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. 

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…

Considering the Cost of the Gospel

Good morning. This morning’s Gospel is one of the pieces of scripture that we call “the hard sayings of Jesus.” And I really can’t complain. I’ve been preaching 25 years and this is the first time that I’ve had to preach on this particular scripture. So , I’m lucky. In the modern world, we have…

Be a Prophet for Our Times

August tends to be a month where people think about vacations, picnics and other really cool stuff. For people in ordained ministry though, June tends to be a month when many of us think about the nature of ministry because at least here in this Diocese and every diocese I know people tend to be…