As I began to think about this week’s sermon – against the backdrop of the Corona Virus pandemic, and my own family’s experience of voluntary self-quarantine – I found that my thoughts turned to childhood memories of time spent in the outdoors. The memories were primarily of two important summer places. The first was the state park just a short bicycle ride from my boyhood home. … [Read more...]
Thoughts of Reverend J Cooper Conway
Presentation of the Lord
February 2, 2020, Charles D. Mayer Looking back over the past few years, during which I have been here at St. Paul’s on the first Sundays in February, I notice that we have not observed the feast of the Presentation of the Lord on those first Sundays (it is optional, but not required, if the Feast does not fall on a Sunday). So, it is a special thing that it falls on a Sunday this … [Read more...]
Look! Here Is the Lamb of God
January 19, 2020, 2 Epiphany, Charles D. Mayer Throughout the three-year cycle of lectionary readings, each of which is built around one of the Synoptic Gospels, there are Sundays that depart from the Synoptic Gospel – this year it is Matthew – and bring us a text from the Gospel of John. So, we never get a chance to follow John through week after week for an entire year. I … [Read more...]
Bring Us Together in Peace and Love
Advent 3A 2019 Arthur Hultgren of the Lather Seminary once said “these days we live in a world where people are divided into two categories” [those who are valued and those who are not valued] “but Advent introduces an opening to New Ways of Thinking.” And at no time is that more true than on the 3rd Sunday of Advent when we both recite the Magnificat (Mary’s Prayer) and hear today’s … [Read more...]
Who Is Our Joseph?
Bethlehem in Germany,Glitter on the sloping roofs, Panels of nativityOpen paper scenes where doorsOpen into other scenes. Leaning from the cliff of heaven,Indicating whom he weeps for.Joseph lifts his lamp aboveThe infant, like a candle crown.Let my fingers touch the silenceWhere the infant’s father cries.Gjertrude Schnackenberg, Advent Calendar Who is our Joseph, really? He is a figure … [Read more...]
Keep a Balance
“The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise [one.]" Euripides As we enter November, Fall draws to a close. This has been a particularly busy season. The churches have (together and individually) restarted choir, reopened the Lantern shop, launched Youth Music Program, … [Read more...]
This World of God’s Is Filled with Hope
Photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin on Unsplash You may write me down in history, with your bitter, twisted lies. You may trod me in the very dirt but still like dust, I rise. --Maya Angelou It is autumn, a season of real, visible, and melancholy change. As I consider this season, I feel called to remember also that this world of God’s is filled with hope. In the Letter to the Romans, … [Read more...]
Year C: 2019 (Proper 16)
This morning we continue our yearlong exploration of the Gospel of Luke. You may be aware that this is Year C in the Common Lectionary which determines which readings we examine on each Sunday. The Lectionary is on a 3 year cycle A, B, and C. In year A, we read Matthew, in B, Mark, and in C, Luke. (John does not have its own year but is read at specific times in each of the other three.) So … [Read more...]
Cooper at Canterbury
The Sabbatical ended last Sunday and since then, Peter and I have been vacationing here in England. Our first stop was to ser Yejide in a lovely town called Shrewsbury. She has taken on the leadership of two parishes here and the are both beautiful.Now we are in Canterbury where we were able to attend the Eucharist and Evening Prayer yesterday. It is just as wonderful as you can imagine. Today … [Read more...]
Visioning
“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.” Jonathan Swift As I prepare to leave for my sabbatical in Dublin and Italy, I am aware that you here at home will be doing the important work of discernment. At this point in the history of the parishes of St Paul’s and Trinity churches, the sister parishes have learned more and more to value the gifts that each congregation … [Read more...]