by Monica Marshall, Sexton and Director of Security As a small child, I was a member of a Baptist Church. When I became a young adult, I moved from … Continue reading “My Spiritual Journey”
by Nathan Brasfield, Director of Youth and Community Ministries It is circa 734 BCE. The one nation previously known as Israel remains tragically divided into two kingdoms. The southern … Continue reading “The Promise of Presence”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush It’s December, and Advent, and the onrush toward Christmas, but luckily for me, I had some unread emails waiting for me after the Thanksgiving … Continue reading “The Afterlife of Thanksgiving”
by Jackson Hearn, Associate Organist November may be my favorite month. I love autumn, with its cooler weather and the fall colors, and I adore Thanksgiving, with its focus … Continue reading “The Work of Gratitude”
by Wesley Steven Rowell A couple of weeks ago, as I was leaving my house to head to Calvary, a new thought flashed across my mind: Take your passport … Continue reading “A Passport and a Prayer”
by Jocelyn Busby, Director of Children & Family Ministries While growing up in the Episcopal Church, I came to value the comfort of its consistency and the beauty of … Continue reading “My Episcopal Life: A Spiritual Journey”
by the Rev. Scott Walters One of the richest moments of sabbatical serendipity happened on the fourth day of our walk in the Cotswolds. We stayed that night in … Continue reading “Skills and Manners”
by Nathan Brasfield I still remember the shock I felt when I realized that Tony the Tiger says “They’re Gr-r-reat!” about Frosted Flakes because … he’s a tiger. (Tigers … Continue reading “Calvary is a Shepherd”
by Wesley Steven Rowell “Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures …’ And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:24, 31) This past week, … Continue reading “Jane Goodall”
by Kristin Lensch, Organist-Choirmaster As any runner knows, the endorphins make the hard work of the run worth it. Most of the time, the hard work for me is … Continue reading “Mystery, Magnificence, and Majesty”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush “Hastily assembled angels” is a turn of phrase from a poem by Shane McCrae. It’s a lovely poem, but I’m not building on its … Continue reading “Hastily Assembled Angels”
by Wesley Rowell “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” — … Continue reading “Come Alive”
by Monica Marshall When I first saw the banner in the Calvary Commons that says, “Connect • Grow • Serve,” I began to think about the ways I connect, … Continue reading “Connecting, Growing, and Serving”
by Jocelyn Smith Busby A claw-footed bathtub sat in the reading corner of my kindergarten classroom in Durham, North Carolina. It was filled with needlepoint pillows whose velvet backings … Continue reading “Teaching Children the Stories of Our Faith”
by Richard Hendricks, Facilities Manager For as long as I can remember, I’ve been interested in numbers. No, I’m not a mathematician. Not even close. It’s more about being … Continue reading “Numbers”
by Martha Boyd Travelling as non-choristers with the Calvary Choir to Durham, we are now into the sixth day of the residency and are grateful for our time thus … Continue reading “Calvary Choir Residency: Stepping into a Centuries Old Conversation”
by Kell Christie Today was our “dumb” day at Durham, which means that we did not sing, but did get to see a goodly bit of northeast England today. We … Continue reading “Choral Residency: A ‘Dumb’ Day Full of Wonders”
by Leanne Kleinmann “What a joy walking is. And to walk with old friends multiplies the pleasure a hundredfold.” — Bill Bryson, author and Chancellor of Durham University (2005-2011), … Continue reading “Choral Residency: What a joy walking is”
by Shannon Tucker So, what is a choral residency anyway? Nobody we have met on this trip, outside the choir world, seems to know what it is, so … Continue reading “Choral Residency: an update from Durham”
by Wesley Rowell “Hi, my name is Wesley and I’m a news junkie.” I don’t know exactly when my need toknowtook over my life. Maybe it crept in … Continue reading “Delight”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush There’s a lot that’s not helpful floating around my social media feeds, but not too long ago, Roseanne Cash just about reached through the … Continue reading “Hydrangeas and Hope “
by Nathan Brasfield, Director of Youth and Community Ministries One of the reasons I am glad to be an Episcopalian is that I am given liturgical space every week … Continue reading “Walking by the Welcome Inn at Lunchtime”
by the Rev. Paul McLain During Lent five years ago, our lives and world were jarred in ways we may not yet comprehend. Five years may be too soon … Continue reading “Lessons from the Pandemic”
by Nathan Brasfield, Director of Youth and Community Ministries About fifteen minutes before the start of Youth Formation this past Sunday morning, I was alone in the new High … Continue reading “Make This Place Beautiful”
by the Rev. Scott Walters Four years ago, almost to the day, I blogged HERE (Is “blog” still a verb in 2025?) about the day I learned to hang … Continue reading “Trout Files, Vinegar Vats, Stair Treads, & Dave”
by Jackson Hearn, Associate Organist I was sitting in the nave at church this past Tuesday during that period we call “Silence in the City,” when I heard the … Continue reading “What are you doing here?”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush Can we keep talking about the renovations at Calvary, or are you a little tired of construction updates? How about the response to the … Continue reading ““I didn’t know how much I needed this””
by the Rev. Mimsy Jones ‘Who is Marcus Borg?’ I asked my Calvary colleague, the Rev. Gay Rahn, as we looked over the list of Lenten Preaching Series (LPS) … Continue reading “Who is Marcus Borg?”
