I don’t know how I became a “news junkie,” but I suppose it was the same way that anyone becomes addicted to anything: I got a taste of something that made me feel good and informed and excited (and smugly superior), and so I gradually needed more and more of it to satiate my desire, and before I knew it I would go into withdrawal unless I got my daily dosage.

The problem for many of us who grew up with the seemingly limited selection of only 3 news channels (CBS, ABC, NBC) is the overwhelming choice, the sheer volume of information coming at us, in amounts that our brains may not be designed to absorb. Naval Ravikant, American entrepreneur and investor warns, “The human brain is not designed to absorb all the world’s breaking news, 24/7 emergencies injected straight into your skull with clickbait headline news. If you pay attention to that stuff, even if you’re well-meaning, even if you’re of sound mind and body, it will eventually drive you insane.”

The renowned theologian Karl Barth said that pastors should “Take your Bible and take your newspaper, and read both. But interpret newspapers from your Bible.” 

I think some of us do quite the opposite and “interpret the Bible from our newspapers.” I wonder what Barth would have made of our endless 24/7 news cycle, clamoring for attention with seductive clickbait. I wonder what he would’ve said about my reaching for my phone and NY Times updates, before I reached for my Book of Common Prayer and before doing my morning prayers. It seems that we (I) have put the cart before the horse. 

How can we see Louisiana’s recent law requiring that the Ten Commandments be displayed in public schools through the lens of scripture? What does the Bible have to say about Oklahoma‘s new law requiring the Bible to be taught in public schools? And does the Bible have anything to say about the Presidential debates? 

One of the most dangerous phrases in history is “The Bible is clear..” and so I’m certainly not going to proscribe specific biblical passages that speak to our current political landscape. 

But what I will invite us to do, is before we gorge ourselves on the non-stop toxic smorgasbord that is the news, we spend some time with scripture and in prayer and meditation. 

Our Old Testament lectionary reading this week could be a good start:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

As Episcopalians, we are called, commanded even, every week to “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord” and our ecstatic response is “Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!” 

With God as our guide, with love as our song, the news of the world is an opportunity for us to serve. And I think then we can heed Barth’s call and actually change the world through a Christocentric lens.  And what could that change look like for us? For the world?

Yesterday, the House of Bishops meeting at General Convention elected the Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, Bishop of Northwest Pennsylvania and Western New York, to serve as the  28th Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church. Presiding Bishop-Elect Rowe will be seated at the Washington National Cathedral on November 2. 

You can read more information about him here:

https://livingchurch.org/news/news-episcopal-church/sean-w-rowe-elected-as-28th-presiding-bishop/

On a more personal note, I’m particularly excited because he’s the first Presiding Bishop from my generation - he’s only 49 years old. Bishop Rowe is known as a steady bishop with expertise in fixing broken church structures. He isn’t a larger-than-life presence like Presiding Bishop Curry, but I think his expertise in administration makes him the right choice for our particular moment as a Church. He’s a theological moderate, and I wouldn’t expect him to make any shocking statements to either the left or the right. His election on the first ballot was overwhelming, which shows that the bishops who know him best thought he was the man for the moment. 

Here’s a fun church fact. For most of the Episcopal Church’s history, the Presiding Bishop wasn’t a national figure; it wasn’t even a separate job. The democratizing impulse of the Revolutionary War period very intentionally moved away from archbishops as much as it rejected kings. The Presiding Bishop was the senior bishop in the Church who presided at General Convention and participated in the consecrations of other bishops - and that was it. In the 20th century, with the advent of radio, television, and faster travel, the Presiding Bishop became a spokesman for the Episcopal Church on the national and global stage. In addition, as the Anglican Communion took on structural shape in the 20th century, the Presiding Bishop was called upon to represent us at meetings of Archbishops and Presiding Bishops from other countries. 

I ask you to join me in praying for Presiding Bishop-Elect Rowe and his family, and in giving thanks for the ministry of Presiding Bishop Curry and his wife Sharon.

Yours in Christ,

Help our partner St. Michael’s Church in Trenton with their Fundraising Reception, Saturday June 29, 2024 

St. Michael's, Trenton is running a pair of urgent fundraising receptions, Sat. June 29th, from 1pm-5pm, and Sat. October 12th from 3-6pm. This winter our cast iron boiler sprung a leak-- and the upgrade to 21st century HVAC will will be costly. We are raising funds to demonstrate our fundraising capacity to cover their matching requirements for a matching grant from the National Fund for Sacred Spaces. To help us along the way, become part of the newly-formed "Friends of Old St. Michael's" by clicking on the following link and SUPPORT  ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH .  We'll put your name on our list for "free" entry to the June 29th reception, where you'll get to hear what's planned for the October fundraiser, as well as several new Broadway numbers from the St. Michael's Players radio-podcast, "Kovacs' Cafe in the Upper Room @ St.Michaels.”

Want to try singing in the choir? Are you a regular choir member who wants to make music over the summer? Join us in July and August for the Summer Pickup Choir! We'll meet in Ivy Hall on Sundays at 9 AM to practice, then sing during the 10 AM service. Contact Dr. Meg Harper for more information, harperm@trinityprinceton.org. 

Calling all instrumentalists!  During the summer, we will have opportunities for those in our congregation who play musical instruments to offer preludes and/or offertories for services.  If you play an instrument and would like to share your talents, please sign up on the digital form at this link:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NVTEWapN2oon5_D87IlAvv_wJuyNyf48_eloRrPT1XQ/edit?usp=sharing or on the paper sign-up in the narthex or at the front desk. Thank you!

Dr. Meg Harper, our Director of Music, recently played a recital at Blackburn Cathedral, where she met up with John Bertalot - Director of Music at Trinity Church from 1983-1998. Here are two pieces from that recital to start your morning:

J.S. Bach, Prelude and Fugue in E-flat, BWV 552

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2u2NmFhrU0

Arvo Pärt, Mein Weg Hat Gipfel Und Wellentäler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHd8R5wBy4I

Stay up to date with Paul’s Sabbatical updates here: https://www.trinityprinceton.org/sabbatical-updates.