James Derkits

I did not grow up in the church of the 1950's when, "Father knew best" or at least that was the collective myth. I never knew a time when absolutely everyone attended the Christian Denomination of their family heritage. I came of age in the 1980's, and started attending church on my own in the late 90's. The cultural revolution of the 1960's was still echoing around as the Charismatic movement of the church brought flower-child-inspired guitar music into the church, and the Episcopal Church even let go of some of the King James English from our worship services.  More tragically, it became public knowledge that sexual misconduct and abuse took place even within the presumed safety of the church. Along with other established institutions, the church and clergy lost immediate trust of our society. I have been fortunate, experiencing the church to be a generally loving place. I have experienced the love of Jesus through imperfect people who modeled how to be them...

Mothers' Day Sermon 2024 Trinity by the Sea, Port Aransas I’ve got two mothers. One birthed and bore me. She raised me to be dressed for church, before the Christening.  Danced at our weddings bright shimmering. Childhood memories, holy remembering. Corduroy rocking chair, well earned silver hair, she played like the vacuum was a robot. She'd set me free to roam woods, so that she could, get the 5 kid household chores done. I was still the littlest one. Another mother I met in college,  after I met her daughter who cleverly lifted my heart. Different from my birth mother: in-law-Mom, city wit country charm, rodeo aficionado, from arena to cantina, like my birth mom: broken hearted. I’ve got 20 mothers who’ve all helped me along: boy become man; man needing mom. Maybe cook or nurture, weave or show virtue.  mothers listen and teach--not all good mom’s lets each acknowledge that pain, but not snag on the grain we’re still shining our own little flames! I write by one’s guid...

This is teacher appreciation week,  when we as a community are invited to express our sometimes unspoken gratitude to those blessed souls called to the vocation of teaching. I am fortunate to get to witness the art of teaching at Trinity by the Sea Day School at least once a week, and I hear and see how my son's amazing teachers at the Middle School care for, correct, and educate those changing teens. Teachers are amazing people and closely follow the Way that Jesus taught his followers.  Did you know that the first time Jesus was addressed after the resurrection, he was called "Teacher"? When Mary, his faithful follower, goes to the tomb, she does not recognize Jesus at first, but when he says her name, she recognizes her, and responds: "Teacher!"  Jesus called Mary by name; she was known by him, her teacher. A teacher knows the students they teach, they learn what motivates them, and even what frustrates them. When Mary called Jesus Teacher, she acknowledged t...