St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Marquette

Well, 1.23 is kind of a whimsical date, but the days end up being kind of serious and somber. A couple of accidents with the space program, and the sinking of a military transport ship with huge loss of life. So, if I had it to do over, I'd maybe try to pick some lighter days. There is the birthday of Robert Burns and the possibility of a Burns supper - there's a link on the website for how to do it! As always, this material is available in printed form at wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com.

WE look at the scripture lessons for this Sunday - Psalm 19: The Heavens Are Telling the Glory of God; a description of an early worship experience from Nehemiah - it comes after the people finish rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. They hope the wall will keep them safe from external threats - Ezra the Priest reads to them how they can be safe from internal threats. Then the story of Jesus preaching in his hometown. It sounds like it's going well, but the story is continued to next week - we'll see. We end with some words from Martin Luther King Jr.

Some days from the church and world calendars - St Anthony, Peter's Confession (that's where he says Jesus is the Christ, not what he might have had to say after the cock crowed!), a couple of martyrs and a couple of musicians! Thomas A Dorsey who wrote Precious Lord, Take My Hand. Nice in the week we remember Martin Luthur King Jr. And a beginning of something I'm calling a thesaurus poem!

Some thoughts about the scripture lessons for this week. A nice passage from First Corinthians about getting activated as Christians, which resonates nicely with Jesus at the wedding in Cana. And a prayer to sum it all up.

Bishops, monks, missionaries from the church calendar this week, and some interesting days from the world calendar. Jan 14 has connections among Churchill, Roosevelt, de Gaull, and Humphery Bogart; and Severus Snape and Lewis Carroll. Weird day.

Some thoughts on lessons for the Epiphany and for the First Sunday after - the Baptism of Jesus. There's a couple of nice lessons from Isaiah, a rant about Ps 29, and then a few thoughts on The Wise Men/Kings and Jesus' baptism. A good prayer from 12 years ago...

Kind of re-starting this series after taking a break for a few months. In this episode we look at some of the days from the church calendar - such as The Epiphany - and some of the days from the earth/world calendar - the birthdays of JRR Tolkien and Elvis for a start. If you are more into reading than listening, this is also available at wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com. And we will hopefully be back on Thursday with a look at the scripture lessons for Sunday.

Job and Jeremiah - usually we think of them as a couple of downers, but we get some of the brighter passages from them both. And Psalm 126 anticipates the joy of return - from exile? From pandemic? Blind Bartimaeus brings us to the end of one section of Mark's story.

We start off October with Woody Guthrie, Edgar Allen Poe, St Francis, Bridgit of Sweden, and Peter Muhlenberg - not the Muhlenberg County Muhlenberg - but we end up the first week with John Prine, so we'll sing it anyway!

Man and Woman, Job and his wife, Jesus and the disciples and the children - and a haiku and a prayer.

Ok - we're back with some of the days of the week. Jean Sibelius, George RR Martin, The Phantom of the Opera, and Nintendo. And Sunday is Pancake Day. On the website, there is a recipe.

A couple of odd lessons for this week - Song of Songs and Psalm 45. But still, the Bible would be a whole lot less interesting without them! And we hear Jesus tell how sin and evil does not have to do with what goes into a person, but rather what comes out from them. One writer puts it, not what goes into the stomach, but what comes out of the heart.

From the church calendar, we notice Rose of Lime, first person born in the Americas to be canonized by the Catholic Church, And King Louis of France - the only French king to e made a saint. August 24 is waffle day; for literary birthdays this week we have Ray Bradbury and Edgar Lee Masters. There's also something called "The Great Moon Hoax" - fitting for a week with the full moon shining through the windows!

We're back after three months - with thoughts on this Sunday's lessons. Solomon brings the Ark into the Temple with a lot less fuss then when David brought it to Jerusalem. Joshua charges the people to choose this day whom they will serve. And John wraps up the chapter about Jesus is the Bread. We close with a prayer acknowledging the evil and suffering in the world, and God's wonderful love and faithfulness.

The Sunday after Pentecost is Trinity Sunday. We start off wondering why we don't get the Creation Story each year for Trinity. And then move on to the call of Isaiah and John 3, including "God so loved the world", although we don't really spend time on that verse this go round!

