Today I walked by Milldam Nursery School in Concord, Massachusetts, where there is a small strip of grass that runs under the windows and along the foundation of the classrooms. As a child, after school on Tuesdays, which was a half day for me, I walked to Milldam, where my mom worked. You would...
Why is it called a sacrament? I woke this morning to darkness. As I began to stretch, I called my family to check in before their bedtime back in San Diego. While we were speaking, dawn started to break, drawing me outside. As I stood on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, full day arrived as the...
Sabbath Day…The Living Stones carry on, despite the odds We gathered together this morning to attend the English-Arab worship service at St. George’s Cathedral. If you have joined St. Bart’s in the past three years or so, you may not know that this is where the late Bishop...
Prayer … Hope I pray often, and today I have spent some serious time in prayer. Oddly enough, as a priest, I shy away at times from inviting people to pray. Indeed, on our second day on pilgrimage, it was requested that we take time to pray/sing together at some of the sites. Before...
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). We have quickly formed a strong, joyful bond. A group of pilgrims with an array of life experiences and socioeconomic backgrounds, we have discovered big hearts in each other. A heart of compassion and courage is...
God’s humanity. We take our first steps—where many pilgrims have stepped before us—on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the Old City. Our first steps where the ascension of Jesus occurred. As we stand in the place where he literally rose up and disappeared before wondering...
Lesson’s learned—on the road. Gratitude—coming to know Jesus in others. I found my rosary beads before I left the house. I may go months without having them with me, but when I travel, they are always in my pocket. Before I was gifted this rosary, I would listen to...
“Welcome. No, really, it’s a blessing to meet you. Is this your first time at St. Bart’s?” My friends, first impressions are everything. St. Bart’s has developed a reputation for radical hospitality—and it depends on you to make it real and tangible. Join...
You may have noticed that the Peace Pole, which was in the garden outside the church offices, is missing. That Peace Pole now resides at the Temple Adat Shalom. On October 30, members of the St. Bart’s congregation participated in a vigil at Temple Adat Shalom to remember the victims of...
“When Christ Calls a Man, He Bids Him Come and Die”Dietrich Bonhoeffer With my first respite of the summer complete, I am most grateful for having the time to be with my family, extended family and to unplug from my daily responsibilities, duties, and burdens. I learned decades ago...