We are a small Episcopal Church on the banks of the Rappahannock in Port Royal, Virginia. We acknowledge that we gather on the traditional land of the first people of Port Royal, the Nandtaughtacund, and we respect and honor with gratitude the land itself, the legacy of the ancestors, and the life of the Rappahannock Tribe. Our mission statement is to do God’s Will in all that we do.

Sunday’s Thoughts

Sunday’s Thoughts – June 30, 2024

We had almost 90 people at this service. Our congregation was supplemented with prior members, Catherine’s friends from other churches, local friends, and family. It was like a giant homecoming. Some came for the service, the reception afterwards and both.

In addition she provided a tangible gift to all in the service -a votive candle made from old candles burned at St. Peter’s. It took most of the week to get the process down. It is a symbol of what we hear. God encourages us to make all things new as well as the love she holds for this community. She brought them to the service to distribute which provided a time to connect.

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Sunday’s Thoughts – June 9, Pentecost 3 – Think and Do Differently

Today’s reading from Mark 3 recounts the further build up of opposition to Jesus’ ministry. Mark 3:20-35 tells of Jesus’ homecoming after he called his first disciples and the reception he received. “The crowd came together again, so that Jesus and his disciples could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.”

The opposition was after Jesus using labels. People had begun to talk about Jesus and were spreading some rumors and tales, including that Jesus was possessed by Beelzebul. It wasn’t just that – Jesus was busy healing and preaching. He was developing a following that didn’t follow the teaching of the established groups around him – pharisees, scribes and even his family. That may have been the rub

Bishop Curry’s “Crazy Christians” address to the 2012 General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Indianapolis equated “gone out his mind” to being crazy. “His call then was for all of use to be a little crazy ‘We need some Christians who are as crazy as the Lord. Crazy enough to love like Jesus, to give like Jesus, to forgive like Jesus, to do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God — like Jesus. Crazy enough to dare to change the world from the nightmare it often is into something close to the dream that God dreams for it. And for those who would follow him, those who would be his disciples, those who would live as and be the people of the Way? It might come as a shock, but they are called to craziness.’ He cited Mary Magdalene who stayed with Jesus through the crucifixion when the other disciples deserted; Harriet Beacher Stowe who wrote about “the brutality, the injustice, the inhumanity of the institution of chattel slavery” in Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Steve Jobs who encouraged us to “think differently..because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

Jesus enlarged his family beyond biological ties to those accept and follow God. Jesus, who is doing good works, cannot be possessed by a demon, for what he is doing is the complete opposite of what demonic forces would do.

Catherine sermon in 2012 creates fictional discussion based on the Gospel. This actually relates to Proper 9, Mark 6:1-13 but the issues are similar.

“We’re putting ourselves at risk, because Jesus is not that gentle stained glass God, who never leaves the church building, but the man who expects his disciples to follow the Way that God set out for him, a way of witness, of service, and of healing out in the world.

“What does this expectation of Jesus for his disciples require of us? Three things that are essential for discipleship today jump out at me from this passage.

“In Christian community, we discern together the will of God, hopefully avoiding the trap of taking up a human agenda that co-opts God’s will. And that old cliché is so true—“Two heads are better than one.” Facing risks and unexpected situations is easier together than alone. Jesus made sure that the disciples had companionship in place before he sent them out.

“Second, borrowing from Alcoholics Anonymous, Let Go and Let God. The disciples found out that when they set aside their own power, and let God work through them, they really could proclaim the good news, and that God really could cast out demons, and heal the sick through them. God can work through us as well if we are willing to set aside our own need for power and let God’s healing power flow through us.

“Third, and one of the most important lessons for us, who live in such a materialistic and self sufficient society is to travel light. We can’t seem to risk leaving home today without taking with us all of our electronic devices and our chargers, and our stash of water, and all of the other particular clothes and shoes our trip might require.

“And yet, Jesus sends the disciples out on their mission trip dressed in one tunic, a pair of sandals, and carrying only a staff—just as Moses and Aaron, sent on a mission from God to free the Israelites, went before Pharaoh wearing sandals and carrying only a staff.

“The point is that they were not to depend on their own self-sufficiency, but on God. As Paul says in his letter to the Corinthians, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”

“When God sends us out, hopefully we trust God enough to go out dependent on God’s grace, rather than our own self-sufficiency.

