Today, December 27, is the feast day of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist. A couple of days ago, on Christmas Day, we read the gorgeous prologue to John’s gospel. It begins, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it… The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.”

Poet Georgia Douglas Johnson was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in the late 19th century. She was a member of the Harlem Renaissance and wrote a few volumes of poetry published in the early 20th. Her work above, titled “Let Me Not Lose My Dream,” was originally published in Bronze: A Book of Verse in 1922.

This poem might seem a bit dour for consideration five days before Christmas. After all, we have been through apocalyptic prophecies, John’s imprisonment, Mary’s shocking change of circumstances and Joseph’s dream-induced change of heart. Isn’t it time to move from preparation to celebration? From anguish to joy?…

Have you ever been in a situation where people did not live up to the hopes and expectations you had for them? If so, you can probably understand why John the Baptist was confused in the Gospel from Matthew, we will read on Sunday.

Uncertain, scary times can shake us up and cause us to have doubts about our faith. John the Baptist is a good example. When we, like John, are moved by the Holy Spirit, we vow to follow God. When we receive blessings, we are sure that Jesus is our Savior. When we face tragedies and disasters, we question our faith. We question why these things happen. We are wrapped up in our suffering that sometimes we can’t see, hear or feel God’s presence…..

Today, December 6, is the Feast Day of St. Nicholas of Myrna, and as I am writing this ahead of time my email is becoming flooded with requests for Giving Tuesday. We often refer to these December weeks as the “season of giving,” and with good reason: whether we are giving thanks, or our efforts, or a tangible or financial gift, the recommended focus during this time of year is other-centered. We look beyond ourselves for opportunities to connect; always lovingly, often sacrificially….

Tomorrow, Saturday, November 30, is the Feast of St. Andrew. Andrew is traditionally the first saint remembered in the new church year, and the season of Advent always begins on the Sunday closest to his feast day.

The stories about Andrew in the Gospel of John emphasize his gift for making connections between others and Jesus – he was a great networker! He was the first of the disciples to follow Jesus, having learned of him through John the Baptist. (As a result, the Orthodox Church have named Andrew Protokletos, or “First-called.”)…

This is the exact time in the calendar year when we find ourselves poised on the outer edge of the “holiday season,” and ready to jump. Much has been said and written about the complexities inherent in these next six weeks; a time when high interpersonal expectations meet socio-cultural norms meet consumerism meets long, long “to do” lists. By any measure, it’s a lot. We know it’s a lot because we see some of the negative effects of this season in those around us. We might even feel them some ourselves….

Most of us have not had the experience of being hated and persecuted for being followers of Christ, which is the case in some parts of the world. We all know that in small and in sometimes big ways, following Jesus will often put us at odds with the values of this world, and at times the values of our friends.

The truth is our faith is on trial every single day of our life. We are most susceptible to fail when tragedy and stress come to call. So, what do you do when your world is falling apart?…

When I was a young girl and sulking about having to do something social that I would rather avoid, my grandmother would always quote her own mother to me. When she was young and preparing to attend a gathering—happily or otherwise—my grandmother would get dressed in clothing appropriate to the occasion, comb her hair, and gather her coat and belongings to leave her home. As she got to the door, her mother would stop her. She did a superficial spot check to make sure all was well and then gave my grandmother a hug, adding some version of this statement as she walked out: “make them glad they asked you.”

Today we celebrate the Feast of All Saints, and we will have a particularly festive marking of it at our Evensong commemorating the 175th anniversary of Church of the Holy Apostles tonight (Friday) at 7 pm. We will also remember All Saints’ Day, and its related day, All Souls’ (or the Commemoration of All Faithful Departed) this Sunday, November 3….

A pastor in a book about giving recounts the following story: when he was a young boy, his mother used to send him on occasional errands to the local florist to pick up bouquets for the family dining table. He writes of how much he resented this chore. He didn’t care about having cut flowers in his home. He didn’t want to stop what he was doing to walk all the way to the shop to get them. On top of everything else, he really didn’t want to be seen out in his neighborhood carrying his purchase. He feared his friends might mock him, or incorrectly assume he had a romantic partner…..