tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-104420332012-01-18T17:46:25.101-05:00In the summer of 2010 I accepted an incredible opportunity to serve at the American University of Iraq to teach world religions, world history, and art history. From then through Easter 2011, my reflections while living in Mesopotamia were <a href="http://contemplative.posterous.com">posted here</a>. From Easter 2011 through the present, I have been largely silent, as far as blogs go, to focus on writing a book about Jesus, Christian discipleship, and the Church.Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.comBlogger1981100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-41346452982844574302012-01-18T01:12:00.008-05:002012-01-18T17:46:25.112-05:00

My life as a pastor has always focused on the way forward for the spiritual health and vitality both for individual persons and for congregations.Those in long-established congregations have heard me say, many times, that the way forward for their spiritual health and vitality necessarily requires a working priority on increasing mission to those in their immediate context (not just to those far

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-72942885463469554532011-12-16T16:26:00.004-05:002011-12-16T16:32:13.305-05:00

Because of the huge shift in what I was thinking about, I stopped posting here when I hopped a plane to Iraq in 2010. For some time thereafter, I posted my observations and reflections on http://contemplative.posterous.com/Around Easter 2011 I finally decided I was ready to begin work on a book on Christian discipleship -- which is focused on my understanding of Jesus and his invitation to

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-69028982421104826022010-03-10T21:36:00.002-05:002010-03-10T21:36:52.960-05:00

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-19553366425863408662010-02-25T13:17:00.004-05:002010-02-25T13:27:24.718-05:00

This is our group praying on the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem: We were as physically close as possible to the actual path walked by Jesus himself as he walked on the Way of the Cross (one would have to excavate down about 20 feet to get to the first century street). More pilgrimage photos Itinerary with links to places we visited To get an excellent sense of what we experienced during our

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-61899425654314033732010-02-25T13:07:00.000-05:002010-02-25T13:07:25.174-05:00

Go to Video 2

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-49067596484495248662010-02-25T13:05:00.001-05:002010-02-25T13:07:53.906-05:00

Go to Video 3

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-33069681899486435362010-02-25T13:03:00.003-05:002010-02-25T13:10:51.875-05:00

Go to Video 4

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-63806506901230459922010-02-25T13:02:00.001-05:002010-02-25T13:10:16.133-05:00

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-27168923075442548492010-02-06T20:53:00.010-05:002010-06-22T15:13:21.419-04:00

Epiphany 5, Luke 5.1-11              Rick+ Once upon a time there were some people who felt they were missing something.  They weren’t quite sure what exactly it was that they wanted.  But something wasn’t quite right.  Something was out of sync.  Something was missing.  And they didn’t really know how to get at it.  All they knew for sure was that somewhere inside, deep inside, there was a –

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-51063289737371526712010-01-27T07:31:00.002-05:002010-01-27T07:33:13.678-05:00

In a 2008 Panel Discussion Human Dignity and Bioethics: Essays Commissioned by the President's Council on Bioethics, Jean Bethke Elshtain , Ph.D. University of Chicago, and made a striking observation, from which I infer this:    When we discover ourselves stumbling over our inability to agree on the definition of a concept, we may too quickly dismiss the concept as unhelpful.  But instead, our

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-497537260284361372010-01-27T07:19:00.000-05:002010-01-27T07:19:02.203-05:00

Early this morning I was reading Monday's paper (yes, today is Wednesday... which tells you something about my life!), and came across an essay by Eboo Patel in which he wrote: That bias is hateful to God is an ancient religious teaching. Take the Qur'anic idea that all human beings have the breath of God, or the Judeo-Christian teaching that we are all made in God's image. Every religion holds

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-60631372534801315612009-12-21T10:14:00.002-05:002009-12-21T10:14:56.545-05:00

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-13463514423973299342009-12-21T10:12:00.000-05:002009-12-21T10:12:48.876-05:00

In yesterday's Washington Post, Ross Douthat observes (in response to the new film, "Avatar"): "Pantheism has been Hollywood’s religion of choice for a generation now. It’s the truth that Kevin Costner discovered when he went dancing with wolves. It’s the metaphysic woven through Disney cartoons like “The Lion King” and “Pocahontas.” And it’s the dogma of George Lucas’s Jedi, whose mystical

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-34522644508049771502009-12-20T09:33:00.007-05:002009-12-20T09:42:34.281-05:00

It's not every day you get to say "Today's Sunday Services canceled by Act of God!" on the parish website

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-45423036768293177512009-11-28T18:16:00.000-05:002009-11-28T18:16:28.516-05:00

Every year we get all dressed up for the finest feast in all the land, the St Mark's annual Boar's Head Feast. BUT... we're never ready to sing the Boar's Head Carol. The carol was published in 1521, I'm told, although I haven't confirmed. Regardless, we've had enough time to learn by now! THIS year, instead of embarrassing ourselves, let's learn it and practice it in advance! You can