“In our petitions in the prayers for the newly baptized, we ask God “to send them out into the world in witness to your love.” As disciples of Jesus, that is the calling for each and every one of us here today.

“So when you leave this place, go out into the world in witness to God’s love. Go with God and with your Christian companions.

Sunday’s Thoughts, June 2, 2024

A lovely collect this Sunday was a good start – “On this day of rest and gladness, we praise you, God of creation, for the dignity of work and the joy of play, for the challenge of witness and the invitation to delight at your table. Renew our hearts through your sabbath rest, that we might be refreshed to continue in your work of restoring the world to wholeness. Amen”

It is all about energy – work, play, witness, renewal and restoration.

This sense of energy carried through to the blessing-
“May the light of God illumine the heart of our souls.
May the flame of Christ kindle us to love.
May the fire of the Spirit free us to live.
This day, and forever more.”

We had the Rev. Shirley Smith Graham to talk to the congregation about the transition, planning and next steps. Johnny and the Vestry are handling this.

The sermon use the clay pots metaphor to illustrate Paul’s reading from Corinthians – “We have this treasure in clay jars.” In one case light can shine through and another it cannot. This was acted out by three children helpers. It provided examples of how St. Peter’s lets light shine through – the Village Harvest distributing food, the Jamaica project providing educational materials, the work with other organizations in the area including the schools, Sacred Ground providing scholarships.

We had another one coming up this month in June. Some of the best ministries are home grown and we have Shred-It that is a combination of fellowship, ecological goodness and outreach. On June 12, 1:30pm bring your documents to the church to be securely shred. Enjoy the fellowship with neighbors. Make a monetary contribution to St. Peter’s outreach for keeping your documents safe, secure and out of the landfill.

“Only God could give this small church the power to accomplish these things. God’s power works in us so that God’s glory can shine out through us.”

A nod to the transition – We are going to get broken in this life and suffer “big and and little deaths”. But these can be beneficial ” Change cracks us open so that new light and life can flow in and then back out into the world. Churches in transition are in the process of dying to what has been so that they can be open to the new life that will be, new life and light that they can then pour out into the world.”

Paul had the last word in the sermon – “Paul was right. We do have this treasure of God’s light in clay jars. So may we welcome the breaking, the spilling, the hardships, and the changes that life brings to each one of us and to our church. For through us, Jesus is already coming again in glory every time we get broken apart and his light shines and pours out through our brokenness into the world”

Sunday Thoughts, May 26, 2024

As Catherine mentioned in the service we had most of the people confirmed or received here from last week’s Pentecost. (We had 26 at the service today). Catherine also thanked the congregation for helping with the care for Thom Guthrie who died May 8, 2024. It was the hospitality that was the key combined with music opportunities, singing and some organ playing. Positive upbeat service

The sermon continued the Pentecost theme of the coming of the Holy Spirit. “ Spirit is God’s imaginative creativity, a constant wind blowing over, around and through the chaos in which we find ourselves living,  a wind bringing life out of death.  “God’s Spirit is a constant wind of creative imaginative love that will blow through us if we open ourselves to that wind.  The Spirit blows away our blindness.  The Spirit is a cleansing wind that purifies our hearts.  The Spirit frees our imaginations so that God’s creative power can work through us-“Glory to God whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.” 

We have to sacrifice the comfortable ways we have built for possibly better ways provided by the Holy Spirit.

The Trinity is the Central Mystery of the Christian Faith and Life 

The genius of Trinity is that a Nicene Creed created over a long period solved the doctrinal problems for the most part until 1024 when the Orthodox split. It’s how we learn to work with others is the key.


Sunday’s Thoughts, Pentecost, May 19, 2024

1 There were many “moving parts” during this service which remarkably moved together and created a memorable service. The only concern was the weather with the outdoor concert and reception. The weather held! The reception was divided up between the kitchen for people to get their food and to converse with the bishop with tables outside for people to enjoy the music.

2. Some parts of the service were the culmination of months of activity. Initially they moved at a slower pace but today they were up to speed. The three to be confirmed spent two months on Thursday nights to understand confirmation and to decide if they really wanted to go through with it. At the end they contributed to the process of organizing the procession. The choir spent months learning the prelude “Let the Whole Creation Cry”.

