Magic in the Desert, A Spring That Speaks

Mr. Jude Aaron Harmon, Seminarian

"A leper came to Jesus begging him, and kneeling he said to him, 'If you choose, you can make me clean.' Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, 'I do choose. Be made clean!' Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean." Gospel according to...

A Church on the Move

The Reverend Rebecca Justice Schunior, Assistant Rector

In this year, we are reading stories from the Gospel of Mark. This has never been my favorite gospel with its “and immediately Jesus did that..and immediately Jesus did this.” It’s too fast paced for me. Yet I always want to examine a seemingly random connection – for example, the name of our...

A Statute of Liberty

The Reverend Paul Roberts Abernathy, Rector

      Though in the midst of winter, it’s not too early to contemplate November and our national quadrennial exercise in democracy as we, the people (with the guidance of the Electoral College!), elect the president of the United States.

      This comes to mind as I reflect almost...

Knowing God Through Images

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

          In today’s reading of Jonah some of you may have noticed that we skipped a few verses.  Unfortunately, those who make the decisions on our lectionary texts saw fit to cut out one of my favorite stories in all of scripture.  If you’ll bear with me, I’d like to read the four dropped...

Vocation and Community

The Reverend Rebecca Justice Schunior, Assistant Rector

Several days ago I was out with a friend who asked me a theological question, “Is it okay to be jealous of Jesus?” I think she was wondering if it was okay as in, was it blasphemous to envy the Son of God, would God smite her or put her on some naughty list. “Well,” I said, “given that Jesus...

Cracking the Door Open

The Reverend Rebecca Justice Schunior, Assistant Rector

            How to put this scene we’ve just witnessed in context? How to sum up in as few words as possible the play Arcadia? It’s impossible. It’s doomed. Summarizing the plot quickly is like trying to explain the laws of quantum physics before you’ve had your morning coffee. Not that I...

Our Name Day

The Reverend Rebecca Justice Schunior, Assistant Rector

I’ve always had mixed feelings about my name. Introducing myself always necessitates some explaining. Justi, not Jesse, short for Justice…Justice, like liberty and Justice for all. And my last name is Schunior. No really, it’s not as hard as it looks. It rhymes with Junior. Like many...

Glory

The Reverend Paul Roberts Abernathy, Rector

The Word became flesh and lived among us. We have seen his glory.[1]

John, the evangelist, was a close friend of Jesus: at the crucifixion, caring for Jesus’ mother,[2] after the resurrection, sharing the Jesus-story with the world. With one word, John proclaims the meaning of Jesus’...

Out of darkness into light

The Reverend Paul Roberts Abernathy, Rector

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who lived in a land of deep darkness, on them light has shined.[1]

Twenty-seven hundred years ago, Isaiah, spoke to a captive people, prophesying that a king from the ancestral line of David would come to the rescue, a...

Witnessing Like John the Baptist

The Reverend Rebecca Justice Schunior, Assistant Rector

Some of you may be like me – you desire to use Advent as a time of spiritual reflection. Advent is a counter cultural time when we try to resist the busyness and commercialization of Christmas. I always feel like I and others can do better at this. So, I’m trying to pay particular attention...