Posts from June 2020

Dear Christ Church Family, It is with some sadness that Rob and I announce the suspension of our Daily Devotionals as of the beginning of this next week. We have loved doing them. And it has meant a lot to both of us to know from your wonderful comments that they have been greatly appreciated by you. So, we do not do this lightly. Here’s why this is necessary.  As most of you are hearing now, Christ Church has developed a plan to…

Dear Christ Church Family, What could the writings of an Episcopal mystic and the discoveries of a brilliant physicist have in common? A whole lot! Take a look. Peace,Rick+ Thursday, June 25, 2020                       RCL Daily Office Readings, Year 2 AM Psalm 105:1-22PM Psalm 105:23-45Num. 17:1-11Rom. 5:1-11Matt. 20:17-28 Saints Days James Weldon Johnson Psalm 105: An Infinite Web. In our Psalm for today, the Psalmist says this:             “Sing to God, sing praises to him;                  tell of all his wonderful works           …

Good morning, Christ Church! Before getting to this morning’s devotion, I want to apologize for an error in Friday’s offering. I made a reference to the Lectionary when I really meant the Daily Office. The Lectionary is, of course, the three-year cycle of readings we hear on Sunday mornings and other major feast days. The Daily Office is the two-year cycle of reading we make use of throughout the week when offering Morning and Evening Prayer. During this time of…

Dear Christ Church Family, Is there a Divine Signature upon Creation? The Psalmists clearly think so. The message of Scripture, from the Genesis Creation Story to its retelling in the Gospel According to John, also conveys this message. How about a retelling in the language of Physics? Take a look. Peace,Rick+ Tuesday, June 23, 2020                        RCL Daily Office Readings, Year 2 AM Psalm 97, 99, [100]PM Psalm 94, [95]Num. 16:20-35Rom. 4:1-12Matt. 19:23-30 Psalms 95 and 100: The Divine Signature. Our Psalms continue…

Dear Christ Church Family, How big is your God? Big enough to be Creator of the Universe? A multi-universe? It may seem like an unnecessary thing to ask, but it’s not. For too many, God is too small. So how big is yours? Peace,Rick+ Monday, June 22, 2020                        RCL Daily Office Readings, Year 2 AM Psalm 89:1-18PM Psalm 89:19-52Num. 16:1-19Rom. 3:21-31Matt. 19:13-22 Saints Days Alban Psalm 89: Toward a Christian Cosmology. Recently, I preached on the grandeur of God, as our…

Good morning, Christ Church! God certainly moves in mysterious ways. Today is Juneteenth. It is a commemoration that I was only vaguely aware of until the events of the last several weeks changed everything. On this day, we remember the emancipation of all enslaved people being finally declared on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, one of the last remaining outposts of the Confederacy. The Emancipation Proclamation was intended to bring to a conclusion one of the two great “original…

Dear Christ Church Family, Good news! Phase II starts on Monday! We are preparing for small gatherings again; actual face-to-face get-togethers, though still limited, to start up again at Christ Church. Even greater news! We are working on the plans for even more down the road. So, our Lord’s words in our Gospel lesson for today are timely. They remind us of why even the smallest of gatherings are important to us as his followers. Have a listen. Peace,Rick+ Thursday,…

Good morning, Christ Church! Rick+ has invited me to start writing the devotions for Wednesdays as well as Fridays. I am happy to do so. I just hope that I don’t wear out my welcome. I have been re-reading a book by Jaroslav Pelikan entitled, “Interpreting the Bible & The Constitution.” It is a fascinating comparison of these two “Great Codes” and how the interpretation of each over the centuries has provided the framework upon which the respective communities are…

Dear Christ Church Family, Can people change? Yes, if God, our creator, is working that change. Can our life’s obstacles be overcome? Yes, if God, our guide, is clearing our path. The things that impede us, especially those impediments to life within us, can change too, if we remember and invite God’s power to work miracles in us. Our Psalmist today reminds us that this is what God does. Peace,Rick+ Tuesday, June 16, 2020                        RCL Daily Office Readings, Year…

Dear Christ Church Family, The Lord’s Prayer has several petitions that require some explanation if we are to understand their full meaning. However, because we are so familiar with the words, we can go for a long time without thinking about those fuller meanings. One petition in particular has been brought to my attention by a question I was recently asked, and that question needs an answer. Maybe it’s a question you’ve asked yourself. Here’s that petition’s fuller meaning explained.…