by the Rev. Paul McLain ‘I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring … Continue reading “From Dungeons to Dignity”
by Kristin Lensch, Organist-Choirmaster My high school IB English teacher, Arzelee Drown, was that teacher. The one that you credit for helping you learn to love learning and with … Continue reading “Right in the Middle”
by the Rev. Scott Walters I’ve had mercy on my mind. It’s such an important word and practice for Christians and for Jews. A Hebrew prophet named Micah, who … Continue reading “On Mercy”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush In the coming days and weeks, many events will grab our attention—both news of the day and reminders of our deep histories. We will … Continue reading “Tragic Grace”
by the Rev. Paul McLain One tidbit about Former President Jimmy Carter, whose extraordinary life we are honoring this week, and First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who died last year, … Continue reading “Dasher and Dancer”
by Robyn M. Banks, Director of Communications Have you ever woken up with a song in your heart? I first noticed it happening not too long after my husband … Continue reading “A Song in My Heart”
by the Rev. Scott Walters The other day, I had the bright idea (the adjective is carefully chosen) of crisping up a stale tostada shell in the toaster oven. … Continue reading “The Flamboyant Feast of Saint Lucy”
by Nathan Brasfield, Director of Youth and Outreach Ministries I was recently confirmed at Calvary with a group that included six of our youth who participated in my confirmation … Continue reading “Feeding and Being Fed”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush There is a well-known grounding practice to use when we are feeling overwhelmed or anxious. Name five things we can see, four things we … Continue reading “5, 4, 3, 2, 1”
by the Rev. Paul McLain In a city in a neighboring state several years ago, a man named John was convicted of financial wrongdoing for his role in a … Continue reading “Not Forgotten”
by the Rev. Scott Walters Today was overfull, so I’ve had a hard time being still enough for long enough to hammer out a blog post. But here I … Continue reading “Thoughts on November 6, the Feast of William Temple”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush It’s not uncommon to hear someone offering the following counsel about reading the Bible: just skip over the begats. I’ve said it. If you … Continue reading “Don’t Skip the “Begats””
by Jocelyn Busby Director of Children and Family Ministries at Calvary “Someday, you will have something very important to say, and the world will listen,” my Dad said. I … Continue reading “Finding the Holy in Everyday Life: A Reflection for Ordinary Time”
by the Rev. Paul McLain One danger we all face is falling into the trap of stereotyping others. In our Wednesday evening study of David Brooks’s How to Know a Person: … Continue reading “The Dangers of Stereotypes”
by the Rev. Paul McLain “But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not … Continue reading “Two Handshakes”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush After about sixty of us watched the Philadelphia Eleven documentary about the eleven women who were the first ordained to the priesthood in the … Continue reading “Funny Story”
by the Rev. Scott Walters I just came across a quote from Lucille Clifton, which the universe was clearly dropping into my lap as blog fodder. So here it … Continue reading “Intellect, Intuition, and More”
by the Rev. Paul McLain Tuesday of last week marked the Feast of Saint Barnabas. His name means “son of encouragement.” His original name was Joseph, but when his … Continue reading “Saint Barnabas and Saint Nora”
by the Reverend Paul McLain A couple of years ago, a church board of which I’m a member made a large grant to Literacy Mid-South. Since I was encouraging … Continue reading “From Servants to Friends”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush Last week, after church, my son and I packed up the car and drove over the Mississippi River bridge. We were bound for the … Continue reading “Astronomical Liturgy”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush Yesterday I was talking with a fellow Calvary-ite, and he pulled out his phone mid-conversation to share two quotations from Tom Shadyac’s Lenten sermon … Continue reading “Crowd-sourced Wisdom”
by the Rev. Paul McLain Throughout my life, I have heard the adage, ‘God loves a cheerful giver,’ particularly during church stewardship drives. But I have never heard anyone … Continue reading “God Loves a Cheerful Receiver”
