It is a happy coincidence that the feast day of St. Ambrose of Milan occurs during the season in which we are preparing for the coming of the Messiah because Bishop Ambrose helps us better understand what kind of Messiah we are talking about. Continue reading

December 1 is the First Sunday of Advent. Advent is hard to observe in our culture, isn’t it? Continue reading

We are coming to the Last Sunday After Pentecost. Many liturgical churches also celebrate this as The Feast of Christ the King. Is Christ's reign over the cosmos Judgement Day?If so, will we be judged for what we know about Christ or for what we do out of love for Christ? Continue reading

It is time for us to take seriously the call to Intentional Faith Development for our Church, ourselves, our children, and those who come to us seeking a living relationship with “the author of peace and lover of concord, whom to know is eternal life and to serve is perfect freedom,” to paraphrase The Collect for Peace. Continue reading

It should come as no surprise to anyone that worship attendance is declining in most mainline Churches and even in some evangelical mega churches. Given the fact that participation in corporate worship is almost universally regarded as of the utmost importance among Christians, this downward trend seems odd. What's wrong with this picture? Continue reading

Mission and Service refers to the projects, efforts, and work people do to make a positive difference in the lives of others for the purposes of Christ, whether or not they will ever become part of the community of faith. Risk-taking pushes us out of our comfort zone. How are the people of St. Martin's engaged in risk-taking mission and service? Continue reading

Who are you? That’s a question that frequently pops into our minds. For those of us who are members of the Church, it pops into our minds before, during, and after worship and at other gatherings. Continue reading

Nothing prompts generosity in us as powerfully as experiencing the generosity of God. We are created in the image of an extravagantly generous God and such generosity is in our DNA. We are created to be the most generous of all God's creatures. Continue reading

Let's talk hospitality, starting with our new and improved coffee hour. Continue reading

My remaining time as Interim Dean at St. Andrew's Cathedral is getting shorter by the day. It's a big transition for me, not simply because I'm saying farewell to people I have grown to love and respect, but also because I have notified the Church Pension Fund that I am ready to retire. I've never looked forward to retirement because I love what I do and I love the people with whom I am honored to work for the building up of the church during healthy transitions. Continue reading

As I draw closer to the completion of my ministry at St. Andrew’s Cathedral, I’m mindful of so many things I need to do and say. Was this how Jesus was feeling during the time leading up to the Ascension? He sure took the time to give some instructions, provide some reminders, and make some promises before saying goodbye. I think I will too. Continue reading

Have you thought about the fact that, while the Ascension Window in the rear of the Cathedral Nave is our largest window, we hardly ever talk much about the Ascension other than when we're reciting the creeds? Continue reading

It's the time of year for that ritual we call "graduation" or "commencement." I’ve always found it interesting that our words for that ritual have more to do with the next step than with the series of steps leading up to it. We “graduate” from our studies into a new set of challenges. We “commence” that for which we have been preparing. Continue reading

A legacy is something handed down from one generation to another. In truth, our legacy is something we must invest in every day so that there will be something for us to hand down. I want to suggest a new way to think about that. Continue reading

Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday. I invite you to read through the tenth chapter of John and pay attention not only to the Shepherd but also to the flock. The character of the flock reveals something about the one who guides and cares for it. The fact, for example, that there are different kinds of sheep indicates that the shepherd values diversity along with unity. Continue reading

What a glorious Easter we've had! Thanks to everyone who contributed to the beauty and the joy of our celebrations at St. Andrew’s Cathedral. As we enter the Great Fifty Days of Easter, we are especially conscious of the renewal of life. It seems like an appropriate time to address one of the important tasks of transition; taking stock of the present identity of the parish. Here are a few ways we can do that during this season. Continue reading

In Baptism, we are incorporated into the Paschal Mystery. That is, we are incorporated into the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His life is our life. His death is our death. His resurrection is our resurrection. It is for this reason that Christians observe Holy Week every year. It is a commemoration intended to put us in touch with that life which the world can neither give nor take away. It is a time to look at the Paschal Mystery and to recover our true identity, our authentic self, in him. Continue reading

One of the most poignant passages we will read during this Holy Week is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Church at Philippi, in which he describes Jesus as "obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.” His journey was a journey of obedience. That gets right to the heart of Holy Week, doesn’t it? Continue reading

The writer of the Gospel of John seems to have been more interested in Jesus’ friendships than the writers of the other gospels. Jesus, God Incarnate, has called us "friends." He has invited us into a relationship. Continue reading

This Sunday's readings from Joshua and Luke are about how God's people are prone to wander and eventually seek our way back into God's embrace. Continue reading

The Annunciation is a reminder to me that what I'm doing about my faith is always in response to what God is first doing in my life, even when I'm not thinking of it in that way. Continue reading

Jesus, for the writer of the letter to the Hebrews, was the one person who gave access to reality and access to God. That is the key thought of this letter, this book of the Bible. In the eleventh chapter we find a magnificent exhortation to have faith. What does it mean to have faith? Continue reading

One of the most important tasks we’ve undertaken during this time of transition is to foster the engagement of the members of the Cathedral community in one or more ministries. Why is this important? Continue reading

Mountaintop experiences have their place. But there is always more to be done in the mission to which we are called. Continue reading

Think of the most important relationships in your life. Who are the people who matter to you and to whom you matter? How do you nurture those relationships? Does your relationship with God matter as much? How do you nurture your relationship with God? Continue reading