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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Martin Elfert

The Rev. Martin Elfert is an immigrant to the Christian faith. After the birth of his first child, he began to wonder about the ways in which God was at work in his life and in the world. In response to this wondering, he joined Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he and his new son were baptized at the Easter Vigil in 2005 and where the community encouraged him to seek ordination. Martin served on the staff of the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Spokane, Wash. from 2011-2015. He is now the rector of Grace Memorial Episcopal Church in Portland, Oreg.

A Letter for Barbara

Remember: Human beings need to be careful what we worship. Because we will worship something.

Tools: A sacrament, a holder of memories

A birthday cake can be a sacrament sometimes. So can be a book. So can be a cabin or a bicycle or a painting. So can be tools, with their history written on their bodies in flecks of paint and old sawdust and patterns of wear

Kindness can be transformative

At George H.W. Bush’s funeral, President Trump did not join the congregation in saying the Apostles’ Creed. And one person after another responded with tweets accusing him of hypocrisy, of failing as a Christian.

This Thanksgiving, I Gave Thanks for the Church

What I mean by “the church” is the institutional church with all of its rules. Maybe that sounds odd.

Naming the hurt is a step toward forgiveness

Having named that the actions of this person whom I had trusted had hurt me, I realized that I was suddenly a big step closer to forgiving them.

Painful lessons, memories from The Cosby Show

I guess I am remembering that barbershop and the new, painful way that I think of it today – Was I listening to the victims play their accordions as I got my haircut? Did my cherished memory take place within their nightmare? – because of Bill Cosby’s conviction for sexual assault last week.

Communion on Alberta Street

Martin Elfert makes a heartwarming observation when he walks down a familiar street wearing his clerical collar instead of a T-shirt.

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