It’s really hard to appreciate the strangeness of this Gospel passage if you don’t know where it comes in the overall story. Jesus has been traveling throughout the land, teaching, exorcising, and healing. His reputation has grown, and his disciples regard him with awe. He is now heading for Jerusalem, where, as he has already … READ MORE…
Stacey Simpson is a grown woman who vividly remembers the first time the story of Jesus and the rich man cut through to her heart. She was seven years old, propped up on her pillows and reading her children’s Bible in her comfy bed, when she read the account that we just heard from the … READ MORE…
I grew up in a country at war. It was Northern Ireland, in the 1960’s, and there was a war going on all around us, except we didn’t call it war, we called it “The Troubles”, because calling it a war would be much too frightening for a country that was still recovering from a … READ MORE…
Chris Harris, former Canon for Congregational Development, recently moved to St. Bartholomew’s Church in Poway. However, we are still his sponsoring parish as he continues his journey towards the priesthood. Here is his first sermon at St. Bart’s where he brought a little of the Cathedral’s tradition of Labor Day in the Pulpits to Poway, … READ MORE…
“You can’t do that, it’s against the rules.” When was the last time you heard that, or said it yourself, or even said it to yourself? In childhood we hear it a lot, as we learn the allowable limits of behavior. I am by nature a rule-obeyer. It makes me anxious to ponder breaking the … READ MORE…
If the Gospel readings have begun sounding familiar the last few weeks, you’re not imagining things. We are four weeks in to a five-week reading of the Gospel of John’s sixth chapter. The chapter begins with the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, and continues with a lengthy theological interpretation of the miracle. But maybe … READ MORE…
The call came on Ash Wednesday, a decade or more ago. I was in the sacristy, preparing for the noon service, when, most unusually, the secretary buzzed me from the office. An emergency call from a parishioner, bringing the news of a death. A well-known local musician, not a member of the church but a … READ MORE…
Every Friday morning I have breakfast at Bread & Cie in Hillcrest. It’s a public breakfast: I have a sign for the table and anyone who wishes is welcome to sit down and join the conversation. There’s a core group of 3 or 4 parishioners who come almost every week, but some weeks there are … READ MORE…
What a road THIS has been! This is not only my last Sunday here on staff, but it is also the anniversary of the FIRST day I ever walked through those doors 12 years ago …having not attended church growing up I had found myself in my 30’s practicing law and starting to ask questions … READ MORE…
On Friday morning St Paul’s hosted the monthly breakfast for RISE San Diego, an organization that brings faith communities together for action to empower the city’s residents. I served on the panel as we fielded questions about social challenges to faith, the separation of church and state, and negative stereotypes of Muslims. I shared the … READ MORE…