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Mark Twain, having sat through a performance of a Wagner opera, quipped, “Wagner’s music is not as bad as it sounds.” Sitting in the nave today with its abbreviated seating options, I felt much the same way. The photos made the space look as if we’d been robbed, leaving us bereft of our pews in … READ MORE…
God created us free. Free even to decide what we really want in our lives and what we strive after. It is important to know what our innermost wishes are, for they will determine the way we think and act most of our lives. In the passage from I Samuel we just read, the elders … READ MORE…
Dear St. Paul’s family, Where are our Pews? It’s hard to miss: when you walk into the back of the Cathedral nave, there is a lot more space than usual. We are running an experiment this summer by removing some of the pews to make additional space and trying out different activities. This is a … READ MORE…
What was the best part of your week? The best part of mine was Wednesday afternoon. I had two appointments. The first was with a brilliant young seminarian. We talked about ways to reach her generation with the good news of God´s love and we decided to invite other millennials to join the conversation. Half … READ MORE…
At St. Paul’s and in a growing number of churches, Sunday mornings bring an unforeseeable number of children and families to church each week. For some, regular attendance means showing up monthly, for some it means quarterly, while for some it still means weekly. As a result, on any given Sunday, it is almost impossible … READ MORE…
A few weeks ago, I opened my sermon with an account of the creation. On this Trinity Sunday I want to share a part of that with you again. In the beginning, there was God. God was love. God’s life of love within God’s very self was expansive and interdependent among the different parts of … READ MORE…
Dear St. Paul´s family, Our Pentecost celebration last Sunday was joyful and Spirit-filled. I had the blessing of attending all four services and experiencing the wide variety of gifts and cultures that we enjoy here in San Diego. We heard the Acts reading in many different languages, we experienced a graceful dance, we sang great … READ MORE…
This has been an exciting week, full of good news. I know there is sadness out there in the world. I weep for the families in Santa Fe, Texas, who lost loved ones in Friday’s horrific school shooting. Legislatures are proposing and implementing laws that restrict human rights and promote prejudice. The bloodshed in Gaza … READ MORE…
May 15, 2018 Dear St. Paul’s family, This week we celebrate Pentecost, the day when the church was born. It’s a day to rejoice in the ways the Spirit has gifted each of us for ministry and to be listening for the movement of the Spirit in our life together. I’ve been listening hard these … READ MORE…
May 9, 2018 Dear St. Paul’s family, This week’s message is about membership and engagement. It’s evident to all of us that attendance at worship has declined in the last four or five years, from an average Sunday attendance (ASA) in 2015 of 607 to 525 in 2017. It’s not a trend any of us … READ MORE…