Dear Christ Church,   Cliff and Christine charged us in “The Letter to the Church at 112 Medina” to be a “People of the Ampersand.” A people who can hold the both/and of our faith. God is three and one. Jesus is human and divine. And this week, following the ending of Fr. Cliff’s time as rector of Christ Church and my own beginning, we are grieving & hopeful. As your Associate Rector for the past 6 years and so intimately woven into the life of this parish, there have been moments during this leadership transition where I have needed to take off my “pasto ..read more

Dear Christ Church,   The unseen and devoted faithful run the world. This is my final “CliffNotes” to you, a weekly practice I started 15 years ago when Deacon Nancy Lewis (née Scamacca) was our first operations director. She helped us to improve our communications (like creating this enews) and take some other “growing up” steps as a small parish transitioning to a medium-sized parish. If you have ever been grateful for something I’ve written here, or that we have announced in the sections below, you can thank Nancy, or Julie Chewning who currently manages our communications. Or Kristie ..read more

Dear Christ Church, These days, with every rising and setting of the sun, things feel ephemeral–beginnings and endings, letting go and picking up, the carousel of people, places, things, and time. At the center of it all is a still point, the unchanging and eternal habitation of love, beauty, friendship, glory, the holy of holies. That remains; that holds the center. This Sunday, my penultimate with you as your Rector, Christine and I will share some pastoral words, marking the moment before our Farewell Weekend. Since I will not be preaching on my final Sunday (April 21), this will be my ..read more

Dear Christ Church, “Servant of the Servants of God.” That is the title Gregory the Great gave to pastors. And that is what Cliff and Christine have been to Christ Church these past 18 years. I remember my first meal with the Warners. Lexie and I were eating lunch and hearing about their love for a local congregation, Christ Church, and how it was filled with everyday saints, people from all walks of life who were blessing one another and blessing Austin. I remember my first week serving in Christ Church working under Cliff. I remember Christine’s accident and how Christ Church prayed and rall ..read more

Dear Christ Church,   Last night Jesus invited us to his table, where we dined with him as his guests and participated in the servant mysteries of Christ. Many participated in the foot washing as a symbol of sacrificial care for one another, each of us weary pilgrims who pick up dirt and sorrow from the road. Today we walk with Jesus to the cross, where he laid down his life for us, whom he calls “friends.” We not only accompany Jesus to the cross, but also pick up on our own cross and follow him. Tonight we will hear parishioners tell their own cruciform stories, sharing from t ..read more

Dear Christ Church, This Sunday we enter Holy Week. This is the week where we walk daily with Jesus towards his cross and resurrection. Every year during this week I slow down and imagine myself entering the story. In my imagination, I’m part of the crowd waving palm branches on Sunday with my own hopes about what I think Jesus might do for me. By Thursday, I’m in an upper room sitting near a table hearing the sound of water poured over my companions’ feet. Friday I walk furtively with others to the cross, noticing only Mary Magdalene and Mary the Mother of Jesus are brave enough to ..read more

Dear Christ Church,   Has anyone noticed that it’s an election year? If you could see me, you would notice my tongue planted in my cheek. During the high political tensions of the past decade, many excellent books and articles have come out for Christians on how to navigate our times faithfully. I have watched for those thinkers and writers who are not carrying water for the left or the right, but that transcend the polarities to give a bird’s eye view, a theological view that genuinely seeks the common good. Philosopher and theologian James K. A. Smith is one of those voices. In his book ..read more

Dear Christ Church,   In early February, about 35 artists of Christ Church gathered at Cedarbrake Retreat Center for a weekend together.  You may remember – it was that dreary, stormy weekend we had a few weeks back.   Normally I might be dismayed about that kind of weather at a retreat, especially on grounds as beautiful as Cedarbrake’s. But somehow nobody seemed to mind; it felt cozy and comfortable as we gathered in the Lodge, with plenty of hot tea, coffee, and treats.  We made art of all kinds, and we laughed and cried, and we had time to simply sit and listen to each ..read more

Dear Christ Church, This week we are excited to share two upcoming opportunities to explore a heart of mission. Read below for an invitation to an upcoming Community First! Village tour as well as information on our Local Mission Fair happening this Sunday in the courtyard after each service! COMMUNITY FIRST! VILLAGE TOUR  I’ve encountered various descriptions of the world: “a stage,” “a fine place worth fighting for,” and “a canvas to our imagination.” However, Alan Graham, founder of Mobile Loaves and Fishes (MLF), offers a fresh perspective by urging us to see the world as it truly is ..read more

Dear Christ Church,   We are only 2-ish months away (April 21) from the handoff from me to Fr. Matt as Rector of Christ Church. Beginning this weekend, Fr. Matt has been given a month away from responsibilities in order to spend time with his family, take stock of this new calling to leadership, go on a retreat with me to discuss handoff matters, and clear his head and heart before returning in mid-March. Please be in prayer for the Dampiers, that the month would provide all that they need in this significant transitional moment. The Great Litany is this Sunday, an ancient prayer ser ..read more