This blog isn’t usually where you’ll find breaking news, but today it is. Last week, Monument Lab in Philadelphia announced the second cohort of teams in its Re:Generation initiative to … Continue reading “Monument Re:Generation Grant from Monument Lab”
by the Rev. Mimsy Jones Buckle up, friends, because Calvary’s 101st Lenten Preaching Series is about to take off, and the lineup is bursting with brilliant, compassionate preachers. … Continue reading “Fasten Your Seat Belts!”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush In the middle of Luke’s telling of the Nativity story, the angels say to the shepherds, “This will be a sign for you; you … Continue reading “The End of Christmas”
by the Reverend Paul McLain One of the tributes to former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who died last month, described how she became a champion for persons impacted by … Continue reading “Remembering Rosalynn”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush I love the mailbox. I loved the mailbox in my childhood home: a box with a door on both sides built into the thick … Continue reading “The December Mailbox”
by the Rev. Paul McLain ‘I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.’ – Ephesians 1:16 During these days when … Continue reading “Thankful for Helen and Eutha”
by the Rev. Mimsy Jones “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you,” Jesus said to the disciples at their last meal together. For most of … Continue reading “Shalom”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush One of my all-time favorite authors is Annie Dillard, and I am loving spending a few weeks this November discussing some of her essays … Continue reading “Catching Grace”
by the Rev. Paul McLain In June, I learned of the death of a friend and mentor, the Rev. Nicolette Papanek. Nicolette taught me much about how to appreciate … Continue reading “Receive the Day”
by the Rev. Scott Walters Many of you know that a few weeks ago Ardelle and I walked a leg of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain. … Continue reading “Scaling the Rut, Finding the Way”
by the Rev. Mimsy Jones The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store is the title of the best book I have read in a very long time. Written by … Continue reading “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush I spent last Saturday at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, helping make a new bishop. I can say that I was actually helping … Continue reading “Big Church”
by the Reverend Paul McLain Thursday of this week, Sept. 14, was Holy Cross Day. One of the most important parts of my recent sabbatical was making a pilgrimage … Continue reading “Lift High the Cross”
by the Rev. Scott Walters Recently, a paperback copy of The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen showed up in the little library at our house, and I decided to … Continue reading “Greedy Monkeys and the Noonday Stars”
by the Rev. Mimsy Jones For reasons that no amount of therapists, counselors, or doctors have successfully rid me of (so far), I have had an irrational fear of … Continue reading “On a Wing and a Prayer”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush In May, the Surgeon General of the United States issued a warning about an epidemic, not of a new strain of COVID or some … Continue reading “Inconvenient Cure”
by the Rev. Mimsy Jones In the thirteenth chapter of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus flings out parables like a sower flinging seed across a field: “The kingdom of heaven … Continue reading “Eyes to See”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush Forty-nine years ago, on July 29, 1974, eleven women were ordained to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church. There are eleven particular stories to … Continue reading “Forty-nine Years Ago”
by the Rev. Mimsy Jones With all due respect to Oscar Wilde who smugly opined, ‘conversation about the weather is the last refuge of the unimaginative,’ let’s talk about … Continue reading “Groundhog Day in Maine”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush Dwell is one of my favorite words. It sounds a little old-fashioned, or maybe like a word from a fairy tale, conjuring a hidden … Continue reading “Dwelling in the Word”
by the Rev. Mimsy Jones Do you know about the Merlin app? If not, I have a wonderful tip for you. Merlin is a free global bird guide for … Continue reading “LISTEN!”
