Official Diocesan Blog

Halloween has become an increasingly strong cultural force in American culture. So, how should we as the Church respond?

The role of grandparent continues to play an important part of our family cultures and human development. An while we here in America might not revere our elders as much as other cultures around the globe, almost all of us have stories to tell about the impact that our grandparents had on our life.

No-one is meant to be hidden in the kingdom of God. Each and every person is valuable, and we have a responsibility to see them.

Mother Teresa doubted. Martin Luther doubted. C. S. Lewis doubted. These are not lightweights. These are giants of faith worth following. They made their doubt work for them. They integrated doubt into their faith, and their uncertainty about God and the future deepened their faith over time. This encourages me. I hope it encourages you. If God did not want us to ever doubt, he could have ripped the book of Psalms right out of the Bible. God is much bigger than our doubts. It is possible to have great doubt and great faith at the same time. The two are not mutually exclusive. In Mother Teresa, in Luther, and in Lewis we see that great men and women of faith can also be great men and women of doubt. In faith, there is room for doubt.

Retreats were not a part of my foundational spiritual heritage, I have gained an appreciation for them. I encourage each one of you to set aside regular times to be quiet in the presence of the God who loves you more than you can ever imagine? It doesn’t need to be in an actual retreat center – although they do offer a wonderful setting for renewal and healing. It can simply be a quiet corner in your living room, in your garden, or in a nearby park. What is most important is that you take time, make time, and “Be still, and know that I am God.

Personal evangelism is not something that comes easily for me. While I know that it is a great privilege, an essential task for the church, and that there is great rejoicing in heaven when one sinner repents, I am still something of a reluctant evangelist. I am, however, married to one of the world’s most effective evangelists! Angela is able to move from an opening greeting with a perfect stranger to an in-depth conversation about personal faith in no time, and many of these interactions conclude with prayer. Through her example and encouragement, I have begun to make some headway.

"While I recognize that the US is far from perfect and has much in its history from which we must learn, I am proud to be an American – with a British accent! Patriotism has become a contentious topic in recent years. Extreme views are promulgated with divisive ferocity, and as a result some now suggest that patriotism itself should be renounced or at least kept well hidden. I disagree, and I am in good company with a man familiar to most of you – Clive Staples Lewis."