We had a great time last night at the adult bible study.  Great conversation that, I hope, will spark further thought, reflection, and discussion.  I was asked if I could put some of the highlights in the Morning Email.  I’ll do my best ~
The impetus for the topic was something Fr. Tom Brackett said at the Missional Church Summit in regards to Original Sin vs. Original Blessing.  Time did not allow for Fr. Brackett to elaborate too much on that, and the concept of Original Sin was new to some …

One of the most ancient parts of Christian liturgy is the Sursum Corda – “Lift up your hearts” at the Eucharist.  While this has a spiritual dimension, yesterday the church staff learned about lifting hearts medically.  St Timothy’s now has a defibrillator in the narthex.  Every staff member was trained on how to use it, but even if you’ve never heard of one, you can use it too.  Nestled in a cabinet in the welcome center (clearly marked) is a red bag.  Once you open the bag and press the green …

During one of the car rides to and fro Grandma’s house this Labor Day, I listened to several podcasts to pass the time.  One of my favorite speakers is Fr. Thomas Hopko, a priest in the Orthodox Church in America and dean emeritus of St Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary in New York.  The latest podcast (you can listen here) was on Fear and Anxiety.
The main takeaway for me is that God is a God of reality.  God is not in fantasy.  The Incarnation is about God being with us in our reality.  Fantasy …

Food consumed: Chick-fil-A, Oreos
Dream: The Pope visited St Timothy’s for Easter.  I flubbed the introduction.  ”We are very excited to have Cardinal Ratzinger, I mean, Pope John Paul II, I mean Pope Bobby, I mean Pope Benedict with us today.”
It gets worse.  During communion I ran out of hosts.  For some reason, all we had were packaged hosts like you would find lunch meat packaged in a Lunchables container.  I tore these out (they were multi-colored) and started to administer them.  When I held the host out, the communicants would …

Many people struggle at work because they want more authority.
It turns out you can get a lot done if you just take more responsbility instead. It’s often offered, rarely taken.
(And you can get even more done if you give away credit, relentlessly).
from Seth Godin.  Can we substitute ‘work’ for ‘life’ as well?

A week ago, Fr. Tom Brackett was our keynote speaker on Day 2 at our Missional Church Summit.  His contribution was significant in that he challenged us to do at least two very powerful things.  First, to tell (and listen!) to stories.  By stories, we don’t mean “Once Upon a Time,” but rather “this past week I really felt close to Christ when…”  Uh oh.  Did I just write that?  Do Episcopalians talk like that?  We should.  This is not just a statement from a church growth guru, this is …

I just looked up post-mortem on Merriam-Webster (I wanted to be sure my Latin was correct).  There are two definitions for it – 1 – done, occurring, or collected after death, and 2 – following the event.
This post is specifically aimed at definition number 2 – following the Missional Church Summit – but I think I need to change the title of this post now.  I don’t know what the Latin should be, but maybe something like “Post-Vita” because the reflections following our time with Bishop Monterroso, Frs. Brackett and …

As God as my witness, the title for this post is not to butter up any of our Right Reverend Fathers in God who wear purple.  But as I was driving in this morning thinking about the schedule for the day (which includes picking up Bishop Monterroso from the airport) I found myself getting excited.  A bishop is coming.
‘Twas not always the case for me.  I grew up and served in a church where the bishops were quite powerful, whose responsibilities made them essentially CEOs, and were in many cases …

I want to spend this morning’s post letting you know where we are in staffing our youth and children’s programs.  With the departure of Pam and Bobby earlier this summer we have some big holes to fill, but this also leads to new opportunities.  I have met with the youth and children’s commissions and we’ve tweaked some things here and there via email and we’re just about ready to publicize a job description – but for one, not two positions.  If you remember, last month I mentioned the working possibility …

King of glory, King of peace,
I will love thee;
and that love may never cease,
I will move thee.
Thou hast granted my request,
thou hast heard me;
thou didst note my working breast,
thou hast spared me.
Wherefore with my utmost art
I will sing thee,
and the cream of all my heart
I will bring thee.
Though my sins against me cried,
thou didst clear me;
and alone, when they replied,
thou didst hear me.
Seven whole days, not one in seven,
I will praise thee;
in my heart, though not in heaven,
I can raise thee.
Small it is, in this poor sort
to enroll thee:
e’en eternity’s …