5th Sunday after Epiphany/Year A - February 8, 2026

Sermon by Kit Allgood-Mellema

Scriptures: Psalm 112:1-9, (10); Isaiah 58:1-9a, [9b-12]; 1 Corinthians 2:1-12, [13-16]; Matthew 5:13-20

8 February 2026_The Fifth Sunday After the Epiphany, Year A

Before moving to Sitka, we lived in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, in an area known as the Copper Country. The copper industry had ceased years before, but one of the local mines offered tours, so we decided to check it out. The tour finale took place at the end of 2,000-foot horizontal tunnel; after warning us, the guide reached over to a switch. The light went off and we were plunged into total darkness for about 30 seconds while the tour guide continued to speak. The experience of darkness was a bit scary and completely disorienting. It felt as if the darkness had absorbed the air out of the space. I knew Jim was next to me, but my senses said, ‘maybe not!’ The system of body sensors in my muscles and joints that helps maintain balance were struggling to work properly without my brain having a focal point on which to fix.

On the way home that day we talked about times we’d experienced real darkness in places without artificial or man-made light – while camping in the mountains, sitting outside in the desert, out on the open ocean, or during a night dive in a remote area. Nothing compared to the absence of light we had just experienced.

I thought about that kind of darkness this last week when the power went out through most of the town just before 9:00 at night. The sudden darkness was startling, but not scary or disorienting. Before we turned on the battery lights, I went out onto the deck simply to feel the darkness for a few moments. The outage was over quickly and forgotten by the morning.

All the scripture readings we heard today, with no exception, took place in times when sundown meant real darkness. The sources of artificial light - untended lamps, lanterns and fires - could be dangerous; kindling had to be sought and carried, and lamp oil was expensive and used sparingly. Small fires might be lit to guide travelers to safety or to keep wildlife at bay, but generally nighttime meant darkness.

Life itself was dark for the people of the time. They had lived under foreign occupation and despotic rule for centuries, struggling for freedom, praying for hope, justice and peace. The darkness of life was a heavy burden to carry. When Jesus appeared, the people were aching for his words and for the promise of new life, and they were eager for a guiding light, a light on which to focus, to fix their gaze and give them balance as they moved forward. And then they heard the words we heard in today’s gospel reading, words that began where last week’s reading left off – after the Beatitudes and at the beginning of what we call ‘The Sermon on the Mount.’

Jesus told the people around him, ‘You are the light of the world.’ They were stunned. Light was valuable, and the materials to create light were hard to come by, yet here was this man telling them they were the light of the world – let your light shine! You have light to share! He was telling them their lives had value and meaning, their lives were precious to God, to Jesus, to everyone who came into their presence! This was unheard of, but the people were amazed and moved.

These days light is difficult to escape, isn’t it. How do we hear Jesus’s words today, in our time and place where light is available at the flick of switch, yet in a time and place where life feels dark and heavy? Do we hear them in the spirit of hope? Do we hear them as an affirmation of our own worth and value – ‘You are the light of the world – let your light shine for others’? When we hear them, do we hear that we are God’s beloved people, full of the light that has been in existence since the beginning? In a world that is begging for light – the light of hope and justice and peace - Jesus says, Let your light shine – let my light shine through you. Be the light others can fix on to find focus and balance as they move forward and do my work in the world.

In a short time, we will gather in the See House to share a meal and have our annual meeting. We will look forward, asking your help in the year to come. We will take some time to look at last year – the work done, the relationships nourished, the outreach we have worked on, the ways we have been the light of the world. And we will have a time of discussion and listening, exploring our shared life and thinking about the next steps we take as a family, a community, as God’s people.

Imagine Jesus walking into our gathering, our conversation, and telling us, ‘You are the light of the world – let your light shine before others!’ Now imagine where could that take us, our gathering of God’s beloved, precious, valuable people? Imagine that light – and shine!

Thanks be to God!

4th Sunday after Epiphany/Year A - February 1, 2026

Sermon by Kathryn Winslow

Scriptures: Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12

Matthew 5:1-12 sermon on the Mount, Beatitudes (The Blessing, or blessed) Kathryn Winslow

A couple of weeks ago Nancy Jo led us in Lectio Divina. We’ll do a variation of that today. Soon I’ll first ask, “what word appraise stands out to you?” We’ll look at the Gospel again. “What questions do you have or is there another word or phrase that stands out?”  I’ll share a bit more and then perhaps after church, in the fellowship hall, and this week you can connect with someone over the question, “What do you think God is asking of you after reading this?” Or you can ask what are you wondering about today’s Gospel?

