Occasion of Rev. Ward’s Birthday – Today, we are using the lectionary for St. Michael and All Angels Day, which occurred on my birthday, Friday, September 29. You heard the readings but I always like to review them so you will remember them vividly. The Old Testament Lesson describes Jacob’s dream of angels ascending and […]
Little Bobby: Mom, why was nothing said about the other persons that Jesus raised from the dead together with Lazarus?Mom: Oh dear, now were did you learn that there were other persons? It was only Lazarus.Little Bobby: But mom, every time I read that verse I cannot help but assume that there were at least […]
A global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world, one child and one community at a time. An international service organization whose purpose is to bring people together in order to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. The world’s first and […]
Welcome to the second Sunday in Lent. As I was reflecting on the spiritual journey that is at the heart of Lent and reading through many email messages that include Lenten reflections, I remembered something I heard several years ago. In an interview, Anne Lamott, Bay Area writer, told a story about herself. Some of […]
This past Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, marked the beginning of our Lenten journey together. Before jumping into a reflection on today’s Gospel, I have three Lenten Frequently Asked Questions to address. The first: Why 40 days? 40 days is a significant number in the Scriptures. In Genesis, the flood which destroyed the earth lasted 40 days […]
How many of you have read that poem called Footprints in the Sand about the fellow who had a dream he was walking along the beach with God (raise hands)? So, I saw this cartoon the other day, the first part of it had God with his arm around the fellow saying, “Where you see […]
I have some pretty shocking news I need to share with you. I know it may be a surprise for some of you, but you are not always right. You and I, we don’t have all the answers. We don’t perfectly see how everything is and ought to be. This is important. It is critical […]
A few years back there was a couple who were planning to get married. They decided to hold their wedding in Santa Barbara. I don’t know how many of you have been there, but it’s a beautiful place for a beautiful, fairly local, wedding escape. Along West Cabrillo Boulevard you will find Harbor View Inn, […]
What’s goin’ on? Those of you who were here last Sunday will recognize the question as one posed by Rev. Katherine in her brilliant sermon. She extended the discussion Fr. Justin started on Martin Luther King Day and showed us that, like Dr. King, Marvin Gaye expressed the hopes and fears of a generation and […]
Two weeks ago, Fr. Justin preached on the Feast of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. He started with one of Dr. King’s famous quotes. “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” We are all […]