February 25, 2026

Wednesday Word . . . Merciful God

This Lent a group of us are reading Honest to Goodness: Discovering the Truth and Beauty of a Loving God. It's a book of daily Lenten meditations focusing on “some of the most profound, surprising, and even hilarious words attributed to God.”

The reading for this Friday focuses on Exodus 34:6 – A God merciful and gracious, slow to anger; and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Even when people sin and God is moved to act with justice, God also acts with mercy. When people are about to sin, God acts with mercy in an effort to call them back. When people are in the midst of sinning, God begs them to repent and return to him.

But people tend to overshadow this mercy, graciousness, and steadfast love of God by focusing on God's wrath and punishment. What is it about punishment that we enjoy seeing doled out? Friday's devotion references Jonathan Edwards (Congregationalist pastor of the 18^th Century) and his famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.”

This Lent, what if we looked for ways to find God's mercy? What if during this Lent we pursued repentance not out of a fear of being punished but out of a sense love, mercy, and faithfulness in an effort to rightly restore our relationship with God?

And then, what if we worked to exhibit love, mercy, and faithfulness toward others that God extends to us?

Have a blessed Lent,

February 18, 2026

Wednesday Word . . . Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Season of Lent, those (roughly) 40 days in which we participate in self-examination, repentance; prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and meditating on God's holy Word.

Over the years this day, and this season, have been focused on the aspect of giving up: giving up things of the self in favor of doing things for God; giving up things that waste time in favor of being more productive; giving up harmful language in favor of speaking well; etc. In more modern times we've seen practices of giving up television, social media, or chocolate. I'm aware of one priest who gives up wearing socks during Lent in order to help him understand just a little better of what many homeless people experience.

And while some of these practices are more pious than others, what all of them have in common is a sense that they are Lenten disciplines which can be ended with the arrival of Easter.

I came across and email yesterday with a link to a podcast about Lent where the tagline was, “Ash Wednesday is not an ending. It's a true beginning.”

That line sums up what I've been saying for several years: The point of Lenten disciplines is not to make us miserable. The point of Lenten disciplines is to give us time to make permanent changes.

Whatever your Lenten discipline is this year – reading more Scripture, purchasing additional hygiene products for the Food Pantry, attending worship services more often, turning off the tv to pray, – take a new look at what and why you're doing it. Could you look at that discipline as not just a seasonal practice but the beginning of a long-term change?

And whatever you do this Lent, may your practice be based in and reflect the love of Christ.

Blessings,

February 11, 2026

Wednesday Word . . . Let us bless the Lord.

Lent begins next week with Ash Wednesday. This is a season of penitence, self-examination, repentance, prayer, fasting, and self-denial. In addition to fasting from certain activities or behaviors, it has become fashionable to take something on as a Lenten discipline. This year our youth group is encouraging everyone to take on the practice of purchasing extra personal hygiene products which will then be given to the Food Pantry.

You will also notice that the liturgy takes on a more somber tone. The Gloria or song of praise is replaced with the kyrie (Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy), our hymns are noticeably different, and alleluias are omitted. Our dismissal also changes from one that specifically sends us out into the world with both joy and in acknowledgment of what we have just heard and participated, to, “Let us bless the Lord.”

This last form of dismissal (pp. 340, 366) was traditionally used in more solemn and penitential times, such as Advent and Lent. I have probably spent too much time searching for why this was, or the meaning behind why this dismissal came to be used during these times only to find nothing. This seems to be the classic, “We've always done it that way.” So let me give my interpretation of why we use that particular dismissal during Advent and Lent.

Lent, especially, is a penitential season. The Exhortation reminds us of our need for penitence and to make restitution. The Rite 1 Confession acknowledges that our sins “most justly provoke the wrath” of God. Nevertheless, we are also reminded of God's great mercy and steadfast love. We see this in many places, but most notably in Ps. 103 which begins, “Bless the Lord, O my soul.”

This psalm proclaims that, even in the midst of sinners, God is the God of mercy and grace. It proclaims a message of steadfast love and compassion, while also claiming that “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us.” It is in the knowledge that even though we are sinners God is yet merciful and loving, we are called to bless the Lord always.

That is why, in the Season of Lent, we are dismissed from the liturgy with the words, “Let us bless the Lord.” As we travel through this penitential season, working to change our habits and get right with God, remember to give thanks and praise to our God who is full of compassion and mercy.

Blessings,

February 4, 2026

Wednesday Word . . . Extend Hope to All People

This is the second clause of our Vision Statement. And while I think it's a good phrase, you might be wondering just how, exactly, do we do that? How do we “extend hope to all people?”

If you think about it, there are multiple ways to do this.

We offer our parish hall for AA meetings on Mondays and Thursdays. AA provides hope and resources for those people suffering from an addiction to alcohol and the chaos that can create in lives. Having a place to go that is consistent and safe provides hope for the people of AA.

The Johnson County Suicide Prevention Coalition provides hope for those struggling with thoughts of suicide. Through resources, advocacy, trainings, and awareness, the SPC works to provide hope for those contemplating suicide as well as their families. When we are sincere in telling people that we are better with them than without them, hope takes root.

