NAU LCMCanterbury, the Lutheran/Episcopal Campus Ministry in Flagstaff

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NAU LCMCanterbury, the Lutheran/Episcopal Campus Ministry in Flagstaff

We are the Episcopal and Lutheran Campus Ministry in Flagstaff, serving Northern Arizona University. Welcome to LCM|Canterbury. We are so glad you are here!

We are the Episcopal and Lutheran Campus Ministries in Flagstaff,
Serving Northern Arizona University and Coconino Community College. We are a community of students, faculty, staff, and supporters here in Flagstaff, supported by the Lutheran and Episcopal churches. We have come together from many backgrounds, so we know what feeling like a stranger is all about. Although during this time of a pand

emic, we are not meeting for in-person inside events, we still have a lot going on. To learn more visit www.lcmcanterbury.org. Our campus community welcomes and actively affirms people of all ethnicities, races, national origins, gender identities, and sexual orientations.

06/10/2026

The Butterfly Moment

Readings: Judges 17, 1 Timothy 4, Luke 23-24, Psalm 89

Then [Jesus] opened [the disciples’] minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” –Luke 24:45-48

A little less than a month ago, my wife rescued a caterpillar from some hungry sparrows in our front yard. She put it in a little terrarium and it promptly built a shriveled brown cocoon. We thought it might be dead. Last week, it emerged from the cocoon a big, beautiful, swallowtail butterfly! I understand why butterflies are a symbol of the resurrection! The heart of our proclamation as followers of Jesus Christ must be the miracle of the empty tomb! Without it, Jesus’ death on the cross would be just another of the many crucifixions carried out by the Romans in his day. Without it, all his teachings, his healings, his life, would be just another footnote in history. But the Resurrection was the butterfly moment that changed everything. It motivates or should motivate everything we do as the Church. Without it the Church, at best, becomes just another social service agency, at worst a social club with a pseudo-religious vibe. With it, the Church is a powerful source of reconciliation for a broken world, calling people back to the God who loves them and bringing new life to individuals, communities and systems. That’s what we are all called to proclaim in word and deed – and to live -- as followers of Jesus.

Dear friends:

I am so grateful to and humbled by all of you who read these daily reflections and for the comments you share. But, after writing somewhere around 1500 of these since March of 2020 I need a break. I feel like my writing has gotten stale. At the very least I need some new pictures! So, I’m taking some time off from Facebook and writing. I plan to return on July 1, maybe with a new format. Maybe not. We’ll see what the Spirit brings!

Praying for Peace,
Pastor Mike

06/09/2026

Samson vs. Jesus

Readings: Judges 16, 1 Timothy 3, Luke 22, Psalm 88

[Delilah] let [Samson] fall asleep on her lap, and she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. He began to weaken, and his strength left him... –Judges 16:19

[Jesus said,]. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. –Luke 22:27

Throughout the long history of God’s people, God has used some very imperfect people to accomplish God’s work and will. God does this in spite of their imperfections, and sometimes because of them. Samson was a complete buffoon. Arrogant. Violent. Easily fooled. For twenty years he kept the Philistines at bay. But, while God uses imperfect people, I don’t think their imperfections are meant to be emulated or sought out. The truth is: everyone who God has ever used is imperfect! Including you and me. Everyone, that is, except one. And, of course, that one is Jesus. Jesus who didn’t come with arrogance, violence or foolishness. Who didn’t lie, pursue revenge against his enemies, or seek to glorify himself. He came, not to be served, but to serve. So, I ask you, who would you rather follow? The way of Samson or of Jesus? Samson lasted twenty years before his imperfections caught up with him and he died. Jesus died too, but rose again on the third day and reigns forever with love, grace and mercy. I know which one I’d rather follow.

Praying for Peace,
Pastor Mike

06/08/2026

Praying Through the News

Readings: Judges 15, 1 Timothy 2, Luke 21, Psalm 87

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. –1 Timothy 2:1-2

These days, I find it hard to pray for “all those who are in high positions.” For some, yes. For others, no. But not for all. But I still think the advice given to Timothy is sound. I should pray for everyone, including those in power. Frequently, as I read through the news, my prayer is, “Lord, have mercy!” And leave it at that. Sometimes I just pray that justice -- God’s justice -- might prevail. In my prayers I often ask that I be given appropriate and convincing words when I write an elected official. The relationship between the church and the “governing authorities” has always been, at best, an awkward one. But we DO have something to say to those in high positions from the perspective of our faith. Jesus makes that much clear in today’s Gospel reading! Timothy’s context was very different than our own. He lived in a world of Emperors and Kings who had absolute power. Still, he was encouraged to pray for them. We live in a representative democracy, where we the people have some power. And one of the powerful powers we have (in addition to the vote) is prayer.

