Bishop’s Note14

Guest Writer: The Ven. Jessica Krzewina If you read the last week’s PlainSpeaking’s Bishop’s Note (that’s a ton of apostrophe’s all in a row), you’ll know that we have closed the physical Diocesan office, condensed everything down to one space of storage, shifted a few things different places, and the…

This week Deacons Ashley and Jessica and I began the process of storing away the office in Fargo in preparation for moving the “diocesan center” closer to the center of the diocese. We were thoughtful and intentional about both the important paperwork that records the life and legacy of the…

Remembering and Caring for Our Departed Loved Ones Guest Writer: The Rev. Jamie Parsley There’s a beautiful Christian tradition called “The Corporal Acts of Mercy.” They include: Feeding the hungry, Giving drink to the thirsty Clothing the naked Sheltering the homeless Visiting the sick Visiting the imprisoned Burying the dead…

This Sunday the Pharisees attempt to entrap Jesus by taking a coin from their pocket that has the image of Caesar on it. Caesar believed himself to be a God, so the image on the coin is technically a “graven image” of a God who is not Adonai - and…

Guest Writer: Dn. Jessica Krzewina There are times in life when I take strolls down memory lane. Something will happen and I am transported back to a different time and place. This seems to happen every fall, as the weather gets colder and the days get shorter. When I was…

Guest Writer: Dn. Jessica Krzewina It seems to me that in the blink of an eye, we are almost through September. My dental hygienist asked me earlier this week if I had a good summer, and I PAUSED. I paused, because my brain short circuited as to whether or not…

There is an old joke about a deeply religious man whose community flooded. He was told to evacuate but he answered, “Nope, I’ll stay. God will provide.” As the water rose, he climbed onto his roof. When the rescue boat came by, he said, “Nope, I’ll stay, God will provide.”…

Twenty five years ago today, we turned, in body, mind and spirit, toward our loving God, hands outstretched, hearts broken open. I have no words now, nor did I then … I am grateful to Derek Weber for his wisdom five years ago, and the consolation it offers me now.…

This Sunday’s reading includes (for those of us on Track 1) a reading from Exodus 12:1-14 that includes what my friend Rev. Elizabeth Molitors calls, “The Lamb Recipe.” This is the foundational story for the wonderful Seder meal that is part of Passover in the homes of observant Jewish people…

Here’s a fun fact: When I knew that I would be on the slate to become your Bishop, after about a week, right before the announcement, I withdrew from the slate. You see, I was happy as the dean of Christ Cathedral. The congregation was healthy and strong, in a…