What is a word, a phrase that stands out to you?

Listen to responses.

Notice how this is a series of balanced questions blessed are those who… (blank noun or descriptor of type of person/group), for they shall…. (Blank Verb). Dependent clause. Shall versus Will… Will is technically a want, wish or desire. Shall is more contractual, a contract between two parties. And God is not then do the lesson again, with some. Added in aspects.

11 Blessed are YOU when people revile you and Persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad/for your reward is great in heaven, For in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Other thoughts/words?

Previously I visualized each line as a separate group of people.  Now first to jump to that last part, that troublesome last part, vs 11 & 12 blessed are YOU when people revile you, persecute you… “Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad??” What?

We are wronged. Wounded. Hurt. Lied to or about. Judged. Broken relationships. Losses. Deaths. End of Life as we knew it. We’re ostracized from family members or former friends. Our bodies ache. We encounter so many challenges, so much suffering, and see others suffering, too, that we eventually choose, or feel we have no choice, except to lay it down at the Cross, at Jesus feet, and surrender it all. We recognize we cannot do life on our own. We need and turn to something greater than ourselves. We also need community. Perhaps we begin to seek God’s will.

Perhaps it is in suffering we can better relate to the prophets, saints, and Christ, who died, and rose again.…. So when we suffer we may better understand Christ and connect.

Maybe in being entirely honest with ourselves, God, and God’s people, we suffer, and make a deliberate choice to praise the Holy One always, and receive the joy from our Creator, seeing our circumstances through God’s eyes (not seeing God through our circumstances), we are truly blessed. Maybe being deliberate to find joy in suffering, and to drawing closer to God are all steps in the

Beatitude Process.

    1.    Maybe in order to surrender,

    2.    we become poor in spirit,

    3.    we mourn, deep in grief over our losses of people, relationships, life as we knew it. We feel powerless, meek, weak.

    4.    We hunger and thirst for justice for ourselves, and others who have been wronged and hurt.

    5.    We seek God. We “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness, justice.”

    6.    We experience Our Creator’s grace and mercy and extend it to others.

    7.    We cannot hide from God; we are Honest with God and ourselves and draw closer. Once we are in the Holy One’s presence, how hallowed God is and praise the name and that space, we make peace and become peacemakers to those around us.

Synonyms for blessing, bless, or blessed are:

Joy. Joyful. Beatify. Beatitudes. Hallowed. Hallowed be thy name. Consecrated.

The Holy One consecrates us in this process. We struggle, work through the Beatitudes Process and we gain compassion, our faith increases. We are connected. We are consecrated.

We struggle, and we are blessed.

We can help extend that mercy and bless others, Beatify others.

And in doing this we bless God.

God the Holy One who blesses us, consecrates us. Hallowed be thy name. Thy will be done….Amen.

3rd Sunday after Epiphany/Year A - January 25, 2026

Reflection by Kit Allgood-Mellama

Scriptures: Psalm 27:1, 5-13; Isaiah 9:1-4; Canticle 11 Third Song of Isaiah; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Canticle 16 The Song of Zechariah; Matthew 4:12-23

One of the best things about having gospel readings from four sources is that we hear different points of view and maybe get details that another writer missed. For example, today’s gospel lesson from Matthew introduces us to some of Jesus’s first disciples. If that sounds a bit familiar, you aren’t mistaken. Last week we heard a reading from John with a similar story, as Jesus called and named his disciples. In her reflection last week, Deacon Kathryn reminded us we all are God’s Beloved, called and named even as we were being formed.

Today we also heard that Jesus had just learned of John the Baptist’s imprisonment. Jesus and John lived in a time and place of unrest and tyranny, under the rule of a force that wanted to repress and control the Jewish people, who lived in poverty and fear. Hearing the news about John seemed to energize Jesus, as if it was a signal that sent him on a path in line with the prophesies of Isaiah, a path to the Sea of Galilee. There he began to share his message of repentance, redemption and love. And it was there, according to Matthew, Jesus met two brothers, fishermen named Simon and Andrew and called them to follow him. He promised to make them fish for people. Matthew tells us Simon – later called Peter - and Andrew, and a little while later brothers James and John, immediately followed him.