3. Those who were part of the reception had to be organized to decide who was bringing what. The choir had to prepare as well the “Tongues of Fire” on the last hymn. The “Little Falls Bluegrass band” had to be booked and coordinated when they were to appear. Cookie had to prepare the altar and outside flowers.

4. The Bishop has been in this position for 22 years. Going to a new church means going through a check list. And of course a special sermon for both Pentecost and the presentation. The presentation involving two churches had to be worked out. The priests involved have much to do leading up to the service. We made time for the Bishop an hour before the service for her to talk to the confirmands. One unique feature during the service was her conversing individually with each which made the process more meaningful to all at the end.

5. The bishop also contributed to her choir with her sonorous voice. She also gave an impromptu talk prior to the reception in the Parish House about General Convention coming up in June.

6. And then there was Pentecost. 50 days since Easter. As the Bishop says the second most important Sunday of the year (behind Easter). We had to make sure to extinguish the Paschal candle for the last time. “Hail Thee, Festival Day” is sung almost every Pentecost. It is a difficult hymn the way it is organized and requires practice. But there is nothing better for Pentecost!

6. It was both an enjoyable and meaningful day. 9 people between two churches, St Peter’s and St Paul’s, king George were confirmed or received.

Sunday’s Thoughts – March 24, 2024

An article in the 2024 edition of Living Well Through Lentpiqued my interest. It is about the bystanders on Palm Sunday and written by Victoria Garvey.

Many of the characters in the Palm Sunday Liturgy we know well- Pilate, Jesus, Peter, Judas, Barabbas, Mary Magdalene. We don’t see any such leaders in the “crowd.” Garvey writes “Only after Jesus’ arrest does the tide turn, and the “crowd” moves from support to condemnation because they listened to loud voices muttering fake news, because they were afraid to be counted among the risk-takers, because they feared losing hold of their own tenuous grasp of what was deemed acceptable behavior by their contemporaries. Over and over, we are reminded that even those closest to Jesus during his ministry are capable of turning way, of betrayal and cowardice.”

This sounds like today. We listen to the loudest voices, not necessarily those who makes the most sense. We tend to be timid over confrontation. And then there is the issue of fake news. We don’t analyze what we hear and assume those who speak or write have facts and/or reality on their side.

Bishop Robert Wright of the Diocese of Atlanta in his message prior to Palm Sunday considers that we prefer a Jesus who looks at issues in particular ways, particularly those we on which we agree. Facts and logic may not have been applied.

“The rise of Christian nationalism in our nation is us crying out “crucify him” because Jesus chooses to be Messiah in a particular way: unbought by any political party and unbiased toward race, gender or country of origin. Biased only towards sharing and healing those in pain. It seems we prefer a Jesus who votes as we vote, lives where we live and who hates who we hate.

Sunday’s Thoughts – March 17, 2024

We are heading down the last lap. John is here to wrap it up with his mystical interpretation of events with a chronology that is all his own.

The word “glorify” or derivation of that appears four times in one Gospel reading. Looking it up it means to “honor” but it must mean more. John talks about glorifying his name – “Father, glorify your name.” John Piper writes about this -“When God glorifies a human being, he grants to that person the privilege of beholding his infinite beauty and becoming like him as much as a creature can”. His references are Romans and not John

“Father, glorify your name.” The idea is to approach the truth of God in direct connection to God.

For us it is dying to the things of the earth, the greed,the sin, and approach God on his own terms. We have to have a new heart and substitute God’s desires for us for the desires of this world, to focus on serving others.

John illustrates by using an object, a seed, that all know well especially in that agriculturesl society.

This meaning is enhanced by the second saying John sets in parallel: “unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” Plants go through their own death and resurrection from starting as a seed to becoming a plant and providing benefits to others in the form of nourishment. Likewise, we move from a focus on the needs of ourselves to the needs of other and this world.

The next to last sentence states, “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself.”

Debie Thomas writes of the Greeks who wanted to see Jesus at the beginning of the passage and then this one. “In the end, what this week’s Gospel reading teaches me is that I don’t have to strive and strain to see Jesus. ”

She is comforted by the conclusion to which she arrives – ” He loves whether I love or not. It has taken me a long time to believe this and to trust it, but now I do: Jesus’s longing for me is the ground upon which all of my desire — however abundant or stingy — rests. He wishes to see me — to see all of us — far more urgently than we’ll ever wish to see him.”

