James Waggoner

April 8th, 2009

My reflection on this past weekend is drawn to a sign and to signs.  Arriving at St. Paul’s, Cheney on Sunday, I was heartened by the prominent and inviting sign of welcome outside and the signs of being poised for moving forward inside — signs evident in the community gathered for worship, fellowship, and conversation [...]

April 1st, 2009

Now I recognize that the prospect of “Living Lent for Life” could be less than popular, specially if we consider Lent a season we simply have to get through. And if we do, a life term of Lent would be like having cold water thrown on our plans for life. Not at all a welcomed [...]

March 31st, 2009

How full can a weekend be?  Very.
A Saturday afternoon Vestry meeting at St. Luke’s, Wenatchee; an evening service at St. Timothy’s, Yakima; three more services in Yakima on Sunday; then a Celebration of New Ministry at Grace Church Ellensburg that evening.
Baptisms, Confirmations, Receptions, Reaffirmations, First Communions, and an Institution.  So much to celebrate; too soon [...]

March 24th, 2009

It was an  upbeat day on Wall Street Sunday — the Wall Street where St. David’s is located, that is.
On a Sunday that was  the exception to the more somber character of Lent, I gladly participated in an 8 a.m. baptism of an infant and 10 a.m. confirmation of an adult.  The children’s choir was [...]

February 1st, 2009

The first Sunday after the Epiphany we always hear about the Baptism of Jesus; the lectionary assures it and the Gospel tells us of Jesus coming to the river Jordan and being baptized by John.  It  happened again this year as part of the routine cycle of readings.
However, do notice that Jesus’ coming to John [...]

December 1st, 2008

As I begin my eighth Bishop’s Annual Address, I would like to think out loud with you about what we are doing in this diocese and where I pray we are going.  I welcome the opportunity in the context of our convention theme of “Living a Scandalous Gospel.”
Because we are already  “Living with a Scandalous” [...]

November 1st, 2008

It is imperative that the church be a safe place – safe for people to express honest opinions, safe for people to raise challenging questions, safe for all from the inappropriate behavior of others. It is not imperative, however, that the church plays it safe in mission. In fact, playing it safe may well be [...]

October 1st, 2008

As a standby passenger called to board at the last minute, I rushed into the cabin of the plane, the attendant almost closing the door on my backside. Breathless, I found my seat and collapsed into it. Before I could regain any semblance of composure the lady beside me smiled and thanked me for being [...]

September 1st, 2008

Editor’s note: Some of the excerpts below have been posted on the diocesan website or in the bishop’s electronic Lambeth Conference newsletters. The August 3 reflection has not been previously published.
July 11 – Spokane
“[T]he first Lambeth Conference was convened [in 1867] in a spirit of ‘Resolving to Confer and Conferring to Resolve: the Anglican Way.’ [...]

August 1st, 2008

As you read this, the Lambeth Conference has come to an end. There will be much to reflect on and share when we return. But let me try to give you a sense of the conference and of the church in this historic place.
Our first days in England were spent in the historic Diocese of [...]