Praying for Peace,
Pastor Mike

06/05/2026

The Patience of God

Readings: Judges 14, 1 Timothy 1, Luke 20, Psalm 86

The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience as an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. –1 Timothy 1:15-16

As the “foremost among sinners” Paul experienced the vast patience of God first hand. When God finally called him from his violent, persecuting ways, he became the foremost among the early proclaimers of Jesus. An example of how God’s patience and grace can change even the worst of sinners. In the “Parable of the Wicked Tenants” in today’s Gospel reading, the owner of the vineyard shows a ridiculous amount of patience with the tenants. I mean, he should have kicked them all out after the first slave was beaten! They even kill the owner’s son! But, in spite of the way the parable ends, Jesus implies that’s not the end of the story. The rejected stone becomes the cornerstone. The Son rises on the third day and saves us all. When we get too full of ourselves, with the correctness of our opinions on this issue or that, with our righteousness over and above others, gratefully, God continues to be patient with us! We don’t earn God’s patience with our obedience and righteousness. (Good thing.) God’s patience is an undeserved gift of grace for the disobedient and unrighteous. Yes, for tenants like us. And it can change us too.

Praying for Peace,
Pastor Mike

06/04/2026

Does Jesus Weep for Us?

Readings: Judges 13, 2 Thessalonians 3, Luke 19, Psalm 85

As [Jesus] came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” --Luke 19:41-42

I often wonder, does Jesus weep for us? Given the state of things in our country right now, I wonder, do we, like the people of Jerusalem on the brink of Holy Week, not see the things that truly make for peace? Peace with justice. For all. Not just for the wealthy and the powerful and the privileged? Why do so many fail to see? Things did not end well for Jerusalem. Jesus’ prophesy in today’s Gospel came to pass when Jerusalem was razed to the ground by the Romans in 70 CE, around forty years after his warning. What, I wonder, will come of us? I fear there are more rocky roads ahead. But, like the story of Lazarus in John’s Gospel, I know this story does not end in weeping. But in resurrection. In Good News that brings a peace which passes all human understanding and transcends and transforms all earthly politics and machinations. Which liberates us, opens our eyes, -- yes, wakes us up -- and frees us to work for a better world.

Today, I pray with the Psalmist:

Restore us again, O God of our salvation... Will you not revive us again, so that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation. (Psalm 85:4, 6-7)

I Pray for Peace,
Pastor Mike

06/03/2026

A Place for All?

Readings: Judges 12, 2 Thessalonians 2, Luke 18, Psalm 84

Even the sparrow finds a home
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King and my God.
Happy are those who live in your house,
ever singing your praise. –Psalm 84:3-4

These few verses from Psalm 84 reminded me of all the different kinds of creatures we’ve had in our church buildings over the years. Sparrows, yes. We’ve had swallows build nests over doorways (and weren’t exactly friendly greeters!). But there have also been mice. A squirrel built a nest in the ceiling of our narthex one time. And, one mid-week Lenten service a bat circled the sanctuary as we read the lessons before an usher ushered it out. There were at least three service dogs at the church where I preached last Sunday and we welcomed them all. But what about the tax collector in Jesus’ parable? The Pharisee? Jesus doesn’t say either one of them should be thrown out. It’s just one doesn’t get why he needs to be there while the other one does. One is honest about his sinfulness, the other deludes himself with his own self-righteousness. How about our churches? Is there a place for both the deluded Pharasees of our world and the repentant tax collectors? Or, metaphorically speaking, do we say yes to the service dogs and usher the bats out?

