James Derkits

At the beginning of this Advent,  the season leading to Christmas, I sat alone in my living room after everyone else in my family was in bed. In the dark and in silence, I lit the first candle on our Advent wreath. Since I can remember, the way to Christmas each year has been through Advent--the season of preparing and waiting. This year as I lit the candle, I asked God, and I asked myself on God's behalf: "What is being born in me this year?" If, with the Psalmist, we believe that God puts a new song in our hearts, and that Christmas is God's own incarnation in the world, then the experience of Christmas isn't a simply historical recounting of something that God did long ago, it is also, and perhaps most importantly, what new thing God is doing right now. This Christmas this year is about how God is becoming incarnate in the rag-tag manger of our hearts once again. I pray that what will be born in my heart this year is Christ's loving compassion for all...

In October, the Bishop of Costa Rica joined our clergy conference at Camp Capers. He was inspiring, and the story of transformation he shared of their journey from maintaining an established (struggling) church to becoming a healthy church living as a missional community was inspiring. Photos from Marine Dream One of the metaphors he used for participating in the work of the Holy Spirit was surfing--a symbol they certainly have in abundance in Costa Rica. The Holy Spirit is like a wave, and is as abundant as waves on the ocean, and is as accessible. They are present to us if we but paddle out and catch them--as the Holy Spirit is accessible to us, if we would only rely on it to guide us. In recent months, my wife, Laura has been bitten by the surf bug. She surfs as often as possible, and if there are no waves, she is likely to go paddle around our local pier for practice. I've witnessed changes in her; in her attitude toward life, and even a reorientation around what is mos...

In a little less than a month there will be middle eastern refugees looking for a place to stay. You will be asked if you have room for them. As usual, many will close their doors to them, until finally this runaway family will end up living with animals, and there a child conceived out of wedlock will be born. At least that's how two of the Gospel writers tell the story. Two of them don't even bother with the birth story, in those Gospels we just jump right to the ministry. I have my favorite family stories of the Christmas experience that I carry in my memory, and we are building happy memories for our son as he grows and finds the surprising gifts under our Christmas tree on December 25. We're also being careful that the American-Santa theology is not the only thing our son learns this time of year; he is also learning about God's Incarnation in Jesus Christ. American-Santa stories and songs teach that if you're good you are rewarded, and if you are bad yo...

The autumn is a season of death. I recently did a whirlwind week of travel across Texas and then up to North Carolina. On my journey I was inspired again and again by the presence of death and how it was celebrated. It is our constant companion no matter what attitude we take toward it. My week of travel started with a funeral and a wedding on the same day; both are occasions to celebrate life in the midst of death. A funeral is an apparent connection, perhaps. The funeral was for a friend of mine who I've known since high school. The exact cause of her death was unknown, but the influence of her life on others is obvious. A church in Houston was full of people who's lives she touched, changed, and inspired. As I said goodbye to my friend, and mourned with her family, it made me want to live. The next stop was a wedding on a hill country river. Once again, it was the occasion of life in the midst of death. Both the bride and groom will one day die.  And during the ceremony, t...

I've gotten away from using our book of Holy Women, Holy Men at our weekly Wednesday Eucharist, in favor of using the upcoming lectionary, so I've missed learning each week about the saints we celebrate on a weekly basis. Today a Lutheran Pastor friend walked in talking about an English day of remembrance for Guy Fawkes . Not wanting to be out anglicized by my German brother-in-Christ, I quickly thumbed through my Holy Women, Holy Men, and was relieved to find that I hand't completely forgotten about Mr. Fawkes, because, of course, he isn't in there. November 3 and November 6, though, are the feast days of Richard Hooker and William Temple , two church leaders who have long given me inspiration, and who's writings have helped me continue to be vulnerable enough to ask the deep questions I need to ask, and to continue my spiritual journey in the context of the Episcopal Church. The things I remember about these guys is that Hooker gave us the three-legged-sto...

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...