When I hear this passage, my first thought is always, ‘Jesus had a magnetic personality!’ People were drawn to him irresistibly, leaving behind family, friends, homes, livelihoods, expensive equipment, everything they had, to be in his company! What was it about Jesus that made this happen?

I believe when Jesus met people, he met them exactly where they were in their lives. He recognized each person individually as Beloved, just as Deacon Kathryn said last week. He saw them and loved them as the people they were - perfectly imperfect individuals, with needs of their own and needs that were universal. He knew they had strengths and weaknesses, talents and rough spots. And that was OK.

So, when Jesus called to the four men and said, Follow me and I will make you fish for people, he was calling those four fishermen just as they were. And they listened and followed him. If Jesus had found a group of bakers, he would have said, Follow me and you will feed all the hungry. And if he’d found a gathering of midwives and healers, he would have called to them, Follow me and I will make you healers of all the sick and infirm, caring for the vulnerable and marginalized. To a group of weavers and sewers, he would have called, Follow me and you will clothe those in rags. To anyone who had sinned, he would have said, Follow me and find a new life for yourself and others.

Jesus changed lives by accepting people in the lives they were living, by loving them as they were, and by asking them to do likewise with everyone they met, whether by fishing, feeding, healing, clothing, caring and listening. This was the way of love he lived and shared with people two thousand years ago. It’s been the way of love ever since.

In our time, as we grapple daily with unsettling news, images of violence and threatening rhetoric, it’s difficult to look about ourselves without feelings of unease and suspicion. Our fears for the future of our families and friends, and the future of our world can be overwhelming.

In the middle of the night when I can’t sleep, I often wonder what Jesus would say to me, to you, to us about our fears, our unease, our suspicions. I’m pretty sure he would remind me that I live in a world surrounded by people who are named and beloved by God. He would remind me that the way of love is the way of justice, peace, mercy and hope. He’d say, You’ve got this, and I’ve got you. He’d tell me that he welcomed the tax collector and dined with him, and that he healed the centurion’s daughter, coming face to face with both of them just as they were. He would tell me I’m loved by God. And I’m pretty sure he would tell me to always meet people where they are, as they are, and to always care for them, listen, heal and love them.

If Jesus walked in our doors today, how would he call us? I believe he would say, Follow me and I will hold you and I will make you the light that shines on the path of the way of love.

Thanks be to God!

2nd Sunday after Epiphany/Year A - January 18, 2026

Reflection by Rev. Kathryn Snelling, Deacon

Scriptures: Isaiah 49:1-7; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42; Psalm 40:1-12

Well, I think it’s safe to say that we probably all noticed the strong thread running through our scriptures this morning.
And that is - of being known and being called and being named.

Being known - even before we physically existed.
Isaiah says it this way: The Lord called me before I was born. While I was in my mother’s womb, he named me.
We’ve heard similar words from the Psalmist - in Psalm 139 it states; You created my inmost parts, you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Being known — even more thoroughly than we know, or think we know, ourselves.
For we humans can be very good at masquerading.
But, as we prayed at the beginning of the service:
 “To you, all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid”

This intimate knowing offers that space where we can rest in knowing that God loves us right where we are, even when we are being gently nudged closer and closer.

And being called.
Now being “called” often carries some weighty expectations.
We usually refer to someone who is “called” as being called to an ordained ministry, whether to the diaconate or priesthood or to be a bishop.
But I think being called can be as simple as Jesus saying come, come and see.
Come and sit with me, come and spend time with me, come and learn from me.

Paul identifies himself as “Called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God”
And in a sense, we are all called as an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.
For what is an apostle but; a witness, a messenger, a follower.
And I dare to say that more of Christ’s love has been manifested in the world by faithful followers through their witness and sharing of what Christ offers us, than through any given sermon on a Sunday morning.

And on mentioning sermons. I saw a cartoon a few days back. It pictured Jesus walking on a beach with another person. You are probably familiar with the poem about  Footprints in the Sand. And Jesus is saying, “when there were one set of prints is when I carried you. And that long groove over there, is when I dragged you, kicking and screaming.”
Today is the 20th anniversary of my ordination to the Diaconate. And as I prepared for the day, I adamantly told Fr. Dave that no way was I ever going to stand up here and give sermons.
Well, if you read today’s reflection in Forward Day by Day, you’ll recall the last sentence reads, “Sometimes the challenge is that God’s call isn’t the call we would choose for ourselves.”
So, Fr.Dave got the last laugh.