by the Rev. Paul McLain In our Praying the Psalms class on Sunday mornings, we have discussed two of the images often depicted in the Psalms – the pit … Continue reading “The Pit and the Wings”
by the Rev. Scott Walters Lately, I’ve been thinking about the word flourish. This morning, I finished up a stool I made with a scrap of cyprus, the last … Continue reading “Flourishing”
by the Ven. Mimsy Jones These words, attributed to Albert Camus, the Algerian-born French philosopher, author, journalist, and recipient of the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize in Literature, have seen … Continue reading “‘The Harshest Winter Finds in us An Invincible Spring’”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush Hanging in my office is an icon of Mary Magdelene holding a red egg. I love it. Partly because for years my mom participated … Continue reading “Believing Impossible Things”
by the Rev. Scott Walters Here’s a story told by Wendell Berry in an essay called “The Burden of the Gospels”: In 1569 in Holland, a Mennonite named … Continue reading “The Way of the Cross”
by the Rev. Paul McLain We are hurting, angry, and reeling from the senseless shooting at Covenant School in Nashville, resulting in the deaths of 3 children and 3 … Continue reading “Where Is Love?”
by the Rev. Paul McLain In the midst of enjoying the return of Waffle Shop favorites like fish pudding and Boston Cream pie and listening to the amazing line-up … Continue reading “The Awakening Power of Books”
by the Ven. Mimsy Jones ‘Who are you, God, and who am I? -Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) Frederick Buechner defines the ancient church season of Lent this way: … Continue reading “‘Who are you, God, and who am I?’”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush As a high school senior, I took an advanced composition class with Lois Strock. I don’t think I have any of the stories or … Continue reading “You are”
Dear People of Calvary, Like yours, I’m sure, my heart has been heavy this week with sadness and anger and confusion and fear, and the full range of human … Continue reading “Praying for Guidance and Justice”
by the Ven. Mimsy Jones Ebet Peeples, Calvary’s Coordinator for Welcome and Community, texted those twelve words to me the day after I confessed to her that I had missed … Continue reading ““No worries. We’re all just doing the best we can these days.””
by the Rev. Paul McLain A musician on his deathbed last fall shared one of the most convincing proofs of the existence of God that I have ever heard. His … Continue reading “The Soul of Calvary”
by the Rev. Scott Walters Recently I heard a writer named Judith Shulevitz interviewed by Ezra Klein on sabbath keeping, which strikes me as a fine topic for consideration … Continue reading “Sabbath Attention”
by the Rev. Paul McLain When Ruthie and I lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, one of our favorite places to visit was a small Gothic church on the … Continue reading “Joseph”
by the Rev. Scott Walters Somewhere in southern Virginia, driving home from a wonderfully relaxing Thanksgiving in Richmond with our kids, I asked Ardelle if she wanted to listen … Continue reading “Welcoming Worry”
by the Ven. Mimsy Jones Some of the best advice I have ever received came from a woman named Mary Jennings – Sister Mary Jennings, to be exact. … Continue reading “The Year I Played with a Full Deck”
by the Rev. Paul McLain Since last Wednesday, I experienced the deaths of six persons in my circle of Calvary, previous parishes, and personal friendships. And some of you … Continue reading “Stay Connected”
by the Rev. Scott Walters “In the day-to-day trenches of adult life, there is actually no such thing as atheism. There is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody … Continue reading “Overriding the Default Setting”
by the Rev. Paul McLain During a recent conversation about the overload of tasks, information, distressing news, and distractions that so many of us are experiencing these days, a … Continue reading “Triage Artistry”
by the Ven. Mimsy Jones One morning in late August, as I finished a delicious breakfast of soft scrambled eggs, crisp bacon, and a warm blueberry muffin served to … Continue reading ““Are you still alive?””
