Sailors
Simon Peter first met Christ on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, a story we hear in the fifth chapter of the Book of Luke. During a single morning, Peter changed the direction of his life,... Read More »
News
Explaining Episcopal Identity
There was a time, not so long ago, when the vast majority of students at my school (St. Mark’s, Southborough, MA) were church-attending Episcopalians. Thus there was really no need to explain,... Read More »
An Attitude of Gratitude
We all know that our mood affects everything and everyone around us. Bad traffic, a difficult start to the day, feeling overworked or underappreciated — any one of these can send us into a... Read More »
The Final Frontier
Jonathan F. Cooper has been Communications Manager for NAES since June of 2017. As a function of that role, Jonathan also serves as editor for The Commons, the NAES blog. Prior to joining NAES, Jonathan was Communications Manager and Music Associate at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Terrace Park, OH. He holds degrees from Baldwin Wallace College and the University of Cincinnati. Read More »
When a Bishop Becomes a Media Sensation
When Saturday Night Live impersonates you for “World News Tonight,” you know you’re a media sensation. Such was the case for Presiding Bishop Michael Curry this past weekend.... Read More »
The Little Way
These last few weeks in most of our communities will stretch us in two directions: we will be weary, worn, and tired, but simultaneously inspired, energized, and touched by the multitude of... Read More »
Sacred Flames
A few nights ago, I entered Belmont Chapel at St. Mark's School in Southborough to light candles for an evening chapel service. A group of theater students were in the chapel rehearsing a performance that they were going to be giving that night. One of the theater students — a tall, wiry kid with the energy of a thousand suns — immediately dropped character and asked if he could help. Read More »
Lessons Learned From Debating Biblical Texts
With a growing need to find ways in our society to have thoughtful and respectful conversations about difficult issues, I look right to our middle school students for inspiration and some guiding... Read More »
Restoring the Covenant
I was privileged recently to hear Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks speak at Trinity School here in New York. The former Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, Sacks is a major thought-leader who speaks and writes about religion, ethics, and society. Read More »
What’s Next?
Last month, I announced to my school community that I would retire at the end of the 2018-19 academic year. Articulating this long-anticipated intention in public fashion elicited a range of... Read More »