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Epiphany 2 A + Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit + 1.18.26

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  M. Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard (Is. 49:1–7; Ps. 40:1–11; 1 Cor. 1:1–9; Jn. 1:29–42) Ev’ry time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart, I will pray… When have you felt the Spirit lately? Last week, my heart was heavy. Renee Nicole Good and other good people had been killed. It seemed our world was filled with danger and sorrow. And just being a person of goodwill wasn’t enough to protect you. Amid these feelings, I attended an event organized by a group of African-American churches in the area. It was to honor local folks doing good work in the community. But more than that, it was an expression of unity. The pastors said one by one how important it was to work together despite their differences. Theologically, I know they run the gamut. However, they were willing to come together for the sake of their community. And through it all, there was a thread. Of gospel music. Music that raised the spirits and invited the Spirit in. Music that reminded us that, as many tri...
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Epifania 2 A + Envia tu Espiritu + 1.18.26

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  M. Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard (Is. 49:1–7; S. 40:1–11; 1 Cor. 1:1–9; Jn. 1:29–42)   Envía tu espíritu y será renovada la faz de la tierra…. ¿Cuándo has sentido la presencia del Espíritu últimamente? La semana pasada, sentía una gran tristeza. Renee Nicole Good y otras personas buenas habían sido asesinadas. Parecía que nuestro mundo estaba lleno de peligro y dolor. Y ser una persona de buena voluntad no era suficiente para protegerte. En medio de estos sentimientos, asistí a un evento organizado por un grupo de iglesias afroamericanas de la zona. Era para honrar a las personas de la comunidad que desempeñan una labor admirable. Pero más allá de eso, fue una expresión de unidad. Los pastores, uno por uno, expresaron lo importante que era trabajar juntos pese a sus diferencias. Sé que, en cuanto a la teología, sus creencias son muy diversas. Sin embargo, estaban dispuestos a unirse por el bien de su comunidad. Y a lo largo de todo esto, había un hilo cond...
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Epiphany 1 A + Baptism of the Lord + 1.11.26

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  M. Campbell-Langdell All Saints, Oxnard (Isaiah 42:1–9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34–43; Matthew 3:13–17) Seven years ago, I went on a pilgrimage with Pastor Alene to the Holy Land. When we arrived at the Jordan River, we were on a tour with a Jewish guide. We had signed up as regular tourists and were wearing casual clothes for the trip. Upon arrival, he announced that since there was no Christian minister or priest on the bus, if anyone wanted to be baptized, they would have to find another group by the Jordan River and ask them to perform the baptism. Hearing this, Pastor Alene and I raised our hands and confessed that we were ordained ministers and would be willing and happy to baptize anyone who wished to do so. We hadn't asked permission, but we decided we would ask for forgiveness from the Bishop of Jerusalem when we returned to St. George's College, where we were staying next to the cathedral. It turned out that three people asked to be baptized, and when we arrived at ...
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Epifanía 1 A + Bautismo del Señor + 1.11.26

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  M. Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard (Isaías 42:1–9; Salmo 29; Hechos 10:34–43; San Mateo 3:13–17) Hace siete años hice un peregrinaje con Pastora Alene a la Tierra Santa. Y cuando llegamos al río Jordán, estábamos en un tur con un guía judío. Nos habíamos inscrito como turistas normales y llevábamos ropa casual durante el viaje. Al llegar, él declaró que, como no había ningún ministro cristiano ni sacerdote en el autobús, si alguien quisiera bautizarse, tendría que buscar otro grupo al lado del Jordán y pedirle que le bautizara. Pues al escuchar esto, Pastora Alene y yo levantamos las manos y confesamos que somos sacerdotes y que estaríamos dispuestas y felices de bautizar a cualquier persona. No habíamos pedido permiso, pero decidimos pedir perdón al obispo de Jerusalén cuando regresamos al colegio de San Jorge, donde nos estábamos quedando junto a la catedral. Sucedió que tres personas pidieron ser bautizadas y, llegando al río, acercamos a una entrada con escaleras q...
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Christmas 2 + Be Surprised! + 1.4.26

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  M. Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard ( Jeremiah 31:7-14 ; Psalm 84 or 84:1-8 ; Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a ; Luke 2:41-52 )   Today, we hear the only gospel passage that speaks about Jesus as an adolescent, making it especially fitting as we mark our first Sunday and youth-themed service. Es muy apropiado que este evangelio, el único que describe a Jesús como un adolescente, caiga en el primer domingo, el que incluimos más a nuestros jóvenes. Jesús, un joven, está en el templo y nuestros jóvenes también; así debe ser. Jesus, a youth, is in the temple, as are our youth, who we always say are not the future but the present of the church. Jesus also shows in this passage from Luke that he was learning and growing as an adolescent. El tiempo adolescente, aunque difícil porque también es un tiempo de luchas interiores y exteriores, es sumamente importante para el desarrollo espiritual. We know that we do not skip to faith as adults from childhood, but that adolescence, w...
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Year A — Christmas 1 -- Tea and Creation

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 M. Campbell-Langdell+ All Santos 12.28.25 (Isaiah 61:10–62:3; Ps 147; Galatians 3:23–25; 4:4–7; John 1:1–18) Legend has it that Napoleon Bonaparte, the one-time French emperor, once asked a leading scientist of his day, Pierre-Simon Laplace, about a book he wrote, Systeme du Monde.  He asked why he had not mentioned the Creator in the book, and Laplace replied, “I had no need of that hypothesis.”[1] Following the Enlightenment, many people of Napoleon’s age and onward have latched onto the concept of science as the new law that will explain everything.  They say we do not need God because we have a scientific explanation.  Or, some have become afraid of science, saying that it will explain everything, leaving no room for God, as if God needed to be accommodated somehow, like a person needing a seat on the bus.  Our culture at times seems to war between those who would rely only on science and those who regard science as a threat to faith. Alene has been reading...
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Año A — Navidad 1 -- Te y Creación

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  M. Campbell-Langdell+ All Santos 12.28.25 (Isaías 61:10–62:3; Salmo 147 LOC; Gálatas 3:23–25; 4:4–7; Juan 1:1–18)   Se dice que Napoleón Bonaparte, quien una vez fue emperador de Francia, preguntó a un científico de su tiempo, Pierre-Simón Laplace, sobre un libro que este había escrito, Système du Monde .  Él le preguntó a Laplace porque él no mencionó el Creador en el libro, y Laplace respondió: “No tenía necesidad de esta hipótesis.”   [1] Since the Enlightenment, science has become the belief system of choice for many people, replacing traditional notions of God.   Desde el siglo de la Ilustración, muchos hemos pensado que podemos explicar todo mediante las ciencias.  Dicen, “no necesito a Dios, porque tengo una explicación racional.”  Y en el otro lado, tenemos gente quienes temen a la ciencia, temen que va a tratar de explicar todo, sin dejar espacio para Dios, como si Dios fue una persona necesitando un asiento en e...
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