Reflections
These reflections are originally published in the weekly newsletter, the Net.
All reflections written by Fr. Bill Garrison will be archived here.
Scroll to the bottom of the page to read previous entries.
Low Sunday
This Sunday is famously known as “Low Sunday”. Historically church attendance plummets from the high of Easter Sunday the following week. Thinking about this prompted me to consider what the reaction of Jesus’ disciples was after his resurrection.
I imagine they felt a ton of relief and probably some other emotions too. I imagine these are some of their thoughts. “No, thankfully and incredibly we didn’t lose him after all. I wonder if he is really the same as he was before. What’s next? Does he go right back on the road preaching, teaching, and healing? What are we supposed to do going forward? How is this going to impact us?”
It might be hard to swallow, but I bet after the elation passed, there were some that were not all that happy about renewed obligations to follow him, and serve those who came to see him. After all, it’s only human to think thoughts like that.
Let’s talk about it this Sunday if you are in the mood.
The God We Believe In
In this week's gospel lesson, three people are given incredible wealth to manage while their master is gone. Two invest and earn their master interest. The third hides what he has been given and it remains exactly as it was when the master returns. God, of course, is represented by the master and...
Don’t Wander Off
The gospel lesson this week is about a wedding once more. This time ten young bridesmaids are waiting to greet the bridegroom. It starts getting late, midnight in fact, and five of the girls don't have enough oil. So off they scurry to attempt to buy more and while they are gone the bridegroom...
Enormously Happy
This Sunday we will be celebrating All Saints Day. And yes I am aware the actual date is November 1, but most churches celebrate it on the first Sunday after the first. I imagine we do that because it's difficult in modern times to get to church on another day. In any event, the gospel for Sunday...
Stewardship Message from Ken Duran, Treasurer
Dear St. Andrew’s Family, As our annual stewardship campaign gets underway, you have been hearing about the theme, Rooted in Abundance, and its reminder to us that we are inspired to give because so much has been given to us. This is not transactional – we do not give in proportion to how we feel...
Stewardship Message from Melissa Rigler, Senior Warden
Dear St. Andrew's Family St. Andrew’s has deep roots. Shortly, we’ll be celebrating our 100th anniversary. Life was quite a bit different 100 years ago. As is our community, how we spend our time, and how we communicate. The words of Jesus Christ remain constant. The messages behind the parables...
Stewardship Message from Fr. Bill Garrison, Interim Rector
Dear St. Andrew’s Family, The most important words to say in Church are “thank you.” Say it often, and mean it, and today I say it to you. Thank you for the many gifts that you share with our community. You have heard the familiar expression “can’t see the forest for the trees” before. We most...
By This Everyone Will Know
In the gospel of John, chapter 13, verse 35 we hear Jesus saying the following. "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." What do people think about Christians these days? Do they think about the love and care demonstrated so obviously in our...
But That Isn’t Fair!
In the gospel this week, we find a landowner hiring people all day long to work in His vineyard. The rub comes at the end of the day when everyone gets paid the same amount. The people hired first think they should get more since they worked all day. We aren't sure how the ones who came last feel,...
The Value of Forgiveness
In the gospel this week, Jesus tells us that a King forgave a man the equivalent of $10,500,000,000 just because the man asked for mercy. Then that same man wouldn't forgive another person a debt of $20,000, even though the person begged. Both of these totals are in today's terms for easy...
Wherever Two or Three are Gathered in My Name
This week's gospel is a practical one with some good advice. Every once in a while, we study one of these down to earth bits of counsel from Jesus, another how-to if you will. This week Jesus is talking about relationships and how to encounter each other when someone may have done something they...