Reflections

My father was always a notorious pack rat.  Some of his collecting fell under the heading of sentimentality – knick-knacks and mementos from his travels or his childhood.  Other items were in the category of thrift – broken things that might one day be fixed, scraps of things that might…

It's a brand new year once more--full of hope and promise, full of anticipation of what it may bring, in our own lives, in the lives of those around us and in the life of the world.  New Year's Day means many things to many people--resolutions, parades, fireworks, champagne, football, to name…

Two friends of mine had an online interpretive disagreement about Emily Dickinson’s poem, with its familiar opening lines: “Hope” is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all –  One friend declared that this was an…

Bishop Alan M. Gates, Bishop Gayle E. Harris and Bishop Barbara C. Harris participated in the installation liturgy of Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry at Washington National Cathedral on Nov. 1.  The installation of the first African-American presiding bishop was a historic moment for the…

Last week during a family visit I happened upon mementos of my father’s naval service at the end of World War II.  My dad graduated from college in May 1945 and went immediately to basic naval training at the Great Lakes naval cent …

"In 100 years, if we do nothing to retard climate change and the rise of our oceans, Paul Revere would be able to row to Charlestown by hopping into a boat tied to a dock just outside his door. In a hundred years or less a nor’easter or a hurricane could flood his house and bring flood waters to…

While tending to nature was an important part of St. Francis’ response to God’s call, it is only a part of the whole of his ministry and understanding of “rebuilding” God’s house, the Very Rev. Francis Fornaro writes in this reflection on St. Francis of Assisi, commemorated in the church during…

When I was fifteen years old I attended my sister’s college graduation in Beloit, Wisconsin.  I suppose there were several ceremonies and lots of speeches.  I remember only one thing.  I remember a speaker who told us that she had once met and shaken the hand of the last living…

On Saturday, June 28, 1969, six policemen arrived at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City’s Greenwich Village, and loudly announced the start of a raid. The people who were at Stonewall Inn that night weren’t just gay and lesbian; they were the most marginalized people from within the gay…

This sermon was given by Julia Hogan from St. John's Church in Franklin, at a youth-led service at St. John's on May 3.  It has been lightly edited for content and clarity.  Julia is a member of St. John's and a sophomore at Franklin High School. She is scheduled to be confirmed on…