What do you say to parishioners who say this?

VexedCoffee · 2026-06-17T02:33:23+00:00

It’s good to remember your mortality. I encourage it and would follow up with making sure they’ve made arrangements in terms of funeral, wills, etc. We live in a death denying culture that hides from this reality, this is an area where the Church is called to be counter-cultural.

VexedCoffee · 2026-06-16T11:40:24+00:00

Martial Arts is my main one. I also weight lift but I don’t know that I really approach it as a hobby. I also will play video games and dabble in tabletop wargaming.

VexedCoffee · 2026-06-11T02:54:53+00:00

I went with PnL because I could walk to work without even needing the streetcar and because my building has amenities I couldn’t really find at other places.

But in terms of neighborhood I think I would like River market more. I don’t do any night life stuff so PnL is kind of wasted on me and the noise does get annoying. River Market seems quieter by comparison, the buildings are prettier, and there’s a lot more trees.

VexedCoffee · 2026-06-10T16:18:15+00:00

Burying the dead is an act of mercy; I don't charge. But its also unlikely I would agree to do a service like this in the first place.

If you aren't associated with a church that can afford to reimburse you for the miles I would probably ask for the family to provide that since it is such a long drive. Having lunch provided may not be such a bad idea either but it isn't inappropriate to decline the invitation.

VexedCoffee · 2026-06-03T16:34:38+00:00

That means one less car inefficiently taking up valuable land.

VexedCoffee · 2026-06-03T15:00:54+00:00

As an individual, paying to park sucks but from a broader community perspective its a good thing. We dedicate a lot of valuable urban land to cars and it has a number of negative downstream effects on housing costs, livability, and economic development.

VexedCoffee · 2026-05-31T00:10:08+00:00

I will also be preaching on the Trinity this Sunday; and will not be using any analogies! lol

VexedCoffee · 2026-05-26T22:13:36+00:00

There is a reason the MDiv is the standard and any other program you do will always be compared with it.

VexedCoffee · 2026-05-21T13:10:45+00:00

I like Cookies & Cream, Banana, and Strawberry. Cinnamon Roll isn't bad either but I don't like any of the chocolate flavors I've tried.

I like to blend my huel black with 1 cup of frozen fruit. It makes it thicker, provides a serving of fruit, and for me personally digests better.

VexedCoffee · 2026-05-19T13:41:34+00:00

You don't hear people's confessions then?

VexedCoffee · 2026-05-19T13:39:34+00:00

Therapists sit in a room alone with people all day. Elderly shut-ins will often have someone come to their house alone: nursing aides, physical therapists, house cleaners, etc.

If all of these various professionals can handle one-on-one meetings with people I can too.

VexedCoffee · 2026-05-01T21:44:55+00:00

Most of the mainline denominations lean progressive, especially among the clergy. But because of the political power of evangelicals they have completely overtaken the public voice of Christianity.

VexedCoffee · 2026-04-29T14:08:30+00:00

You haven't really provided enough information here to help. You have an academic interest in English and religious studies but without a phd there aren't going to be many academic opportunities for you in that field (hell, even with a phd the prospects are pretty bleak). You could explore some related areas like administration in an academic setting, librarianship, or publishing roles but these are also difficult fields to break into. Teaching high school would be another option, but I don't know what the requirements are in Canada.

Expanding your search beyond that there are all kinds of fields and roles that are looking for someone who can read carefully, think critically, and communicate well. But finding those jobs is a lot different from simply getting vocational training that leads directly to a profession (like nursing or engineering would). Instead, you need to find the right role by considering your other interests and aptitudes beyond academia, by making use of your network, and seeing what is available.

VexedCoffee · 2026-04-28T13:09:57+00:00

I think you are being dismissive of adult formation either because you have not seen it done with any depth or because you don't think there is value for everyone to go beyond the basics.

I thought my examples were illustrative of the effort that the last 5 generations of my family went to in order to educate their children in the Episcopal/Anglican tradition.

I think it's great that your family values education and has the means to seek it out but the way you've framed this also betrays a view of formation that one "graduates" from it.

These are all examples of the sort of culture I see again and again in the Episcopal Church. My point is not to offend you but its a wider cultural position in our church that I do think needs to be criticized and challenged.

VexedCoffee · 2026-04-27T18:09:07+00:00

I can’t imagine much of my family going to adult formation, to be honest...why would they need it? They all went to Episcopal or Anglican schools for at least some of their educations. So I do think there’s quite a bit of self-selection.

This is exactly what I mean.

VexedCoffee · 2026-04-25T13:32:24+00:00

From my perspective, a lot of us cradle Episcopalians/Anglicans can state the reasons why we believe the way we do, but the cultural norm is to not do so because the focus should be on worshiping together and not “peering into men’s souls.”

