‘The Church is the only society on earth that exists for the benefit of non-members.’ William Temple Why am I a priest? Why do I love church? Last week on Halloween day on October 31, I went to a trick or treating event with my son. I did not change my clergy clothing and wore…
For years I’ve harbored low-grade confusion about whether Halloween has any real relationship to Christian practice or is just an excuse for a very strange party; when we remember Saints-with-a-capital-S, such as Saint John or Saint Teresa of Avila; and when we remember the saints-with-a-lower-case-s, our ancestors, neighbors, and strangers who have gone before us.…
An Easter Morning Church Farley Lord, Intern September 20, 2024 St. John’s Episcopal Church, Wake Forest, NC As part of my life-long quest to understand myself, I find comfort, and sometimes revelation, in taking personality quizzes. Myers-Briggs (I’m an INFJ), Enneagram (I’m a 9), and Strengths Finder (empathy is my #1) are a few well-known…
James 1:17 ‘Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights … ( NRSV) In the past year, behind the scenes, I have constantly witnessed the skills and talents of many of St. John’s parishioners. In meetings behind closed doors, one-on-one meetings, in church events,…
My local is your global and your local is my global which means global mission and local mission is interrelated. They are different sides of the same coin. It is being God’s ambassador on earth. This past year has been very fulfilling for me personally and in ministry. I am so pleased and encouraged to…
All of Who We Are What does it look like for humans to offer anything back to the God who made us? As intimidating as this invitation sounds, our tradition has a robust imagination for this practice of offering ourselves freely and fully to God. In the Rite One eucharistic liturgy, we say: “And here we…
Let not the needy, O Lord be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor be taken away. (BCP, 98) Nine months ago, was roughly September 1st, the first day I began my tenure as an associate rector at St. John’s. That day I felt both excited and overwhelmed. I remember someone from the parish…
It’s Black History Month. I wondered, what is so special about this month, that it was declared Black. History. Month. It turns out that in 1926 Carter G. Woodson, whose inclusionary vision we owe this month to, chose February because both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas were born on February 12 and February 14 respectively.…
Faith in Action: The Theme for the Year 2024 Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God. It is the quickening of the conscience by his holiness; the nourishment of mind with his truth; the purifying of imagination by his beauty; the opening of the heart to his love; the surrender of…
God-incidence I am grateful to Mother Sarah Phelps for her leadership and her confidence in inviting me to fill this role of Associate Rector. When I finished my seminary education, I was torn which direction to go — as a parish priest or into campus ministry. Fortunately, an opportunity came to do both part-time. After…