And finally, being named. Even when still in mother’s womb.

I suggest that we all have been given a name.
One we have had since before we were born.  One we share in common, And that is “Beloved”
Beloved insert name.   Beloved insert name
Beloved insert name
Beloved, even before I was Kathryn

And it is this name, Beloved, that we grow into when we accept Jesus’s invitation to come and see.
And be prepared to be taken by surprise.

Amen

1st Sunday after Epiphany/Year A - January 11, 2026

Scriptures: Isaiah 42:1-9; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17; Psalm 29

Reflection by Nancy Jo Bleier.

It’s been a busy week not only in our world but in the church calendar. Christmas ended for us on the Gregorian calendar. The Epiphany was January 6 when the Magi came from the east following the star to

where Jesus lay. Bishop Mark wrote in the Diocesan News “Happy Epiphanytide”. His words of are brilliant of about Manifest. If you didn’t receive the email with the News go to episcopalak.org, tap on News and Publications to read.

The church has a tradition of marking outside the doors about the Epiphany, After our service today we will bless the church with writing in chalk this year and the initials of the Magi.

Today we celebrating the baptism of the adult Jesus. Your task today is joining me in a different way of finding meaning of this baptism of Jesus from the Gospel Matthew which I just read.

Lectio Divina, meaning "Divine Reading," is a traditional Christian practice that involves reading Scripture in a reflective and meditative way to deepen one's relationship with God. It typically consists of four steps: reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation, allowing individuals to listen for God's message in the text.

Today we are going to look at the Gospel reading from three different translations using three different questions. I am going to ask each question before reading each Gospel. After each reading I want you to answer out loud.. popcorn style your thoughts to each question.

1. What words, ideas or sentences stand out for you in the Gospel?

The Message

Jesus then appeared, arriving at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John to baptize him. John objected, “I’m the one who needs to be baptized, not you!” 15 But Jesus insisted. “Do it. God’s work, putting things right all these centuries, is coming together right now in this baptism.” So John did it. 16-17 The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God’s Spirit—it looked like a dove—descending and landing on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: “This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life.”

2. What is the Gospel or Spirit saying to you?

Good News Translation GNT

13 At that time Jesus arrived from Galilee and came to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.

14 But John tried to make him change his mind. "I ought to be baptized by you," John said, "and yet you have come to me!"

15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so for now. For in this way we shall do all that God requires." So John agreed.

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. Then heaven was opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and lighting on him.

17 Then a voice said from heaven, "This is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased.”

3. What is the Gospel or Spirit calling you to do?

New Revised Standard Version NRSV

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

As we go forward this week I ask you to ponder what these words mean to you in this complex world we are living in.

Go with the blessings of the Son, Jesus who was chosen in love.

Now in our service we will read today the Renewal of Baptismal Vows on p. 292.

2nd Sunday after Christmas/Year A - January 4, 2026

Scriptures: Jeremiah 31:7-14; Psalm 84 or 84:1-8; Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a; Matthew 2:1-12

Reflection by Kit Allgood-Mellema

Welcome to the eve of Twelfth Night, the day before the 12th day of the Christmas season. At twelve days, Christmas is the shortest season of our liturgical calendar; it’s also packed with more tradition, emotion, mystery, wonder, anticipation and joy than any of the others. There are many elements that contribute to our feelings about Christmas, but I think the most universal element is music, especially spiritual music like the tunes we find in our hymnal.

The music and lyrics of most of the carols we know today were written in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, although some come from earlier times and some from the 20th century. The oldest Christmas lyrics in our hymnal were written in the late 4th century! Many hymns were adapted from popular folk tunes and paired with sacred lyrics. They are easy to sing over a range of voices; they have pleasant harmonies and can be played on a variety of instruments. The lyrics are based on familiar gospel passages, stories and themes, and are easy to remember.

Why do Christmas hymns and carols appeal to so many people from cultures and faiths across time and space? For example, Silent Night has been translated into at least 330 languages. The tradition of singing special songs in winter dates to pre-Christian times, when it was used to help boost morale and community spirits during dark winter days. In Reformation England, hymn singing in public was banned at times from the late 16th century up to the early 19th century, so the practice of singing hymns went underground, which we now know is an excellent way to ensure the survival and growth of a tradition.