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-12217628614532205272009-11-22T21:17:00.006-05:002009-11-22T21:21:31.070-05:00

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-40427483140862008402009-11-22T05:48:00.003-05:002009-11-22T05:58:58.296-05:00

Nov 22, 2009 – Christ the King. Year B - John 18:33-37 Pilate asks, “Are you the king of the Jews?” (John 18:33) Under the circumstances it’s the right question. Essentially Pilate is asking Jesus how he pleads concerning the charge against him: Does he plead guilty or not guilty of a capital crime, treason, by claiming to be a “king other than Caesar?” Pilate is asking Jesus

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-87832904884001689512009-11-15T06:16:00.000-05:002009-11-15T06:16:50.185-05:00

3 different articles / brochures I collected on Lectio Divina, offered as an introduction: Lectio Divina Lectio Divina is Latin for divine reading, spiritual reading, or "holy reading," and represents a traditional Christian practice of prayer and scriptural reading intended to promote communion with God and to increase in the knowledge of God's Word. It is a way of praying with Scripture that

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-40115026057684057552009-11-12T17:44:00.002-05:002009-11-12T17:47:15.572-05:00

Episcopal Life: Mission Focus [Episcopal News Service] St. Paul's Episcopal Church "just felt so strange" to Victoria Ellis when she first visited the Pomona, California, parish a few years ago. Not the liturgy; the seating. Gone were the once-standard forward-facing stationary wooden pews. Instead, rows of linked rust-colored fabric chairs encircled a 39-inch-diameter terra cotta baptismal

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-16150244929032047772009-11-10T12:30:00.002-05:002009-11-10T12:34:14.239-05:00

MESSIAH, George Frideric Handel Directed by Frances Motyca Dawson Traditional presentation: the Second Sunday in Advent Sunday, Dec.6, 2009 at 7:30 PM Jim Rouse Theater, Columbia MD  Professional soloists include  Amy Van Roekel, Soprano;  Mary Ann McCormick, Mezzo Soprano;  Charles Reid, Tenor;  Lester Lynch, Baritone  with the Columbia Pro Cantare Chorus,  and

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-91807063079441791892009-11-07T19:06:00.009-05:002009-11-07T19:17:22.015-05:00

TUE, FEB 9 Depart Dulles International Airport 9:55 p.m., Air France connecting in Paris to Amman, Jordan. WED, FEB 10, DAY 1: ARRIVE QUEEN ALIA AIRPORT / TRANSFER TO AMMAN 7:10 p.m. Arrive on AF #3886, Transfer to Ramada Hotel, Amman THU, FEB 11, DAY 2: PETRA [map] After breakfast, full-day tour to the Red Rose City Petra. (See information here and here and video here.)Upon arrival you

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-68116302515808952932009-10-22T17:14:00.002-04:002009-10-22T17:14:50.042-04:00

according to Michael Curry:

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-2479419875692886162009-10-21T23:58:00.000-04:002009-10-21T23:58:10.462-04:00

Response from Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams:

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-6883271483166442092009-10-19T13:46:00.001-04:002009-10-19T13:51:37.535-04:00

Sermon preached by the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, bishop of North Carolina, at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Baltimore October 17, 2009. Part 1 of 2, for the institution of the new Dean To see part 2, click here

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-68173265839473175372009-10-19T13:40:00.000-04:002009-10-19T13:49:55.497-04:00

Sermon preached by the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, bishop of North Carolina, at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Baltimore October 17, 2009. Part 2 of 2

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-79202786758642140142009-10-16T14:15:00.005-04:002009-10-16T14:23:57.599-04:00

From the Washington Post By Kathleen Parker   Wednesday, October 7, 2009 For those whose lives revolve primarily around real people in real time and real space, hurry, go hide. Here's what you missed in the social networking universe the past few days: the twittered miscarriage. The banality of twittery just out-twitted itself. Yes, the tweet that gave even the virtual world pause came from

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-90346267545201118542009-10-12T15:18:00.000-04:002009-10-12T15:18:47.004-04:00

About suffering they were never wrong, The Old Masters; how well, they understood Its human position; how it takes place While someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along; How, when the aged are reverently, passionately waiting For the miraculous birth, there always must be Children who did not specially want it to happen, skating On a pond at the edge of the wood: They

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-16728399679815866152009-10-03T14:39:00.000-04:002009-10-03T14:39:04.283-04:00

An Editorial from the Living Church, October 2, 2009 During the past decade, the Episcopal Church has participated in approximately 60 court cases concerning property ownership. These cases involve, to one degree or another, the Dennis Canon, named for the late Rt. Rev. Walter Dennis, former bishop suffragan of the Diocese of New York. The Dennis Canon says this: “All real and personal

