mtrbev11

3 Epiphany 2022

Who is Jesus of Nazareth? This is a question that comes up over and over as we study scriptures. Those who have been participating in our Wednesday evening study of the gospel of Mark will hear Jesus ask the question “Who do you say I am?” in this week’s readings. Those who have been participatingContinue reading “3 Epiphany 2022”

2 Epiphany 2022

Just a few weeks ago, Bp Jennifer was at Emmanuel and laid hands on N. and N.. As she laid hands on each of them she said “Strengthen, O Lord, your servant N. with your Holy Spirit; empower her for your service; and sustain her all the days of her life. Amen.” (BCP p.419) LastContinue reading “2 Epiphany 2022”

Baptism of Jesus 2022

Last year several of us read the Gospel of Mark straight through, start to finish, as though it was a piece of literature. I think it was an eye opening experience for those who participated as they watched Mark sandwich particular stories together in a way that brought a deeper meaning to the individual storiesContinue reading “Baptism of Jesus 2022”

1 Christmas 2021

I can remember my mother listening to Paul Harvey on the radio. It was one of the few programs she listened to that seemed to catch my attention. I think it is because I have always liked “who done it’s” and I enjoyed trying to figure out who Paul Harvey was talking about. He wouldContinue reading “1 Christmas 2021”

Christmas Eve 2021

I don’t know about you, but for some reason it has been hard for me to get into the “Christmas Spirit” this year. Everything has been a bit topsy-turvy with people’s plans interrupted suddenly, with long held traditions being impractical this year, and it has caused me to spend some time in reflection about whatContinue reading “Christmas Eve 2021”

4 Advent 2021

“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” We jump around a bit in Luke during Advent. Last week John the Baptist was an adultContinue reading “4 Advent 2021”

3 Advent 2021

“Sing aloud…rejoice and exult” (Zephaniah 3: 14-15). “Surely it is God who saves us.” (Isaiah 12:2). “Rejoice in the Lord always.” (Philippians 4:4) “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Luke 3:7) What? This morning’s readings sound a bit like one of those SAT questions, “Which of theContinue reading “3 Advent 2021”

2 Advent 2021

I have a little book called “The Bishop is Coming!” (Paul V. Marshall). It contains among other things check lists of all those things you need to know to have the bishop’s visit go smoothly, for everyone to look and feel like they know what they are doing, and to make the visit special andContinue reading “2 Advent 2021”

Advent 1 2021

What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from. (T.S. Eliot Little Gidding sec. V) And so is Advent. Advent is a new beginning, a new liturgical year, a new gospel to explore, the anticipation of the birthContinue reading “Advent 1 2021”

25 Pentecost 2021

There are things in life that we take for granted as a given, until they are no more. I can still vividly recall the final scene in the first Planet of the Apes movie when Charleston Heston is riding down the beach and finds the half-buried Statue of Liberty and realizes that he is home,Continue reading “25 Pentecost 2021”