One of the things that has been in my Advent reflections this week is the difficulty I have, maybe we all have, with trust. In our post-modern world, we do not trust news sources without evaluating their bias and point of view. We certainly don’t trust Facebook. I participated in an online conversation yesterday in … READ MORE…
Dear St. Paul’s family, Last Sunday we began a new liturgical year. If you’ve been attending an Episcopal or Roman Catholic church for a few years you’ll be familiar with the annual cycle that starts four Sundays before Christmas. The Advent (from the Latin for “arrival” or “coming”) season gives us an opportunity to prepare … READ MORE…
Imagine you are walking down a city street. It is night, and the street is dark. The buildings around you are ancient, stained black with the soot of centuries. You see a light shining from a street-level window, piercing the darkness. As you come abreast of the window you see a Bible on a bookstand, … READ MORE…
Dear St. Paul’s family, As we begin the beautiful season of Advent, it’s especially timely to hear about the ministry of our sub-organist and assistant choirmaster, Gabriel Arregui. Gabriel first discovered St. Paul’s some 40 years ago and it has been his spiritual home ever since, regardless of where his musical vocation has taken him. … READ MORE…
There was a young man who wanted to be a newspaper writer. He quit college to get right at it. He got a job and was immediately put on the city desk. The city desk was shaped like a huge horseshoe, with the city editor at the apex, and all the other writers sitting along … READ MORE…
Dear St. Paul’s family, In our continuing series about our staff, I want to tell you about David Tremaine, our Director of Formation. He used to be Director of Formation and Outreach, but he has successfully transitioned full leadership of our outreach ministries to volunteers, notably Jen Jow who has taken on oversight of the … READ MORE…
Today’s Collect, or opening prayer, is one of my favorites. “Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life …” Besides the sheer poetry … READ MORE…
Dear St. Paul’s family, As you know, the Cathedral employs a number of professionals to help us “equip the saints for the work of ministry.” Over the course of the next few weeks I want to share with you a sense of what some of our wonderful staff offer us. To begin, I asked Wayne … READ MORE…
Dear St. Paul’s family, Well, another election day has come and gone, and we are still here, continuing our ministry to one another and to the community around us. Whatever happens in the halls of government, we continue to Love Christ, Serve Others, and Welcome All. It’s been a brutal and even violent political season: … READ MORE…
Right before our gospel lesson begins, Martha and Jesus have a talk. Martha is upset that Jesus didn’t come to town earlier, knowing her brother Lazarus was sick, and Jesus assures her that he will rise again. Assuming she knows what he means, Martha gives the orthodox answer: “I know that he will rise again … READ MORE…