“I think these three temptations are a prophecy of Jesus’ entire ministry. First there is the earthly nourishment – bread, healing, banishing demons. Then there are the challenges by the Temple Authority, which Jesus answers as often as not with a parable turning around the challenge to challenge the challenger. And finally, the true power, the power to accept the word of his Father even unto the Cross.”
Our Episcopal Church today is an international structure, yet it is still in the image of the church in the United States of America. The Canons of the Church in Haiti, The Dominican Republic or Honduras reflect the American form of governance, liturgical practices and theological positions in almost every area of the faith. Exploring the possibility of granting the greatest possible autonomy to our overseas churches would offer a more powerful testimony of the spirit of Anglicanism.
We discuss Jesus’ teachings about joy and abundance in God’s pursuit of our healing and wellness from this week’s gospel reading
“In some traditions silver is the colour of reflection. The silver coins invite us to further reflection. We might be able to notice a missing person, or something like that. But, can we see the things missing from our interior lives?”
God can be hard to find in the noise and distraction; but is hard to miss in the small still moments of our lives
Jordan and Luci talk about this 4th century desert mother
The moments of our days are not unlike the stones of the planet. Some are beautiful and translucent. Some are smooth while others need their sharp edges in order to catch the light. Some have a quiet mystery and others convey colors every bit as vibrant as the flowers of a garden.
At this time, 25% of the parishes in my diocese are without a priest, and 40% of the parishes in the diocese cannot afford a full-time priest. Nearly all of the rural parishes of my diocese fall into both of these categories. Most of the rural parishes of TEC are in the same boat, and are on the verge of collapse. Very soon we will be, for all intents and purposes, an urban church. What do we do?
We review Dessert First by J. Dana Trent, a thoughtful and life-filled look at death and grief
“The young woman of probably mid-20s or little older was asked what she gained from helping to restore this symbol of ultimate oppression and murder. Her response was rather simple but powerful. Her purpose, as she explained it, was to help others to know what happened in Auschwitz through accurate reconstruction and meaningful displays so that it would be a visual expression of what should never be repeated. Her mission was to help restore a part of history, and to do it carefully, honestly, and with the greatest humility, in memory of all those who had been imprisoned there.”