James Derkits

Reflection for October 25 Mark 10.46-52 The Rev. J. James Derkits Trinity by the Sea Context: I was away from Trinity by the Sea on October 25 at the Inner Journey Retreat at Kanuga , NC. I wrote this reflection for the worship leader to read. Greetings everyone--I feel a little like St Paul might have, writing you a letter to be read in the context of worship. Only a few differences: It’s in English I’m typing on a laptop and back then they wrote on tiny pieces of papyrus or clay Your worship leaders received it by email, not carried personally by a messenger And, most importantly, I’m not writing to address major problems as St. Paul often had to, I’m just writing to give you a reflection on this amazing story and to let you know I love you and will be lifting you up in prayer...from the mountains of North Carolina at our Episcopal Conference Center called Kanuga on the final day of an Inner Journey Retreat Rather than a digression, that is, perhaps the best p...

Laura and I are coaching soccer again this year. It has already been a lot of fun. That's what it's about, especially at the under-6 level! We tie a team jersey on the goal to help them remember which direction to kick the ball. We work on learning to pass, but that's a difficult concept at that age. Why share the ball, when the goal is THAT way?? It's really hilarious. And a joy to witness those little moments of glory, as well as frustration. We don't even keep score (well, some do I'm sure.) After the game, we always make sure to say a team cheer. This year we are the Dorados. (Go Dorados, go-go-Dorados!) This week, my sister called to let me know my nephew Aidan was playing in Kingsville. It worked out that I had nothing scheduled that night, so Eli and I drove to see Aidan play. They are the Austin Waldorf School Road Runners. They lost that game, but it was a regional game, which means they got to play in a regional game! Way to go Roadies! I was sor...

I am grateful to all those local saints who have been such good stewards of the natural resources of this island, and all who struggle to find the balance between the needs of community, financial responsibility, and protecting this wild island we inhabit. October is the month we commemorate St. Francis of Assisi who had a special gift for paying attention to the needs those who might otherwise be overlooked by the powers-that-be. He is often depicted in statues and icons with birds on his shoulder, and a wolf at his side. The stories tell us that he had a wolf as a companion, and that when no one else was around to preach to, he would just preach the gospel to the birds. As we celebrate St. Francis and his attention to the voiceless, I am mindful of the recent scare around Paradise Pond that resulted in a variety of reactions! I got caught up in fearing it might be a direct attack on one of our island treasures. Conversation with people on the island, and the comprehensive article ...

Thank you to everyone who attended our conversation on Sexuality, Relationships, and the Church. It was a time of holy listening, and sacred sharing around a topic that is quite personal to all of us because our understanding comes from our life experiences and people we know and love. There are gay (lesbian, homosexual...) people in my family. I love them. (There are straight people in my family, too, of course, and I love them, too.) I'm thinking here, first of my biological family, but also my extended friend-family and my church family.  Right now we are working together as a church family to understand how can we best support one another on this Christian journey and share the agape-love of Christ, and not argue over our ideological and theological differences. No matter what your perspective on this issue, Trinity by the Sea is where we come to meet God, receive and become the Body of Christ, and go out in to the community to be spiritual and charitable resource of God...