Spirituality

By Fr. Glenn Jones:

Much to our dismay, hardly a day passes in which we don’t see reports in the media of corruption in politics, in churches, and in others of influence and/or authority. This is just one of the dangerous temptations of power and fame: the capacity to use power and access to community goods for one’s own selfish advantage. And, of course, where opportunity lay, opportunists will then flock. Such is the magnet of statehouses and those in executive authority—from crooked cops to crooked presidents … from shady school board members to unscrupulous national legislators. Thus, Read More

Clergy from left, The Rev. Mary Ann Hill, Rector, Trinity on the Hill, Pastor Nicolé Ferry, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired; Associate Priest Lynn Finnegan and Pastor Deb Church. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com

By Rev. Deb Beloved Church
White Rock Presbyterian Church

These days, when I read something, I’m often in a hurry. I’m either reading to get the dang thing read—reading a chapter ahead for a class I’m facilitating, for example—or I’m reading for information, skimming to get the gist.

Less frequently do I read things slowly—things like poetry, for example, or sacred texts, Read More

By Fr. Glenn Jones:

You know … I like going fast. I miss driving on I-10 in west Texas where there’s an 85 MPH speed limit, so I think I’ll start doing that on the local interstates and roads … and maybe some residential areas. Oooo … and slalom in and out between cars! That’s fun!! I just don’t like traffic rules; they restrict what I want!

Well, obviously such a program of behavior will sooner or later inevitably end in traffic citations at best, destroyed lives and property at worst. Thus … traffic laws.

One of the common reasons given for giving up the Catholic faith in particular, or the Christian faith Read More

Clergy from left, The Rev. Mary Ann Hill, Rector, Trinity on the Hill, Pastor Nicolé Ferry, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired; Associate Priest Lynn Finnegan and Pastor Deb Church. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com

By LYNN FINNEGAN
Associate Priest
The Episcopal Church of the Holy Faith
Santa Fe

In her spiritual memoir, “Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith,” Kathleen Norris begins by sharing the story of her early faith, drifting away, and re-entry into Christian community. “I drifted away from religion … when the well-meaning adults who taught Sunday school and confirmation Read More

By Fr. Glenn Jones:

Alas … hardly a week … a day … goes by without a news story of some public scandal—this or that person betraying public trust or private vows. Very often it’s politicians who are, as a character in “The Hunt for Red October” put it, kissing babies in public and stealing their lollipops in private—the hypocritical face, sometimes criminally so. Rich and famous shattering wedding vows is so common that it’s not even a shocker anymore—more like a tally count. But some of the most painful for we Christians is when other “Christians” are caught embezzling, lying grievously, or disregarding Read More

Clergy from left, The Rev. Mary Ann Hill, Rector, Trinity on the Hill, Pastor Nicolé Ferry, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired; Assistant Rector Lynn Finnegan and Pastor Deb Church. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com

By The Rev. Mary Ann Hill
Rector
Trinity on the Hill

Anthropologically speaking, the essentials that make us human include bipedalism, language, the tool-making, self-awareness, and the ability to imagine alternative futures. While other species possess some of these traits, it is the combination that makes us uniquely human.

Several years ago, a documentary was produced Read More

By Fr. Glenn Jones:

This weekend we celebrate one of the great leaders of our nation: Martin Luther King, Jr.—one of the greatest orators and leaders of justice this nation has had in modern times.

But why was he so effective? Well, for one thing, he had truth on his side: no person should be treated as a lesser being, especially not for superficial things of birth circumstances, skin color, height, etc., which are beyond anyone’s control. If we do dare judge another, should it not be as MLK expressed—by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin … and we might add height, beauty Read More

Clergy from left, Pastor Mary Ann Hill, Pastor Nicolé Ferry, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired; Assistant Rector Lynn Finnegan and Pastor Deb Church. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com

By Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb
ELCA

What might this new year bring? Resolution makers/breakers see great potential and myriad possibilities. Others are already fearing what November will mean for our national life together. For church folks, a new year begins with the season of Epiphany, when we celebrate the arrival of Christ, the Light of the World.

Looking back about 2,028 years ago, the Epiphany Read More

By Fr. Glenn Jones:

Today we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord—of the “We Three Kings of Orient Are” Christmastime hymn. But, if you read the account in St. Matthew’s Gospel (chapter 2), you’ll discover that they were not described as kings, but simply “wise men”, or “magi”, from the Greek magoi. They probably got the “king” designation due to the pricey gifts they brought—gold, frankincense and myrrh—to honor the “newborn king of the Jews,” whom they sought.

But apparently before the magi came, St. Luke records (Luke 2:8-20) that an angel host appeared to the Jewish shepherds in the field the Read More