can say from experience, that there were elections that were lost that were personal and painful. However, we accepted the will of the people. I accepted them because of the deep love I have for this country and our common principles. To witness the destruction and disrespect of our nations most valued institutions and symbols not only troubling, it angers me to the core. Yet that anger is tempered

  “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”   (John 1:5) (Video message available here) Advent is that long twilight where darkness fills our days, and reminds us to prepare for the new light that will change the world. The past ten months have lengthened our journey through the long night. Yet despite the apparent gloom, we hold fast to the hope found in Jesus Christ. The truth found in the manger allows our vision to focus on the faintest glimmer of light slowly rising over this distant horizon. The hope of Christmas found in the reality of the coming Christ child enables us to envision what William Wordsworth described as a world "apparell'd in celestial light" with "the glory and freshness of a dream."  The light of Christmas is breaking over the horizon, and at the same time, the end of this long journey shimmers in the distance. COVID will end, and we must faithfully step into a new and changing world with courage and resolv

A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 (the following is issued by the Diocese and Episcopal Community Services.) The needless death of Walter Wallace, Jr. in Philadelphia has shaken the city we love and serve. We join in denouncing racist violence against our sisters and brothers of color—mourning another black life senselessly lost and standing against the unnecessary use of deadly force that should have been avoided. It is also heartbreaking, as Walter was suffering and in the midst of a mental health crisis.  The lack of police training to deal with this medical condition is unconscionable.  As disciples of Jesus Christ, we must remember the way Jesus reached out and embraced all those who were suffering mentally, physically and spiritually. As disciples of Jesus Christ we must “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of ever

My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare they will give you. Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them round your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart ….Proverbs 3:1-35 How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action . 1 John 3:17-18  On November 3, both as individuals and as a country, we will make fundamental decisions about our values and morals. As Christians, we do not have the luxury of separating the two. We are called to vote our faith, conscience, and hearts as they have been formed by Jesus Christ. We have the gift to live in this country and the freedom to express our values. However, we cannot forget that our faith must inform every decision we make - including voting. I am reminded of a two-line poem: "