We're back after a week or so off. Today's Pentecost - with a nice piece by Madeleine L"Engle on love; next Sunday is Trinity - there's a prayer. And May 24 - John Wesley, Bob Dylan, "Mary Had a Little Lamb", and "What Hath God Wrought!". All that and more -

That last post should really have been 4.27 - I guess I was a little bit late getting it out and ended up dating it for the Sunday, not the posting date. Oops. This week we have Saint Monica and a Prayer for Mothers. We learn about the 27th amendment to the US Constitution, and remember Pete Seegar. We end up the week with the Piano Man - Billy Joel.

A look at the scripture lessons for May 2. A lot of questions this week. We close with some words on joy and love from Eberhard Arnold, and then a portion of the Celtic Beltane Blessing. May 1 is Beltane -

April 27 looks at a couple of women - Christina Rossetti, a poet, and Zita, an Italian saint. We have a quiz about Sarah Josepha Buell Hale - do you know who she was? We hear about Duke Ellington and there is a link to him playing music inspired by Shakespeare, a link to Muddy Waters singing I Got My Mojo Working, and one to Willie Nelson singing How Great Thou Art. And then we reflect on May Day. As always, if you want to follow the links, they are at https://wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com.

It's the fourth Sunday of Eastertide. We get the story of Peter and John explaining how they had healed or saved or man that was lame, this time to the authorities who had arrested them. Are they simply concerned about a man being healed, or are there more significant issues under the surface? And then the 23rd Psalm, and Jesus talks about being the Good Shepherd.

After a crocuses/croci poem, we have a couple of "environment connected persons" that the church remembers on April 22, EarthDay - John Muir and Hudson Stuck. Three poems - one by Toyohiko Kagawa, the collect for the Feast of St Mark, and one more for EarthDay. You can sing To Dream The Impossible Dream with Frank Sinatra and some other folks, and watch the very first video posted to youtube.

For the Third Sunday of Easter, we hear part of Peter's sermon after he and John had healed a man. We look at a psalm that sounds like the prayer of someone who is in distress. There's a prayer that recognizes that while we may not be directly responsible for all the evil in the world, still we are complicit. God forgives and makes possible a new start on a new life. Listen through to the end for one writer's thoughts on how to read the scripture lessons in church. Do you agree or disagree? Why

We try to make up for missing the birthday of Twinkies last week by sharing a Twinkie haiku. This week in the church calendar we hear about Father Damian and Sister Marianne who both worked with people suffering from leprosy on the island of Molokai. Then a little bit about Clara Barton, George Friderick Handel, and Albert Einstein. There's a link to Paul Simon singing Kodachrome. As always if you are more into reading, this is available at wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com.

After a short prayer to remind us that Easter is not over, we look at the lessons for this Sunday. During these weeks after Easter we read from Acts and 1 John. Today we also have one of the shortest psalms - 133, and then the second resurrection appearance in the Gospel of John - first to ten of the disciples when Thomas was absent, then to all of them. We come to faith in different ways, and Jesus ends by saying "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." As always, if you want to read any of this, it is available at WordsTwiceaweek.blogspot.com.

We hear about a church leader in India and one who worked with Chinese immigrants in the San Francisco area. And Merle Haggard. And some about Pablo Picasso - he said The meaning of life is to find your gift, the purpose of life is to give it away."

There are a lot of scripture lessons a person might encounter over the Easter weekend. In this episode we look at some of them usually read for the Easter morning service, including the resurrection stories from Mark and John.

We think a little bit about Holy Week traditions that have been meaningful to us. We have a poem for Palm Sunday from John Keble, a couple of prayers for Good Friday, and the last words of Richard of Chichester and Robert Falcon Scott. There are links to some music and pictures on the website - wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com.

In today's podcast, Charlie West gives us some of his thoughts on Palm Sunday's readings:, Psalm 118.1-2, 19-29, Mark 11.1-11, Isaiah 50.4-9a, Phil 2.5-11 and Mark 14.1-15.47. You can read along in Charlie's blog “Words Twice a Week” at https://wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com He also gives us a prayer: Crucified and Risen One, by your passion you sustain us when we fall knee-bent into the radical emptiness of bone-wasting sorry and despair. Teach us to sustain the weary and awaken us to attend to those who suffer. Amen.