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-40748977497737710852009-10-01T20:19:00.000-04:002009-11-01T17:20:39.494-05:00

Myth #1: The most persistent myth about giving /stewardship / tithing is that it has something to do with God's needs, with funding ministry, with church budgets, or with controlling how others use our gifts. These are simply and entirely false. God has no needs. "If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it." (Ps 50.12). Stewardship is not about funding the

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-74114175582657849242009-09-29T22:50:00.001-04:002009-09-29T22:57:34.567-04:00

For everyone who wanted to see where Rachel is teaching: About the American University in Sulaimani The University's website About Sulaymaniyah

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-71975293859250396562009-09-26T21:53:00.000-04:002009-09-26T21:53:25.295-04:00

By the Rt. Rev. Edward S. Little II, Bishop of Northern Indiana Four years ago I wrote an article, “Living With Tares,” responding to an editorial in the evangelical magazine Christianity Today that had described schism as sometimes necessary and offered the Episcopal Church as its primary cautionary tale. I argued that I remain in the Episcopal Church because biblical faithfulness requires me

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-50560892936613099452009-09-07T09:13:00.003-04:002009-09-07T09:33:47.796-04:00

One Sunday in August I was driving to church and listening to NPR's Speaking of Faith, Christa Tippet. She was interviewing Mary Doria Russell, author of The Sparrow and Children of God. It has been a long time since I read these books and I got them both from the library to reread.In August of lectionary year B we read from Jesus' teaching on the meaning of the feeding of the 5000 and his

Madeleine Beard+noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-24281524750932631792009-08-18T11:49:00.024-04:002009-08-18T12:35:21.800-04:00

Nearly 25 years ago a colleague of mine encouraged me to participate in Al-Anon. That experience was an important piece in restructuring my life. The 12 Steps of Al-Anon and similar groups are neither infallible nor the answer to everything in life. However, they are crucial in breaking the isolation that we wrap around ourselves -- and it is that isolation which is the greatest barrier that

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-84550995554960685792009-08-02T23:11:00.001-04:002009-08-02T23:13:59.250-04:00

The Rt. Rev. Dr. N. T. Wright writes:1. In the two days since the Archbishop released his ‘Reflections’ on TEC’s General Convention, they have already generated widely differing responses. We always knew, say some conservatives, that the ABC was a hopeless liberal, and this has confirmed it. Not so, declare many horrified radicals: he has obviously sold out to the conservatives. Some have warmly

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-36337883670664958012009-07-29T10:27:00.004-04:002009-07-29T10:34:51.618-04:00

Communion, Covenant and our Anglican FuturePosted at Anglican Communion News Service1. 1. No-one could be in any doubt about the eagerness of the Bishops and Deputies of the Episcopal Church at the General Convention to affirm their concern about the wider Anglican Communion. Their generous welcome to guests from elsewhere, including myself, the manifest engagement with the crushing problems of

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-20663170844773555962009-07-21T08:47:00.002-04:002009-07-21T08:55:34.045-04:00

Author of Christianity for the Rest of Us, Diana Butler-Bass posted the following on Belief NetThe Real Decline of ChurchesBy: Diana Butler Bass Monday July 20, 2009 Three news stories in recent days point to significant change in the landscape of North American religion. For decades now, the conventional wisdom about church growth has been that only conservative churches--those that take the

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-20681224017978507262009-07-17T00:43:00.006-04:002009-07-17T01:00:17.201-04:00

First, one of my favorite pieces of music is the Peer Gynt Suite by Edvard Grieg.Add that to carefully edited (for sensationalist purposes) video of weird undersea life -- plus a script that is the most yellow of journalism -- and a narrator with a British accent. Mmmmmmm, now we have perfection. Nothing could be finer.Turn up your sound and play THIS -- the following video! (The video has

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-76986637500998958522009-07-13T18:14:00.003-04:002009-09-12T12:29:52.137-04:00

This is been such a great trip! As has been our practice - we begin each morning in silence until we come together to pray. As we pray the psalms together we effectively break our “reflective mode” and return to voice our praise to God and reconnect with each other. After prayer we came together for breakfast and conversation.Well, after a hard day of work on Thursday we headed out to take in

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-87995153744891371802009-07-09T23:04:00.005-04:002009-09-12T12:29:22.785-04:00

Today took a different twist as we stayed on the campus of YWAM Belize to participate in serveral work projects as they prepare for a large youth conference. The team from St. Marks diligently gave six hours to work hard on behalf of our hosts for this pilgrimage week. We broke into teams to accomplish the many tasks at hand. Some worked to clean up around the river bed and swimming hole.

