The Shrimp Festival

Hope everyone who is able will join us in McClellanville this coming Saturday for the annual Blessing of the Fleet and the Shrimp Festival. Here is the link to more info. My goodness! What a fun time this is! Come and bring the family!

Readings for Sunday, Easter 5, May 6th.

A website that I visit frequently is known as "The Text this Week". This site helpfully publishes links to the upcoming Sunday readings, various commentaries and even sermons. The link to the texts for this coming week can be found here. Check it out!

I am thinking of preaching on the Revelation text since the Gospel passage was the focus of Maundy Thursday's sermon this year. Here is the Revelation text

Revelation 19:1, 4-9

19After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power to our God, ⁴And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” ⁵And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, and all who fear him, small and great.” ⁶Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. ⁷Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready; ⁸to her it has been granted to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. ⁹And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”

The marriage supper of the Lamb sounds wonderful, doesn't it? And, the good news is that you are invited, as is all of creation. One's imagination could run pretty wild given the rich variety of wedding celebrations possible. I don't think the picture below is from a wedding feast, but, hey, it might look like this! Here is a giant Ukrainian pysanka (Easter egg) built in 1975 in Vegreville, Canada.

Festival of Leonardo da Vinci

Don't look. He's not in our liturgical calendar, but maybe should be. Leonardo da Vinci died on this date in 1519. Edward Hays tells us, he was... "A true genius in many and varied fields. When commissioned to paint a portrait of the wife of Francesco del Giocondo, he found it very difficult to make her smile. Da Vinci even resorted to hiring people to play, sing, and jest while he painted her. Today, Mona Lisa's smile is renowned. A good day to let the grace of the Easter season make your smile unforgettable."

Easter 4 Gospel Reading

This is our Gospel reading for Sunday. Where would you start?

John 10:22-30

²²At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, ²³and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. ²⁴So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” ²⁵Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; ²⁶but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. ²⁷My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰The Father and I are one.”

The above illustration is from the Jesus Mafa series. It is part of a project to set the Gospel in African context. Originally developed for the Mafa people of North Cameroun, the project continues. Click here to read about this remarkable undertaking.

Such a sad two weeks

First, the death of our neighbor - a beautiful and full of life 9 yr old girl - Oriana. Then, the tragedy at Virginia Tech followed by a fallen Blue Angel in Beaufort, SC.

Rest eternal grant to them , O Lord.
And let light perpetual shine upon them.

May their souls and the souls of all the departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Alleluia ! Christ is Risen!

The Resurrection
Fra Angelico, San Marco Museum, Florence

A Sermon for Easter Day 2007

Look out! God’s resurrection power is at work!

They came at early dawn and found an empty tomb. They were perplexed – confused – disoriented. Things were not as they ought to have been. Read more....

Giotto di Bondone, 1304-1306.

No. 30 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 14. Washing of Feet

Fresco, 200 x 185 cm

Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua