Happy Independence Day! It seems like a particularly good year to celebrate the founding of our nation, a separation from the monarchy of Britain and an embrace of democratic principles instead…..

We live in very troubling times. I am sure many don’t remember a time like the days in which we now live. Yes, there has been times in the past where there was uncertainty, but not like we live in today. There seems to be problems, issues that can’t be resolved both nationwide and internationally. People are discouraged over loss of income, loss of homes, family issues and other concerns.

Despite all that is going on, I am encouraged by Chapter eight in Luke’s Gospel 8:26-39. Here we find a message from Jesus….

Robert Louis Stevenson was a 19th century Scottish novelist and poet. His work includes thrillers like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and the adventure tale Treasure Island, as well as the more innocent offerings in A Child’s Garden of Verses (“the world is so full of a number of things, I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings”).

Growing up in Edinburgh, Stevenson suffered from tuberculosis which kept him isolated from other children. Often alone, he was often lonely too. For many hours of every day, he would stare out the window, face pressed against the glass, taking in the activity on his street and in his neighborhood…..

Last Saturday, May 31st, the Diocese held a celebration of the ministry of Bishop Mary Glasspool as she prepares to retire. Bp. Glasspool has been groundbreaking in many ways, not least because she was the first openly lesbian woman to be consecrated as bishop in the Anglican Communion. Mother Anna and Canon Bob and some of our parishioners were glad to be able to attend the festivities!….

Last Sunday I preached about collective, relational peace—and I used the eating habits of the unicellular stentor as an example of individual energies combined and magnified for the greater good. One of my favorite things about preaching is continuing the conversation once the sermon is done, and after the service on Sunday I was approached by a visitor who told me that a similar collective process happens with the formation of stars.

Apparently, (and a quick online search reinforces this), stars begin with cosmic dust. The dust responds to gravitational pull, and the more dust coalesces, the greater that pull becomes. Stardust attracts more stardust. This stardust combines with atmospheric gasses, forming what’s known as “stellar nurseries.” The positive energy cycle grows and grows until the gravitational force becomes so great that the collective mass folds in on itself, concentrates, ignites, and becomes a star…..

When we think about peace, we often picture a serene landscape, a quiet moment, or a calm demeanor. The peace that God offers us is not dependent on our circumstances. It’s not about the absence of trouble, but the presence of Christ. It’s about trusting in God’s sovereignty, even when life is chaotic and uncertain.

During our trials and tribulations, we can experience God’s peace. It’s a peace that doesn’t make sense to the world. It’s a peace that transcends human understanding. It’s a peace that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

When we’re anxious, we’re told to pray and present our requests to God. This should be done with thanksgiving, because thanksgiving is an expression of trust. It’s a way of saying, “God, I believe that you’re in control….

My son Zachary shared this story with me recently: last weekend, during the gorgeous Spring weather (especially appreciated by all after the days of rain that preceded it!), he decided to take a book to Central Park to read and people-watch in the sun. The park was crowded, but the vibes were good. Everyone was enjoying the liberating feeling of being outside.

Zachary made himself at home on a bench, comfortable with his iced coffee and his reading material. People rotated through inhabiting the empty spaces on either side of where he was sitting. Eventually, a couple approached the bench next to him. They were carrying paper bags with food from a deli and getting ready to share some al fresco brunch and conversation. But before they sat down one of them said, “Wait! Let’s see who we’re spending time with today.”….

Yesterday, May 8, we commemorated the feast day of Dame Julian of Norwich, who is the first woman we know of to have written a book in English. She was born in 1342 in England, and lived during a time of upheaval that included famine, revolts, and the Black Plague. When she was thirty, she became gravely ill and was expected to die. Just after receiving last rites, she began having a series of mystical visions of Christ suffering on the cross. The experience brought her great comfort and joy, and she wrote the visions down in a book called Revelations of Divine Love. She later became an anchorite, living in a tiny cell attached to the church Norwich, and she developed a reputation as a wise spiritual counselor….

In March, a series of short videos that focused on toddlers and sharing were making the rounds. In each of the clips, a toddler was seated in the middle between two people. In front of each person was a plate with a napkin covering it, and on the count of three each person took the napkin away to reveal a surprise. The toddler got two cookies, one of the participants got one cookie, and one person’s plate was empty…..