Some Christians criticize other Christians for making a big deal over Mary. But what they do not understand, is without Mary, there is no Jesus. But Without Mary, we could not have celebrated Christmas! But from whence did she come? Canonical Scripture is silent. However, the Protovangelium of James, a non-canonical Christian writing from the mid Second Century, identifies her …
The Episcopal Church was in the headlines with an announcement that the Diocese of Los Angeles had elected a lesbian female as Suffragan, that is, an assistant, Bishop. Reaction to the election was, predictably, swift and often negative. According to the way some interpret “the Bible” same sex relationships are allegedly evil. Yet nowhere does …
WHY THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH NEEDS GAY AND LESBIAN CHRISTIANS TO SURVIVE Read More »
2 Samuel 1:1;17-27 Psalm 130 Corinthians 8:7-15 Mark 5:21-43 + In the name of God, Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier, AMEN. When I was a small boy about 3 to 4 years of age in Forest Hills, in Queens, New York, I had the unfortunate experience of living as an asthmatic child in a household with parents who …
MY SERMON ON HEALTH CARE PREACHED AT ST. JOHNS INDIO JUNE 28, 2009 Read More »
At a parish I used to attend, I was thurifer every Sunday for about a year. As Sunday Mass ended and I conclude my thurifer duties, I censed Our Lady of Guadalupe in the back of the Church because I honor Mary. I honor Her because She gave us Jesus. I also honor Her because …
Our Lady of Guadalupe – Inspiration for the Ecumenical Catholic Communion Read More »
At Sunday Mass when we sing or say the Nicene Creed, we “acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. But the Church pays only lip service to this idea. While we read Bible passages about forgiveness, hear confessions, and pronounce absolution, Churches seldom oppose punishment per se in the secular world. The United States, …
At a home for the elderly, residents with dementia gathered for their weekly rhythm exercises. The therapist directed each member to bang out numbers and shake maracas to the tune of Yankee Doodle. Some who seemed otherwise non compis mentis could nonetheless tap on cue. Alzheimer\’s researchers report that patients unable to speak can sing childhood melodies. …
SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION – AUGUST 19, 2012 St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Phoenix, Arizona Sermon preached by David Justin Lynch, Esquire Magnificat in place of the Gloria. Collect: 1979 BCP, Page 34. OT: Wisdom 7:21-30; Psalm: 9:9-14; NT: Acts 1:6-12; Gospel: John 19:25-27 + In the name of God, Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier, AMEN. The …
The Assumption of Mary Meets the Progressive Emerging Church Read More »
The ongoing debate over health care has overlooked my very simple solution. What is missing is a discussion whether health care is a right. I say it is, and that there should be no compromise on that. Everyone is entitled to health care, period end of story. My proposal to deliver it is as follows …
Holy Week begs the question, “Why did Jesus die on the cross?” Many Christians believe in “penal substitution.” They believe: all humankind has sinned, God\’s justice requires a penalty be paid for sin, so God sent Jesus to suffer the penalty in our place by dying on the cross. But what does that say about …
Having been a lifelong baseball fan and having umpired from 1970 to 1984 (including the minors), I have concluded that Organized Baseball needs a bit of a facelift and updating. First, we need to expand by two franchises to cover up and coming metropolitan areas. One is the Winston-Salem North Carolina area and the other …