Penelope Bridges Our last Sunday reading from the Gospel of Matthew offers a vivid portrait of the end of days. The judgment of the sheep and goats closes out a series of teachings from Jesus about faithfulness, patience, and justice, each with its own dire warning of the fate of those who fail to do … READ MORE…
Rev. Cn. Richard Hogue Jr. This parable can be a troubling one for a lot of people. For some it smacks of Ayn Randian petulance, with the phrase “For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have … READ MORE…
First Sunday of AdventPenelope Bridges Happy Advent! Maybe you were surprised to see the Advent wreath up here when you stepped into the church this morning. It is, after all, less than two weeks since Halloween. It might feel like we are committing the cultural sin of decorating for the holidays even while we are … READ MORE…
Richard Hogue Jr. I want to paint the scene for today’s gospel: everything from last week’s gospel reading and this week’s comes after Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, what we associate with Palm Sunday. The crowds adore him, and the authorities fear him. Jesus has ransacked the marketplace of the Temple, it being the … READ MORE…
Rev. Cn. Richard Hogue When I started my writing process with the passages of Scripture that we’ve heard this morning, I was saddened by the content. I thought to myself: “Not only do I have to kick off a pledge campaign where we are asking people to give their money, but now we get a … READ MORE…
Penelope Bridges Today we celebrate the life and legacy of one of our most beloved saints, Francis of Assisi. Even though he lived over 800 years ago, we know quite a lot about his life. He lived from c.1181-1215 in central Italy. His family was wealthy, middle-class, merchants of fine textiles. As a teenager Francis … READ MORE…
By guest preacher Lindsey Seegers at St. Paul’s Cathedral on September 24, 2023 There were more days than not this past week when I woke up in a funk. Everything felt harder and heavier than it needed to be. And even though those are the mornings when it’s hardest to get out of bed, it’s … READ MORE…
The Very Rev. Penny Bridges Today’s Scripture readings seem to come full circle, from the violent, vengeful God who drowns the Egyptian army, to Paul’s exhortation to refrain from judging others on their preferences, to a call for unconditional forgiveness, and finally back to the God who threatens the unrepentant sinner with eternal torture. There’s … READ MORE…
Rev. Cn. Richard Hogue Jr. Happy homecoming Sunday, St. Paul’s! It’s so good to see so many of our ministries and priorities represented here today as we celebrate the beginning of another program year. When I began discerning what the Spirit might ask me to say today, I felt a little confused. Our Gospel … READ MORE…
September 3, 2023Penelope Bridges In our reading from the Hebrew Scriptures today we continue the story of the Exodus. To recap: Pharaoh had ordered that all the baby boys born to the enslaved Israelites were to be murdered. Moses’ mother tried to save him by setting him afloat in the Nile. The baby was rescued … READ MORE…