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-75495701752561755812009-07-08T09:58:00.003-04:002009-09-12T12:30:30.744-04:00

Day two began with a breaking of the silence and prayer. We realized after a hot sticky night’s sleep and some lingering exhaustion that some of our team may be dragging. We made a group decision to work as a team to complete a hike needed to arrive at ancient Mayan Ruins. Knowing that we would be faced with the idea of sacrificing for one another, we ventured out into an unpredictable day of

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-33507557669404559862009-07-07T21:54:00.003-04:002009-09-12T12:31:17.344-04:00

We had a wonderful first day on the ground in this tropical paradise. The heat and humidity greeted us warmly and we new from that point forward - water was going to be our best friend.An unexpected surprise - WV and St. Marks made it on the same plane from Miami so there was an immediate connection. We planned and prayed on the airplane - developing an instant friendship.After the long day of

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-49543757120831921162009-07-06T10:08:00.001-04:002009-09-12T12:32:42.256-04:00

St Marks currently enjoys 3 teen groups in its youth ministry: "Rite 13," "Journey to Adulthood" (aka J2A), and "Young Adults in Church" (aka YAC). At 4 am, Monday, July 6, the middle group, J2A, gathered at BWI airport for the launch of its pilgrimage.A "pilgrimage" is not like a mission trip nor is it like a vacation trip. Pilgrimage is one of the ancient, classic spiritual disciplines found

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-11111919823871572812009-07-01T10:58:00.000-04:002009-07-07T11:11:58.460-04:00

A group of 24 adults and teens from St Marks, Trinity, Temple and us spend the last 2 weeks of June in Panama, building a home for a family in the Kuna Nega community.Several us us agreed that of all the mission trips over the years that we've been part of, this one was without doubt the most arduous, but also the most personally satisfying.To view slideshows from several of our missioners, go

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-74572373590782923252009-06-09T17:35:00.004-04:002009-06-09T17:37:33.240-04:00

Working on the Scriptures for this Sunday:I couldn't help myself. I just HAD to point out to Jeanne that God was coaching Samuel how to lie to Saul. (1 Samuel 15:34-16:13)The really important question is this: Why didn't God ever coach ME in deception when I was trying to avoid getting in trouble at home or school when I was a teenager?

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-7140263179435588372009-05-04T09:08:00.001-04:002009-05-04T09:10:38.254-04:00

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-56667419458796726612009-04-21T12:09:00.004-04:002009-04-21T12:37:51.029-04:00

I'd long been looking for the right wireless microphone, after years of frustration with everything I've tried. I'd even tried one of those flesh colored, over the ear mics which are meant to be unobtrusive, yet somehow seem more so for the attempt. But it never fit right on my ear, especially if I put my reading glasses on or took them off when trying to wear the mic.Last year I tried the

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-69788170406877759762009-02-09T09:40:00.010-05:002009-02-09T11:04:35.735-05:00

According to the Wikipedia Entry for "Sayre's Law," it was Wallace Sayre who first said, "In any dispute the intensity of feeling is inversely proportional to the value of the stakes at issue." By way of corollary, it adds: "That is why academic politics are so bitter."But bitterly intense political disputes are not unique to academic settings. You can observe the same intensity of feeling in

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-89734954029165463042009-01-30T13:25:00.002-05:002009-01-30T13:34:43.694-05:00

Speaking at the George Bush Presidential Library, Gov. Mitt Romney addressed the American people about his views on religious liberty, our country grand tradition of religious tolerance and how faith would inform his presidency."Thank you, Mr. President, for your kind introduction."It is an honor to be here today. This is an inspiring place because of you and the First Lady and because of the

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-90297261885049416932009-01-20T19:58:00.004-05:002009-01-20T21:05:42.524-05:00

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou, who has brought us thus far along the way, thou, who has by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path we pray, lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee, lest our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee.Shadowed beneath thy hand, may we forever stand true to thee, oh God, and true to

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-32204901560326338482009-01-03T14:09:00.006-05:002009-01-03T14:23:19.692-05:00

Following several Town Hall Conversations, here is where we currently stand:1) An overwhelming majority are very interested in our doing whatever we need to do to ensure that St Marks continues to grow and progress at a healthy rate of growth. There is particular interest in ensuring that we have sufficient facilities for young families, children and teens.2) An overwhelming majority support our

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-87838617240234689712008-12-22T21:03:00.016-05:002008-12-22T22:05:40.146-05:00

Rick+ writes:I have often said publically that we should always understand God's Great Commission to the Church to include five different kinds of growth:1) our spiritual growth as people ("Experience God")2) our growth into deeper community ("Create Community")3) the growth of our ministry to others ("Mend the World")4) the growth of the parish in terms of size, and5) the sponsoring of new

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-85042407637435228242008-12-19T09:47:00.004-05:002008-12-19T10:32:53.264-05:00

