Church Pulpit Posts

Seasonal Shift | The Rev. Dr. Anna S. Pearson, Rector

Seasonal Shift | The Rev. Dr. Anna S. Pearson, Rector

     This is one of those times in the year when we hear sentences that start with “I can’t believe…” As in, “I can’t believe August is almost over!” or “I can’t believe it’s Labor Day weekend already.” Variations on the theme include questions like “where did the summer go?” and statements about time speeding up as age increases. It happens every year, this turn of the season from summer to fall, but it sneaks up on us just the same….

Seasonal Shift | The Rev. Dr. Anna S. Pearson, Rector

The Sacrament | The Rev. Canon Robert A. Jacobs, Deacon

During the Eucharist, we break bread to share in the body of Christ. Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.

This reminds us that we are bound to Christ, to one another, as well as the whole body of the church as we share in this public act of commitment and expression of loyalty to Christ our Lord.

“Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.” We may not be able to explain where grace resides in this act, but if we could, we would no doubt lose an important part of the journey of exploration which we call faith…

Seasonal Shift | The Rev. Dr. Anna S. Pearson, Rector

Guest Contributor | The Rev. Dr. Anna S. Pearson, Rector

am away on vacation, and in my absence I offer this excerpt from an essay written by Brian Doyle titled “The Most Beautiful Boat.” While a bit longer in length than most of our written meditations, I hope you enjoy it:

He is nine and I am ten. We are brothers. We share a room upstairs. Our beds are six feet apart. His bed is under the window because he likes to look at the shoulders and the fingers of the burly maple trees outside…..

Seasonal Shift | The Rev. Dr. Anna S. Pearson, Rector

Decisions, Decisions | The Rev. Susan E. Hill, Associate Rector

One of the reasons that we feel tired at night is the sheer number of decisions we make during the course of the day. Some of them are not of great consequence (Should I do laundry today or tomorrow?), while others carry more weight (How shall I respond to that request from my colleague or family member? Can I afford to get a new phone?), and others are of the utmost importance (Should I change jobs/career? Should I get married?).

As you may know, Ignatius of Loyola (whose feast day was July 31) developed a set of “Spiritual Exercises” expressly to help people to make tough decisions − especially those that are life-changing, such as entering into marriage or the religious life….

Seasonal Shift | The Rev. Dr. Anna S. Pearson, Rector

Depth Of Feeling | The Rev. Dr. Anna S. Pearson, Rector

Years ago, before it became a cultural colossus and while it was still playing at the Public Theater, my family and I saw the musical Hamilton. We got there by chance, really. My father had given us theater tickets for Christmas and asked me to pick a show. I didn’t know much about Hamilton at the time, but it seemed to check enough boxes that each Pearson would find at least something that would make the experience enjoyable….

Seasonal Shift | The Rev. Dr. Anna S. Pearson, Rector

Rest | The Rev. Canon Robert A. Jacobs, Deacon

Summer becomes a time to work on ourselves and our ability to be the light and find meaning in our journey, even when it seems uncertain.

In our daily lives, we often find ourselves caught in a whirlwind of tasks and responsibilities. Work, family, social commitments, and even church activities can fill our schedules. We become so engrossed in our duties that we forget to pause, to breathe, to rest. Yet. In the midst of our busyness, we see Jesus inviting His disciples to a quiet place to rest. This is not a mere suggestion but a clear instruction from our Savior.

Jesus understood the importance of rest. He knew that His disciples, after their rigorous ministry, needed time to rejuvenate….

Seasonal Shift | The Rev. Dr. Anna S. Pearson, Rector

Summer Reflecting | The Rev. Dr. Anna S. Pearson, Rector

I am on the mailing list for the Society of St. John the Evangelist, the monastic order located in Cambridge, MA. The theme of their most recent newsletter was “Growth,” and included articles titled “Awake,” “Patience,” “Know Limits,” “Anxiety,” “The Breaks,” and “On the Hard Road.” The final page if the newsletter offered some loosely connected reflection questions. Depending on how the pieces of your life are aligning just now, the rhythm of life may slow down a bit during the summer months. Maybe there is just a bit more time and space to reflect….

Seasonal Shift | The Rev. Dr. Anna S. Pearson, Rector

The Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, Priest | The Rev. Susan E. Hill, Associate Rector

With both the Pride and Independence Day celebrations in late June and early July, it can be easy to overlook some of those whom we commemorate in the church during this time. For example, on July 1, we remember two remarkable people: Harriet Beecher Stowe and Pauli Murray. The Rev. Dr. Murray is by far less well-known but also had an outsized impact on both society and the church. During her long and varied career she was a lawyer, a writer and poet, a civil rights activist, a professor, and eventually, an Episcopal priest. On January 8, 1977, Murray was ordained the first African American woman priest at the Washington National Cathedral….

Seasonal Shift | The Rev. Dr. Anna S. Pearson, Rector

Democratic Process, Church Edition | The Rev. Dr. Anna S. Pearson, Rector

As I write this, bishops and delegates from Episcopal churches across the nation (and from area missions and the Convocation of American Churches in Europe) are meeting in Louisville, KY for our 81st General Convention. Every three years our church gathers and makes decisions that impact our common life. The structure through which this happens is bicameral: there is a House of Bishops, which includes all active and retired bishops, and a House of Deputies, which includes four lay people and four clergy elected from each diocese….

Seasonal Shift | The Rev. Dr. Anna S. Pearson, Rector

Storms in Life | The Rev. Canon Robert A. Jacobs, Deacon

Webster’s dictionary defines “Faith,” as “confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea or thing.” There was also this definition, “Belief and trust in God.”

In Mark’s Gospel we find the disciples in a boat, on a rough sea, afraid of capsizing, and Jesus is sleeping. They were afraid. Their faith that everything will be okay is lacking. They call out “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? Jesus calmed the storm, and turns to the disciples and ask, why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”…

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