Many people hold to the belief that Christmas hymns should only be sung in the season of Christmas, which has led to the practice of carol singing in church services and gatherings on Twelfth Night before putting the music away until next year. So today, for the next 10 to 15 minutes, everyone here can choose the Christmas hymns you would like to sing one last time during this Christmas season. Listen to the music and feel it tug at you. Pause over the words and let them settle into your heart and soul and mind. A word of caution, however – you never know when a Christmas hymn might sneak its way into one of our services in another season of the year. That might be a way to keep the season of ‘Yes!’ alive and well at St. Peter’s.

Thanks be to God!

Enjoy listening to Ben Maton - The Salisbury Organist - performing the Greatest Christmas Carol Ever Written... Banned From Church!. Click on the link below for this YouTube video.

First Sunday after Christmas Day/Year A - December 28, 2025

Scriptures: Psalm 147 or 147:13-21; Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Canticle 9; Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7; Canticle 11; John 1:1-18

Sermon by Kit Allgood-Mellema

‘In the beginning . . . . ‘The short phrase that begins today’s gospel reading, written by St. John, the apostle and evangelist, is one of the best-known phrases in the Bible. These three words bring us into the opening of John’s profound account of the life of Jesus, and they also echo the phrase that opens nearly every translation of the first chapter of the first book of the Bible, the book of Genesis. They are familiar words,

comforting words, words full of mystery and wonder, and they are words that leave us longing for more. These three words beg us to ask questions, to imagine, to expand our horizons and open our minds to explore the possibilities to come. ‘In the beginning . . . ‘

John continues, ‘In the beginning was the Word . . .’ What follows is a concise and elegant summary of the Genesis creation story, which then carries the reader into the times and events of John’s gospel.

‘In the beginning . . .’ For millennia, humans have wondered about the beginning, searched for answers, and created stories to explain the origins of all they saw and experienced. There are probably thousands of creation stories, most with similar themes. It’s safe to say that many open with a similar phrase, and leave the listener longing for more.

In modern times, scientists, astronomers, thinkers and dreamers been able to answer many of the questions about the beginning of creation, of the universe. Those answers offer some satisfaction, but most of them lead to more questions, a desire to search and know more. How did creation begin? Where did it begin? Why? What did it look like? Feel like? Sound like? We now know the universe began not with a bang, but with a very low frequency hum undetectable by human ears, an ancient hum that with the

proper equipment can still be heard over the ever-increasing human-created cacophony of everyday life on earth.

‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ And I believe the Word that was in the beginning, the word we still hear echoing throughout the far reaches of the universe, even today on the First Sunday of Christmas in 2025 - that Word is Love. ‘In the beginning was Love, and Love was with God, and Love was God.’ The Word is Love. It always has been and always will be Love.

‘In the beginning . . . ‘

Thanks be to God!

Christmas Day/Year A - December 25, 2025

Scriptures: Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; Hebrews 1:1-12; John 1:1-14

Sermon by Rev. Kathryn Snelling, Deacon

The service was recorded on Zoom, there were some technical issues. There is no written copy of the sermon. The link below is just the sermon for you to listen to.

Christmas Eve/Year A - December 24, 2025

Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14-20

December 24, 2025 Sermon by Kit Allgood-Mellema

This service was recorded on Zoom, beginning after the Prelude. Here’s the link for viewing it: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/8T_FPMHqXMdboMHuiAs9K4qhngXeUuT_1EUEGes-Mn1L0PHacFuXaDdU2glddzO0.YFZyz7yjVGFrQ7ER 

Thank you all for being here tonight – it’s so good to see everyone! You may not know this, but

you are here because you said ‘yes’ to a special invitation. Did you realize you were invited here

tonight? We’ll come back to that in a moment.

The books of the Bible are filled with stories of people who said ‘yes.’ Our Advent and Christmas

traditions are no exception. Elizabeth, the mother of John, known as the Baptist, had long

prayed for a child, and in her elder years said ‘yes’ to bearing that child. Mary, mother of Jesus,

in her teen years, said an emphatic ‘yes’ to the angel in her prayer that we know as the

Magnificat. Joseph said ‘yes’ to an angel in a dream and took Mary as his wife. A group of

shepherds, surrounded by their flock, didn’t surrender to their fear – they said ‘yes!’ and with

their sheep, came trooping through the streets of Bethlehem looking for a baby. The people of

Bethlehem, crowded in together with family and friends, found a space for Mary and Joseph in a

home – because the manger would have been inside a family home to help keep the livestock

and the family warm together – as they said ‘yes!’ Midwives and experienced mothers said ‘yes,’

and showed up with their wisdom, knowledge and all that Mary would need for the birth,

including the swaddling cloth for the newborn. It was a resounding ‘yes!’ Even the angels of

heaven, sometimes rumored to be a rather unruly and mischievous group, said ‘yes’ as their

songs of praise echoed across the skies! And in less than two weeks, we will hear the story of

royal visitors who heard the voice of love and said ‘yes!’ They braved a perilous journey and

risked the displeasure of a vengeful king to find the source of that love.