In today's podcast, Charlie West, shares some information from the church and world calendars including information about The Annunciation, Richard Allen, James Solomon Russell, Fannie Farmer and more. You can read along in Charlie's blog “Words Twice a Week” at https://wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com He also gives us a new challenge: write a poem that is a recipe for something called Moonlight Cake or Pudding!

In today's podcast, Charlie West gives us some of his thoughts on Sunday's readings: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Psalm 51:1-12, Hebrews 5:5-10 and John 12:20-33. You can read along in Charlie's blog “Words Twice a Week” at https://wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com He also gives us a prayer: Creating God, there are no limits to what you can do. Forgive us our sinfulness, but don't stop there. Mold us into a body with Jesus as our heart, that we might no longer just keep your law but even be your people.

In today's podcast, Charlie West, shares some information from the church and world calendars including information about St. Patrick, St. Joseph, Thomas Ken, Johnny Appleseed and more. You can read along in Charlie's blog “Words Twice a Week” at https://wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com He also gives his poem to the challenge: a poem or a prayer on getting the word from here to there – To send the word from here to there We built a stairway on past Mars And out to Pluto, to the stars So all could see it everywhere. To send the word from now to then We built a railway underground, We laid a line that carried sound So all could hear and take it in. We sent the word in sound and sight And the word we sent was…….

In today's podcast, Charlie West gives us some of his thoughts on Sunday's readings: Psalm 107, Num 21.4-9, Eph 2.1-10, and John 3.14-21. You can read along in Charlie's blog “Words Twice a Week” at https://wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com He also gives us a prayer for the “least of us” by Junius Dotson and the following prayer for peace: Prayer for Peace in the World - God of all Creation, let the peace which is in your heart flow into your world. And may all who share your world live together in justice, kindness, and humility. We ask in the name of Jesus, Prince of Peace.

In today's podcast, Charlie West, shares some information from the church and world calendars including information about Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, a couple of Gregorys, International Women's Day, Harriet Tubman, pi day and more. He also gives this challenge: Seems like there ought to be a poem or a prayer on getting the word from here to there – stairways, highways (through the galaxy or to Alaska), roads, railroads, marches, telephone lines, space shuttles, dog sleds – well that's gotten a little bit too broad. Challenge for the week – pick one and write a poem about it. You can read along in Charlie's blog “Words Twice a Week” at https://wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com

In today's podcast, Charlie West gives us some of his thoughts on Sunday's readings: Psalm 19, Exodus 20.1-17, 1 Cor 1.18-25, and John 2.13-22. He also gives us some thoughts and a story from Fred Craddock. You can read along in Charlie's blog “Words Twice a Week” at https://wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com

In today's podcast, Charlie West gives us his squirrel verse answer to his last challenge. He shares some information from the church and world calendars including information about Chad, John and Charles Wesley, Rodney King, Patsy Cline and Bloody Sunday. He also gives us a prayer. You can read along in Charlie's blog “Words Twice a Week” at https://wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com and join him and friends as they read Gary Paulson's book on the Iditarod, Winterdance on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81384673676?pwd=aEduQ245Ym5jTXFkRUdrd013RzFBUT09 Meeting ID: 813 8467 3676 Passcode: 023528

In today's podcast, Charlie West talks about Handel, To Hot to Handel gives us his response to the challenge of the week and reflects on this Sunday's readings. You can read along in Charlie's blog “Words Twice a Week” at https://wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com Here is Charlie's “short fiction” – 280 characters or less - of the gospel story- We were drifting along. Power running roughshod over truth. The lamp of Justice flickering, Kindness getting lost in self-interest, Humility overshadowed by bluster… In short, temperature dropping, wind rising, darkness falling, we were heading for “Texas”! Love came knocking….

For our inaugural episode of the Getting to Know You podcast, join me as I speak with Mary Sullivan, long-time member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Learn more about how a squeaking church pew helped her find her spiritual home and how, as a part of that home, she has been able to live into her family's legacy of contributing to and taking care of one's community. Join in as we get to know each other a little better through conversation and telling our stories.

