James Derkits

Originally Published in the South Jetty Newspaper God came to dwell among us: it began at Christmas, and on Maundy Thursday that reality is elevated to the new norm of the church; we are to live with an expectation that God is present among us when we break bread together, and when we serve one another as host-servants. In Maundy Thursday Jesus brings us an invitation, no, a commandment to live a life of love that is laced with eternal encounter with divinity. Maundy Thursday begins the Holy Triduum (3 days) that ends with the Resurrection of Christ in Easter. These three most-holy days of the church contain the final teachings of Christ paired with the actions he takes to conquer death by death. The word Maundy means commandment, related to our English word mandate. As we reflect on the meaning of this day, we might be attentive to what Jesus is commanding us to do. It is a simple, and challenging command: to Love. Jesus Loves, in the context of this commandment, by putti...

What I do this Holy Week does not change the course of what happened in the life of Jesus.  What I do, or do not do will not alter the story of those events from Palm Sunday to Easter Morn. I make this annual offering of simple participation, reflection, and remembering so that my own story may be altered,  as I follow Christ from cheering crowd to cheering crowd;  through the inflation and deflation; the exaltation to destruction; from crying for God's salvation to slaying God in the name of safety.  This Holy Week will change me and my life and the way I see the world.  Easter will arrive no matter what I do.  My experience of God's resurrection  will be qualitatively different,  if I am there, in my imagination, when we crucify the Lord. 

Originally published in the South Jetty Newspaper Every year our church board (and this year we were joined by our day-school board) go on retreat just down the road at Mustang Island Conference Center. The food and hospitality are always wonderful, and it's far enough away without being too far away. At the beginning of the retreat, we spend time checking in, and talking about our lives. A big part of the retreat is to get to know one another better, which improves our work together to serve God through our community. Since our culture doesn't place a high value on listening (instead teaching us to be preparing a response or defense even while another person is speaking) we spend some time on our retreat learning and practicing listening. Listening to one another intentionally helps us all to have clear conversation. It also helps train us to listen to God. We use a tool to help us remember who's turn it is to speak. Sometimes it's referred to as a "talkin...

The Experience of the Transfiguration A sermon preached at Trinity by the Sea, February 7, 2016 The Last Sunday of Epiphany The Rev. J. James Derkits Gospel Reading: Luke 9:28-36 Introduction: Each year at the end of the Season of Epiphany, we hear a version of the story of the Transfiguration. It’s a story that’s captivated me since I started paying attention to it sometime in seminary. My preaching about, around, and toward the story continues to evolve; I've wondered what “really happened,” I've wondered if it was actually about Jesus’ crucifixion or his birth or his baptism. Now, I'm trying to just hear the story. In hearing this story, I remember some of my own mystical experiences, and how I struggle to articulate them. I remembered the cautionary words of my mentor, Pittman McGehee, warning me that the church sometimes works at protecting people from an authentic experience of God. So, this year, I sought to lead the people of Trinity by the Sea in a simp...

Late summer a handful of my good friends came to visit me in Port Aransas. Mostly guys with whom I went to college; they've known me for over 20 years. There's always a reunion quality to those visits, for me at least. Some of them live in the same town, but a few of us are flung further afield. Off to mountains, lakes, and beaches. Our time together is playful, sometimes literally. We play music and soccer. Sometimes mischievous, but not malicious. The visits are always intuitive. A friend who is a relative newcomer noticed two times in particular when we went from one activity to the next, never saying a word, just one person making the first move to touch the soccer ball or play a note, and then minutes later the rest of us joining in the fun. It's nice to be know and be known. We've spent our adult lives learning about trusting one another. We've witnessed one another forming relationships, and discerning vocations. That's part of the time, too. Checki...

"Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Those are the words I will repeat, as I smear a crude cross on the forehead of each person who comes forward to make a sacred and solemn beginning of the lenten season on February 10. The practice of observing Ash Wednesday helps us to confront our mortality, to recognize our dependence upon the immortal God we worship, and urges us to consider how we might fully live the life God has given to us. It is a season of reflection, preparation, and return. It is ultimately the pre-season to Easter, during which people traditionally prepared for baptism; offered penance as they returned to a life of faith in the church; and it is for all of us an opportunity to deepen our spiritual lives.  It is a paradox that one way to live a full life is to first confront the reality of our own death. There are m...

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you!" Those words I've prayed for years, and sung in song  have come to life even more for me. When our schedules allow it, and the weather and waves are right, Laura and I take turns going for a paddle out around sunrise. I have a wetsuit that makes it possible, but the water still feels cold enough to help wake me up. After being splashed by a wave as I paddle out, I feel like I'm born-again. Ready for a new day. close-up of my board Most days I still spend time with my books and journal for my reading and writing practice either before or after time in the surf, but the paddle-out has become one of the most religious parts of my day. When the sunrise bursts through the clouds while I wait for a wave, I feel unified. Connected with God and the good creation. And whether I speak the words aloud or not, my heart sings: "Arise, shine; the glory of the Lord has dawned ...