Dean's Message for October 23, 2025

Author:
October 22, 2025

I was struck last Sunday by a phrase in the epistle reading—"itching ears". The full sentence is "For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths" (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

If anyone doubts that the ancient texts of the Bible apply to today's complexities, I would refer them to this passage. Whenever we seek to suit our own desires, it inevitably leads to poor outcomes, beginning with the creation story and continuing today.

This week, we will celebrate our fall festival, which is liturgically connected to All Saints' Day, which we will celebrate next weekend, along with the evocative Duruflé mass at our service of remembrance of the faithful departed. We are also in the stewardship season, during which I invite you to consider your full commitment to Christ and St. Paul's—your private practices of prayer and scripture, your attendance, your ministry service, and only after these, your financial contribution. I and other clergy, as well as the vestry members, are available to meet with you at your request as part of this consideration process.

"How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in his excellent word!" (Hymn 636).

The Very Reverend Katie Churchwell, 15th Dean, St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

 

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