Maggi Dawn

Letter from a Freedman

Later this week in Marquand Chapel we shall begin weaving into our worship some special services to give due attention to February as Black History Month. I was reading from various sources, and came across this fantastic letter, written by one Jourdan Anderson. It's smart and witty, devastating while also ...

The Elephant Room

This just came across my radar this morning - a series of conversations between "leading pastors", each conversation taking place between two pastors who disagree on the finer points of theology/ecclesiology etc., and moderated by a third. The first day of conversations took place late last year, and a second ...

battle on

Over the past couple of days I've read posts from people who have been battling with all kinds of things. Cancer. Depression. Divorce. Forgiveness. Despair. Redundancy. Each one completely different, but each a challenge that takes up complete focus and energy merely to survive. I've read about one or two who ...

Godspell

Long ago in the West End I went to see Godspell. I was completely entranced by a Jesus who was by turns magnetic, funny, fun to be with and deadly serious, stopping people in their tracks with his pull-no-punches words. Along with the rest of the audience I clapped along, ...

Advent frustration

There is something slightly odd about the readings for the second Sunday of Advent. They are supposed to represent the prophets, and consequently they tie them in with Gospel readings for John the Baptist. But then on the third sunday - Gaudete Sunday - the entire focus is on John ...

Advent poems

Here on Earth by Anne Porter The old man living In his rented room Grows lonely as the night comes on Especially in winter And the boy shooting drugs On the tenement roof Is lonely whether or not He has companions Lovers lie sleeping Side by side A wilderness between them And their unborn infant Is already alone So soon to be discarded Even as he ...

a lovely poem for Advent

The Overshadow by Luci Shaw “…. the power of the Most High will overshadow you… “ -Gospel of Luke Whe we think of God, and angels, and the Angel, we suppose ineffable light. So there is surprise in the air when we see him bring to Mary, in her lit room, a gift of darkness. What is happening under ...

Advent

Sermon for the first week of Advent. Friday December 2nd, 2011 Marquand Chapel, Yale Divinity School Maggi Dawn, Dean of Chapel I guess you’ll have noticed by now that it’s Advent. If you hang out in a church that does the liturgical tradition, you’ll already have lit an advent candle last Sunday, been wished ...

Advent: sing in the darkness…

This year, for the first time in twelve years, I have no duties on Christmas Day. Or Christmas Eve either. I was making mental plans to go home for Christmas, to see the family and friends we miss so much. I shan't bore you with the reasons, but as things ...

everyday miracles

"...the church has been criticizing itself for too long, and it ought to start celebrating its unsung and remarkable achievements. The trouble is that the faults of the church are so obvious - the gap between its ideals and the reality is so glaring. But the other trouble is that ...