edithmhumphrey

Light from the Psalter 14: Bless the Lord, O My Soul!

Psalm 102 (LXX)/ 103 (MT), Hebrews 7:7, Colossians 1:12-13, James 2:13 Someone said to me this week, “I read that it is a mark of intelligence to talk to yourself.” I’m not sure that I concur, but it was certainly a habit of mine as an only child, and I still engage in it fromContinue reading “Light from the Psalter 14: Bless the Lord, O My Soul!”

Debrief on the Deaconess Discussion

My thoughts from last night: Initially, I was appalled at the nasty popcorn (and insult!)-throwing that was going as we waited for the start of the session on Women Deacons/Deaconesses, by those who were sure that AF had the agenda of advocating for the role. The nasty ad-hominem and inaccurate remarks were at times intolerable.Continue reading “Debrief on the Deaconess Discussion”

New Release!

I am pleased to announce the long-awaited sequel to Beyond the White Fence, entitled Down the Valley, published by Cascade Books (Wipf and Stock) on January 24, 2024.Available both at Amazon (in the US, UK, and Canada), and Wipf and Stock. This novel of faith, fantasy, and family, is intended for a slightly older readershipContinue reading “New Release!”

Light from the Psalter 13: Showing Wonders To the Dead

Psalm 87 (LXX)/88 (MT); Luke 2:29-35; 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 3:13; John 12:20b-36); Psalm 21(LXX) /22 (MT). In the last episode, when we were supposed to be pursuing the Psalms of Orthros, we made an unwarranted detour into a Psalm of praise (Psalm 86 LXX/ 87 MT), due to my own mistaking of the numberingContinue reading “Light from the Psalter 13: Showing Wonders To the Dead”

The Orthodox Deaconess: Examining the Call for Restoration

Premiering January 30th John Maddex and Fr. Tom Soroka take a deep dive into this topic with The Orthodox Deaconess: Examining the Call for Restoration. The story of the Orthodox Deaconess is largely unknown today. When did they exist, and what was their function? In recent decades, there has been a call for the restorationContinue reading “The Orthodox Deaconess: Examining the Call for Restoration”

Light from the Psalter 12: Glorious Things are Spoken!

Psalm 86 LXX/87 MT; Joshua 2; John 4:14; 7: 37-39; Galatians 4:26-7 My deepest apologies to those who have read an earlier version of this blog, or who have listened to the matching podcast. In a careless moment, I mistook the fourth Psalm for matins (which should be Psalm 87 LXX/88 Hebrew) and took us into anContinue reading “Light from the Psalter 12: Glorious Things are Spoken!”

Matthew’s Matriarchs

A chequered past:That’s what they call it in polite company.In our memories, four portraits last, swaying some to scorn, some to sympathy. First tricksy Tamar, jilted by the “just,”but in the end, through subterfugereceiving seed that would give rise to One who mustalone undo the Fall, the death, the sin-delugethat inundated all. Then Rahab ofContinue reading “Matthew’s Matriarchs”

Light from the Psalter 11: Seeking the LORD

Psalm 62 (LXX), 63 (Hebrew), speaks of David’s longing for God in the wilderness of Judah, and is one of the most perfect psalms upon which to meditate when we are in a dry period. The psalm begins with seeking God, and ends in rejoicing in God. It puts before us the pattern of theContinue reading “Light from the Psalter 11: Seeking the LORD”

Lewis and Stories of the Atonement

You are cordially invited to the Canonsburg St. John the Baptist Church at 6:00 p.m. (Vespers) followed by my talk at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 12th.

Light from the Psalter 10: God’s Wrath and God’s Healing

Psalm 37 LXX/38 Hebrew; Job; Hebrews 12:6; Isaiah 53:7-8 Father Patrick Reardon, in describing Psalm 37 LXX (Hebrew 38), which is chanted during the first part of Sunday Matins, calls it “one of the rougher parts of the Psalter” (Reardon, Christ in the Psalms, 2000, 73). Its main themes, sin and suffering, are not for theContinue reading “Light from the Psalter 10: God’s Wrath and God’s Healing”