At the beginning of our 3-week stewardship series, Fr. Javier explores the meaning of common worship: “Worship—and what we do in it—calls us back to attention to a different way of measuring our time and worth… There is work and there is rest; there is fasting and there is feasting. And all these little habits…
Fr. Javier deals with Jesus’ words in Mark 10:2-16: “We were not created to be free from one another. We were created to experience the freedom of being with each other—of knowing and being known, of being vulnerable and carefree, of being together without fear.”
Fr. Javier reflects on the Letter of James and what we say to one another: “We don’t always have to find the right words to say. But it is possible for us to hold back the wrong ones. And the goal to aspire to here is not perfection but attention, not eloquence but patience… not stellar insight but simply, what is needed.”
The Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista reflects on what it means to be a religious community in difficult times (1 Kings 8:22-30, 41-43) and shares a few updates from what St. Paul’s has planned for the near future.
The Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista reflects on the polarized communities of the early church (Ephesians 4:25-5:2) and our own divided times.
The Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista reflects on intentional rest and renewal in a world of urgent tasks (Mark 6:30-34, 53-56).
The Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista reflects on the enduring story of David and Goliath.
The Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista recalls David Whyte’s poem “Start Close In” and reflects on the prophet Isaiah’s epiphany in Isaiah 6:1-8.
The Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista reflects on Jesus’s message to his followers about abiding love (John 15:9-17).
The Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista reflects on Luke 24:36b-48 and the resurrected Jesus.