"According to the Season of Creation website, this season 'is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together. During the Season of Creation, we join our [siblings] in the ecumenical family in prayer and action for our common home.'"

"Psalm 139 reminds us that our separation of time into sacred and secular is a fiction. All time is filled with God’s presence. We are never alone but always existing in a space in which God is with us. All time, therefore, is sacred time."

“…all of us are called by God to weave together our beliefs and our actions. God desires us to do more than recite a covenant each time we celebrate Holy Baptism. God wants us to live the covenant in whatever way makes the most sense for us. As the late writer and theologian Frederick Buechner wrote, ‘The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.’”

“If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; build anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; do good anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God; it is never between you and them anyway.” (Attributed to Mother Teresa)

“Who are the saints in your life? Who are your heroes? Who do you follow on social media? Who do you vote for in elections? The lists we create matter, for who we admire shapes who we are and what we value. “

"...we shall not be asked what we have read, but what we have done; not how eloquently we have spoken, but how holy we have lived." (Thomas à Kempis)

“…Jesus did not call us to change the world. He called us to participate in God’s mission in whatever way we can, no matter how small the act may be.” (The Rev. John Denson, D.Min.) To flourish, the kingdom of God only needs an act the size of a mustard seed. (Mark 4:31-32)

“…The most important lesson I learned was not written in a recipe but in a book by Kendall Vanderslice, By Bread Alone: A Baker’s Reflections on Hunger, Longing, and the Goodness of God. ‘The goal [of baking] should not be mastery in and of itself, but curiosity and joy. Breadmaking, like faith, is a craft to hone over the course of a lifetime, a truth that is at once exciting and liberating.’”

“I will look forward to hearing the sounds of St. Paul’s when I return in July. Until then, know that you will be in my heart and in my prayers. Thank you for blessing my life and the lives of countless others with the many ways you share Christ’s love, create community, and strive for justice.”

“Sabbath rest is deeper than one good night of sleep. It is the intentional setting aside of our labor and the many demands placed on us, so we can enter more fully into the generative presence of God. As Br. James Koester, SSJE reminds us, ‘“We are commanded to rest on the sabbath then, not because we are tired and overworked, although we may be, but because in keeping sabbath we discover again who God is, and what it might mean for us to participate in God’s very nature, who is a God of mercy, joy, and rest.”’

Holy Week & Easter Day Worship, “Celebrate St. Paul’s'“ invite, FJA Grant Program, Shape Note Singing, Spanish Classes and more.

“You’ll hear the mission and core values woven into the fabric of parish life in the coming months. In sermons, team meetings, ministry opportunities, and publications, we’ll focus on the statement to inspire us to become more intentional and faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. For now, I invite you to spend a few minutes on your own reflecting on the statement. How do our mission and core values connect with you in your life? Inspired by them, what might Jesus be inviting you to do during the next several weeks and months?”

Holy Week and Easter Day worship, Celebrate St. Paul’s Auction, Rector’s Sabbatical, Yoga with Carrie, and more.

“How might focusing on the vow of conversion of life shape us at St. Paul’s? First, we honor tradition without being bound by it. We carry with us what strengthens us and let go of what holds us back. Second, we accept that following Jesus requires us to move toward a future we cannot clearly perceive or control. Though the limits on our control might cause anxiety, we walk forward with faith in God and each other. Third, we foster diversity in our community, seeking new leaders, new gifts, and new skills which reflect the full tapestry of God’s people.”

“…We commit to listening for Jesus’ call through scripture, tradition and reason. We seek to discern together as a community and respect the wisdom of others, committing ourselves to deep discernment before we decide. When we disagree, we lean toward each other instead of moving away, seeking consensus whenever possible and respecting our differences when we cannot. We accept mutual responsibility for the parish and contribute to the mission of St. Paul’s through our time, talent and treasure.”

“Lent is often experienced through spiritual disciplines. For example, some people set aside specific time in their day or week for intentional focus on God’s presence in their lives. This might include prayer, meditation, reading, journaling or a walk in a peaceful place. Even a few minutes each day can make a difference.”

“…The church cannot make people know each other. But we can facilitate connections with Christ and each other. We already do this, of course. Plenty of people feel connected. For those of us who do, Jesus calls us to share this blessing with others by making new connections and by willingly sharing our joys and sorrows. When we do, others feel more than included. They feel loved. They know they belong.“

“…intentionality is required as we seek ways to experience eucharist together. It doesn’t need to be around a meal or take place on our campus or become complicated by guidelines and ritual. Experiencing eucharist can be as simple as the newcomer lunch or sharing coffee at The Avenue Coffeeshop in Broad Ripple or whatever other ways we create spaces to share our stories, to listen to each other and to affirm ourselves as siblings in Christ.”

“…we need to offer God’s blessing freely, abundantly, generously, and equally to all who seek the love, grace, and affirmation of God through Christ. If we can’t do this, perhaps we shouldn’t offer any blessing at all. Has the church not driven enough people away with our centuries of judgments, restrictions and exclusions?”

“I’m always interested in book recommendations, so feel free to share books you’ve enjoyed. I added several of your recommendations from July to my book list for 2024. There’s so much to read!”