Category: News

This week, Mother Liz reflects on the theme of abundance in the gospel story of the risen Jesus meeting his disciples on the beach. In a moment filled with surprising grace — an overwhelming catch of fish, a simple meal, and the quiet restoration of Peter — Jesus offers sustenance, forgiveness, and purpose. As we journey through Eastertide, we are invited to receive God’s overflowing love even when we feel uncertain or unworthy, and to respond by caring for others with that same love.

Alleluia! Christ is risen! This week, Mother Liz offers thanks to all who helped make our Holy Week and Easter observances and celebrations beautiful and full of meaning: from the lay preachers in the first part of the week to the many acolytes, flower arrangers, food bringers, singers, etc., etc. And thank you to all who joined us — in person, online or in spirit — to make this Holy Week and Easter particularly special. The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

For the liminal space of Holy Saturday, Mother Liz offers a prayer by writer and poet Cole Arthur Riley (pictured above). Then it’s on to Saturday night and the Great Vigil of Easter (8 pm) followed by Easter Sunday, the Day of Resurrection, with Holy Eucharist at 9 am, Festal Eucharist with the full choir at 11 am, and the service of Meditation & Sacrament at 6 pm. And following the 11 am celebration, a festive brunch in the Parish Hall! Join us!

As Holy Week begins, Mother Liz invites us to walk with Jesus through the powerful events that lie at the heart of our faith—from joyful hosannas to heartbreak, from betrayal to hope. The liturgies of this week mirror both the beauty and pain of our world today, calling us to reflect, pray, and open our hearts to God’s presence. By fully entering into the Holy Week journey, we may discover new insights, deeper compassion, and the enduring truth that love is stronger than death. Let this sacred week surprise and transform you.

As Holy Week approaches, our rector reflects on the tender, powerful moment when Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with costly perfume — a gesture of love, sorrow, and deep knowing. In a world full of suffering and injustice, we are invited to follow Mary’s example: to recognize the presence of Christ in the needs around us, to respond with compassion, and to offer what we can in love.

In this week’s newsletter, Mother Liz reflects on the life and witness of Saint Oscar Romero, the martyred Archbishop of El Salvador, whose courage grew as he spoke out against injustice and stood in solidarity with the poor. Romero’s prophetic call to challenge systems of oppression resonates deeply today, as vulnerable immigrants face threats both at our borders and abroad. Inspired by his example, we are called to cultivate compassion, listen to the suffering around us, and respond with courage and love — even in these unsettling times. May love make us brave.

This week, our rector marks the spring equinox with a reflection on balance, renewal, and our deep connection to the natural world. As light and dark meet in equal measure, we are invited to notice the beauty around us, trust in the Holy Gardener at work within us, and step boldly into new life. Included is a poetic blessing by Christine Valters Paintner to guide us into the season. Also: Join us this Sunday as we prepare bag lunches for our unhoused neighbors — an opportunity to share spring’s generosity in action!

In this week’s newsletter, Mother Liz reflects on Jesus’ deep grief and longing as he laments over Jerusalem, using the image of a mother hen gathering her chicks — a scene depicted in a mosaic at the Dominus Flevit Church on the Mount of Olives. In the face of a broken world, we are reminded that God not only weeps for us but with us. Lent can be a season of lament, but also one of comfort and renewal, as we take shelter under God’s loving, mothering wings and find strength for the work ahead. On Sunday we are delighted to welcome the Rev. Megan Sanders as our guest preacher and forum leader! Mother Megan is chaplain to Canterbury Downtown and staff in charge of the Episcopal Diocese of New York’s Young Adult Network.

This week, our rector reflects on the urgency of grace and the nearness of God’s love as we begin our Lenten journey. Drawing from Paul’s letters and the gospel’s assurance that the Word dwells among us, we are reminded that love is always within reach — and that now is the time to act. In a world filled with uncertainty, we are called to turn toward love, to engage with those around us, and to take even small steps toward justice and compassion.

This week, our rector reflects on the story of Jesus’ transfiguration — a radiant moment of divine revelation that offers a glimpse of how things truly are. In Malcolm Guite’s poem, which she shares, the light of Christ not only shines outward but also stirs within us, awakening hope and awareness. As we approach the last Sunday of Epiphany, we are invited to remember our own encounters with God’s presence, to notice holiness even in the ordinary, and to be strengthened by beauty, joy, and love for the journey ahead. Also this week: the Shrove Tuesday pancake supper; Ash Wednesday services; a special conversation Thursday evening with the Rev. Fadi Diab, rector of St. Andrew’s Church in Ramallah and St. Peter’s Church in Birzeit; and much more!