In her recent article, Rich and Rick: A Post-Partisan Parable, Diana Butler Bass notes:For more than a century, American Protestantism has been as divided as American politics. Two camps--modernists and fundamentalists (a.k.a. "liberals" and "conservatives")--have vied for the American soul, with each claiming to the most faithful and most biblical rendering of the Christian religion. As a

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-52846079910009259022008-11-24T10:11:00.001-05:002008-11-24T10:11:28.953-05:00

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-37390755269698577952008-11-02T13:04:00.000-05:002008-11-02T13:05:02.920-05:00

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-73112541515142388702008-09-26T19:09:00.001-04:002008-09-26T19:11:18.883-04:00

Take a look:Call and Response trailer - Justin DillonFor nire info, see Call and Response

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-61795160433897253102008-09-18T15:10:00.006-04:002008-09-18T15:59:25.126-04:00

Some people I greatly admire, appreciate, and respect very much have been "interviewed" on the Colbert Report, and made a mess of things because they thought it was serious. They never got the joke, which made it seem as though the joke were on them.Peter Gomes, however, nailed it. He surprised Colbert a couple of times with quips, which made one wonder who was controlling the "interview" for

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-43085155858706540252008-08-02T22:00:00.006-04:002008-08-02T22:59:10.198-04:00

Some years ago I started a sermon with this question:"What's the most common heresy most Christians ever hear?" After a few guesses were offered, I showed my folded hands and continued:"Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors and see all the people."The congregation laughed and agreed that the people are NOT inside the church, bur rather, they ARE the church. Some churches own

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-33871689542925205102008-05-25T16:50:00.004-04:002008-05-25T17:02:32.103-04:00

April and May were incredibly full months, and I've not had a chance to write here. But I hope soon to spend some time reflecting on some continuing education experiences ("The Clergy Leadership Project" and "Upward Bound") and my most recent pilgrimage to sacred places in Europe and the Middle East.A week ago, while our group of pilgrims steamed westward in the Mediterranean, somewhere between

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-16291329945098946672008-04-16T10:26:00.002-04:002008-04-16T10:29:19.748-04:00

"The best way to do that is to do things together, to do mission together... and then you learn about each other as you go along..."This is great stuff! Please watch this video:"

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-8573928402619548372008-04-05T22:45:00.000-04:002009-01-01T18:21:23.353-05:00

I've heard it said, and tend to believe it, that voluntarism is one of the characteristics of American culture most to be celebrated. The number of hours given to religious, civil, medical, social, private and governmental causes is amazing.I've also noticed that is often confusing as well. Why are some people in an organization paid, while others are unpaid? For example, you might find an unpaid

Rick's Remarksnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-73953509466908094472008-04-03T16:03:00.007-04:002008-04-04T03:27:16.924-04:00

Of the several questions most frequently asked me, one is easier by far to answer than the others. That easier question is “What is your plan for the parish?” My answer is always, “My plan is to build a consensus.” But toward what, you may wonder. Is my plan to offer additional worship services either on site or off site? Or to add new staff? Or to add new buildings? What is “the plan?”My answer

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-37494915520105164222008-03-10T00:23:00.001-04:002008-03-10T00:24:29.770-04:00

Learning to raise strawberries was pretty horrible the first two years. Following my favorite guide, The Joy of Gardening, I ordered five plants the first spring, and carefully set them out in well-prepared soil. So far, so good. But when my family looked at those five lonely plants, they mused, “That doesn’t look like it’s going to provide very many berries. What’s the point?” I was a little

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-63870232878847493942008-01-19T21:42:00.000-05:002008-01-19T21:45:50.037-05:00

Every year during Lent somebody asks whether we are "supposed to" abstain from meat, chocolate, or other things. And every year, somebody else will ask whether we are "supposed to" fast every day, only on Fridays, or every day but Sunday. In these questions, the most important words are "supposed to," because they reveal a basic misunderstanding of the concept of spiritual disciplines.Spiritual

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-47985842726005742872007-12-30T21:40:00.000-05:002008-01-19T21:41:29.978-05:00

This past Christmas season, like every preceding Christmas season I can remember, the television announcers gushed that we mustn’t miss “this very special Christmas episode” of some lame sitcom or hospital show. As usual, there were any number of films and telecasts reflect on “the true meaning of Christmas,” including the 4 billionth broadcast of It’s a Wonderful Life. Based on popular

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-72604040081197838002007-12-25T01:47:00.000-05:002008-12-08T20:11:26.530-05:00

One of the most common symbols associated with Christmas is chronologically, liturgically, and Scripturally out of order.You will find this symbol on Christmas cards, in the majority of nativity scenes in homes and front yards, and in church pageants. And if you can find a copy of the Christmas issue of Life magazine, December 1955, you can see the advertisement for Hilton Hotels, with this

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-25837787645619179282007-12-23T16:32:00.000-05:002007-12-25T01:47:14.359-05:00