This comforting message can help us walk the way of Holy Week with less than a heavy heart. We will be lifted up.

Sunday’s Thoughts – March 10, 2024

The scriptures this week especially from Numbers and John concentrate on what God is doing. It is definitely the God show. As Lawrence writes, “God is turning the world around, redeeming even the worst of the worst, swords into ploughshares, serpents into salves, crosses into trees of life — making all things new.” We have no way to affect it, change it o alter it.

There is much summary. Luther called John 3:16 “the Gospel in a nutshell. ” Tom’s sermon this week said as much. It covers “the fullness of the word of God to us because it lays out for us God’s purposes of God’s love and God’s plan for eternity.”

Sometimes I wonder why the certain weeks of the lectionary are placed where they are. This one takes the story of Jesus past the naming him as God’s son, the various healings that he did like Peter’s mother-in-law to consider his overall role and purpose. Last week it was transforming the temple into more than a building. This week it is about mission involving God, his son and man which involves life beyond Easter. As Lawrence wrote “to correct what can be corrected and makes all things new.”

It was all about the larger issues of life. One of the last segments of God’s Garden took up the “golden rule”. The children reflected the difficulty of applying this to their own family members but much easier to their outside friends.

Sunday’s Thoughts Lent 3, March 3

This Sunday’s Gospel has an usual order of the overthrowing of the Temple’s table . In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus flips tables in the Temple courtyard just after the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. But in John, we get this narrative much earlier, following directly on the heels of Jesus performing his first miracle at the wedding at Cana. So, for John, Jesus flipping tables at the Temple is more an inauguration of Jesus’ earthly ministry rather than a culmination of Jesus’ earthly ministry. One thing we can’t do is flip the pews – they are bolted to the floor

Is Jesus against commerce? The SALT blog was quick to point ou this week. No. “…Jesus’ anger seems to be focused not on marketplaces, or on corruption in general, but rather on the sacrificial system itself. His actions seem to say: It’s high time for that system to end, and for a new era to begin.”

The second part of the scripture moves the temple from a physical location to the temple in his body. ” The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking of the temple of his body. ”

Thus Jesus does at least three things at once: (1) he counters the religious authorities; (2) he cryptically predicts his death and resurrection, something his disciples realize only later, “after he was raised from the dead”; and (3) he casts a revolutionary vision for worship in the new era. His body is the temple.

He re-interprets both the temple and worship. We can follow Jesus and his ministries outside the church and find new avenues for extending the kingdom. And they may be in the institutions in Port Royal and elsewhere.

Back in Matthew 5:!7-19 Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount that “his purpose is not to abolish the law or to criticize what the prophets proclaimed and taught. Rather, he has come to fulfill or complete them. Jesus also emphasizes that keeping the commandments is essential for faithful living.” So it may not be where the temple is, the institution but how we can approach what it teaches.

“The core message of Jesus was to proclaim what all the law and prophets demand of us; to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and to love our neighbors as ourselves. For Jesus, the law of love was primary, and he responded to people and situations with love and compassion. Love is the law and the gift that we are called to live and to share.”

Jesus teaching was radical since the original temple, the Temple of Solomon, was built in Jerusalem around 990–931 BCE and had 1,000 years of use. This was the means of public religion. Now there was a different vision of how it should be done that wrangled many of the Jewis leaders.

In our time there are similar controversies involving institutions and the way they have been doing things which have contributed to the polarization in our society. We should look at process to try to bridge the gap. Look at vision first. Are we are aligned with a similar vision or not ? If we are, can we work together on means and come up with a way forward where both groups can find a role and a place?

Sunday’s Thoughts Lent 2, Feb. 25

Perceptions can change in scripture and your mission can change too.

On Jan 18, the date of Peter’s confession Mark 8:27-30 Jesus went to the predominately pagan region of Caesarea Philippi to question and deepen his disciples’ understanding of his role and theirs. “Who do you say that I am?” Peter got it right- Jesus is the Messiah.

