Rev Susan Hill – Church of Holy Apostles

I Bind Unto Myself Today | The Rev. Susan E. Hill, Associate Rector

At the risk of treading on our Director of Music Tim Pyper’s territory, I thought I’d extend the feeling of Trinity Sunday (which we celebrated this past Sunday), by inviting us all to spend a little time with the wonderful hymn “St. Patrick’s Breastplate” (or “I Bind Unto Myself Today”). It is based on a poem said to have been written by St. Patrick, and it describes sources of strength we can prayerfully draw on for support, including two sources I preached about on Sunday: the power of the Trinity as the three-in-one God united in love and the presence of Christ who is always with us.

I Bind Unto Myself Today | The Rev. Susan E. Hill, Associate RectorRev Susan Hill2020-06-11T16:56:40+00:00

Prayer in the Time of a Pandemic | The Rev. Susan E. Hill, Associate Rector

I’ve long been fascinated by a particular dynamic in many people’s prayer lives. They often don’t have time to pray, they tell me -- but when I ask if they are able to pray more when they do have more time and flexibility (such as weekends, vacations, snow days, etc.), they sheepishly admit that they don’t pray then either!...

Prayer in the Time of a Pandemic | The Rev. Susan E. Hill, Associate RectorRev Susan Hill2020-05-14T15:32:25+00:00

Easter in the Midst of Pandemic | The Rev. Susan E. Hill, Associate Rector

Alleluia! Christ is risen! This year we came through an especially challenging Holy Week to the grateful celebration of Easter on Sunday, and as we are now settling into Eastertide -- the period between Easter Day and Pentecost - we may be feeling even more acutely a cacophonous mix of emotions. Holy Week occurred as the New York region was experiencing perhaps the worst week of the Covid-19 crisis, and we felt the sorrow of death especially in our church. And still, Easter Day arrived! We gathered together and celebrated the Feast of the Resurrection in our Zoom house church! And we remembered that even in the darkest times, God is with us, and helps us to find the places of promise, hope, joy, and new life.....

Easter in the Midst of Pandemic | The Rev. Susan E. Hill, Associate RectorRev Susan Hill2020-04-14T20:53:52+00:00

Labyrinths In the Time of COVID-19 | The Rev. Susan E. Hill, Associate Rector

Last week, just before flying to New Zealand for my vacation, I wrote a meditation for this week about labyrinths. At the time, I didn’t realize how rapidly our life in the time of COVID-19 would change (and I certainly didn’t realize that my NZ trip would be cut in half, forcing my return to New York early this week!). But the concept of the labyrinth seems even more apt today than it did a week or two ago.....

Labyrinths In the Time of COVID-19 | The Rev. Susan E. Hill, Associate RectorRev Susan Hill2020-03-19T21:36:55+00:00

Lent Is Upon Us | The Rev. Susan E. Hill, Associate Rector

We’ve enjoyed a fairly long season of Epiphany this year, but now the season of Lent is upon us, beginning with Ash Wednesday on February 26. As you will hear if you join us for the 8 am or 7 pm service that day, Ash Wednesday invites us to the observance of a holy Lent, “by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 265) So now might be the perfect time to think about how you will observe a holy Lent!...

Lent Is Upon Us | The Rev. Susan E. Hill, Associate RectorRev Susan Hill2020-02-18T22:50:06+00:00

Florence Li Tim Oi: Much-Beloved Daughter and Priest | The Rev. Susan E. Hill, Associate Rector

On Friday, January 24, we celebrate the ordination of Florence Li Tim-Oi, the first woman priest in the Anglican Communion who was ordained in 1944! Her name is a combination of the name she was given by her father when she was born in Hong Kong (Li Tim-Oi, meaning “much beloved daughter”) and the name she chose when she was baptized as a student (Florence, in honor of Florence Nightingale)....

Florence Li Tim Oi: Much-Beloved Daughter and Priest | The Rev. Susan E. Hill, Associate RectorRev Susan Hill2020-01-22T17:35:48+00:00

The Light in the Darkness | The Rev. Susan E. Hill, Associate Rector

Today, December 27, is the feast day of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist. A couple of days ago, on Christmas Day, we read the gorgeous prologue to John’s gospel. It begins, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it… The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.”

The Light in the Darkness | The Rev. Susan E. Hill, Associate RectorRev Susan Hill2019-12-27T00:30:21+00:00

Andrew the Networker | The Rev. Susan E. Hill, Associate Rector

Tomorrow, Saturday, November 30, is the Feast of St. Andrew. Andrew is traditionally the first saint remembered in the new church year, and the season of Advent always begins on the Sunday closest to his feast day. The stories about Andrew in the Gospel of John emphasize his gift for making connections between others and Jesus - he was a great networker! He was the first of the disciples to follow Jesus, having learned of him through John the Baptist. (As a result, the Orthodox Church have named Andrew Protokletos, or “First-called.”)...

Andrew the Networker | The Rev. Susan E. Hill, Associate RectorRev Susan Hill2019-12-10T16:41:06+00:00

All Saints’ Day: Who are the saints? | The Rev. Susan E. Hill, Associate Rector

Today we celebrate the Feast of All Saints, and we will have a particularly festive marking of it at our Evensong commemorating the 175th anniversary of Church of the Holy Apostles tonight (Friday) at 7 pm. We will also remember All Saints’ Day, and its related day, All Souls’ (or the Commemoration of All Faithful Departed) this Sunday, November 3....

All Saints’ Day: Who are the saints? | The Rev. Susan E. Hill, Associate RectorRev Susan Hill2019-10-31T19:32:06+00:00

St. Francis and the Present Moment | The Rev. Susan E. Hill, Associate Rector

When she was eight years old, my niece Audrey asked me the very important theological question, “Does God have pets?” Now, she had an ulterior motive for this question, as she was angling to be allowed to get a dog (this was before Penny, and then Hugo, came into her life!) – but nevertheless, it is an intriguing question. I responded, “Yes, I think WE are all God’s pets.”....

St. Francis and the Present Moment | The Rev. Susan E. Hill, Associate RectorRev Susan Hill2019-10-03T23:47:40+00:00

About Rev Susan Hill