Like Jesus himself, and John the Baptist before him, during these 4 weeks of Advent, we have been calling ourselves and the world to Metanoia, to repentance, to rethinking our lives and the life of the world about us, because in the coming of Jesus, the very Kingdom of God has come near.Last week, we told the story in Mt 11 about when things turned sour for John. When he found himself in Herod’s

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-74987038274910443522007-11-16T13:18:00.000-05:002007-11-16T13:25:13.918-05:00

A number of St Markers were at the National Cathedral when the Dean quipped, “most of us go to church for reasons God doesn’t approve of.” That brought a lot of laughter from the group at the time. But I’ve found myself increasingly drawn to wondering, “What,” from God’s point of view, “are the best reasons for coming to church?”I’ve known people who felt superstitiously about church, like

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-18503035473914404732007-11-09T17:32:00.000-05:002007-11-09T17:36:43.430-05:00

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-74339917943272339672007-10-06T16:18:00.000-04:002007-10-06T16:21:14.636-04:00

This past week when several people asked again about some areas of confusion in our liturgy, I realized I needed to offer some clarifications. I hope these help.Frequently Asked Questions about our Liturgy, I -- "Here Ends the Reading" What is the proper response? (BCP, p 357)Lectors may conclude the Scripture reading in two different ways, followed by two different congregational responses. So

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-44081400498543223142007-10-04T12:20:00.000-04:002007-10-04T12:21:23.516-04:00

Sometimes, when we need to experience God more profoundly, we need a shrine: “a sacred place of worship associated with a holy person or event.” Shrines are where we connect, through memory, imagination, contemplation, and prayer, with inspiring people and events in the past.An experience of pilgrimage is often a journey to a shrine. We stand in places where others once gave their hearts, souls

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-73770625167777187522007-09-25T07:18:00.000-04:002007-09-25T07:40:20.716-04:00

Beginning with Luke 15, Jesus uses four parables to explain his shocking orientation toward the traitors, criminals, and other outcasts. He identifies with (and invites all of us, including the scribes and pharisees, to join in this identification with) a shepherd who leaves the 99 for the 1, a woman who searches for the precious coin, a betrayed father who welcomes the horrible son, and a fired

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-40915109207390500002007-08-16T17:37:00.000-04:002007-08-16T18:05:54.177-04:00

Many of you know that the last time I went on a spiritual pilgrimage (August 2006, last year), I was back-packing through Italy, Eastern Europe and Turkey. On that trip, there were sometimes a bed at night, sometimes not, sometimes a shower, but often not, sometimes the security of both a roof and a locking door at night, but usually not, sometimes the opportunity to wash out one's clothing in a

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-3200375263942589692007-07-26T11:00:00.000-04:002007-07-26T11:19:49.449-04:00

The June 11th edition of the Washington Post carried an article titled “Foreign Missionaries Find Fertile Ground in Europe.” The article reports, “Churches in countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, South Korea and the Philippines have sent thousands of missionaries to Europe to set up churches in homes, office buildings and storefronts. Officials from the Redeemed Christian Church of God, a

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-29962175324500714162007-07-04T23:14:00.000-04:002007-07-04T23:15:54.488-04:00

Unchained by IdealismBy Michael GersonWednesday, June 20, 2007; Page A19In many quarters, the role of religion in public life and foreign policy is under question as a source of hatred and extremism. But this year marks the 200th anniversary of history's strongest counterexample -- the strange, irrational end of the British slave trade.By 1820, some 2.6 million Europeans had left their homes for

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-11459601455889987612007-06-26T13:59:00.000-04:002007-06-26T14:17:39.142-04:00

Sociologists of religion spent a great deal of time and ink thinking about the sudden and precipitous decline of mainline denominations in the United States beginning in the late 1960s. The Episcopal Church, along with the United Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans and others seemingly entered into free fall, losing millions of members. By the end of that decade, 10 of the largest

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-57864219087752111392007-06-26T00:14:00.000-04:002007-06-26T00:16:17.529-04:00

As I approach the fifth anniversary of my relationship with St Marks, I am increasing aware that I feel enormously different about my life and ministry now than I did five years ago. For one thing, during these five years I’ve reached some clarity about a number of questions I’ve pondered and explored for decades. Most of these questions were about faith, meaning, purpose, and the nature of

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-72638060066785948642007-05-12T21:32:00.000-04:002008-12-08T20:11:26.805-05:00

Most likely I’ll have trouble sleeping tonight because I’m so excited. Early tomorrow morning I’ll join 4 dozen others sporting bright orange T-shirts emblazoned with DreamBuilders 2007 as we gather at BWI for the early flight to Biloxi.Two weeks ago I met the Bishop of Mississippi, who participated in our annual Diocesan Convention. As he spoke movingly to us about the Episcopal congregations

