TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Doing NOTHING About It A few years ago, Missy and I traveled to Sonoma County for a wine tour, and we loved every minute of it. The pace, the beauty, the people—and, of course, the wine. One of our favorite stops was a small, unpretentious place near downtown called LongBoard Vineyards. It’s casual, friendly, and the wine is oh-so-good. Recently, LongBoard posted something on social media that stopped me in my tracks. It was creative writing at its best—funny, honest, and pro

Church as Agent of Transformation Friends, This week, someone asked me how the church can be an agent of transformation in such a divisive world. My answer: Speak and act differently from everyone else. Do the opposite of what causes division. Be the person that you want to see in the world and demand it of others. The beginning of every communion service in the traditional version of the Prayer Book starts with this declaration: Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ saith: Thou sh

Paul's Problem and Ours: The Homily for January 25, 2026 Note: This homily was sent electronically to the members and friends of Trinity Church, Asheville, NC on the morning of January 25 when much of the southeast was covered in ice and snow and church was cancelled. 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the s

The Third Sunday of Advent is often know as the Sunday to lift up the concept of “Joy.” Recently someone told me they named their child Joy (middle name) because of a reflection I wrote on it at this time of year. So, I decided to resurrect that same reflection and I offer it today. I share it with joy: True Joy The other day, someone asked me a question that stopped me in my tracks: “What is the difference between happiness and joy in the Bible?” We often use those words as

Because you asked: A Few Words on Immigration Over the past few weeks many have asked me about an aspect of our national life. What do you think about it? What should I do? Is it right or wrong? What’s the best way to understand this? What would Jesus do? Over the years you have heard me say that I have chosen not to express myself about social concerns on social media. Those who are intimately involved in social media can easily come to believe that if they don’t see a perso

Friends, As the new year gets underway, I’m deeply grateful for the members of Trinity who have offered themselves for service on our Vestry. The Vestry is a lay leadership body that works in close partnership with the Rector for the good of the parish. There are many ways to define leadership. One of the best I’ve heard goes like this: “Leadership is a process that enables individuals to work together to achieve results they could never achieve working alone.” In many ways,

There’s a hymn from the church’s previous hymnal, made widely known through Jesus Christ Superstar. It gives voice to the longing many of us feel in Advent: that despite the terrors of this world, God is at work to set things right. May our lives reflect the dream of God.