by the Rev. Katherine Bush A confession: I did not get up early to watch the Queen’s funeral. I did scroll through the pictures and videos later in the … Continue reading “Royalty & Doors”
by the Rev. Paul McLain Wednesday afternoons were a busy time at our family business, McLain & Barnes Hardware. That was the time when the Orgill Brothers truck arrived … Continue reading “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush In my teaching days, we shared the story of Paul Brand with our students – a mostly unknown doctor who spent most of his … Continue reading “All Thumbs “
by the Reverend Paul McLain As these last couple of years have put all of us more in touch with our mortality, Ruthie and I have been more intentional … Continue reading “Bucket List Item: Get Prayed Up”
by the Rev. Scott Walters Recently I heard a podcast host ask a science fiction writer named Ted Chiang what he thought about superheroes. Neither science fiction nor superheroes … Continue reading “Less Than Super Heroes”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush I was a student for twenty-one years. And I was a teacher for fifteen years. August brings its own particular and peculiar blend of … Continue reading “New Pencils”
by the Rev. Paul McLain During my time in Covid quarantine this week, I have been reading Making Loss Matter: Creating Meaning in Difficult Times by Rabbi David Wolpe, … Continue reading “Exile and Home”
by the Rev. Buddy Stallings Everyone, who thinks about the larger mainstream church in America today, ponders the question of why our numbers keep dropping. Though statistics vary, in … Continue reading “Are we in or are we out?”
by the Ven. Mimsy Jones “The harshest winter finds in us an invincible spring,” wrote philosopher Albert Camus. I have turned to those words for quite some time … Continue reading “Roadside Attraction”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush It’s a lot. It’s too much, really. Our minds were not meant to process all the information that is now flooding our days. … Continue reading “It’s a lot.”
by the Rev. Paul McLain A writer is quoted as saying, ‘It’s never too late to be who you might have been.’ That would seem to apply to Julia … Continue reading “Julia and Elizabeth”
by the Rev. Scott Walters Wendell Berry observed that the eyes were once considered the window to the soul. Now, making eye contact with a stranger on an American … Continue reading “On Churches and Porches”
by the Rev. Paul McLain Sometimes our liturgical calendar seems to dovetail with the events happening around us. Sometimes, the contrast between the feast and seasonal days in our … Continue reading “22 Angels”
by the Ven. Mimsy Jones Two years ago on Mother’s Day, my children and grandchildren gave me an amazing gift: a large, full-on bird-feeder! Made of heavy black iron, … Continue reading “Consider the Birds of the Air”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush You may know by now that I often walk in the mornings in Overton Park. Sometimes I walk with my dogs, sometimes without. Sometimes … Continue reading “Sweetheart, you’re in pain.”
by the Rev. Scott Walters I’m building a little workshop in our backyard. (The strange rolling sound you hear is coming from the eyeballs of the Calvary staff, who’ve … Continue reading “Stop. Look. Go.”
by the Rev. Buddy Stallings In preaching last Sunday on the Doubting Thomas passage, where Jesus memorably observes how blessed it is for those who can believe without seeing, … Continue reading “Walking in Hope, not by Sight”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush This is one of my favorite lines in all of scripture. In John’s Gospel, Mary Magdalene is standing outside the empty tomb early on … Continue reading ““Supposing him to be the gardener””
by the Ven. Mimsy Jones She does not look or act her age. She’s no young chick, but she has weathered remarkably well, give or take a few storms … Continue reading “Ninety-nine, and going strong!”
by the Rev. Paul McLain The crisis in Ukraine can seem so overwhelming that we wonder what can we do that would make any difference in something unfolding thousands … Continue reading “Turning Soccer Balls into Mustard Seeds”
by the Ven. Mimsy Jones Coming to hear John Claypool preach at Calvary’s Lenten Preaching Series was a Do. Not. Miss. Event. In his soft Southern voice, John engaged … Continue reading “The Lenten Light-Bearer: Remembering The Rev. John R. Claypool”
by the Rev. Paul McLain After preaching a sermon one Sunday about holy plans and the Children’s Holocaust Museum in Whitwell, Tennessee, Ruthie suggested we make a one-day pilgrimage … Continue reading “Barbed Wire and Butterflies”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush “Do you have power?” It was, and for some is sadly still the relevant question. We were among the fortunate who did not lose … Continue reading “Is it terrible or beautiful? Yes.”
