Letters On The Page

Video of Divine Service at St. Luke, Rensselaer   Pentecost 20  Genesis 4:1-15  2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 Luke 18:9-17 O Lord, Your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, my rock and my redeemer. Amen.  The narrative of Cain and Abel begins a series of Biblical stories in Genesis that includes tensions between brothers. We call to mind the tensions and outright animosity between Ishmael and Isaac; Esau and Jacob; and Jacob’s elder sons verses their younger brother Joseph. Brothers and their issues continue beyond Genesis with Moses and Aaron, Eliab and David, Absalom and Solomon. And, let us not forget Jesus’ parable of the two sons, one of whom is identified as the Prodigal son.  What is unique about Cain and Abel is that this is a story of firsts. Cain is the first child born of a woman. His parents were not born, but created: Adam from the dust of the earth and Eve fr...

Video of Divine Liturgy at St. Luke, Rensselaer Wednesday of the 19 th  Sunday after Pentecost   Collect of the Day:  O God, because without You we are not able to please You, mercifully grant that Your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ, Your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen .    The Epistle for this 19 th  Wednesday after Pentecost is from First Corinthians, the first chapter . (1 Corinthians 1:1-9) 1  Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,  2  To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:  3  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  4  I...

Video of Divine Service at St. Luke, Rensselaer, IN 19th Sunday after Pentecost   Genesis 32:22-30  2 Timothy 3:14-4:5  Luke  18:1-8   O Lord, your Word is lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Let the words  of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, my rock and my redeemer.   Jacob is used to winning.  On this dark night, when he mysteriously finds himself in a wrestling match, he eventually realizes that he is not going to win. This is an odd situation for him to be in. He is not used to this.   The Jacob that we encounter in the Old Testament reading is the third generation to bear the sign of God’s covenant with Abraham. Isaac is the son of Abraham and Sarah. Jacob is the son of Isaac and Rebekah. Jacob is the second born twin. Esau came first. But, Jacob will not ignored. At birth, he grabbed hold of Esau’s heel. He may be second born but he will be a force to be reckoned with.   As we learn in Ge...

Video of Divine Service Wednesday after Pentecost 18   Collect of the Day :  O Lord, we implore You, grant Your people grace to withstand the temptations of the devil and with pure hearts and minds to follow You, the only God; through Jesus Christ, Your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen .   The Epistle on this Wednesday after the 18 th  Sunday after Pentecost is from Ephesians, the fourth chapter. (Ephesians 4:1-6) 4  I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,  2  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,  3  eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  4  There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—  5  one...

Video of Divine Service at St. Luke, Rensselaer 18th Sunday after Pentecost   Ruth 1:1-19a      2 Timothy 2:1-13      Luke 17:11-19 The Old Testament reading brought to remembrance a prayer that I have used often over the years. It is found on page 311 in the hymnal under the heading “For Guidance in Our Calling.”  Lord God, You have called Your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that Your hand is leading us and Your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.  The Bible testifies that in many and various ways God works through unpredictable nature, meaning what is often called “Mother Nature,” and the economic and political dynamics of our world to bring about His greater purposes. The Bible also testifies that while people do not see, right away, God at work in ...

 I have received Sheehan Quirke's Cultural Tutor weekly, and now occasional, emails for quite some time. His selections of music and reflections on history, literature, and other things worthy of reflection are always informative. He writes clearly. I always come away with the feeling that my time was well spent.   This is his first video. The video and commentary are professionally presented. Speaking from London, England, Mr. Quirke shows the contrast between Victorian and contemporary public architecture and works. He makes the candid point that what a culture of a particular time and place truly values is properly communicated not by what it says about itself but about it produces. Through the camera and his commentary, he illustrates the difference between the values of the Victorian and Modern age. 

  Video of Divine Service Wednesday of the 17th Sunday after Pentecost Collect of the Day : O Lord, we pray that Your grace may always go before and follow after us, that we may continually be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ, Your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen .   The Epistle for this Wednesday of the 17 th  Sunday after Pentecost is from Ephesians, the third chapter. (Ephesians 3:13-21)   13  So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. 14  For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,  15  from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,  16  that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  17  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being roo...

 

  David McCullough. History Matters . Edited by Dorie McCullough Lawson and Michael Hill. Simon and Schuster, 2025.   The two people responsible for this posthumous publication of McCullough's unpublished and previously published brief writings are to be commended for this labor of love. Michael Hill is a long time research assistant. Dorrie McCullough Lawson is McCullough's daughter who has worked with him since 1992 helping to manage his public life.   Each writing is introduced by the editors. The author is referenced as DMcC throughout. Ms. Lawson explains how this came to be in her introduction. The foreword by Jon Meacham is a delight to read.   Somehow I missed out on reading any of McCullough's books. I think these shorter pieces are a splendid introduction to the man, his methodology, and his priorities. His love for learning and respect for his subjects comes forth from every page. Two pieces I particular enjoyed. The Paris Review interview entitled "The Ar...

Divine Service at St. Luke, Rensselaer 17 th  Sunday after Pentecost Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4          2 Timothy 1:1-14       Luke 17:1-10 O Lord, your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, my rock and my redeemer. Amen.  The Apostle Paul closes his first letter to Timothy with the exhortation, “ O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you .” Three years later, in AD 68, the aging Paul who knows that his days are now limited as he awaits his execution by the emperor Nero, writes again to Timothy offering strong words of encouragement. “ Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you .” (1 Timothy 1:13-14) The word “deposit” is a connecting point between the two l...