by St. Francis | Sep 17, 2026 | Rector's Reflections
Why do I give to the church? I could instead ask the vestry to lower my salary by the amount that Jennifer and I choose to give and save everyone a lot of time. Or I could give to the church where I grew up, the one that sent me to seminary. I could give to some other...
by St. Francis | Sep 10, 2026 | Rector's Reflections
The church was full on September 16, 2001. When the bell rang, everyone stood. There was no talking, whispering, or rustling of bulletins. The quiet weighed like a lead apron on the congregation. The crucifer was flanked by two torchbearers, who were followed by...
by St. Francis | Sep 4, 2026 | Rector's Reflections
How do we reconcile evil in the world? This is a question I’ve received several times, and one I’ve asked myself. The direct answer is that we can’t. While we can account for human evil, natural evil (disease, disaster, famine, and death) throws the ledger completely...
by St. Francis | Aug 28, 2026 | News, Rector's Reflections
I typically read the appointed readings for Sunday a week in advance of the service. The first read-through is just to familiarize myself with what is going on, to see if there’s any one place where I feel a lot of energy. It’s also a chance to let it simmer on the...
by St. Francis | Aug 24, 2026 | Events, News
Experience the beauty and warmth of Franz Schubert’s Mass in G, an intimate and deeply moving choral masterpiece filled with radiant melodies and profound spirituality. The Catalyst Chamber Ensemble, the 14-member professional chamber choir of Long Beach Camerata...
