On Father’s Day …

Posted by The Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly on

In general, I am opposed to “Hallmark Holidays.” I learned a long time ago on Valentine’s Day how consumerism fueled by one stationery company (and let’s be honest, the restaurant industry, floral industry, chocolate industry, jewelry industry …) could make a...

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Tags: complicated, conflicted, father, father's day, god, grateful, honor, obligation, painful, parent, redeem

For the beauty of the earth …

Posted by The Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly on

This winter on Long Island was particularly rough. We went months without seeing the grass – months! I have friends on Facebook who live all over the country and I remember seeing their pictures of kids playing in the grass in March, and I was so jealous. That experience of hunkering down...

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Tags: bloom, daffodils, gift, god, grateful, spring, stewards

With these hands . . .

Posted by The Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly on

When I was ordained as a priest, the bishop anointed my hands. The bishop explained to me that my hands would be used by God for the work of ministry. At the time, I thought about various ways my hands might be used – for consecrating the Eucharist, for blessing the people, for baptizing...

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Tags: hands, healing, words, control, grateful, vocation, fierce, emotion, nurse, visit, eucharist, bishop, embrace

On Laughter ...

Posted by The Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly on

I am pretty well known among people for my laugh. I suppose the best way to describe it is loud, boisterous, or hearty. People have told me that they know I am in a room or can find me in the room simply based on my laugh. I have often found that somehow my laugh makes others laugh or...

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Tags: laughter, gift, serious, grateful, smile, funny, boisterous, stressful

Holy Chaos …

Posted by The Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly on

This past Sunday, our church held its annual Epiphany Pageant. Since the pageant involves using Scripture and hymns to retell the entirety of Jesus’ birth narratives, the pageant replaces most of the Liturgy of the Word (the part of the service when we traditionally read/chant the...

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Tags: epiphany pageant, children, kids, scandal, conception, birth, grateful, chaos, life, messy