Weekly Reflections
Weekly Reflection - 11/18/24
St. Mary's Reflection: Barbara Bernard, Vestry Member
."We will either learn to live together as brothers and sisters or we will perish together as fools." - -Bishop Michael Curry, A Case for Love
This was my favorite quote from A Case for Love, a film documentary inspired by the teachings of Bishop Michael Curry, that was recently shown at St. Mary's.
Bishop Curry advocates for a l…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 11/12/24
St. Mary's Reflection: The Rev. David Erickson
The Joyous Absurdity of Christianity
For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles...For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.
…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 11/4/24
St. Mary's Reflection: The Rev. Kira Austin-Young
How to Survive an Election
If you're like me and nearly everyone I know, you are probably finding yourself a little (or more than a little) anxious and distracted this week. Maybe you've snapped at a loved one who didn't deserve it. Maybe you've realized that you have only been drinking coffee or snacking instead of eating full meal…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 10/30/24
St. Mary's Reflection: The Rev. David Erickson
The Holy in Halloween!
The wonderful chaos that is Halloween is once again upon us, and I was delighted that Sandy Stadtfeld, our children's homilist this past Sunday, reminded us of the origins of this holiday.
Halloween's history is long and intertwined with ancient customs, religious beliefs, and folk traditions. Its roots date back…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 10/23/24
St. Mary's Reflection: Nicole Elliott, Vestry Member
Fall always has been my favorite season. Having grown up and lived many years in both the New York and Boston areas, the start of Fall was unmistakable, marked by the beauty of changing foliage and that often quick shift to crisp air and "sweater weather." I miss those clear indicators of the change in seasons. Looking back to m…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 10/17/24
St. Mary's Reflection: Natalie Hala, Parish Liturgist
Babette's Feast of Abundance
Reimagined version of Babette's entrée: Cailles en Sarcophage
Take. Eat. These two simple, yet profound verbs that are part of every Eucharistic Prayer invite us to "re-member" (literally, "put back together again") and take a leap of faith through sacred portals into the waiting abundance of the Di…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 10/8/24
St. Mary's Reflection: The Rev. Kira Austin-Young
An "Island of Sanity" in Cow Hollow
As I mentioned in last Sunday's sermon, I spent a few days last week outside of Seattle for a conference called Gathering of Leaders, which, as the name suggests, gathers leaders from around the Episcopal Church (there are both clergy and lay gatherings) to learn from and inspire one another. The …
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 9/30/24
The Blessing of the Animals! This Sunday, October 6
St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi offer a profound witness to a life of simplicity, care for creation, and radical love for all of God's creatures. Their legacy, especially in the Episcopal tradition, continues to inspire how we view the natural world and the animals with whom we share our lives.
St. Francis, known as the patro…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 9/25/24
Weekly Reflection - 9/25/24 - St. Mary's Reflection: Mike Stafford, Youth Director
Youth Mission Trip Preaching on Sunday, September 29
This Sunday the people of St. Mary's are in for a real treat: at each of the services on Sunday morning, youth who participated in the Mission Trip to Eureka will be preaching about their experiences on the trip.
The Youth Mission Trip is an i…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 6/26/24
St. Mary's Reflection:Amy Nachman, Vestry Member
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20
I recently attended my 45th college reunion. At the risk of sounding too much like Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino exclaiming " get off my lawn", I was astounded by how disconnected the students were walking to classes on the shores of Lake Michigan. Alm…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 6/12/24
St. Mary's Reflection: Natalie Hala, Parish Verger & Liturgist
Unmoored Society: What do we do?
We are living amid societal disharmony on a planet that shows severe signs of negligence and misuse. Bereft of many of our accustomed cultural buttresses that have shielded us from toxic behaviors, buffered us from political extremism and protected the honored pillars of trusted institu…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 6/6/24
St. Mary's Reflection: Mike Stafford, Youth Director
"This trip... has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. My faith has grown so much from living and learning amongst [the children of the Nambale Magnet School] and from playing and praying with them. I have two really big takeaways that I've learned from these beautiful kids that I want to share. The first is that whi…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 5/28/2024
St. Mary's Reflection:Eric Choate, Director of Music
This coming Sunday we have the opportunity to recognize our choirs-all three of them. One of the hallmarks at St. Mary's is that we not only have a superb Parish Choir, but we have chorister programs for children and youth. Uniquely, our Children and Youth Choirs sing every Sunday during the academic year-a rarity in the Episcop…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 5/20/24
St. Mary's Reflection: Lynne Dombrowski, Vestry Member
There is no 'they', only 'us'.
We are part of a large fellowship called the human race.
This above-quoted phrase has been popping into my head lately when I am watching or reading the news. It is disturbing to me how often people today are actively promoting hate in our society by demonizing other groups of people because of th…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 5/15/24
St. Mary's Reflection: The Rev. Eric Metoyer
'The Saints before us, the Saints among us,'
'Saint: A holy person, a faithful Christian, one who shares life in Christ. The term may also indicate one who has been formally canonized or recognized as a saint by church authority. In the New Testament, the term is applied to all faithful Christians (see Acts 9:32, 26:10).' (The Episcopal…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 5/7/24
St. Mary's Reflection: The Rev. Kira Austin-Young
Celebrating our Sunday School Teachers
Here at St. Mary's, we are heading into the time of year where we recognize and celebrate many of our ministries. This Sunday, we acknowledge our Sunday School teachers. In celebrating Sunday School teachers and their ministry, it's essential to recognize the profound impact they have on the li…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 4/30/24
St. Mary's Reflection: The Rev. Kira Austin-Young
Why Bishops?
