Lenten Daily Devotionals

We’ll let the Bard ponder whether to be or not to be, just one big ontological headache if you ask me.  That’s not our question as we transition from the Lenten season, speaking of ontology for goodness’ sakes (Okay Lenten Reflection Self Editor here…we apologize for...

As we progress towards Holy Week, I am skipping the very tempting April Fool’s urge here due to our current moment to focus upon getting ready for next week.  Our final Lenten habit, one so familiar to Roman and Anglican Catholics and so odd to more Protestant and...

Thank you for joining me on this 40 day journey of daily Lenten reflections.  When we began, I was encouraged me to commit to a daily discipline of writing, which has been far more intensive and far more gratifying than I ever imagined.  Thank you so much for your...

Spiritual habits come in all shapes and sizes….not all concern deprivation or some acrobatically ascetic practice.  For many right now, as well as for me, a good night’s sleep is as elusive and as salutary as any habit one could adopt.  And may I postulate soul...

So during this pre-Holy Week week we will be preparing ourselves for Holy Week itself, the Triduum and the Easter cycle of celebration itself.  And yes, we will be learning some new Easter vocabulary words as we move towards Easter and a surprise announcement...

My mother was a multi-talented woman, and one of her many talents was serving as a prayer “warrior,” spiritual counselor and guide for others in the Christian life through trauma and pain.  She taught me a prayer technique for challenging times which came to mind this...

Thank you for coming with me on that three day biblical journey, but today let’s consider our other book, the monumental Book of Common Prayer.  One need not be either Anglican (our umbrella term for any Christian anywhere) worshipping in the tradition of the Church...

Reading the bible is different for me than reading any other book.  For me, the bible is primer, resource, encyclopedia, novel, companion, dissertation, love letter, adventure, gateway, mini-series, drama, history and personal journal…at least for starters!  So I...

Yesterday I implored you to find, situate, open and read any bible you have in your possession.  Let’s refine that spiritual habit of bible reading a bit more strategically today.  Here are some resources and suggestions to make your bible reading fruitful...

For those of you wondering where your Lenten reflections actually went these past few days, worry not!  Let’s get off of movies and into books!  My parents taught me to read before I learned more formally at school, and my room growing up was littered with books of...

Part of any Lenten journey is the experimentation with new and different spiritual habits, or if you prefer, life habits for the Christian journey.  Some are enduring and non-negotiable, like Sunday communal worship, regular reading of and reflection upon God’s word,...

Sometimes in life, we are overcome with the horror, fear and unknown which lies in front of us.  It’s about time for our hero to appear, and in fact, we Christians believe our hero has already arrived to save the day, the year, and all eternity.  His name is Jesus,...

I subscribe to the axiom espoused by an unnamed science fiction franchise beloved in my family.  The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.  Our congregation has long painted on such a broader canvas than simply caring for our own members.  For...

People seem to ask me rather consistently how I do the work I do as a priest.  They are curious, and usually very empathetic, as I answer them.  They then usually respond with some version of “great for you but I could never do that!”  Well, neither could I.  Not...

Begin with the end in mind.  One of Stephen Covey’s hallowed seven habits of highly successful people, and for someone like me, fielding so many different daily challenges from both expected and unexpected fronts, so very challenging.  The same Lord who reminded us to...

Yes, I know.  Two local cases of COVID-19 contagion in our own valley.  Yes, we are.  I am convening my Council of Advice, our circle of trusted lay leaders, to examine every stratagem to respond in a safe and protecting way going forward.  No option is off the table...

In the late 4th century C.E. (“Common Era,” our time now, the current academic terminology denoting what many of us grew up referring to A.D.), a young woman set off from western Europe upon an arduous journey.  She hailed from what we call today Spain, or perhaps...

Many years ago the Vestry, or Board, of our church discerned a mission for our congregation.  A mission statement is an attempt to articulate God’s highest and best purpose for a specific parish family, the unique and compelling reason for us to exist as a...

One of my honors as a local pastor has been to serve as an election judge in Eagle County’s Clerk and Recorder’s Office since the 2016 Presidential election.  What an honor to work alongside such dedicated, passionate, durable and honest civil servants of both...

An uncontrolled virus threatening unpredictable, systemic international contagion.  Easily transmitted by physical contact but evidence suggests airborne transmission is also possible.  Undetectable in its earliest incubation but can rapidly advance attacking key...

The First Sunday of Lent, the moment when many Episcopalians (at least) encounter the drastic change in the tone, tenor and feel of Sunday worship.  This transition from Epiphany to Lent is perhaps the most dramatic tonal shift in our Prayer Book worship tradition, as...