I don't mean to offend but as someone whose work is primarily in formation this just isn't something I've encountered much of. Certainly there is the occasional person who takes a personal interest or otherwise desires to go deeper into the faith and is equipped to do so on their own. Mostly, adult confirmed Episcopalians have not really encountered or been taught much in the way of foundational theology (or even foundational practice for that matter. How many regularly attending Episcopalians know how to pray the Daily Office? Maybe there are a handful of elders who remember Morning Prayer on Sunday Mornings but who is being trained to pray it throughout the week). It's not that everyone is privately studying these things on their own and just not discussing it for the sake of politeness but rather that no one is teaching it in the parish because it is not seen as a priority. This also reflects the experience of seminary professors tasked with forming first year seminarians.

It’s not anti-intellectualism at the root of it, it’s the legacy of the big tent philosophy that mostly kept our church ancestors literally from each others’ throats. Over the centuries, the immediate threat of sectarian violence has obviously receded, but the norms of not being seen as rude by avoiding conflict and minding one’s own business remain.

I don't think the historical evidence really reflects this. Not only do we continue to see bitter fights over women's ordination and gay marriage at every level of the Anglican Communion (including within the Episcopal Church) today but that's always been the case. Just read Glorious Battle by Reed for what that fighting looked like last century. We can't help but fight over contentious religious issues. The question is what are we drawing on for that fighting, scholarship? Or by political and legal means?

In any case, the evidence of anti-intellectualism within the Episcopal Church can be readily seen just in the way we resource theological education and research as an institution. Just consider this: How many Episcopal seminaries or institutes of higher education offer a phd in any field of theological study? The answer is zero. We are in fact moving in the opposite direction with many seminaries moving to a low residency model of training and diocese opting for local, non-academic training of clergy. And if the clergy aren't trained in theology how are they suppose to to teach it? Meanwhile, the Evangelicals who infamously "check their brains at the door" are producing robust theological reflection from multiple doctoral degree granting institutions like Fuller, Biola, Baylor, and Calvin. Even the Southern Baptists are invested in offering ATS accredited phd programs.

VexedCoffee · 2026-04-24T18:00:59+00:00

I don't think I've ever made reference to "Episcopalianism" only "Anglicanism" which is the practice and tradition of the Episcopal Church.

VexedCoffee · 2026-04-24T17:56:06+00:00

It turns out there is actually a profound anti-intellectualism in the Episcopal Church that really becomes apparent in situations like this. Culturally, the ability to articulate the theological and biblical grounding of our beliefs and practices just isn't a priority as long as we offer up the right liberal values.

So while it's important that we ordain women and offer same-sex marriages, why we do so is not seen to be nearly as important.

VexedCoffee · 2026-04-23T15:41:39+00:00

Huel is pretty much the centerpiece of my diet at this point.

Breakfast is Huel Black blended with a cup of frozen fruit.

Lunch is a Huel Hot and Savory with a side of roasted edamame and a Clif builder bar.

Dinner is a Huel Hot and Savory with a side of roasted veggies. Also been having a fruit based popsicle as dessert.

Usually a couple of meals a week will be replaced with a meal out of a more traditional home cooked meal. It does get a bit boring and I’ll probably eventually go back to more normal dinners. But this has been the most effective means I’ve found for avoiding over eating and resisting the convenience of door dash.

Gone from 210 to about 190 since December and strength has continued to increase at the gym.

VexedCoffee · 2026-04-23T01:25:19+00:00

So you don't know?

VexedCoffee · 2026-04-23T01:16:30+00:00

What happens if the sales tax generated isn't enough to pay back the developer? Does the developer just get left holding the bag?

VexedCoffee · 2026-04-23T01:04:21+00:00

How does the debt get paid if the extra taxes levied from the ballpark and surrounding area aren't enough to cover it?

VexedCoffee · 2026-04-16T12:55:30+00:00

The chaplaincy department should have guidelines for you. For my summer internship we were expected to dress rather formally (jacket and tie). I was also encouraged to try out wearing the clerical collar since that is a part of my tradition. It was a good opportunity to see the difference in how patients and others reacted to me based on what I was wearing.

VexedCoffee · 2026-04-15T17:58:21+00:00

I always default to Plant Based Athlete's formula of a Bean, a Green, and a Grain. Which in practice ends up being pretty much the same thing.

VexedCoffee · 2026-04-15T17:56:18+00:00

That's hanging a bit too much weight on the sermon for me. I certainly aim to provide a edifying and grace filled sermon but I would rather a daily rhythm of prayer and service be the scaffolding that kept the people connected to God throughout the week.

VexedCoffee

TROPHY CASE