Penelope Bridges, Sermon from May 2, 2021 The theology in John’s Gospel sometimes feels uncomfortably exclusive. Cut off the dead branches! Throw them in the fire! This is language for a very different faith tradition than ours, for a Christian community in a very different historical context. But when we read of God the gardener, … READ MORE…
Sermon from April 18, 2021“You are Witnesses of These Things”Penelope Bridges Each of our Scripture stories today, from Acts and from Luke’s Gospel, starts in the middle of a longer story. Our reading from Acts starts with “why do you wonder at this?” What is this? Let’s go back to the beginning of the chapter. … READ MORE…
The Rev.Cn. Jeff MartinhaukEaster 2B, April 11, 2021St. Paul’s Cathedral, San DiegoActs 4:32-35; John 20:19-31 I just re-read an article from the beginning of our Sacred Ground journey. Way back in session two, for those of you who are in our anti-racism groups, we read an article by David Dean called “Roots Deeper than Whiteness.” … READ MORE…
March 21, 2021, The Fifth Sunday in LentPenelope BridgesLifted Up In the name of our loving, life-giving, and liberating God. What is the Bible saying to you today? What do these Scripture readings say to you as you read them in the context of the world we are living in, in the context of the … READ MORE…
March 7, 2021 The third Sunday in LentPenelope BridgesGod’s Law, Our Freedom “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.” (Ps 19:14) “God spoke all these words.” Moses, in communion with God on the holy mountain, receives the extraordinary gift … READ MORE…
February 21, 2021Penelope Bridges “The time is fulfilled: repent and believe in the good news.” With these words the Jesus of Mark’s Gospel gets down to business. Perhaps good news and repentance don’t necessarily go together in your mind, but as we settle into this Lenten season, the invitation to repent and believe is indeed … READ MORE…
The Rev.Cn. Jeff MartinhaukTransfiguration B, February 14, 2021St. Paul’s Cathedral, San DiegoMark 9:2-9 We meet Peter today on the mountaintop after he and Jesus have been in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, and Peter has just scolded Jesus for openly teaching that he would have to be crucified. Jesus rebuked Peter quickly, making clear that … READ MORE…
February 7, 2021, the Fifth Sunday after the EpiphanyAll Things to All PeoplePenelope Bridges Last week I had the honor of meeting with some very bright 7th-graders from Francis Parker Middle School. Usually at this time of year a group from Parker comes to the cathedral and we tell them a little about the Episcopal … READ MORE…
Almost 30 years ago I started on the path of discernment that led me to ordained ministry. One of the early requirements in the process was to work with a parish committee, to reflect on my call and the experience of ministry. Our aspirants today do something very similar. One of the most impactful questions, … READ MORE…
Second Sunday after Epiphany, January 17, 2021Penelope BridgesIt’s Always Darkest Before the Dawn If you Google the phrase, “It’s always darkest just before the day dawns”, you’ll find that the phrase was first committed to print by a 17th century theologian called Thomas Fuller, in the context of his Holy Land travelogue. However, it was … READ MORE…