On Last Epiphany on the Transfiguration (Feb. 11) Mark 9:2-9, Peter now misread the situation wanted to build three tents, preserving the event much longer.

Now this Sunday on Lent 2 (Feb. 25) with an earlier sripture Mark 8:31-38 Peter who had correctly identified Christ as the Messiah now gets Christ’s mission wrong. Peter saw Jesus as his Messiah who was to save Israel from the Romans. Peter’s view of the Messiah was not one who went to the cross, rejected, and died. He was just told he was wrong but rebuked, set in his place.

This is a different response from when Jesus called the first disciples. Jesus calls the first disciples, saying simply, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people”. In other words, there are people who want to hear Jesus’ message, and he invites them to follow and be part of spreading Good News that is eagerly received. They are part of the advertisment.

They have seen the results in healing the sick of all ills into many remote communities. He has fed the many and he has drawn huge crowds. And don’t forget his proclamation of a new Kingdom, not that of the Romans.

Now, Jesus is seemingly making an about face. Peter is questioning that saying – What is this Kingdom when the leader is tp be killed ?

Deny self, take up the cross and follow ? Now it seems to be a mission of confrontation that not everyone is up to. Peter is thinking “Did I sign up for this?”

Our confrontation is take Jesus message into the world where there is suffering is broad. We may not be setting up to be killed but there is death to many of our solitary desires to witness a larger pictures. As Debi Thomas writes “To take up a cross as Jesus did is to stand in the center of the world’s pain.”

“Taking up the cross means recognizing Christ crucified in every suffering soul and body that surrounds us, and pouring our energies and our lives into alleviating that pain — no matter what it costs.”

Our challenge for our ministries is to seek areas where is pain, trouble or other dislocation and see what we can do to ameliorate that. How can life be made better?

For instance, Sacred Ground will look at the food issue involving children. Food insecurity is higher among children than the population as a whole. While Caroline County provides free breakfast and lunches, there is the need for snacks for tutoring activities outside of the normal school day. What about meals at home on the weekends and during the summer ?

There other possible avenues involving mentoring and adopting a classroom that need to be discussed.

Sunday’s Thoughts Lent 1, Feb. 18

The SALT blog published this guide for Lent – “As Lent begins, this is the perfect week to reflect on the season and what it means in Christian life: an invitation to a 40-day journey of reflection, repentance, and preparation for the great mystery of the empty tomb. Now is the time to change our lives, to embark upon a kind of soulful spring cleaning. What in our personal and communal lives needs repentance or renewal, a “change of heart” or “change of life”? How do we need to be both humbled and strengthened? How can we better prepare for the radiant 50 days of Easter? Might a sojourn in the wilderness “with the wild beasts” be just what we need?”

Going further into the blog-“That is, the basis of Christian life is not our repentance, not our good works; rather, the basis of Christian life is what God has done and is doing, and our good works flow from the joyous, thankful recognition of that graceful liberation. True repentance — changing our lives and hearts for the better — flows from God’s activity in the world, not the other way around. In this way, Jesus’ sermon is a call not into anxious exertion, but rather into gratitude and joy.”

According to this, Lent should emphasize the positive moving forward and not gullies and valleys of repenetence. Moving forward is reconnecting to God, going deeper and expressing that in the world. We each need to consider our options. For me, it is looking forward to April 22 and Earth Day and collecting the excesses (plastic, trash) of our modern lives. It gets us outside as the days lenthen (Lent!) and promoges exercise. Stepping forward will be different for everyone. It’s finding that one or multiple things that will promote real liberation.

Lent does have a sense tension between the need for repentance and forgiveness and the sense of moving forward. We have a dialog between two priests from All Saints Episcopal in Frederick, MD about Lent from 2019 of also a tension they see in Lent.

As they noted, at the beginning we are reminded of our mortality by making the mark on our foreheads, a mark that come from the past – palms burned from last year’s Palm Sunday. They we come forward after a few prayers, celebrate and share communion and we are reminded of this everlasting life which moves forward. From we holding these two pieces in tension that we really enter into Lent.

On this Sunday, the children in God’s Children began learning the Lord’s Prayer. Jan and Elizabeth used a video method to teach the prayer through signing and then using a printed cross with the prayer printed on the cross’s arms so that the children could trace their way forard. They did very well and are well on the way to being able to say it in church

They moved foward, adding an addition connection in their church life. Learninig is a great practice for Lent. Coincidentally, this week, The Dean of Washington Cathedral in a meditation wrote that the Lord’s Prayer was the “perfect prayer.”