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-85163435343289424072007-04-24T23:05:00.000-04:002007-04-26T13:38:05.112-04:00

From time to time, and again recently, I am asked this question:can you address the relationship between the Last Supper and the Passover meal?"Hmmmm," I say, "Do you want the short answer? Or a more complete answer?""Ummm," they answer, nervously, "How about the the short answer?""There is no relationship.""WHAT???""There is no relationship. That's the short answer."They sigh. They groan. They

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-9328676227133501412007-04-21T23:23:00.000-04:002007-04-21T23:25:39.370-04:00

During the interview, the presidential hopeful expressed among other things that what people needed and wanted was someone who could heal and unify our nation. As I thought back over presidential campaigns for as long as I can remember, I seem to remember hearing that in every campaign.Four years later, we hear it again: we still need someone to heal and unify our nation.Clint Eastwood's most

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-55012061907914825322007-04-06T08:07:00.000-04:002007-04-19T11:33:03.814-04:00

One careless sentence, darn it, leads to writing out not only a correction, but an explanation of the material. On the other hand, it's such exciting material! So here goes!--------------------------------------------So, if Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, when exactly does it end?Well, one would assume it would be Easter, of course. Except if one begins on Ash Wednesday and starts counting the days

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-3953616869901176882007-04-04T11:45:00.000-04:002007-04-19T11:33:28.792-04:00

One of the St Marks' parishioners sent me to one of those online "character surveys." It may not have the empirical verification or the depth of the MMPI, but it's free and quick. What more could you ask?http://www.tk421.net/character/It turns out that I'm apparalently a Galadriel. Well, shoot. I would have aspired to be a Gandalf, of course. But at least I'm not an Inigo Montoya!

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-88857301603186028082007-03-22T22:25:00.000-04:002007-03-22T22:29:36.643-04:00

Increasing numbers of people are asking me, both with increasing frequency and increasing concern, “what will happen to the Anglican Communion?” You have no doubt observed that I very seldom address these questions, and when I do, I usually say something like, “well, these things move slowly, it is too soon to tell, and I am not impressed that any of the overly confident, self-proclaimed pundits

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-76683564926695365232007-01-27T06:40:00.000-05:002007-01-27T06:43:42.163-05:00

A year or two ago, when visiting my mother, I asked her about an old black and white photograph hanging on the wall. It pictured our family standing in front of our home, apparently on our way to someplace special.After trying unsuccessfully to remember the occasion, I finally gave up and asked, “Mom? When was this? Where were we going?” “Oh,” she said, “That was Easter Sunday. We were going

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-32810055525153831542007-01-12T12:40:00.000-05:002007-01-12T12:51:41.606-05:00

William Chaney, pastor of West Baltimore UMC, wrote the following:How do we know that we are making disciples? What are the activities in the congregation that are producing disciples? These are questions that I am wrestling with.Making disciples is not a classroom process for intellectual engagement. I fear that too many of our churches view making disciples in that way. Making disciples is

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-41816951266665796712007-01-08T11:25:00.000-05:002007-01-08T11:29:09.038-05:00

The Barna Research Group published the following, which is something that conventional church leaders should mull over. There is something to learn about ourselves, our world, our ministry, and our future:House Churches Are More Satisfying to Attenders Than Are Conventional ChurchesJanuary 8, 2007With the growth of house churches across the country, a new study by The Barna Group sheds light on

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-1167611923910618042006-12-31T19:36:00.000-05:002006-12-31T19:38:43.926-05:00

As you read this, I expect your calendar claims it is 2007. That’s not yet the case for me, however. For me, while I am writing this, it’s still 2006. In a few days we’ll celebrate the 4th Sunday of Advent, and then later, that night, we’ll experience the magic of Christmas —especially during our spectacular “Midnight Mass”, and a week later a New Year’s Eve party and a trading in of my old

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-1164988526632244692006-12-01T10:49:00.000-05:002006-12-01T10:55:26.643-05:00

In Namibia, in West Africa, a country ravaged by the AIDS crisis, many orphans were being neglected, even though the country got $161 million in foreign aid from the U.S. government. A little church in Maryland decided it should help. Members of the Mount Zion United Methodist Church decided that they'd use their own money to build and fund an orphanage, The Children of Zion Village, in Namibia.

