I hope and pray that you are well. I have spent a good deal of time praying about today's service for Marie Askins. As you all know, Marie was the last living founding member of our parish. She taught Sunday School for years and was known for her beautiful butterfly pins, birthday phone calls, and notes. I remember my first Marie Askins birthday phone call and sadly I will always remember my last.

I hope and pray that you are well! I also hope and pray that the students and teachers in your life are also doing well. Your children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews all need your prayers, encouragement, and support. Give them a call. Send them a note or a present. Build them up.

Today Caitlyn and I had the opportunity to be a part of blessing the new chapel at Heathwood Hall. We also went outside and for the first time in my ministry, I participated in blessing a new altar. From St. Paul's by-the-Lake and St. David's in Chicago, to Trinity Episcopal Parish in Waterloo, Iowa, to Trinity Episcopal Church in New Orleans, to here, every altar I have ever served at has been older than me. I have never seen a new one be blessed...it was special. It has also caused me to reflect.

I hope and pray that you and your loved ones are well, and for the purposes of this e-Messenger, dry! 

Disaster relief ministry is often a ministry of hurry up and wait. We have spoken to the Diocese of South Carolina (Charleston) and an email went out last night to clergy around our diocese (the Diocese of Upper South Carolina). Hopefully, we will soon have a good idea of what relief efforts are needed. If you are a member of the parish and you need help, let the church know.

There’s an old proverb that says, “The same boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg.“ They also say diamonds are formed under pressure, but bread rises when it rests. We need pressure to form beauty, and we need rest to rise. There are times and seasons in the communal life of our church when there is a great deal of pressure, a great many things going on, a great deal to care for. Sometimes those are followed by times of quiet. Times in which we intentionally take a breath. 

This Sunday, in the Episcopal Church, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ordination of women. It's an important celebration being marked in all sorts of ways. At Fort Jackson, Women Army Chaplains from around the country have gathered for a time of continuing education, fellowship, and celebration.

Elizabeth Holmes Dixon died the morning of July 15, 2024, in her home, attended by family, after a difficult and continued decline. The end to her infirmities and release into a far, far better place were infinitely more important than the six days until her 93rd birthday.

A Memorial Service will be held at St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at 11:00 AM. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall. Our mother loved flowers, but she asked that any memorials be made to St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church or to the Electric Minds Foundation, dedicated to galvanizing support and channeling resources towards pediatric neurology research.

As part of my work, I sometimes consult with churches who want to improve the health of their community. We examine together, often with the vestry or a small group, a myriad of metrics to help them think about ways their church can grow, not just numerically, but also spiritually. Usually, these consulting projects have a familiar pattern to them.

There are times when life at St. Martin's feels very much like life in a small town. At nearly 1,000 members, the small town metaphor is not that far of a stretch! This last week was one of those times. This week our community celebrated a new birth, mourned death, and hosted happy children for Vacation Bible School. This Sunday I am talking with a young couple soon to be married, and at the same time, we will begin setting up for next week's funeral receptions. It seems like a lot because quite frankly it is.

I hope and pray this e-Messenger finds you well. I also hope that you all have a safe and fun 4th of July with family and friends. Next week we will host our Camp Firelight Vacation Bible School! The following Sunday, July 14th, we will have a special children's sermon given by our youth minister. We still need volunteers for VBS, and there is still room if you would like to sign someone up.

I hope and pray that you are well. This Sunday, in adult Sunday school I will deviate a little from the church history class I have been teaching and do my best to offer a summary of General Convention. The class will begin at 9:15 AM. For those interested, please come.

The most important part of General Convention this year was the election of a new presiding bishop. Bishop Sean Rowe was elected on the first ballot. Please join me in saying a prayer for him.

I hope and pray that you are well. I am looking forward to tomorrow night and Bluegrass on the Point! Come bring a picnic, dance, listen and play.

This week the 81st General Convention of the Episcopal Church begins. Over the next two weeks as a church some of our very best and worst tendencies will be on display. At our best, we will gather in worship and prayer. People with big hearts will discuss how we can be the church in a rapidly changing world. At our worst, the biases and politics of that world will play out. General Convention is, after all, attended by humans, not saints, and humans do human things. 

Vacation Bible School is coming up soon! So is Bluegrass on the Point. Martineers and the next SnoBall Sunday are right around the corner. On top of all this I am delighted to say that even with folks traveling and enjoying summer, worship on Sundays has been going strong. I am excited for this summer, and I hope you are too.

What are your summer traditions? What are your summer favorites? For me, summer is a low country boil on the beach or in my backyard, although I grew up calling it Frogmore stew.

For me it's a fish fry, bluegill or bass, caught on a pond as the sun sets and the fireflies start to light up the world.

I hope and pray this e-Messenger finds you well. I found myself reflecting a lot about last Sunday. Denise and I had family coming into town, so Saturday was for us, a cleaning day. You all know the deal! After a birthday dinner with friends, we settled in for the night. The next day was a whirlwind. A smaller than usual 8 AM service, and a larger than usual 10:30 AM service that included young Ben's baptism. It was amazing!

Trinity Sunday is one of my favorite Sundays of the year. We have a trinitarian faith in that we believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – Three in one, one in three. The Trinity is a topic that has filled thousands of pages. It is a topic that has tarnished the positive reputation of some truly gifted preachers. It is, alas, after all of this time, one of the great mysteries of our faith.

Last night I had the privilege of seeing the famous synchronous fireflies at Congaree National Park. For me, it was special to simply spend time with family and friends, while also marveling at nature. The funny thing to me is that there are no pictures of the event. To take a picture with my phone would have ruined the display, as the light would have disrupted the pattern.

Going to see the fireflies is a commitment to be present and experience something, to commit that sight to your mind, and then to commit it to your memory. I highly recommend it!

In 1967 the last piece of our great window (the window in the back of the church) was installed. This window is unique for several reasons. The first is the use of 23-karat gold leaf that shines over the point in the evening sun. That was unique at the time in that Henry Lee Willet (the primary artist) combined techniques with his son and daughter to invent a new style of hand-blown stained glass. The style now named the "Willet Sculpted Gold Window" was invented to look beautiful both in daylight and at night. What is intriguing to me about the style is that it combined the traditional hand-blown glass that the Willet family was known for, with techniques taught to the parents by the kids – one generation learning from another.

Caitlyn and I have just started recording a new season of podcasts. Look for the first one to be released tomorrow!

We plan to invite some fun guests, but mostly this summer we want to explore themes of friendship and community, specifically in the face of what experts have described as a growing loneliness epidemic.

This morning, with a cup of coffee in my hand, I find myself thinking about the young people of our church, and praying for each of them as they prepare for the weeks ahead. For our youngest families, who are finishing up preschool and preparing for the next steps, please know you are in my prayers. Something new is right around the corner! As a parent, I know the anxiety that comes with something new. I also know the fun that lies ahead.

Alleluia, Christ is risen!

I hope and pray you are well! Soon, perhaps as early as this Sunday evening, you may find yourself receiving a call from a member of our Youth Group. They will be calling to sell you a "stock" investment in our youth. For a minimum of $10, you can buy stock in our kids as they raise funds and prepare for their upcoming spiritual pilgrimage to Ecuador.