Sunday’s Thoughts, Feb. 11, 2024 – Transition

We are at a transition. Last Sunday, Feb. 4, God’s Garden children completed a banner and hung it on the altar. It is a transition from Epiphany to Lent with a banner first and then a change in the colors on the altar.

So to the trip to the mountain on Feb. 11, the Transfiguration is one too with the individuals involved in the world but at the same time separated. That’s the way it is sometimes going through changes.

Here is a piece that marks the transition- “Transfiguration, Beauty and Biblical Interpretation” by Zoltán Dörnyei

“We come to the Transfiguration at a critical point within salvation history: just a week earlier Peter had declared on behalf of the disciples that Jesus was ―the Messiah, the Son of the living God‖ (Matt 16:16), and from that point onwards Jesus started to talk about his orthcoming suffering, death and resurrection. His teaching also included the warning that if anybody wanted to follow him, they had to ―deny themselves and take up their cross‖ (Matt 16:24) as well as a declaration about his second coming ―in the glory of his Father‖ (Matt 16:27). The preparation stage was now over and the final, climactic phase of Jesus‘ earthly life – involving the last journey to Jerusalem and the Passion – was about to begin. The Transfiguration therefore marks a watershed in Jesus‘ ministry; in Michael Ramsey‘s words, it represents a ―height from which the reader looks down on one side upon the Galilean ministry and on the other side upon the Via Crucis.”

The Sermon from Tom Hughes spoke of a transition and where we should be going. “The whole idea is that in Christ we’re always becoming called to things as they were not before becoming a new person. ” On the Transfiguration, ““…He was transfigured. He became fully the person he was created to be.” Unlike Jesus we are not there.

Moving forward, Forward Movement for Feb. 14 includes this phrase – “Ash Wednesday is my favorite holy day because I am reminded that in the nothingness of dust, in God’s value of the inverse of our earthly values. I am filled with the wonder of creation and the reality of the unfailing and unconditional love of God. ” We are still finding that wonder, filling in the spaces, investigating the possibilities and becoming the people we are meant to be. There’s energy in that!

One of the possibilities is continuing our work supporting the larger community. The congregations responded on Sunday for our two outreach projects- 1. The SouperBowl 2. Supporting the Discretionary fund.

The SouperBowl collected 41 cans of food and 33 cards donated plus $75 in monetary donations. This is above last year’s 25 cans. The Disctionary Fund. A total of $270 was collected Feb 11, 2024. “In January, $850 of our discretionary fund helped 9 families with internet access, rent, and electricity.”

Another possibility is continuing to develop our youngest children in God’s Garden. Last week we spotlighted the creation of the Alleluia Banner. This week they added art work to a box and during the last hymn, took the Banner, placed it in the box and hid it away for Lent. They see this transition in life to the beauty that will eventually blossom at Easter.

There is a lot yet to be done

Sunday’s Thoughts Feb 4, Epiphany 5

This week is unique in how it unfolds. The message from the Gospel shows Christ during a typical day as healer to Peter’s mother, casting out demons in the community and creating wholeness during his preaching.

But he found time for renewal – “In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.” In Isaiah, “From Isaiah “but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

This is an important lesson for all of us in our time. The Washington Post reported in April 2022.”Unlike every other industrialized nation, the United States has no mandatory paid vacation or holiday leave. Workers who have paid leave often don’t take it. And even when we take leave, many of us can’t leave work behind. The technology that lets us work anywhere, anytime, makes it hard to disconnect even when we’re supposed to.”

Taken as a whole, last week’s Epiphany 4 prefigures Epiphany’s major themes — healing, restoration, and hope. We continue them this week (Epiphany 5) that will define the heart of Jesus’ mission.

Healing  – The passage pivots around four key verbs:  (“to come near”),  (“to take hold”),  (“to waken, to raise”) and  (“to serve, to minister”). The first two verbs go together: Jesus “comes near” Peter’s mother-in-law, close enough to “take hold” of her hand. Throughout the Gospel, Mark distinctively emphasizes the power of touch, including the idea (as we’ll see in the weeks ahead) that Jesus is unafraid to touch and be touched by the supposedly “unclean.”

