The Bishop's Blog
The Bishop’s Blog: Jerusalem – St. Anne’s Church, nexus of a great power struggle
On a quiet Saturday morning in Jerusalem, visiting breathtaking St. Anne’s Church in the Old City, for just a moment, I thought I could hear the guns in Ukraine. It was the sound of the authority of...
The Bishop’s Blog: Daily prayer 8-21-22
Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord,...
The Bishop’s Blog: Jerusalem – Wedding of Sami and Seka Qumri
A few scenes from the blessing of the marriage of Sami and Seka Qumri Saturday at St. George's Cathedral, Jerusalem in East Jerusalem, with the Most Rev. Hosam Rafa Naoum, archbishop of Jerusalem,...
The Bishop’s Blog: Daily prayer 8-20-22
Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties as our earthly...
The Bishop’s Blog: Jerusalem – Archaeology as power and agony
In Jerusalem, a holy city to warring peoples, archaeology is power. Archaeology is also agony. Riddle me this. Is the property at Jerusalem’s heart Har ha’Bavit, the Temple Mount, where Jewish...
The Bishop’s Blog: Daily prayer 8-19-22
Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may...
The Bishop’s Blog: Jerusalem – The Western Wall
I got to the Western Wall tonight just in time to witness a successful marriage proposal and Thursday evening prayers. This was 9 p.m., and the holy place was hopping, both the women’s and men’s...
The Bishop’s Blog: The peace of Jerusalem
I’m decamping to Jerusalem for a week, in search of peace. At first blush, not the most logical maneuver, since the land of the Holy One is understood to be a place of intractable and unceasing...
The Bishop’s Blog: Daily prayer 8-17-22
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered...
The Bishop’s Blog: Groundbreaking housing ministry at Blessed Sacrament, Placentia
In the name of him who had no place to lay his head, ably assisted by a crew of mini-groundbreakers from the Children’s Learning Center, we broke ground this morning at Blessed Sacrament Episcopal...
The Bishop’s Blog: Daily prayer 8-16-22
O God of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let the whole earth also worship you, all nations obey you, all tongues confess and bless you, and people everywhere love you and serve you in peace;...
The Bishop’s Blog: Daily prayer 8-15-22
O God, you have taken to yourself the blessed Virgin Mary, mother of your incarnate Son: Grant that we, who have been redeemed by his blood, may share with her the glory of your eternal kingdom;...