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-1163916661938446172006-11-19T01:08:00.000-05:002006-11-19T01:12:53.506-05:00

Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light... Isaiah 60.1-3He looked back down the road. He’d obviously taken a wrong turn somewhere. He could retrace his steps, but

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-1162693959913139132006-11-04T21:19:00.000-05:002006-11-04T21:35:13.740-05:00

While thinking about Barbara Taylor Brown's book, Leaving Church, I stumbled across the the "Naked Religion" blog, where I read this:There is an epidemic occurring right under the nose of church middle judicatories and no one seems to notice. Young pastors (less than five years in the ministry) are leaving in droves. The Lilly Foundation has poured millions of dollars into “Sustaining Pastoral

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-1161870047845021582006-10-26T09:31:00.000-04:002006-10-26T09:40:47.860-04:00

Ok, am I reading this right? Did I miss an opportunity for some good, wholesome, family entertainment last night? Did the ABC Family ("the destination for quality, contemporary family entertainment") REALLY show a film called "Satan's School for Girls"???????????????????????????

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-1161704878117143682006-10-24T11:45:00.000-04:002006-10-24T11:49:25.006-04:00

It’s astonishing how often one particular idea shows up in American popular culture — how central it is to our stories and art. This idea shows up everywhere. It’s the name of a band, the title of the theme song for Rocky II, and the subject of our best stories, poems, and books, including Hugo’s Les Miserables, Tolkein’s The Lord of the Rings, Rowlings’ Harry Potter series, and any film by

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-1156971166245098302006-08-30T16:17:00.001-04:002009-11-07T16:06:51.519-05:00

Six days ago, I prayed while standing in the 25,000-seat theatre in Ephesus where the mob threatened St Paul and St Paul proclaimed the Good News. With my feet planted on the floor of the theatre, I could look up at the hill toward the ruins of the prison where they held him those days. Five days ago I prayed at the tomb of St John the Apostle, in the ruins of St John's basilica, on a hill

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-1155430212396578692006-08-12T20:47:00.000-04:002006-08-12T20:58:29.480-04:00

Tomorrow I hop a plane, step one in a journey to go backpacking in Turkey.I’m so not ready. I haven’t learned Turkish, although I’ve been staring at this language book, repeating sounds from a CD, and am not at all sure that it will help me ask anyone in Istanbul, Pazar yeri nerede? (Where’s the bazaar?) And hopefully I won’t need to know Ambulans cagirin. (Call an ambulance!) I’m so not

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-1153755886909786572006-07-24T11:39:00.000-04:002006-07-24T11:52:32.086-04:00

Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote:Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end all his disciples deserted him. On the Cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers.(Life Together, p. 27)Fewer than nine years after writing these words, only a few days before Allied forces liberated the concentration camp in which he was imprisoned, Bonhoeffer was hung by special

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-1150781159117556912006-06-20T01:22:00.000-04:002006-06-20T01:33:35.096-04:00

Here we go again!2002: 8 teens and 4 adults from St Mark's traveled to West Virginia to work with Habitat for Humanity. By 2004, the annual mission trip grew to 60 missioners from 4 parishes (adding Ascension, Trinity and St. Peter's). By 2005: Under the name of Dream Builders, the team of 80 missioners flew to New Mexico to construct two homes in one week.Working side-by-side with the new

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-1149520799891750852006-06-05T11:17:00.000-04:002006-06-05T11:19:59.986-04:00

Barna's research group reports:There were significant correlations between claiming to have experienced faith-driven transformation and engagement in various faith-oriented behaviors. For instance, people who read the Bible regularly were more than twice as likely as those who do not to have undergone faith-based transformation, and the same pattern was true among those who attend a church

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-1149391290906656192006-06-03T23:20:00.000-04:002006-06-03T23:36:28.640-04:00

And who wouldn't want to meet the Man in the Mirror?Click below for Groucho Marx's famous mirror gag.

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-1148743102041004152006-05-27T10:58:00.000-04:002006-05-27T11:21:56.346-04:00

Eugene Peterson introduced me to the spiritual discipline of journal keeping. Actually it was Eugene Peterson who introduced me to most of the spiritual disciplines I've ever practiced. Not that I hadn't heard of spiritual disciplines, of course. Most of us have heard of many, many things we've never tried. But there's a huge difference between hearing about something and seriously practicing

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-1148602360374287872006-05-25T19:40:00.000-04:002006-05-25T20:17:32.276-04:00

When my mother waxed eloquent about Walk the Line, I rented the video -- and greatly enjoyed it.The opening, at Folsom Prison during a break in Johnny Cash's famous live concert, draws one immediately into the darkness of a painful life. Clearly there are demons here. Once alerting us to the direction to be explored, the film fades into flashback to begin the story. If one's image of Cash is

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10442033.post-1148418642916789062006-05-23T17:08:00.000-04:002006-05-23T17:14:13.736-04:00

Part way through the 9 am worship service I hear static coming from the speaker over on the starboard side of the nave. (That's the right side if you're sitting in a pew in the main section. And don't give me any grief for saying "starboard." It's a NAVE for crying out loud.) krritchhhh krritchhhhhhhhh So I glance over toward the speaker and listen carefully, and yes, there it is again:

Rick+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01080839709651723548noreply@blogger.com0