This Saturday, March 4th, the Rev. Austin K. Rios will be ordained and consecrated as a bishop in The Episcopal Church at a service taking place at Grace Cathedral. Beginning with Bishop Marc's announcement of his retirement to the diocese in July of 2022 and his call for a bishop coadjutor, the process has taken almost…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 4/24/24
St. Mary's Reflection:The Rev. Eric Metoyer
The Story of Peter and Annie Cassey, Saints of California
Eons ago, Br Scott Michael Pomerenk and I co-chaired the Racial Reconciliation Task Force for the Diocese of California, called by Diocesan Convention to study the impact and benefits of slavery in the Episcopal Diocese of California. In that work of investigating antebellum Califo…
Read More »Weekly Reflection-4/13/2024
St. Mary's Reflection: Heather Coyne, St. Mary's Parishioner
In Matthew 25, Jesus very clearly names that how we treat "the least of these" - those who are sick, hungry, naked, lonely, and in prison - is how we treat Jesus. Hebrews 13:3 implores us to "Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them." When we care for the ones looked down on by society, we…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 3/26/2024
St. Mary's Reflection: The Rev. David Erickson
The Journey of Holy Week
The journey of Holy Week unfolds as a sacred passage through time, a narrative deeply rooted in faith, a path marked by profound sorrow and radiant joy, encapsulated in the rhythms of life, death, and resurrection. It is a pilgrimage of the soul, a testament to the depth of divine love, and a mirror reflecting …
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 3/19/2024
St. Mary's Reflection: Linda Woodworth, Junior Warden
During Lent, we are called to make room for and share God's presence with others. Some practice fasting or taking on a new habit. Others follow a spiritual guide or series of conversations with others. These practices are intended to turn us away from an inward focus on ourselves and create space to serve others. By turning …
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 3/12/2024
St. Mary's Reflection: The Rev. Kira Austin-Young
The Bishop is Coming! The Bishop is Coming!
This coming Sunday, March 17th, Bishop Marc Andrus will preach and preside at all three of our morning liturgies in addition to joining us for a reception in between the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services. With his impending retirement and the ordination of our Bishop-Elect Austin K. Rios, this w…
Read More »Weekly Reflection 3/7/2024
St. Mary's Parish Choir and Chamber Orchestra, together with the Schola Cantorum of St. Dominic's, come together to present Bach's Passion According to St. John this Sunday at 5:00 p.m.
I would like to share with you about its context and construction:
On Good Friday of 1724 (300 years ago this year), J.S. Bach's St. John Passion was first performed at St. Nicholas Church in Le…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 2/26/2024
St. Mary's Reflection: The Rev. David Erickson
God, Relationship, and Story
"The heart of God is relationship, and the doorway to relationship is story." Rev. Ed Bacon
My friend and mentor, Ed Bacon, gave me this wonderful quote many years ago that continues to inspire and instruct me. We believe in a Trinitarian God. A god whose core is three individuals in dynamic relationship. T…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 2/22/2024
St. Mary's Reflection: Russell Fudge, Senior Warden
I am deeply honored to be selected for the position of St. Mary's Senior Warden for the coming year. My immediate predecessor, Gloria Galindo, has bequeathed to me a Vestry that has been, and I fully expect will continue to be, a joy to work with and prepared to advance the St. Mary's community in the coming year.
I fully believ…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 2/13/2024
St. Mary's Reflection: Natalie Hala, Parish Liturgist & Verger
Hear our Prayer: The Great Litany
Thomas Cranmer, compiler of The Book of Common Prayer and the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury, was burned at the stake in 1556. Crafting liturgy is known to have its occupational hazards.
St. Mary's marks the change of liturgical seasons on Feb. 18, the First Sunday of Lent, w…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 2/6/2024
St. Mary's Reflection: The Rev. Kira Austin-Young
Preparing Our Hearts for Lent
Our official Lenten preparations begin this Sunday with our Shrove Sunday pancake breakfast at 10 a.m. as we feast before our Lenten fast begins, and I hope you'll join us for this fun and joyful meal. The liturgical season of Lent begins this year on February 14th, which is also Valentine's Day. After …
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 1/31/2024
St. Mary's Reflection: The Rev. David Erickson
Annual Meeting: Participating in the Extraordinary Ordinary!
This Sunday, 2/4, at 11:20am, Lunch to Follow
Now you are called to work as pastor, priest, and teacher, together with your bishop and fellow presbyters, and to take your share in the councils of the Church.- BCP pg.531. Ordination of a Priest
During a priestly service of ordin…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 1/18/2024
St. Mary's Reflection: Nicole Elliott, Vestry Member
Over the last few weeks, as many of us have settled back into our pre-holiday season routines, I have been struck by the number of times I have heard the expression, "We put away Christmas" or "Christmas is put away." This often is followed by some reference to life returning to regular programming (or "the grind," as I also h…
Read More »Weekly Reflection - 1/9/2024
New Year, New You? - The Rev. Kira Austin-Young
Happy New Year! As we leave the festivities of Christmas behind and return to our regular schedules of school and work, the new calendar year offers a chance to reflect on the past year and potentially set resolutions or intentions for the next one. New Year's resolutions are famous for being abandoned with researchers suggesting tha…
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