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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

“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...]