Penelope BridgesLast Sunday of Advent Our King and Savior now draws near. Come let us adore him. Today’s Collect calls on us to prepare our hearts to be a mansion for Jesus. How do you do that? Have you found a moment in all the busyness of the season to rest quietly in the presence … READ MORE…
Fifth Sunday of AdventPenelope Bridges Some of the most beautiful language in the Bible comes from the prophets. If you are going to preach a tough message, it helps to wrap it up in poetry. Baruch paints a picture of the happy ending for God’s people, and in the Canticle we hear the words of … READ MORE…
Rev. Cn. Richard R Hogue Jr Today, we begin the church’s new year, entering and going through the Gospel of Luke almost every Sunday from now until this time next year, though the mood is not celebratory. If we didn’t have enough to worry about in life, Luke’s Jesus seems to lay it on even … READ MORE…
Second Sunday in Advent Penelope Bridges The story of Hannah is about a woman who is abused, persecuted, and falsely accused. This is a woman who is seeking reproductive justice. She is regarded as a second-class citizen because she has not produced a child. Her husband loves her dearly, but he doesn’t understand the depth … READ MORE…
Preacher The Rev. Canon Allisyn Thomas RCL/Year B Mark 12:38-44 If we were called to read scripture simplistically, the message of today’s Gospel reading from Mark could be summed up pretty easily: Scribes—bad; Widow—Good. In fact, after the deacon reads the lesson, ending with “The Gospel of the Lord,” and we respond with “Praise to you, Lord … READ MORE…
This line from the Wisdom of Solomon caught my attention this week and wouldn’t let me go. Wisdom of Solomon, or just Wisdom, is one of the deuterocanonical books, or Apocrypha, of our Bible. None of these books are in the Hebrew Bible, but almost all of them are in the ancient Greek version of … READ MORE…
Penelope Bridges Several things strike me about the Gospel we just heard: Maybe what the disciples suffer from here is a simple lack of imagination. What Jesus is predicting just doesn’t compute for them. The Messiah executed? Rise again after three days? Inconceivable. They are still stuck in this misconception that Jesus will be a … READ MORE…
St. Francis Day Oct 6 2024 (Blessing of Pets at 10:30)Penelope Bridges Given the theme of the day, I want to share a story about my visit to the Zoo the other day. As is my habit, I headed first for the orang utan enclosure, where Kaja, who was born about 3 months after my … READ MORE…
Penelope Bridges How do you feel about our reading from Proverbs? Reading these verses is frankly exhausting for me. The capable wife (or in another translation Woman of Power) does everything, it seems. She makes clothes, grows food, engages in real estate transactions and commercial deals, runs the household, gives to the poor, supports her … READ MORE…
Penelope Bridges Today is Homecoming Sunday. You saw the procession of ministries at the beginning of this liturgy, and in a few minutes I will read off a list of our many ministries as we commission the lay ministers – that’s all of you – for renewed service. There is something for everyone, and if … READ MORE…