Restoration – Having taken her hand, Jesus “raises her up.” The same word (egeiro) is used of Jesus himself at the resurrection — it’s there in the famous line, “He has been raised; he is not here” (Mark 16:6) — and so the term evokes a renewed strength, a reinvigoration, a reawakening, a restoration, a return. She is awakened – restored.

Illness not only debilitates the body but it also can cut a person off from his or her social life and contributions to community — and this can feel like a loss of dignity or purpose.

Hospitality was highly prized in the ancient world, and for early Christians, to be hospitable in a way that advanced the Jesus movement was both an art and an honor. in this way, for Mark, the healing in this story is not only a matter of a fever departing; it’s also a matter of restoration to community, and of participation in the movement. This social dimension of healing is a key theme to which Mark will return again and again.

Hope – And while the episode with the possessed man in Epiphany 4 provides a sense of what this liberation is “freedom from,” this week’s story points toward what it is “freedom for.”

What is she renewed for? For diakonos, “ministry, service,” the same root that gives us the word “deacon” (she is the original deacon!). What’s more, the word diakonos literally means “to kick up dust” — this is an active, practical, on-the-move, change-the-world sort of work. In short, she is lifted up to serve. She is freed for ministry, to kick up some dust and get some things done. She is the pioneer who blazes the trail for the anonymous woman who causes a little dust-up near the end of Mark’s Gospel by anointing Jesus (“what she has done will be told in remembrance of her,” Mark 14:3-9), and also for the group of women at the crucifixion who stay and keep watch and remain with the vandalized body, even as the male disciples panic and flee (see Mark 15:40-41; the Greek word translated as “provided for” is diakoneo).

Sunday’s Thoughts Jan 28, Epiphany 4

This week 7 of us went to the Paragon Theater in Fredericksburg to see “A Case for Love”. This movie was 3+ years in the making by an Episcopalian film maker and is based on Bishop Caurry’s “Way of Love” concept that goes back to 2018.

The movie spotlighted 13 stories involving unselfish love plus many more “man on the street” questions involved the Love question. A number of prominent individuals were also spotlighted including Episcopalians, Bishop Curry, Senator Danforth and Al Roker.

It was inspiring! The group that made the film has challenged in the next 30 days to journal us and extend the “Way of Love” for lives. A link for the journal is here. PDF, Word and Google docs.

The church has taken a variation of this and designated 2024 as the year we are to “Walk in Love. ”

Each season will have a particular focus. The focus of the Advent and Christmas season will be Walk to the Manger. The season after The Epiphany where we are now will be Walk in the Light.

How do we “Walk in the Light” ? The answer has much to do with concept of “Way of Love.” This involves treating others with kindness and respect and have a sense of compassion for others situations. We should serve others by volunteering, helping those in need, and living a life of service. It is also involved in not hiding the truth and being honest with others even when it hurts.

In Mark’s Gospel this week Jesus has to confront a demon inside of a man. This is the first healing story and for Mark the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. The demon knows exactly who Jesus is – “the Holy One of God.”

What strikes the crowd about Jesus’ teaching is that he does it “with authority,” speaking in his own voice rather than citing other authorities. In Mark and elsewhere, Jesus often references both scripture and tradition — but not here at the very outset, a vivid signal of his distinctive prophetic standing and power. For Mark, when Jesus speaks, we hear God’s voice; and when Jesus acts, we see God’s action in the world. He definitely speaks with authority and with God’s light. In this sense, his teaching is indistinguishable from his mission, and from who he is.

We don’t know the details of the demon but it destroyed his personality, rendered him an outcast, unclean, and unable to live with his family. Jesus confronts this unclean spirit directly with the simple words: “Be still. Come out from him.”

Part of “Walking in the Light” is the the requirement on us to confront those in our time with demons. We have many more demons in our time. Think of how addiction overwhelms individuals and families; how racism and white supremacy shape-shift over time; how anger consumes; how envy devours; or how all of us, even against our will, how we are complicit in creating the blanket of CO2 and other gasess overheating the planet (2023 set the record for the hottest global year on record). Demons are diffcult to isolate and overcome. We have work together in many situations to do this.