Praying for Peace,
Pastor Mike

06/01/2026

The Kingdom Among Us

Readings: Judges 11, 2 Thessalonians 6, Luke 17, Psalm 83

Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.” --Luke 17:20-21

The kingdom of God is not a place. It is not a political movement or a theocracy. It is not a revolution or rebellion. As Jesus tells the Pharisees, it is not even something that can be observed. Not in the usual way. It is a relationship. A presence. A Way. It is an experience. Felt in the soul. It is God working in and through the cracks and crevices of life. Guiding us. Teaching us. Loving us. It is the power of worship and the depth of prayer. It is me caring for you and you caring for me. It is forgiveness. It is mercy. It is kindness and compassion. It takes shape within us and between us and among us. It is perceived through faith and is the source of that faith. It is the Reign of God, Creator of the universe, who is too vast and amazing to grasp and yet more intimate to us than our breath. It is present and coming and revealed to us in Jesus. It is the source of life, real life, both now and forever. Believe it.

Praying for Peace,
Pastor Mike

05/29/2026

On the Love of Money

Readings: Judges 10, 1 Thessalonians 5, Luke 16, Psalm 82

So [Jesus] said to [the Pharisees], “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts, for what is prized by humans is an abomination in the sight of God.” –Luke 16:15

Consider this: The love of money is the only thing – the only thing – Jesus ever calls an “abomination.” That’s how seriously he takes his teaching about wealth in Luke 16! Not money itself, but the love of money. Making money to make money. Glorifying wealth and those who have wealth. Justifying yourself because you have wealth. Like the toxic berries in the picture, accruing wealth may look enticing, but it can be poison. The wicked, the Psalm says, do not give justice to the weak and orphan, maintain the rights of the lowly and destitute, or rescue the weak and needy, (82:3-4). I’ve never heard of anyone being kicked out of the church because they love money. (And I’m not suggesting that they should be!). What I am suggesting is that we who have money need to think about how we use it for the sake of others. For the weak, orphans, lowly, destitute and needy among us. Not to justify ourselves, but to work for justice for others. For all. To live with gratitude, not greed. To do any less with the blessings God bestows upon us, Jesus says, is abominable.

Praying for Peace,
Pastor Mike

05/28/2026

The Parable of the Trees

Readings: Judges 9, 1 Thessalonians 4, Luke 15, Psalm 81

So all the trees said to the bramble, “You come and reign over us.” --Judges 9:14

The story of Abimelech is, at best, a cautionary tale, a warning about giving brambles to much power. It begins with the Israelites turning their back on the LORD and worshipping other gods. Abimelech, who desires to be king, uses deception, revenge, and war to exert his will on the people. In the end he has his armor bearer kill him to avoid the embarrassment of his failure. I have learned that when you hike in the desert you have to watch out for the thorns of the various plants that grow on the sides of the path. There is one that, even if you barely brush against it, will shoot its tiny needles into your flesh in number and you need to very carefully and painfully pull them all out. To miss one is to invite infection. Brambles make poor rulers. Leaving the path in the desert brings pain. To follow the LORD of steadfast love, and the servant path of Jesus, God’s Son, is to be fed with the finest wheat and satisfied with honey from the rock. (Psalm 81:16). It’s up to you which way you elect to follow. I know which way I would prefer to go!

Praying for Peace,
Pastor Mike

05/27/2026

Accept My Regrets

Readings: Judges 8, 1 Thessalonians 3, Luke 14, Psalm 80

Then Jesus said to [the dinner guest], “Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is ready now.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. –Luke 14:16-18

There is only so much time in a week. 168 hours, to be exact. That’s all the time any of us have. No more. No less. Assuming we get enough sleep during the week, (many of us don’t) that leaves about 110 hours a week to do something else. The question is, what do you do with those hours? Answering that question is means considering our priorities for using the time we each have. Making sure we are spending our 168 hours on those things that truly are most important to us. Sure, there are some things we absolutely have to do. Like go to work. Pay the bills. Take the kids to school. But that list is probably shorter than we think. Other than those things you absolutely have to do, what do you spend your time on? Jesus invites us into relationship with God and relationships take time. So, how important is that relationship to you? If you find yourself saying to God “pleases accept my regrets” I just can’t fit you into my 168 hours, it may suggest an answer. Would you say that to the other relationships and things that are important to you? Something to think about...

Praying for Peace,
Pastor Mike

Address

500 S. Riordan Road
Flagstaff, AZ
86001

Telephone

+19284335679

Website

http://lcmcanterbury.org/

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