by the Ven. Mimsy Jones I have always loved books – the way a book feels in my hands, the way a book smells, the anticipation of starting a … Continue reading “COVID + COLD WEATHER = READ A BOOK!”
by the Rev. Scott Walters “No pressure.” That’s what Dad used to say after making some request that might involve the slightest inconvenience of the requestee. “No pressure,” was … Continue reading “Love is a Bother”
by the Rev. Buddy Stallings Ted Lasso (actually Jason Sudeikis though he will forever be Ted Lasso to me) was my breakout star of the pandemic, the pandemic, which … Continue reading “Believing in Ted Lasso and Other Stuff”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush One Christmas years ago my mother-in-law (now of blessed memory) gave me two gifts. She gave me a copy of the then-newly published edition … Continue reading “Gifted”
by the Rev. Paul McLain One of the most exciting things about the birth of a child is giving the newborn baby a name. January 1st is not only … Continue reading “Living Into a Name”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush “… this holy tide of Christmas/ is filled with heav’nly grace. O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,/ O tidings of comfort … Continue reading “Holy Tide”
by the Rev. Scott Walters It’s been at least twenty-five years since I walked onto a job site one day in a pair of shorts and a Walters & … Continue reading “Visible Means of Support”
by the Ven. Mimsy Jones Advent is the time of year I run headlong into two of my most onerous traits, procrastination and perfectionism. “Why do today what you … Continue reading “My Abrupt, Disruptive Advent Experience”
by the Rev. Buddy Stallings In some ways, it is a mystery that I am so drawn to Advent, given who I am and how I do life. Although … Continue reading “Live This Moment”
by the Rev. Paul McLain While living in New Haven, Connecticut, we made plans to go with Lucille Clancy, a parishioner at our church, to the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade … Continue reading “Thanksgiving in the Rain”
by the Rev. Katherine Bush Since I arrived at Calvary about four weeks ago, I’ve been greeted with warmth and kindness. I’ve reacquainted myself with a westbound commute and … Continue reading “Setting Up Camp”
by the Ven. Mimsy Jones Peter Gomes, the late great preacher and minister of Harvard’s Memorial Chapel, (and also, I might add, a brilliant, witty preacher at Calvary’s Lenten … Continue reading “Remember to Remember”
by the Rev. Buddy Stallings As I write this note to you on All Saints’ Day, I am keenly aware of two things that, though they have nothing to … Continue reading “Cloud of Witnesses”
by the Rev. Scott Walters “God did not become a movement, a concept, an ideal, or even a committee, but a man of flesh and bone with a parentage, … Continue reading “Ghosts in a Bottle”
by the Rev. Paul McLain “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: . . . a time to seek, and a time … Continue reading “The Spirituality of Decluttering”
by the Ven. Mimsy Jones “Sometimes I sits and think; and sometimes I just sits.” -Satchel Paige Two interesting aspects of my life have converged this month. … Continue reading “Just Sit”
by the Rev. Paul McLain Many years ago, a grief counselor ended our session by handing me a two-word prescription: ‘Nurture self.’ While that might not seem like a … Continue reading “Nurture Self”
by the Rev. Scott Walters Last Monday I decided to buy a bike rack for our car on Facebook Marketplace. If you’re not familiar with this corner of the … Continue reading “Troubling Redemption”
by the Ven. Mimsy Jones As another school year gets underway, I am remembering teachers who formed as well as informed me, beginning with my eleventh grade English teacher … Continue reading “Remembering a Holy Terror, and other teachers”
by the Rev. Buddy Stallings Tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of the events now forever known simply as 9/11. Anyone, who is at least thirty years old, remembers where … Continue reading “Grace on 9/11”
by the Rev. Scott Walters Here’s the way it happened. True story. We were carrying 2x4s and buckets of nails and scraps of tin down a zig-zagging path into … Continue reading “Tumbling Lessons”
by the Ven. Mimsy Jones Come forth into the light of things, Let Nature be your teacher. “The Tables Turned” by William Wordsworth (1770-1850) Near the … Continue reading “The ‘Dangerous’ Road”
by the Rev. Scott Walters Had you been walking down West Third Street in Dayton, Ohio in the late 1800s, the shouts and curses spilling from the upper floor … Continue reading “A Holy Scrap”
by the Rev. Paul McLain In the movie Chariots of Fire, British athlete Eric Liddell was torn between his dream of participating in the 1924 Olympic Games and his … Continue reading “Eric, Simone, Mary, and Martha”
by the Ven. Mimsy Jones I am back on the coast of Maine after a year off last year because of the pandemic. Although there are a few rather … Continue reading “The Catch of the Day”
by the Rev. Buddy Stallings Communion means the world to me. Getting to be a part of it as presider, assistant, or person in the pew is a practice, … Continue reading “Who Gets It?”
