Daffodils Defeat Darkness

Around here, people regularly recommend that heading over to the Filoli Gardens in Springtime—In the meadow there, there are literally millions of daffodils, all yellow and white—and a path that allows you to walk through them. The trees are in bloom with pink blossoms. Sunshine, birds, bees and gentle breezes. It is like the celebration…

Baptism Gives Us Roots & Wings

Almost the first thing I knew about the service today was that there would be a butterfly on the front cover of the bulletin. The other thing that I knew is that we were celebrating on this day something that this community has been waiting for and working toward for years.  Butterflies are often called…

Letter & Spirit: Following the Law

This reading is an invitation to use the letter of the law to help us understand how to be safe, and the spirit of the law to embrace the freedom that God has given us. 

GC80 Votes That Time is Now for Staff Women’s & LGBTQ Ministry Desk

Both historically and at this General Convention, debate has continued over whether various ministries should be staffed at the highest levels. One such position is a Women’s & LGBTQ Ministry Desk—but after much discussion, the position was both created and funded in the approved budget.  “We need someone in churchwide leadership who can devote full-time…

Consent Calendar Pushes Critical Issues Ahead at GC80

Often, much of the attention at General Conventions of the Episcopal Church focuses on the critical issues that are discussed and voted upon on the floor of the convention. However, even more work is done in behind the scenes by talented committees who review legislation and make edits and recommendations, combining similar resolutions and deciding…

Human Dignity Forefront Day 1 General Convention 

Day one of the 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, as might be expected, focused on setting the stage for the upcoming hard work and ironing out procedural and technological glitches. At the same time, the 799 deputies gathered from 107 Episcopal dioceses also made strides in building the Beloved Community and living into…

Don’t Panic: Embrace the Intrinsic

Sometimes, when I read the Gospel for the week, I am immediately struck by a particular idea or line and I feel like the Holy Spirit is moving and I know what I should say.  Today is not that kind of Sunday. When I read the Gospel today, I was reminded of sci fi author…