Think

A Musing: What do Spring flowers teach us about Easter? ~ submitted by Krys Clark, verger Have you ever thought about the life cycle of Crocuses, Tulips and Daffodils? All three of these flowers start off as a bulb. In the fall, these bulbs are planted in the ground of 6 to 8 inches. They spend the whole winter dormant. The whole time the …

LENT SEASON BASICS ~ submitted by Clifton Flemister, Senior Warden Lent is the season of the church during which we prepare ourselves for Easter – The Resurrection of Jesus. There will be a number of study programs and offerings to help us with this spiritual journey of preparation. However, we often lose sight of the basics of this Lenten Journey because …

Rainbows Arch from Inside One drop darkens a circle on the sidewalk. I stand at the door and watch till a hundred circles have become one. Sun brushes water with colors of light. Early evening and my neighbors are all inside. Squares of honey-glow pour toward one another in this growing dark. Around the world children hang rainbows in windows, …

Ash Wednesday is coming on February 17th. With that I thought I would share some meditations on this upcoming day and the start of a new liturgical season. In the middle of last year’s Lenten season, the pandemic hit. COVID-19 has turned our world upside down. So much has changed. We have traded hugs for social distancing, joyful faces for face masks, and social …

Lessons Each day I must do this            witness the liminal            as night grazes dawn. It is not fair to what I love—            which is this union            which is this marveling—            to not go to the depths of my voice            with the clarity of this spreading light. I have learned a few things—            how strong the pull            how consuming the give …

YEAR END MUSINGS ~ submitted by Krys Clark Like some people, for me this time of year is always a time to reflect. I examine my thoughts and goals from last year. Did I do everything I wanted to? What did I do? What do I want to accomplish this upcoming year? My goals for last year were what I thought, at least at …

December 23rd Flight from Bangor to Washington DC Most of us try to sleep while we hurtle through middle space between stars and city lights, between where we were and where we will arrive. Miles above darkened churches where tomorrow we gather to sing Silent Night tipping unlit candles toward the fire till every face is a circle of light. The woman …

We celebrate with our 2018 St. Matthew’s Poet-in-Residence Julia Baker Swann on the recent publication of her first poetry book, The Moon is Always Whole. Congratulations, Julia!! Julia is finishing her MA degree in Theopoetics and Writing at Bethany Theological Seminary this coming May. Her book is available on Amazon. Let’s continue to support and pray for Julia!

Dear Siblings of St. Matthew’s, An Advent Birthing comes upon us! A church cannot exist in a vacuum. During this current pandemic, it has become exceedingly clear that faith communities (especially ‘mainline” denominations), already fragile before its appearing, are now wondering how they will recover. This fragility was evident even before the pandemic by an exodus of those who decided …