Sunday’s Thoughts Jan 21, Epiphany 3 – “Calling once again”

This week was the first “somewhat sizeable snow” in two years. The school children were off 3 days. Snow can bring sense of peace and tranquility.

We were able to have 91 at the Village Harvest for Jan, much better than last year’s 60 though under previous years. Food supplies were strained since Oct. 2023.

Sacred Ground met this week reviewing the check sent out for the new scholarship program for trade educatiion. We also came up with possible new endeavors – .

1. Investigate Black owned bank or Black owned businesses

2 Feb 10 presentation on Port Royal at the Old Port Royal School. a Black School. It was constructed and used from 1924 to 1959. This is the 100th anniversary <>3 Bingo- Last Monday – Feb 26, 6pm Caroline county Public Schools. This may be a good opportunity for discussion with local leaders

4. Meeting with school administrations about opportunities for St. Peters and other churches p>This Sunday Jan 21 is the congregational meeting, an annual event to elect new vestry members and take stock of the community. We will not be having reports as in previous years. This was a dedicated segment.

Cookie has completed a three year term and will be rotating off the vestry. Larry has completed the last year of Robert Bryan’s three year term. Helmut Linne von Berg is resigning from the Vestry due to his caregiving responsibilities for Susan. His unfinished term creates a one year vacancy to be filled, along with the two three year terms that will need to be filled.

Johnny Davis and Andrea Pogue have agreed to run to fill the two three year terms, and Larry Saylor will run for the one year term.

During the meeting, Catherine recalled the accomplishments of Helmut including his cross makng – the central cross behind the altar, the Good Friday cross and two processional crosses. One of our youth spoke to remember the crosses given to new members. She said she has the cross in her room.

The sermon was a combination 2023 review and sermon. The focus was our work as disciples. From the sermon “Both casting nets and mending nets are necessary parts of discipleship. As disciples, we must cast our nets but we also must mend our nets as well. Here are some of the ways we have been both casting and mending the nets that Jesus has given to us to use here at St Peter’s. ”

Jan 21 is also the 3rd week after the Epiphany and the 2nd week of Jesus calling his team. Last week it was Andrew and Nathanael and this week it Simon (Peter) and Andrew as well as James and John

John MacArthur’s book on the diciples places most of the disciples this week in the top tier of the 12 disciples based on their closeness to Jesus. This is definitely the “A” team!

The calling of disciples and the congregational meeting are linked. In both cases there is the search for leadership.

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Sunday’s Thoughts – Jan 14, Epiphany 2 – “Calling” and the “Fig Tree”

It was cold but clear Sunday after a week of heavy rain. Back in 2018 we have pictures of ice on the river. No ice now.

Attendance was 31 which was exceptional. A number were guests.

The 2nd Week after the Epiphany – Jesus calls the first disciples this week.- Andrew and Nathanael and next week it is Simon (Peter) and Andrew as well as James and John

It is 2 weeks after Christmas when Jesus was born and important to realize what has taken place.  

Jesus has been born,  the shepherds visit, the Magi visit,  Joseph & Mary’s flight to Egypt with Jesus , Herod has children killed, Jesus’ family returns to Nazareth,  Jesus in the temple at age 12, John the Baptist preaches and baptizes, Jesus’ baptism, Jesus’ temptation –,  John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the Messiah , Jesus begins to gather followers. As Jesus says in Matthew  “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). 

So how old is Jesus? – About 30. He has 3 years to preach.  It is estimated that after he has 18 months left when the disciples are called to be apostles. Not much time considering the tasks to be done!

The following information on the disciples comes from  a wonderful book by John F. MacArthur Twelve Ordinary Men How the Master Shaped his Disciples for Greatness, and What He wants to do with You

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Sunday’s Thoughts – Jan 7, Epiphany 1 – “Beginnings”

So when does the church proclaim the new year? Typically it is the first Sunday in Advent. However, the scriptures seem other than joyous. On the recent First Advent, the Gospel was from Mark. Jesus said to his disciples, “In those days, after that suffering, the sun will be  darkened,      and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven,    and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.” Nope, doesn’t make it

I would make a case for the Sunday after the Epiphany, Jesus’ baptism. This is Mark’s birth story since he didn’t write one for Bethlehem.

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