Sharing the tears

Jeff Bates received this email from his friend Ann, in Seattle, and shared it with us. Ann writes, Hello everyone, I’ve thought about sharing this or not .. and finally realized that I just cannot NOT share it. This past Saturday, I got in my car with my dog Alex to drive to my boat … READ MORE…

A joyful ordination

Saturday saw Mike Angell and Martha Anderson ordained to the diaconate, and Andy Shamel and Gillian Barr ordained to the priesthood. A joyful day, and congratulations to all! Photos at the Cathedral Flickr site

Lenten Devotions

For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8.2) Traumatized and sobbing, the 13-year-old girl from Guatemala began her story. “In Tijuana they took me to a house where they sold me to men for sex. They warned me not … READ MORE…

The New Conscious Consumer

What is Fair Trade? How does Fair Trade affect your life? You could become “The New Conscious Consumer”. Sunday, April 10, from 12:30 to 2:30 PM, at Open Door Books in PB, Carolyn Lief, Cathedral member, will be presenting and facilitating a discussion on Fair Trade. Other presenters are Jim DeHarpport, Western Regional Director of … READ MORE…

A lenten look at homelessness

Homelessness is a growing phenomenon in America. It takes many forms: There are bankruptcies, foreclosures and short-sales.Banks collect homes when the unemployed default on their mortgage payments.Some people are homeless because of natural disasters like Haiti and Japan.Some are homeless and without kin, who are called orphans.Others are homeless due to revolutions and wars…the Palestinians … READ MORE…

Lenten Devotions

For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt, I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me. (Jeremiah 8.21) “The coyote left me alone, abandoned,” said the young man from Central America. “I was lost for four days in the Arizona desert. But God helped me find the highway. I knelt down in … READ MORE…

Magical Moments: Lenten Lauds

You know when you discover something magical, something that really sings to your soul, and you want to wrap it up and bring it home? I felt that way at Mt. Calvary in Santa Barbara listening to Lauds. I attend Good Samaritan Episcopal up in UTC, but when I heard St. Paul’s was having a … READ MORE…

A Song for Lent

One of the things I do in my admittedly lazy retirement (besides volunteer work for St. Paul’s and occasional pro bono consulting) is the writing of hymntext – new verse for beloved Anglican tunes. My “Hymn For Jubilee,” written for the Jubilee Year 2000, received commendation from the Queen of England and the Archbishop of … READ MORE…

On-line security (updated)

Recently, several of my Facebook friends found their facebook accounts highjacked and advertising posted under their names. It’s a useful reminder that for all the benefits of on-line life, it’s still a bit of a free-for-all, and there are nefarious characters trying to con you! These risks can be managed with a little bit of … READ MORE…