On my recent journey to Spain, I was also blessed with the opportunity to stop in Lisbon, where I visited the towering statue of Christ the King. Rising more than one hundred feet high, with arms outstretched, the statue seemed to echo the words of Jesus Himself, “Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” 

As I stood gazing upward at Christ’s open arms, I was struck by the reminder that His welcome is not limited to those who travel across oceans or who stand before monuments of Him in faraway places. His invitation reaches each one of us, right where we are, in our homes, in our workplaces, in the quiet struggles of our hearts, and in the joys we celebrate. His arms are always open, ready to embrace us with grace, strength, and peace….

Like most members of the clergy (and most people in most professions!), I read a lot of content connected to the work I am called to do. Recently, in an article about sacred mutuality, I came across these words from a student describing their internship in hospital chaplaincy:

             “When it comes to pastoral care my aim has always been to bring some word from God to that person through the encounter—whether by reading scripture directly or through conversation or prayer. But this summer I’ve started approaching the pastoral visit totally differently…..

This past Sunday, we had a lively discussion about our second Summer Reads book, How We Learn To Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith, by the Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington. In her book, Bishop Budde finds hope and strength by drawing on both her own experiences and those of biblical figures and more modern-day exemplars in learning to be brave.

In the book’s chapters, she explores not just the type of courage we might often imagine, such as “Stepping Up to the Plate” or “Deciding to Go,” but also often-overlooked forms of bravery that include, “Deciding to Stay,” “Accepting What You Do Not Choose,” and “Perseverance.” Throughout, Bishop Budde emphasizes that we often must learn to be brave − and sometimes that learning comes from our own painful experiences of failure and disappointment. She also reminds us that many acts of courage happen quietly, out of the public eye, and many are part of a much larger communal movement toward justice….

I returned recently from some time with extended family. Every year, one of the joys of that time is to watch how the young people in our family (the offspring of my siblings) are growing into themselves. Familiar personality traits are on display at every gathering. Each year there are some surprises, too.

My nephew Alex is the youngest in a group of nine cousins, ranging in age from 30 years old to 18. This summer, Alex joined us from his job working as a camp counselor in the Poconos. Generally enthusiastic, he loved his experience there—he found community with the other counselors, and he discovered some of the gifts he has for teaching and coaching….

Have you ever experienced division in a relationship because of your faith? How did you handle it?

Why do you think Jesus warned his disciples about the division that would come from following Him?

How can we be peacemakers in our relationships, even when there is division?……

During my time away on vacation in July, I visited the Norman Rockwell museum in Stockbridge, MA. It contains the largest collection of Rockwell’s art and the museum property also includes his studio.

I confess my knowledge of Rockwell was very shallow − confined to hazy memories of sentimental illustrations for the Saturday Evening Post that I’d seen over the years. Most of the collection did indeed consist of those illustrations, and the sheer number and diversity of them was amazing. The museum gathered many of them chronologically, but also by themes. I particularly enjoyed the group of comedic works, such as the child discovering a Santa suit in a bureau the day after Christmas. (The Post had to run a note in that issue that Santa had simply left the suit to be dry cleaned!) I was interested also to see his series on the Four Freedoms, drawn from President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1941 State of the Union address…

In June, the Episcopal Diocese of New York invited us all to participate in “#One Single Act.” In partnership with the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Episcopal Charities, Episcopal Divinity School and the Interfaith Center of New York, this initiative is an online campaign that encourages reaching out to others from a place of heartfelt kindness. The goal is that individuals and groups will do one act that embodies our Gospel values, post that act online, and then invite others to do the same.

Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus continually serving others, whether it be through healing the sick, feeding the hungry, or teaching the masses. Jesus’ entire life was marked by service, and He ultimately laid down His life on the cross as the ultimate act of service for humanity.

When we serve others, we are not only meeting their needs but also growing in our relationship with God. Service is an opportunity to put our faith into action and to grow in our understanding of God’s love and grace. As we serve others, we become more like Jesus, who “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” ….

This Sunday, after we worship together, a team from Holy Apostles will travel to Thomas Berry Place in Queens to participate in the College for Congregational Development. The CCD is a ministry out of the Diocese of Olympia on the West coast. In 2009, the Rev. Melissa Skelton (now a Bishop in the Anglican Church in Canada) launched the first session of the College. It has grown beyond Seattle since then, and a few years ago the Episcopal Diocese of New York received a grant to fund participation for interested congregations in this diocese….