St John's Episcopal Church, Asheville

04/23/2026

04/20/2026

Below is the poem Rev David quoted in his sermon yesterday about The Road to Emmaus.

The Servant Girl at Emmaus

Denise Levertov (1923–1997

She listens, listens, holding
her breath. Surely that voice
is his—the one
who had looked at her, once, across the crowd,
as no one ever had looked?
Had seen her? Had spoken as if to her?

Surely those hands were his,
taking the platter of bread from hers just now?
Hands he'd laid on the dying and made them well?

Surely that face—?

The man they'd crucified for sedition and blasphemy.
The man whose body disappeared from its tomb.
The man it was rumored now some women had seen this morning, alive?

Those who had brought this stranger home to their table
don't recognize yet with whom they sit.
But she in the kitchen, absently touching
the winejug she's to take in,
a young Black servant intently listening,

swings round and sees
the light around him
and is sure.

Denise Levertov was born in England to a Welsh mother and a Russian Hasidic father. Her father, who had emigrated to the UK from Leipzig, converted to Christianity and became an Anglican priest. She moved to the United States in 1948, and in 1955 became an American citizen. By the time she died in 1997, Levertov had published nearly fifty volumes of poetry, prose, and translations. Levertov taught at Brandeis, MIT, Tufts, Stanford, and the University of Washington. It was at Stanford, where she taught for 11 years (1982–1993) in the Stegner Fellowship program, and where her papers are now housed, that Levertov converted to Christianity at the age of sixty. After moving to Seattle in 1989, she joined the Catholic Church.

For Levertov's poetry, see Paul A. Lacey and Anne Dewey (editors), with an Introduction by Eavan Boland, The Collected Poems of Denise Levertov (New York: New Directions, 2013), 1063pp.

Dan Clendenin: [email protected]

04/17/2026

04/06/2026

We welcome Rev. Perrin Radley as our guest supply priest on Sunday, April 12th while David is away on vacation! Perrin was born and grew up in Washington,D.C. was educated in this country and in England. He has served parishes in New England and an ecumenical congregation in Vienna, Austria. In his retirement he served as interim at various churches in Washington, served at the National Cathedral as a chaplain, and was on the staff of CREDO. In our diocese, he’s supplied in various churches and served as the interim dean at The Cathedral of All Souls before Dean Sarah was called. He’s married to Laurel Radley, and they have two children and three grandsons. They live at Deerfield.

04/05/2026

Today we join our siblings throughout the Anglican Communion in celebrating the installation of Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally. Read all about the ceremony: https://f.mtr.cool/ivqwulmscw

"Almighty God,
you call your Church in every age
to proclaim the Gospel of Christ:
look with mercy upon your servant Sarah,
and grant that, as deacon, she may care for those in need,
as priest, sustain us with the ministry of word and sacrament,
and as bishop, guard the faith
and build up the body of Christ in holiness.
Give her wisdom and kindness
that as archbishop, she may promote unity, seek truth,
and lead us in the way of righteousness and peace;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen."
- The Church of England

Photo credit: Episcopal News Service (from the Church of England's livestream)
More from ENS: https://f.mtr.cool/nttwbjlrxu

04/05/2026

Episcopal Church Memes wishes everyone a Happy and Blessed Easter!