Creation said ‘yes!’ and came alive with the joy of new life, new hope, new peace. The world

heard every ‘yes’ and began to listen as it journeyed toward the simple beauty of love and light

and hope and truth and peace. And then the world said ‘yes!’ Every yes was a holy ‘yes,’

responding to a holy, sacred invitation from God.

The ‘yes’ that brought you here tonight was a holy ‘yes,’ an answer to God inviting you to join

the journey of love that began centuries ago. God’s invitations to love don’t usually come with

angel choirs and brilliant stars. Most likely they show up in the most unlikely places and times,

and in ways we don’t expect – in the needs of a stranger; in a plea for help; in the tiny body of a

hungry child; in the fatigue of a person who doesn’t know where they will spend the night or

find their next meal or how they will stay warm; in the eyes of someone who is alone and lonely;

in the fear of someone who is the victim of injustice or violence; in the need to make our voices

heard.

In a world of uncertainty, pain, hunger, violence, oppression, disaster and fear – a world very

much like the one Jesus was born into - the sacred invitation to join the journey of love may feel

overwhelming. Please know that you are not alone. Every one of us has hesitated in the face of a

holy ‘yes,’ wondering if the invitation was really meant for us, questioning if God knew what God

was doing. Please know that every kindness, even the smallest one, is a holy ‘yes.’ Please know

the invitation may seem insignificant, but your ‘yes’ may change a life. Please know that the

invitation comes with God’s hand outstretched to take our hand, to guide us on the way, to

provide us with the help we need. And when we all answer with a holy ‘yes,’ we support and

carry each other.

In the quiet moments of this special season of ‘yes,’ as we immerse ourselves in the miracle,

wonder and love of Jesus’s birth, take some time to ponder the echoes of ‘yes’ from years and

centuries past. Then listen for God’s invitation to you to say a holy ‘yes.’

Merry Christmas! Thanks be to God! Amen!

3 Advent/Year A - December 14, 2025

Scriptures: Psalm 146:4-9; Isaiah 35:1-10; James 5:7-10; Canticle 15; Matthew 11:2-11

December 14, 2025 Reflection by Mim McConnell, Sr. Warden

While reading this week’s daily readings on generosity and hospitality, and the scriptures for today, I’ve been thinking about the tension that fills the space between opposing thoughts. How do we deal with it? Can we make it go away? Do we just give up in despair? No, I believe there is a place for the Christian in that space.

I remember in a bible study class Fr. Dave Elsensohn saying that there is always tension between good and evil in the world. This was a revelation for me. I think I was learning about “gray” areas. Life isn’t just black and white.

I think the Christian should be between those places, where these ideas meet, touching both sides, in the midst of the tension. There, we can hold the space open for coming together, where we can be a generous, welcoming host.

Let me give you an example of this tension. I’ve been studying the American Revolution these past few months by listening to books by Rich Atkinson, watching Ken Burns’s miniseries on the Revolution, and reading a special edition by The Atlantic magazine on the topic. I’ve learned things that weren’t taught in my high school American History class. It’s been a fascinating education. One of the things brought up is the fact that it was a civil war between Rebels and Loyalists. This was all about how people wanted to be governed. The Rebels, as we know, eventually won the war.

But the tension between opposing ideals of how government should operate continues until today. It will always be there, no matter how far the government, or cultural, pendulum swings to one side or the other. I remember this from being on the Assembly!

So, again, this is our opportunity to be the mediator, the place of comfort, the hospitable environment for all to come to and be free of judgment, to rest from the struggles of life. Here we can set aside our differences and meet on common ground, to look for ways to provide succor.

We don’t need to do this alone. We have the God of Jacob helping us, as is mentioned in today’s Psalm, “who gives justice to those who are oppressed, and food to those who hunger.” We are God’s hands and God will provide, through us, all that is needed. We need to only ask.