When today’s question came across my desk, I just smiled. I’m just as obsessed with the FLDS Church as the next girl – or at least as the next nerdy theology girl who reads all the books and watches all the documentaries on this particular sect of the LDS church. (If you haven’t yet seen Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey, you best get your Netflix on and start some weekend watching. If you’re looking for something to read, Under the... Read more
Another question came my way: “Can Christians be depressed?” I read the words and shook my head, mostly because I wish we didn’t have to ask such a question in the first place. Christians can indeed be depressed, for depression is an illness. Depression, in its truest form, cannot be prayed away, nor should we believe it unlike any other medical diagnosis that requires proper intervention. Sometimes our brains get sick and sometimes our legs get sick; sometimes our tummies get sick... Read more
A couple of days ago, the following question came across my desk: “Can Christians meditate?” Of course Christians can meditate, I remember thinking to myself. But I also knew the question begged for more of an explanation, even if my immediate response was a resounding yes. I thought back to a walk with a friend a few days before. My friend Bianca and I were catching up on life – her on one side of the phone in Santa Cruz,... Read more
Enjoy this sermon from this last Sunday at St. Paul’s San Rafael, a local Episcopal church. Key texts: 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14; Psalm 16; and Galatians 5:1, 13-24. Read, share, and leave a comment at the end, if you may. Enjoy! On Friday, when my younger son was at Minecraft camp, my older son and I made an afternoon of it. We started off with an orthodontist appointment, which is not exactly the thing almost-ten-year-old dreams are made of, but it did make... Read more
A series of old sermons continues. This particular sermon marked the first Sunday of my official time on staff at St. Paul’s San Rafael, a local Episcopal church. Sift through the first couple paragraphs of introduction, then you’ll hit the good stuff. Enjoy! Well, good morning, friends! It is good to be with you again today, especially knowing that we’ll get to see each other on a regular basis. As Christopher said, my name is Cara Meredith. If I were to give you... Read more
Bringing you some oldies but goodies …homilies that were written and delivered, but never actually made it onto the ol’ Patheos blog. This one was from July of 2021; as per the usual, if you want to catch the video, check out St. Paul San Rafael’s Facebook page! In today’s passages, we have a request for a human head on a serving platter, as well as a directive for a very important Old Testament prophet to leave and get the heck... Read more
I felt it rumbling around inside my belly again this week, the news of each day sparking flints of anger inside me. Continued atrocities in Ukraine, including hits on the southern region of Mykolaiv. One state’s rejection of 54 math books (namely for reasons of critical race theory). A celebrity pastor’s Easter post, as endorsed by an elite clothing line. These, of course, are acceptable forms of anger: I am allowed to get mad on behalf of other people. When... Read more
The homilies continue! As always, if you want to catch the video recording, head over to St. Paul San Rafael’s Facebook page. Otherwise, enter in …and enjoy! A couple of nights ago, I dug into the freezer for dinner: mozzarella sticks, courtesy of the Trader Joe’s frozen food aisle. Cauliflower gnocchi …courtesy of the Trader Joe’s frozen food aisle. A bagged salad, that somehow hadn’t yet gone bad …courtesy of the Trader Joe’s vegetable section. And apparently, today’s sermon is... Read more
It’s Holy Saturday! As we are on the cusp of Easter, I give you a sermon from a couple of months ago: because y’all, this is one is always true. You are beloved. Receive that. And keep that the main thing. (As per the usual, a video of the sermon can be found on the church’s Facebook page – look for the February 13th date). I work from home. My desk is up against a south-facing window, which looks into our backyard when... Read more
Today’s post is going to require a little bit of jazzy singing on your part …courtesy of Schoolhouse Rock. Don’t believe me? Just keep reading. As per the usual, head over to the church’s Facebook page to catch the video! When I was a high school English teacher, I made a big deal of conjunctions. Conjunctions, of course, are those words that serve to connect, “hooking up words and phrases and clauses,” as can be found in the rather snazzy... Read more
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