November 11, 2018 – Judy Blee, keyboard & Dale Orris, trumpet

On holdover from the tenure of the Rev. Dr. Robert Purcel, in the priest office, is an old dark painted crucifix.  Janice Purcel, when she visited sometime ago, was surprised to see it there on the credenza, behind the desk where Bob had placed it many years ago.  In times when the fruits of the…

Readings – Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:1-2,8-18; Hebrews 11:29-12:2; Luke 12:49-56 From the Penitential Order found in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, p, 351: Jesus said, “The first commandment is this:  Hear, O Israel:                                              The Lord our God is the only Lord.  Love the Lord your God                                                with all your heart, with all…

Growing up in the 1960’s, changes and frustration and anger were a part of everyday national life.  Today’s times seem very similar, so it is not surprising that the song written by Hal Davis and Burt Bacharach and sung by Jackie DeShanon comes to mind: What the world needs now is love, sweet love It’s…

I recently had the opportunity to learn from John Kruk, a former Philadelphia Phillies baseball player and now TV analysts, that really good hitters focus on balls pitched into their “happy zone”, which is only a portion of the strike zone.  Not only do good hitters allow balls outside the strike zone to fly by,…

Readings – Acts 2: 42-47; Psalm 23; I Peter 2: 19-25; John 10: 1-10 Before we approach the text from the Gospel according to St. John, I would like to place it in context.  Today’s passage immediately follows the healing of the man born blind. Jesus made mud with his saliva and placed it on…