Keep Awake!

The Reverend Paul Roberts Abernathy, Rector

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

With the kids jingle-belling

And everyone telling you,

“Be of good cheer.”

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.[1]

Whoa! I’m getting ahead, way ahead of myself!

Yes, Christmas is near. Less than a month away. And, yes, many of...

A Lesson from a Leper on Thankfulness

The Reverend Rebecca Justice Schunior, Assistant Rector

Why did one of the lepers turn back?  What was it that made him stop in his tracks and return the way he came?  Return back to throw himself face down before the face of Jesus in gratitude.  Maybe it was because his mother raised him right.  Maybe he always wrote thank you cards and brought a...

Citizenship in the Kingdom of God

The Reverend Rebecca Justice Schunior, Assistant Rector

Many years ago, when I was trying to make ends meet by cobbling several jobs together, I ended up teaching citizenship class for new immigrants. I was excited to teach this class because I thought it would be inspiring to introduce American history and culture to people wanting to be a part...

Zephaniah in 3D

Kristen L. Hawley, Seminarian (The Virginia Theological Seminary)

There is a hopeful verse in the book of Zephaniah, but we won’t hear it today.  Today we get the full force of God’s anger and wrath as shared via the prophet.  God’s judgment is upon us, as heirs of Judah – what shall we do with it?  Be silent – says Zephaniah.  Put a sock in it, sit down...

This is the life…for all the saints

The Reverend Paul Roberts Abernathy, Rector

For all the saints, who from their labors rest,

who thee by faith before the world confessed,

thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.

Alleluia![1]

I, John, looked, and there was a vast and numberless multitude from all nations, tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the...

The Case for Gentle Humility

The Reverend Rebecca Justice Schunior, Assistant Rector

Several years ago, I attended a weekend retreat with the preeminent early church scholar, Dr. Roberta Bondi. Specifically, we were engaging her work on the teachings of the desert fathers – those monks in the ancient church who left the cities and dwelt in communities in remote areas. Her...

Two Hymns and Home

The Reverend William Flanders

For more than 40 years I have been a song writer and a hymn writer.  My writing started just after the year I spent here as assistant rector to Bill Baxter.  The creativity and free expression of St. Markʼs certainly promoted my first song.  The song was called “Iʼm Burning up,” and it went...

A Capital Conversation

The Reverend Paul Roberts Abernathy, Rector

Paul     Mornin’, Cecilia!

Cecilia Mornin’, Paul. What’s got you so amused today?

Paul     Oh, I was just thinking. You know how I always refer to Senior Wardens not as my “partners in crime,” but as my “partners in the sublime”?

Cecilia Yes.

Paul     Well, don’t you...

Remembering Jim Adams

The Reverend Canon Tony Barnard, former Canon Chancellor of Lichfield Cathedral, U.K.

I met Jim- or I should rather say- our families met in 1972. It was a rather difficult time for our family, as we had just moved to Salisbury, following the merger with Wells Theological College, and Jim came on sabbatical from St Mark’s. We were thrown together and formed a deep friendship,...

In Memoriam: James Rowe Adams

H. Crane Miller

Birth – a beginning;

Death – a destination;

And life – a journey,

A sacred pilgrimage.

      For many their experience with Jim through sermons, classes, conversations, and in his books was, as Dave Willson put it, a thousand “aha” moments. Jim didn’t tell you what to believe but...