The Eagles Fight Song

Basin and Bowl

So often we see the cross as the core imagery of Christianity; in the Episcopal Church we often use a crest and shield as a symbol of our denomination. The executioners cross and the shield are images of imperialism, one of Rome and the other of the English crown. I offer that the picture painted by Professor Osvaldo Vena, New Testament Professor at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, and published at workingpreacher.com is one that truly resonates with me. The image he paints of basin and towel rest easy in my heart; the elements used by Jesus to wash the feet of those he loved should be the imagery of our denomination and not the marks of imperialism.

God's Blessing in Each of Us

I am not a scientist; I am a theologian, a master of things divine, or so my degree states. I love seeing God’s handiwork all around me. Every day, even several times a day, I encounter God in the simplest activities. I believe that God created life and blessed it. Think about it. The DNA, which to my understanding holds the key to our lives, our hereditary traits in just a few elements of code. All life, maybe there is an exception, contains DNA and when we look at that of a banana or that of a human, they are not that different. All life possesses this remarkable code. (Bill Bryson) I believe that all life is of God and that God knew us in the womb and guides our DNA, if you will, as we delve into any aspect of life. God is with us – guiding us. I do not know how. But what I do know, or maybe it would be better to stick to what I believe, is that God made all of creation. (Genesis 1-2) Since God made all creation, God should be guiding us as we interact with each other, all c

On Gun Violence Awareness Sunday

Episcopal Churches here and there will declare Sunday an awareness day to educate attendees on gun violence. The clergy will sport new or died old orange vestments. No one actually looks good in orange so it won't be a fashionable affair. St. Mark's Church, Frankford is in the lowest portion of what might be called the lower northeast; we butt up against North Philadelphia and Kensington and the formerly sleepy little neighborhood, Junieta Park. Frankford has several nice quiet neighborhoods, but in the area that I serve most often that is not the case. Our neighborhood is anything but quiet. If the el is not rushing by, there is a hoopty barreling down Frankford Avenue, with occasionally incomprehensible, but generally fully articulated, music blaring. Why we are not wearing orange at St. Mark’s Church, Frankford on Gun Violence Awareness Sunday. There are several reasons for this and the first and maybe most obvious is that we, as a congregation, are intimately aware of gun

Reflections of an Urban Priest

Search This Blog