In a recent publication issued by The Episcopal Church, Richelle Thompson writes wisely and engagingly about the impact that different personal styles can make on a meeting. Other titles have been used but “hog, bog and frog” seem an excellent new approach. Click below and read her article. Click: Hog,Bog or Frog Conversation Styles My… Continue reading
Today’s sermon spoke to implicit presumptuousness in today’s Gospel (Water to Wine, John 2:1-11) and explicit presumptuousness in recent actions by the Anglican Communion concerning The Episcopal Church; actions that I consider to be shameful. Thank God I am an Episcopal priest able to be an authentic Anglican. Click below to hear sermon audio. Sermon… Continue reading
Given my British background we may well agree to disagree on the pronunciation of “process” – is it “proh… (long ‘o’)” or “pror… (short ‘o’)? However it is pronounced, we won’t argue will we? “Let’s call the calling off.. off”. Well that was complicated but it is just the beginning of considering the importance of… Continue reading
It seems as old as time that moments of great celebration and significance are accompanied by the imbibing of alcohol. In Hebrew Scripture, Psalm 104:15 reads, “The Lord has given wine to make glad the heart of man”. At times the “gladness” is the bubbling over of joy at great events such as weddings; at… Continue reading
The story is told that when John Wesley (then a member of the Church of England) approached Bishop Butler of Bristol to recount Wesley’s conversion, the Bishop responded, “Enthusiasm, sir, is a horrid thing; a very horrid thing indeed”. Now remember that the Bishop was an Anglican and that Episcopalians (the American expression of Anglicanism)… Continue reading
Accessibility When questions and uncertainties are pummeling you about rehearsal and wedding, order of service and readings, you need to feel the officiant is accessible. Accessible by email, text, mobile… just somehow accessible. Accessibility also means a personal connection; the conversation is best two-way so that the engaged couple feel some knowledge of the person… Continue reading
Today I was reading a passage from the Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture. The book of Joshua contains these words… (Chapter 3) 14-16 And that’s what happened. The people left their tents to cross the Jordan, led by the priests carrying the Chest of the Covenant. When the priests got to the Jordan and their feet touched the… Continue reading
A provocative and comforting Gospel passage, I did my best (with God’s help) to preach on the text (Luke 2:41-52). Below is sermon audio and a beautiful rendition of a hymn I mentioned in the sermon and, if you scroll down, also the text for the sermon (not quite what was preached in the pulpit!!!… Continue reading
This sermon was preached on Christmas Eve at the glorious Church of the Holy Trinity, Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia. Known only to a few, this would be my last Christmas sermon as Rector. Very rarely have I put aside a prepared sermon once in the pulpit but it happened on this occasion. There is no text,… Continue reading
The link below is a conversation with The Rev. Dr. William “Bill” Kondrath, author of Facing Feelings in Faith Communities (Alban, 2013), co-editor of the Journal of Religious Leadership, and consultant and trainer with VISIONS, Inc. The special focus of Dr. Kondrath is on the importance of accessing, articulating and accepting (my alliteration, good eh?)… Continue reading