I am happy to share that my new book will be published very soon, from Crossroad Publishing Company: The Heart of a Calling: The Practice of Christian Mindfulness in Congregational Ministry. The book takes my doctoral thesis and reframes it into a (hopefully) more readable format, and it features reflections...
Hello, People of Grace, I love this time of year! The weather turns and morning walks are invigorating rather than feeling like you’re pushing through Jello. I hope you are well. The Vestry and Medical Advisory Team have been discussing our current situation with decreasing COVID-19 cases and our need...
On a brief stop in the Arizona desert country, I remember the game we played of trying to remain upright when standing on sand that was constantly shifting beneath our feet, moved by changes happening both below the ground and above it. For some of us, the rapid changes in...
Last week, the vestry met and looked at all the factors of our common life: where we are in regards to Covid cases, where we are in regards to our pastoral needs for fellowship and community life, and where we are in regards to our fatigue. These remain complex days,...
Honestly, it feels like plagues at this point, doesn’t it? With the injuries some are managing, the ongoing rise in virus cases—and the cultural tensions around what it means to live in community and be responsible—and now this. As you may have heard, the bell tower was directly hit by...
For a while now, we have been watching the increasing number of cases of the Delta variant of the Covid virus, and uncertainty has been rising. We hoped we had reached the supposed end of our struggle with this virus, but that appears not to be the case. We do believe there...
I am excited to share that Meg McPeek has accepted the position of Director of Children of Grace Preschool. She has most recently served as the Assistant Director since 2019, but she has taught various classes for the past few years as well. Meg brings with her a wealth of...
I am so excited to share with you that Lynn Swanson has agreed to serve as our Interim Organist and Choir Director. One reason I am excited is that Lynn and I had the opportunity to work together for a few years at my prior parish, St. Benedict’s, in Smyrna,...
Dear People of Grace, I hope this note finds you doing well as we reach the mid-summer point. I have returned to the office, and it has been wonderful to be here with the team, settling in to a pattern that was beautifully nurtured while I was away. I am...
As you know, I will be away for May and June for my sabbatical time. It promises to be a time of rest, reading, reading--and road trips. I thought it might be helpful to share a bit about what I will focus on, as well as some logistical details during...