In today's podcast, Charlie West, shares some information from the church and world calendars including information about St. Matthias, Emily Morgan, Muhammad Ali and Paul Harvey. He also gives us a challenge: 1) write an “Ode to the Cornish/Finnish Pasty” 2) write a verse to This Land Is Your Land from a perspective other than your own – ie, a maple tree, an animal on the verge of extinction, an animal not on the verge of extinction (the squirrels in our backyard waiting for us to plant stuff in the garden for them to dig up), the Mars rover Perseverance, an 11 year old (I just read The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie about the 11 year old Flavia deLuce). You can read along in Charlie's blog “Words Twice a Week” at https://wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com.

In today's podcast, Charlie West, shares some information from the church and world calendars including information about the conversion of St. Paul, Thomas Aquinas, Robert Burns, the Challenger explosion and Robert Frost. He also gives us a prayer by Celeste Wilson. You can read along in Charlie's blog “Words Twice a Week” at https://wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com. Here is the prayer by Celeste Wilson: Heavenly Father, Please give us the discernment to: Recognize the truth, Acknowledge injustice where we see it. Courage to stand against racism and hatred. Help us to know when to speak up and when to calmly listen. We pray this in your son's Holy name.

In today's podcast, Charlie West shares what the West family had for breakfast on inauguration morning, he also shares his own inauguration poem, a gospel poem, a prayer and reflects on this Sunday's readings: Psalm 62.5-12; Jonah 3.1-5, 10; and Mark 1.14-20. You can read along in Charlie's blog “Words Twice a Week” at https://wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com. Here is Charlie's Gospel poem and prayer: On the road from where We've been to where we're going - A new beginning. How comfortable are we with that? God of that time, and this time, and all time - Guide us as we live these days. Help us let go of things that would hold us back – nets and possessions directions or destinations, resumes, references, reports, preconceived notions of who deserves or belongs, Help us hold on to your hand (and Word) as we walk toward and through the Time of your Peace. (That's what I like to call “The Kingdom of Heaven”!)

On Jan. 21, 2021, the Michigan Dept of Health and Human Services held a discussion about the COVID-19 vaccine with the faith-based community including Rev. Lydia Bucklin from the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan. Joining Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS Chief Deputy for Health, the following panelists were part of the discussion, moderated by Dion Williams, director of Faith Based & Urban Affairs for Governor Gretchen Whitmer: Imam Mohammed Ali Elahi, Islamic House of Wisdom in Dearborn Heights, Rabbi Mark Miller, Congregation Beth El in Bloomfield Hills, Bishop Charles Ellis III, Senior Pastor, Greater Grace Temple in Detroit Dr. Herbert Smitherman, MD, Detroit Receiving Hospital and Rev. Lydia Bucklin, Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan

A recording of the 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany Service for Jan 17th 2021 by the Episcopal Churches of Marquette County: Grace Church, Ishpeming, Holy Innocents', Gwinn, St. John's, Negaunee and St. Paul's, Marquette. Featuring music by Jan Brodersen.

In today's podcast, Charlie West, shares some information from the church and world calendars including information about Fabian, the game Scrabble, Lead Belly, Lenin and more. He also shares a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox and some thoughts by a relative of Frederick Buechner on how to stick it out through tough times. You can read along in Charlie's blog “Words Twice a Week” at https://wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com

A recording of the 1st Sunday after the Epiphany Service for Jan 10th 2021 by the Episcopal Churches of Marquette County: Grace Church, Ishpeming, Holy Innocents', Gwinn, St. John's, Negaunee and St. Paul's, Marquette. Featuring music by Jan Brodersen, Sophie and Howard Harding and a Musical Feature by Amanda Diddams - Soprano, Maren Doughty - Alto, Michael Waite - Tenor, Moses Waite – Bass, Evelyn Rose – Dancer.

In today's podcast, Charlie West reflects on this Sunday's readings: Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18; 1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20), 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 and John 1:43-51. You can read along in Charlie's blog “Words Twice a Week” at https://wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com