by the Rev. Scott Walters This week my brother flies in to help our dad move to Silver Spring, Maryland. And among the things we’ll need to attend to … Continue reading “On Pontiacs & Proportions”
by the Rev. Paul McLain My mother told me about the greatest compliment she ever received. A music director once said to her, ‘Marilyn, you are the best … Continue reading “The Accompanist”
by the Rev. Buddy Stallings As I write this short note, I am preparing to return to Jackson from New York City to preach at the funeral of a … Continue reading “A Mensch Is a Mensch”
by the Rev. Paul McLain This week, I met a young woman who is a very talented singer, actress, and music teacher. She has done phenomenal work in the … Continue reading “Day by Day”
by the Ven. Mimsy Jones Since we have just celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, I’m thinking about spirit-filled people, particularly my beloved friend Margaret Wright … Continue reading “Aloha, Pentecost!”
by the Rev. Scott Walters In a few weeks, our daughter Kate will graduate from college, and she’ll have some decisions to make. When I was her age my … Continue reading “Decisions, Decisions”
by the Rev. Paul McLain I have learned that it is important that I not only honor my mom on Mother’s Day but also honor my mother-in-law. Ruthie’s mom … Continue reading “No Longer Servants, but Friends”
by the Rev. Scott Walters Five centuries or so ago in Japan, a tea master named Yusai Hosokawa was preparing tea for a warlord when a servant dropped an … Continue reading “Gleaming Cracks of New Creation”
by the Ven. Mimsy Jones For the past twenty-five summers, we have had the same landlord on the coast of Maine: Charles W. H. Dodge, a native son of … Continue reading “The Good Landlord”
by the Rev. Buddy Stallings On Easter Day, for the first time in over a year, I had the privilege of presiding and preaching as a guest at The … Continue reading “The Easter Parade”
by the Rev. Paul McLain Near the end of a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2009, we all got up at 5 o’clock one morning to walk the … Continue reading “An Old Man Pushing a Cart up a Hill”
by the Rev. Scott Walters As we begin to imagine a world of less physical separation, and the liturgies of Holy Week draw near (and, yes, since I haven’t … Continue reading “The Liturgical Door”
by the Ven. Mimsy Jones *cusp: a dividing line between two very different things One cold, bright-blue day in Colorado, I boarded a chairlift with my husband Frank. … Continue reading “On the Cusp”
by the Rev. Amber Carswell In the past two weeks, I’ve been experiencing a strange sensation. Maybe you have, too. It feels like something long-forgotten, recently resurfacing—like an old … Continue reading “Feeling Hopeful”
by the Rev. Buddy Stallings It’s been so long since I have seen all of you; and although this present experience of “seeing” you, of being with you through … Continue reading “Remember”
by the Rev. Paul McLain Not long after I first arrived at Calvary, the Reverend Bill Kolb sent me an email welcoming me to Calvary and Memphis, letting me … Continue reading “Brother Bill”
by the Rev. Scott Walters For the first Ash Wednesday since Ardelle and I entered the Episcopal Church 24 years ago, I won’t receive the imposition of ashes on … Continue reading “Thoughts on an Ashless Ash Wednesday”
by the Rev. Scott Walters The 100 North Main building is an instance of something I’ve wondered at since my house building days. One would think that humans wear … Continue reading “Tending and Repair”
by the Rev. Amber Carswell Shakespeare’s Othello and Much Ado About Nothing are two sides of the same coin. Both stories feature couples in love and evil antagonists who … Continue reading “Shakespeare and QAnon”
by The Rev. Paul McLain On the day before Epiphany, a parishioner sent our clergy team an email sharing the tradition of Epiphany chalk. It is a centuries-old practice … Continue reading “Epiphany Chalk above Cracked Windows”
by the Rev. Scott Walters On a recent trip to novel., to redeem a Christmas gift card, I picked up a collection of essays by Molly McCully Brown titled … Continue reading “Accessing Christmas”
