I had the opportunity this week to watch a video entitled “American Creed.” It is a documentary that frames the American dream, and asks what happens to it when social mobility and trust in institutions decline. “Work hard, and it doesn’t matter where you come from. You can go anywhere.” It’s the dream that has … READ MORE…
Today is the second Sunday and 12th day of the Christmas season. We won’t officially celebrate the Epiphany until tomorrow. But today we are peeking over the fence and seeing the wise ones approach. You may immediately interpret that as the three Kings, but take a closer look at the Gospel and you will notice … READ MORE…
Dear St. Paul’s family, You may have noticed a new feature in the northern aisle of the cathedral, near the Christmas Tree: this is our new and exciting Pray-Ground, an experimental soft and welcoming space for young children and their parents. Our Children, Youth, and Family leadership team has developed this new approach in tandem … READ MORE…
The gospel of John which we just read is the only Christmas story in the gospels that does not have a birth narrative. John instead starts way back at the beginning of creation, quickly but poetically telling us of the birth of all things from the source of light and life, the Word of God. … READ MORE…
Alleluia. Unto us a child is born. O come let us adore him. Alleluia. He came into a world that was dark. Vino en un mundo tenebroso. He came into a world that was broken. Vino en un mundo roto. He came into a world that didn’t want to know him or anyone like him. … READ MORE…
Wow. Help. Thanks. The writer Anne Lamott says there are essentially just three prayers: Wow. Help. Thanks. Each of the three is illustrated in our Scripture readings today, on this Gaudete or Rejoice Sunday. “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom.” Wow. Isaiah paints a picture of … READ MORE…
“A shoot shall come from the stump of Jesse.” The reading from the Hebrew Scriptures opens with such a particular and strange image. It may be obvious to many of you, but I needed to look into it a little bit because this year for some reason it intrigued me. Why does Jesse have a … READ MORE…
So here we are again, back at the beginning of the church year. We have completed the cycle of seasons and returned to the starting point. Everything about this beginning feels contradictory: nature’s seasons begin with spring, but here we are starting out as the natural world is packing up for the winter, putting away … READ MORE…
Dear St. Paul’s family, I don’t think anyone will dispute the fact that we are living in a time when the social fabric of our society is being stressed and torn by disagreement. Not long ago it was possible to disagree over any number of topics and remain in relationship. But in the USA today … READ MORE…
“The days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” If you’ve looked at the other side of our campus lately this sentence might be resonating for you in new ways. In some of the conversations I’ve had over the last few months, people with long memories … READ MORE…