The worship pastor at the local church that Myra and I attend asked a handful of people to write, and present, a brief thought/meditation and prayer for their annual Stations of the Cross service. I was one of them. She gave me Station #6: Jesus Wears A Crown of Thorns. The following is my contribution to the sorrow of Holy Week. read more…
This past week at the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches / Diocese of the Restoration Holy Convocation, through conversations with my wife and others, something was pointedly revealed to me about how I explain my 2023 journey to others. First, some context…
Right before Lent, it became very obvious to me that, in some ways, I was spiraling downward on a spiritual level as privately I began to become really cynical about the local church, my involvement in her, and ultimately my calling. I came to realize that to bleed on people in a selfless, sacrificial way is an honorable thing; but to bleed on people because of wounds you refuse to acknowledge is selfish and disgusting, and that’s what I was doing. read more…
“[God] said [to Elijah], ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” – 1 Kings 19:11-13 NRSV
This morning at the local church my wife and I attend, the senior pastor used the above passage for his message, and as I’ve been using NRSV recently, the silence part really popped more than usual this morning.
Sheer silence. read more…
Pioneering is easy when we’re young and courageous (or foolish), and settling becomes easier and safer (or stagnant) the older we get. read more…
Since closing the church plant, a couple of years ago, I’ve attempted to maintain a grip on what I’ve always assumed my calling to pastoral ministry was supposed to look like. I did that by immediately diving into helping two different local churches while ignoring and never allowing myself to process the journey and the experiences I’ve walked through.
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Most Merciful God, help us to be still, to trust in your slow work, that we may know your gentle whisper, for you are our God. Teach us your way, Lord, that we may rely on your faithfulness through the valleys, and in doing so, know Christ and the power of his resurrection; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
I “wrote” or rather compiled this collect (i.e. prayer) mostly from various Scriptures. It is my attempt to formulate a prayer that speaks my heart through this season of feeling unsettled, disheveled, and even frazzled since closing the church plant in 2021. read more…
ADVENT is a time in which, for the Christian, the past, the present, and the future all seem to collide with great intentionality. read more…
Praise God! We’ve currently raised 74% of the $2500 goal (as of 10/2), which will cover time off from work, airfare, car rental, and hotel for the trip to Hutchinson, Kansas, to attend the Diocese of the Restoration’s 2022 Holy Convocation.
Myra & I are not only excited to head to our diocese’s Holy Convocation in mid-October, but incredibly appreciative of your continued support.
Going will allow us to finally ground the relationships / connections we’ve built with not only our bishop, but also the other clergy. After all, up to this point everything has been through emails, texts, calls, and Zoom. While I’m grateful for those means of communication, nothing can replace the depth found in face-to-face interactions.
Whether you are able to help us reach our goal or you commit to keeping us in your prayers, know that both are highly valued. Big THANK YOU for investing in us and our ministry journey. read more…
