Preaching the Scriptures

  The Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Isaiah 58:9b-14 & Prayer attributed to St. Francis   Life of Prayer St. Francis Mission, Albany   Sometimes a prayer is spoken.   Sometimes a prayer travels from the head to the heart to the heavens, ascends in silence.   Sometimes a prayer takes on our flesh in lives in our streets.   Because, at our best, our lives are the prayer, offered to God for the sake of this world.   Ten years ago, this community, the St. Francis Mission, was born for that purpose: To love the Lord and to love your neighbors through prayer, worship, and service.   It is a purpose you continue to live daily – a prayer spoken, breathed, and lived in this community, in this place, in this neighborhood, a neighborhood desperate to bask in the light of Christ.     Ten years ago, this community, took the name of St. Francis.   Also you claimed his prayer.   And that prayer became part of, not only y...

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson 2 Timothy 2:8-15 Wrangling Over Words The great St. Francis, of Memorial Garden fountain fame, famously once might have said, “Preach the Gospel, and, if necessary, use words.”   It’s a catchy saying – short, punchy, memorable.   And it is a saying Episcopalians really want to believe a good saint actually did say because we like that it justifies us not talking to our friends about Jesus.   It’s like a saintly permission slip: St. Francis said we don’t have to talk about God.   When I hear a good, popular quote like this one, I sometimes wonder, “What inspired such a profound thought?”   Like, there had to be something.   I doubt St. Francis was just sitting at his desk one day brainstorming sassy catchphrases and this was his aha moment.   And so what was it; what inspired him?   At first I thought, well maybe, St. Francis was so impressed with the Christian deeds the Christians in his medieval villag...