In today's podcast, Charlie West, shares his answers to last week's challenge with 3 pieces of short (280 characters or less!) fiction. He also shares some information from the church and world calendars including information about St. Anthony the Great, George Fox, Lewis Carrol, Benjamin Franklin and more. He also gives us a prayer for the week. You can read along in Charlie's blog “Words Twice a Week” at https://wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com Here is Charlie's prayer: A Prayer for the Week - Wake Me Up Lord Wake me up Lord, so that the evil of racism finds no home within me. Keep watch over my heart Lord, and remove from me any barriers to your grace, that may oppress and offend my brothers and sisters. Fill my spirit Lord, so that I may give services of justice and peace. Clear my mind Lord, and use it for your glory. And finally, remind us Lord that you said, "blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God." Amen. This prayer is from For The Love of One Another (1989), a special message from the Bishops' Committee on Black Catholics of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops on the Occasion of the Tenth Anniversary of the Pastoral Letter, Brothers and Sisters to Us, the U.S. Catholic Bishops' Pastoral Letter on Racism (1979). https://www.usccb.org/resources/prayer-service-racial-healing-our-land.

In today's podcast, Charlie West reflects on this Sunday's readings, on reclusive monk Simeon Stylites and he gives us a prayer. You can read along in Charlie's blog “Words Twice a Week” at https://wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com Here is Charlie's prayer: Eternal God, you smiled and the light broke upon our world, and your presence throughout creation brings healing and beauty and wonder. We stand at the start of a new year, but one which already carries the burden left to it by last year. Give us the wisdom, the vision, and the determination to see that this year reduces that burden rather than adding to it. Help us do things that will have you smiling again.

A recording of the Christmas 2 Sunday Service for Jan 3rd 2021 by the Episcopal Churches of Marquette County: Grace Church, Ishpeming, Holy Innocents', Gwinn, St. John's, Negaunee and St. Paul's, Marquette. Featuring music by Jan Brodersen, Janis Petersen and a Musical Feature by Amanda Diddams - Soprano, Maren Doughty - Alto, Michael Waite - Tenor, Moses Waite – Bass, Evelyn Rose - Dancer

In today's podcast, Charlie West, tells us his answers to last week's challenge and shares some information from the church and world calendars including information about Elizabeth Ann Seton, Ernest Shackleton, Thomas Paine and more. He also gives us a prayer and this week's challenge - writing a story with 280 characters. You can read along in Charlie's blog “Words Twice a Week” at https://wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com Here is Charlie's prayer: God of all Creation, let the peach which is in your heart flow into your world. And may all who share your world live together in justice, kindness, and humility. We ask in the name of Jesus, Prince of Peace.

A recording of the Sunday Morning Service by the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan with Music by Charles H. Murphy, and readings and reflections by Rev. Canon Lydia Bucklin, Canon Jane Cisluycis, Bishop Rayford Ray, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, Dion Williams, Governor's Director of Faith-Based and Urban Affairs and Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

In today's podcast, Charlie West reflects on this Sunday's readings and readings for the feasts of the Holy Name/New Year's Day and the Epiphany. He also shares his own story about the Wise Men. You can read along in Charlie's blog “Words Twice a Week” at https://wordstwiceaweek.blogspot.com Here is Charlie's story: Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold wise men came from the east to Jerusalem… “WISE men?” That's right. They saw the star and followed it and found the baby. “And you call them ‘wise'? I'll bet that's not how their families saw it… In the evening… “Pack my bags, mother. I'm off in the morning.” “What do you mean, ‘Off in the morning'? Where are you going?” “The star was there. We're going west to find the baby.” “Are you nuts? How do you know it was a star and not one of those satellite things?” “It was a star; it was THE star. We're going to find the child, to worship and adore, and then we'll be back.” “We?” “Melchoir and Balthesar are going, too.” “They're as loopy as you are. How will you know where to go?” “We'll just head west. There's sure to be signs when we get there.” And in the morning… “Well, I packed you some sandwiches, they'll last a few days, then you'll just have to hope something is open, which I doubt, this being the holidays and all.” And she watched from the open door until he was just a dot on the horizon, and then she closed the door and knelt down and prayed - “Dear God, whoever you are, watch over my loopy husband. Grant him traveling mercies. Help him find this child to worship and adore. Keep him out of trouble. One way or another, bring him safely back.” The star still shines brightly over the manger of Bethlehem. Just over the hills on the western horizon, you can see it if you close your eyes and look with your heart. It's just after Christmas, a good time to shy away from the “Wise” men. Keep an eye out instead for those who are slightly “loopy with the season”. As you come from wherever it is you are, to worship at the manger, and adore, may God grant you traveling mercies – safely there, and one way or another, safely back.