From the Rector

Hello, fellow pilgrims.  As I write this, I sit with a profound awareness of the hurriedness and detachment that currently pervade our society.  It seems to me to have gotten strikingly more pervasive since the COVID pandemic shut everything down six years ago. It feels like something broke in our society, something deep and…

Hello, fellow pilgrims.In the Episcopal Church (as part of the Anglican Communion), we follow a three-year calendar of readings called a Lectionary.This three-year cycle takes us through most of the Bible: 80-90% of the Old Testament, all of the Psalms, and most of the Epistles (letters) and Gospels (written by Mark, Matthew, Luke, &…

Hello, fellow pilgrims.  Though The Episcopal church commemorates her on July 1st every year, I’d like to share her with you today.  This beautiful photo is one of my favorites.  It is a photo of The Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray.  She isn’t wearing clericals, or academic robes, or liturgical vestments.  This is an image…

Hello, fellow pilgrims.  This week, I visited my favorite labyrinth called Sholom Park Labyrinth Path.  It is a large, park-sized labyrinth that is so immersive and full of life that it seamlessly transports the walker into a spiritually transformative experience.  It is so enveloping that it is surprisingly easy to forget you are in…

Hello, fellow pilgrims.  I’ve spent the past six weeks outlining our spiritual and missional camino at St. James’ Mt. Airy.  We are now ready to begin preparations for “walking” this pilgrimage of faith, discovery, and service. COMMUNITY STORY STEWARDSHIP FAITH ADVOCACY We formally recognize this pilgrimage together as The Camino of St. James’, Mt.…

Hello, fellow pilgrims.  Last week I introduced you to our Camino’s third path: STEWARDSHIP.  This week I will introduce you to the fourth path we will be walking together as a community: FAITH.   COMMUNITY STORY STEWARDSHIP FAITH ADVOCACY Pilgrimage is not just about reaching a destination; it is about the journey itself.  Along…

Hello, fellow pilgrims.  Last week I introduced you to our Camino’s second path: STORY.  This week I will introduce you to the third path we will be walking together as a community: STEWARDSHIP.   COMMUNITY STORY STEWARDSHIP FAITH ADVOCACY A pilgrim is someone who is on a sacred or meaningful journey, and carries only…

Hello, fellow pilgrims.  Last week I introduced you to the Camino paths we will be walking as a community of faith.  Those paths are: COMMUNITY STORY STEWARDSHIP FAITH ADVOCACY This week, I will share more about the first path: Community.  As a community, we walk together, for Christ, for one another, and for our…

Hello, fellow pilgrims.  Last week, I introduced you to the concept of our spiritual and ministerial Camino here at St. James’ Episcopal Church, Mt. Airy, MD.  We are pilgrims.  Like St. James the Greater, who left everything to follow Christ (Matthew 4:21-22) and became an apostle for Christ, the community of St. James’ Mt.…