Week of July 14 2019
From the Rector’s desk.. This may look a little bit like those “back to school” sales you are already seeing in stores, but we are already doing some major planning for the upcoming school year. The two biggest items on the list are hiring a new Christian Formation staff person and renovating the lower level of…
Week of July 7, 2019
In the last few weeks, I have had the same conversation with two different adolescents. They had both been to our diocesan children’s and youth camp program, “Mega Camp” in early June, then gone to other overnight camps later in the summer. In both cases, the youth in question shared with me that their experiences of community…
Week June 30, 2019
Now that we are past Pentecost and Trinity Sunday, we as a church spend the next almost six months in the season of Pentecost (e.g. the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, et al). It is the longest of the liturgical seasons, using the same color green as Epiphany, as well as the term “ordinary time,” which is…
Week of June 16, 2019
Sunday is Trinity Sunday, and as such is our “patronal feast day.” For many churches, the feast day is that of their patron saint, the saint which their particular parish is named after. Often, the patronal feast day is a chance to reflect on the life, character, and witness of the figure as a community. …
Week of June 9, 2019
Sunday is Pentecost, often considered the birthday of the Church because the Holy Spirit fell upon the Apostles and other followers, granting them the wisdom and power to continue Christ’s work in the world. Birthdays are often times a day to celebrate our existence, but a birthday for the Church is also a chance to…
Week of June 2, 2019
I am pleased to announce that Jonah Brandley will be joining the Trinity staff in June. Jonah will have two areas of responsibility. The first will be to provide office staff coverage in the morning and early afternoon. The second will be to provide staff support to our visitor, newcomer, and membership ministries. Jonah is…
Week of May 26, 2019
As we wrap up the school year and move into the summer months, I hope you will join with me as we not only welcome our newest bishop, but also recognize the invaluable ministry of our Sunday School teachers this past school year at the 10:30 AM service. But as we transition to the summer…
Week of May 19, 2019
This past Spring I coached for the first time a roller derby team, the Regulators. They were a brand-new expansion team for Fountain City Roller Derby, a league in Kansas City. Before my retirement I played for another team for FCRD, the Usual Suspects, who ironically would win the championship after I left. As an…
Week of May 12, 2019
Ram Dass and Paul Gorman wrote a book called “How Can I Help?” It was a highly influential textbook for me in seminary when I was studying pastoral care. The book is a guide for service, be it as professionals, volunteers, activists, family or friends. At its core, the key lessons involve listening and asking…
Week of May 5, 2019
This Easter season we will be hearing a great deal from the book of Revelation in our worship service, usually as the second (or third, if you count the Psalm) scripture reading. This book often creates feelings of confusion, concern, or dismissal because of its unique nature in the New Testament as an apocalyptic text….