“ This week, Jesus’ words break my heart. I keep thinking about the three dozen premature babies in Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza who struggle to live because there is no power for their incubators. Who, beyond the ill-equipped doctors and nurses who toil to care for them, will ensure that these infants have a chance to survive? Who, beyond the families that wait helplessly for their loved ones to return, will ensure the elderly Israelis held hostage by Hamas are not forgotten? Will these most vulnerable humans be nothing but pawns in a tragic power struggle? “

“…We don’t get to decide who is righteous and who is not. We are called to break down barriers, to love our neighbor as ourselves, to form beloved community and to invite all people to experience the grace and mercy of God.”

“God doesn’t need our worship. We need it. Lifting our voices in song, reciting the Nicene Creed and the prayers, kneeling for confession, receiving communion. At times any of this can feel rote and disconnected from the rest of our lives. But over time, Sunday after Sunday after Sunday, we become what we worship. We become the people God desires us to be.”

“…I’ll suggest we allow our words and actions in the coming weeks to be guided by some of the questions from our Baptismal Covenant (pp. 304-305 in the Prayer Book). Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord? Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself? Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?”

“In our tradition, we believe the Holy Spirit speaks not through one person or group but through the voices of the entire community. I invite and encourage you to participate in one of the reimagining process listening sessions.”

“A parishioner shared with me an article by David DeSteno from The Wall Street Journal which explored this question. The article makes some interesting points, two of which I’ll share here. First, participating in community is an antidote to the experience of isolation and loneliness impacting many in our nation. As DeSteno writes, there is “ample evidence that socializing is a boon to health.” Second, DeSteno points out that “Reciting prayers, chanting mantras and engaging in deep contemplation affect worshipers in multiple ways. These practices slow breathing and brighten emotional states, with a direct positive impact on the cardiovascular system. They alter thought processes, imbuing situations that might seem hopeless with a sense of optimism, which is also linked to improved health.”’

“…every once in a while, my identities as priest and dad intersect directly. I baptized Eli when they were two months old. I buried my grandmother, an aunt and uncle, and my parents. My mother-in-law has asked me to do the same for her (though she’s still very much alive and kicking!). And this Saturday, September 30, I will officiate Taylor’s wedding, pronouncing that my son and his beloved, Nicole, are husband and wife. Eli is sure I’m going to cry, which is entirely possible because even while I’m being a priest, I will also be a very happy dad.”

…“Am I doing enough?” seems to be, if not a universal question, at least a question many ask. They want to know that what they do at work, at home, in school, in our neighborhoods, at church, and in the community is transformative. That they are making a positive difference. Sometimes their efforts feel like ripples in a pond when they yearn for waves of change.”

“…the experience of blessing is not something for us to hoard. It is a gift for us to share. Whenever we see misfortune in any form — poverty, hunger, marginalization, racism, loneliness — we are called by Jesus to be instruments of God’s blessing and conduits of grace.”

“I invite you to sing this Sunday, whatever your level of skill and confidence. The choir will support you. And if you don’t want to sing? That’s fine, of course. Our Episcopal hymnody is not always easy to sing. In that case, I invite you to open the hymnal and follow along. The text may invite your heart to sing even as you listen to the voices of others. “

“Many people describe St. Paul’s as inclusive and accepting, and this is clearly true. Yet, even in the most inclusive churches there are people who feel forgotten, unseen, or that they don’t fit in with the majority perspective. In a polarized age in which our society suffers from an epidemic of loneliness, it is all the more important that we commit ourselves to being as “catholic” as possible. An open spirit, even within the context of our formalized faith, will make us a more loving and accepting church.”