by the Rev. Amber Carswell I’ve observed two diametrically opposed approaches to religious life and the pursuit of God. First is the pursuit of novelty. I don’t think … Continue reading “On Thomas Merton and the Psalms”
by the Rev. Paul McLain In the movie “Lawrence of Arabia”, Major T. E. Lawrence was asked why he was drawn to the desert. He answered, “Because it’s clean.” … Continue reading “Because it’s Clean”
by the Rev. Scott Walters At noon today (as I write), an Irish friend and I will Zoom (suddenly a verb in our vocabularies that needs no explanation). Pádraig … Continue reading “Grateful to the End”
by the Rev. Amber Carswell A famous artist that Missy admires liked a photo of hers on Instagram. The problem was that it was a picture of Missy and … Continue reading “Hold Fast to What is Good”
by the Rev. Paul McLain Last Wednesday morning, Ruthie and I arrived early at 157 Poplar to be among the first hundred people or so to vote in Shelby … Continue reading “Time Horizon”
by the Rev. Scott Walters On my days off and evenings, I’ve been adding on to our tool shed. There’s not much room between it and the fence at … Continue reading “A Maker’s Attention”
by the Rev. Paul McLain One of the regulars at our Community Breakfast on Sunday mornings is an older man who goes by the street names of “Hippie” or … Continue reading “Resilience”
Last night, a discussion of Mary Magdelene reminded me of a poem about her by Jane Kenyon. You can find the text of “Woman, Why Are You Weeping?” here, but … Continue reading “Holding onto Faith”
To my mind, Pharaohs and Egyptians, who have been showing up with Moses & Co. in our Sunday readings recently, were the Old Testament equivalents of Darth Vader and the … Continue reading “Sarcophagi, Shiny Things, and the Great Right Here”
by the Rev. Paul McLain Last Wednesday morning, we were running late. It had taken longer than we expected to pick up my mother’s birthday cake at LaBaguette Bakery, … Continue reading “Comfortably Numb”
by the Rev. Amber Carswell There’s a scene in Harry Potter where the bookish and brilliant Hermione Granger abuses her copy of Hogwarts, A History, a tome that Hermione heretofore … Continue reading “A Summer Lenten Experience”
by the Rev. Scott Walters On Sunday afternoon, Ardelle and I packed up the Subaru and headed west for a few days away. Our itinerary is to read, write, … Continue reading “When the Real is Just a Little Deeper Down”
by the Rev. Paul McLain ‘As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net … Continue reading “Advice from a Fisherman”
It was a 10-hour car ride to reach our vacation destination, and I was going through some habitual motion of my pre-pandemic self: searching for the local Episcopal church to … Continue reading “Thoughts on Eucharist”
Sometimes, in our reflective hours, Missy says, “Just think. When we get through this pandemic, we’ll have stories to tell about living through such times.” I’m guessing she plays in … Continue reading “The Best Stories We Know How to Tell”
by the Rev. Paul McLain “We are members of one another.” – Ephesians 4:25 When forming an opinion on whatever happens to be the issue of the day, … Continue reading “One Body, One Baptism, One People”
“God did not become a movement, a concept, an ideal, or even a committee, but a man of flesh and bone with a parentage, friends, a language, a country, a … Continue reading “Linked by Separateness”
by the Rev. Paul McLain “Love your neighbor as yourself.” – Mark 12:31 One of the traditions I experienced for many years in the Baptist church was Wednesday Night Prayer … Continue reading “The Gift of Self-Compassion”
by the Rev. Amber Carswell Last week, we celebrated the Supreme Court’s decision concerning protections for LGBT workers. This decision was personal, but not because I will receive any protection … Continue reading “The SCOTUS Ruling”
by the Rev. Scott Walters This morning, as I sat down to write this post, the microwave stopped working. When I say I know just enough about household wiring … Continue reading “Sacred Imagination”
