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...]
Thoughts of Reverend J Cooper Conway
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 St. Paul's and Trinity together for Palm Sunday 2019 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 … [Read more...]
I call him religious who understands the suffering of others
Mahatma Gandhi once said: “I call him religious who understands the suffering of others.” This morning we hear that section of ‘Luke’ where Jesus is told the news of the day. The crowd is abuzz. A group of Galileans has been murdered by Pilate’s men and not just anywhere...at the Temple. Now Jesus’s reaction to this news to me seems odd. He does not exclaim in horror - he does not condemn the … [Read more...]
Jesus’ Path of Love, Freedom & Abundant Life
This Lent, our Presiding Bishop is offering us a glimpse at the spiritual lessons he has learned in life. Through the Forward Movement, we have received a path to follow in this season of Lent which is informed by Bishop Curry’s wisdom. Over two Saturdays we will consider Jesus’ question “What do you seek?” (John 1:38). Our Presiding Bishop says we seek four things: LOVE: to know God’s love, … [Read more...]
So Draw Our Hearts to You…
Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated to you; and then use us, we pray, as you will and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen This prayer is called the prayer of self-dedication. It was written by a former Archbishop of … [Read more...]
Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled
One of the last things that Jesus said to his disciples was “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” And yet, we seem to specialize in troubled hearts! And actually that state makes sense in this uncertain world. We can worry over the environment, political divisions, day-to-day finances, health concerns, the welfare of friends and family members... our concerns are real and certainly capable of … [Read more...]
At the round earth’s imagined corners, blow…
At the round earth’s imagined corners, blow Your trumpets, angels and arise, arise From death, you numberless infinities −John Donne At Christmas we celebrate the hope of the world, Jesus the incarnate word. At the first Christmas, shepherds were the ones to bear witness to his arrival. And the Gospels tell us that at his second coming all people (living and dead) will be gathered … [Read more...]
How do people make it through these times?
Lying, thinking last nightHow to find my soul a homeWhere water is not thirstyAnd bread is not a stoneI came up with one thingAnd I don’t believe I’m wrongThat nobody, but nobodyCan make it out here alone −Maya Angelou Lately, I have been wondering “how do people make it through these times without a belief in a higher power (or in my case God).” Increasingly, people seem more … [Read more...]