At our Annual Meeting this past Sunday, Horizon and Balyn made a presentation to the congregation on behalf of the Confirmation class. As part of the class' “faith in action” segment, the group discussed a variety of needs within the community and settled on a hygiene drive through the season of Lent. Personal hygiene items are the one thing that the Food Pantry is always in need of and are items that go quickly when they do have them in stock.

How does the hygiene drive extend hope? Well . . . it's always easier to be hopeful when you're shaved, showered, and have your teeth brushed.

Supplying hygiene products for the food pantry would be an excellent Lenten discipline for the people of Saint Luke's. I encourage you to support this youth-led project by purchasing additional toothpaste, shampoo, soap, pads, wipes, and/or any other additional items that come to mind.

Through this project we can help provide daily hope for the people who rely on the Food Pantry, and thereby begin to live into our vision to extend hope to all people.

Blessings,

January 28, 2026

Wednesday Word . . . Holy Communion Thoughts

Holy Communion is the foretaste of the heavenly banquet.  Holy Communion is the sacred meal of bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus.  As Episcopalians we do not hold that the elements of bread and wine are changed into the substance of body and blood, but we do believe that the bread and wine are substantially changed such that they are infused with the real presence of Christ’s Body and Blood through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

These gifts of Body and Blood are then given to us, the members of Christ’s one holy catholic and apostolic Church, by the appointed ministers. 

With regards to Communion in conversations I’ve had and overheard, the phrase “I am taking Communion,” (or words to that affect where take is the primary verb) often comes up.  And while that is perfectly acceptable to think in those terms, let me give you another option.

“Take” most often refers to an action where we are the primary players.  It implies bringing something into our possession, sometimes by force, sometimes by choice, sometimes through a victory of sorts.

If we remember that Holy Communion is a gift given to us by Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit, and if we remember that we partake of this holy Sacrament in remembrance of his great love for us, then it would be proper for us to receive this great gift humbly and with awe and reverence.  I encourage you, therefore, to change your vocabulary around Communion. 

Rather than seeing Communion as an object to be taken, begin to see and talk about Communion as a gift to be received.  You receive this great gift of Christ’s Body and Blood just as you receive the love of God (or other gifts that are freely given). 

And in your receiving Holy Communion, may you be drawn ever deeper into its mystery. 

Blessings,

January 21, 2026

Wednesday Word . . . Common Prayer

Joelene and I went away this past weekend for some much needed rest and lazy time.  We made a short trip to Thermopolis where we drove through the park taking pictures of a small bison herd and drove up to Cody to visit the Buffalo Bill museum.  Tickets there are good for two days because the museum is so massive.  Unfortunately that was about all we did because we both suffered from head colds.

Sunday morning we worshiped with the people at Holy Trinity.  As we walked in and grabbed our bulletins, I noticed it was Morning Prayer.  Holy Trinity, we discovered, will be advertising for a new priest shortly, having done the hard work of developing their parish profile.  During this interim time they rotate between supply priests for Eucharist and lay-led Morning Prayer.

I have often said that one of the things I like about the Episcopal church is that you can walk into almost any church and pretty much know what to expect.  There will be some differences (Rite 1 or Rite 2, Prayer A, B, C, or D) in the service, and there will be some local customs (placement of announcements, children’s time, birthday blessings, etc.) that a parish makes, but the same lessons are read and the flow is pretty much the same.  For me, that’s comforting because I can focus on the worship and not wonder what’s going to happen next.

That is our Common Prayer – that we are all bound together by the genius of the Prayer Book.  Not necessarily doing the exact same thing as each other, but praying together in commonality.

And this past Sunday, whether by fate, or luck, or divine scheduling, Joelene and I prayed and worshiped the service of Morning Prayer.  As we went through the service I had to smile knowing that the people of Holy Trinity and Saint Luke’s were praying this same service.

Once again I was reminded that we are all bound together through our Common Prayer, and that is a very good thing.

Blessings,

January 14, 2026

Wednesday Word . . . God’s Creation

Joelene and I are going away this weekend for some much needed rest and lazy time.  We’re making a short trip to Thermopolis, leaving tomorrow and returning sometime Sunday afternoon.

I’ve spent these past few days working on my portion of Annual Meeting stuff (Reminder:  the Annual Meeting is Sunday, February 1, with 9:00 worship followed by breakfast and the meeting) and working with Monica to get the bulletins ready for this coming Sunday service.

As I was proofing the 10:00 bulletin I came to the Prayers of the People.  During the Epiphany season the 10:00 service uses Form IV (found on page 388 of the BCP).  I like to rotate through the various prayers during the Church year, so this certainly isn’t the first time I’ve paid attention to the prayer; but for some reason the third petition caught my attention:

Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation, that we might use its resources rightly in the service of others and to your honor and glory.

In this short petition we ask for a sense of reverence for the earth.  In this short petition is the recognition that the earth was created by God, therefore the earth belongs to God.  In this short petition is a prayer to use resources rightly – and not for ourselves but in the services of others.

This touches on everything from strip mining and logging to drilling for oil in fragile environments all in the pursuit of the almighty dollar.  It touches on over-fishing and a refusal to look for alternative energy sources.  It touches on the equitable distribution of food items.  It touches on the heresy that my individual rights are more important that the well-being of my neighbors.  And it brings to mind the famous saying, “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”

May we all do our own small part to help bring this petition to fruition.

Blessings,