Author Archives: edithmhumphrey

New Article on the New Creation in Scripture and Tradition

Friends may be interested in reading this article which appears in the St Andrews online Encyclopaedia of Theology. In it I speak of the New Creation in terms of what is “good,” what is “new,” and what is “beautiful,” and try to find a way through the debate between anticipating the resurrection and the conceptContinue reading “New Article on the New Creation in Scripture and Tradition”

Light from the Psalter 15: Mercy in the Morning

Psalm 142 (143 MT); Romans 4:8; Philippian 3:12; 2 Samuel/2 Kingdoms 15-18, Rev 20:11, Luke 21:17-18 We come to the last of the six censing Psalms of Orthros.  Psalm 142 (MT 143) retains the petitionary flavor of the other Psalms, but looks forward to the light—to deliverance from enemies, to being lifted from the pit,Continue reading “Light from the Psalter 15: Mercy in the Morning”

Peacock Party and Book Launch

Anyone within kicking distance of Pittsburgh is invited to a book launch for my recent children’s book Down the Valley, a novel of faith, family, and fantasy designed for children ages 8 through 15 and their parents. The party will include “visiting” the saints who are featured in this novel, hearing a little about theirContinue reading “Peacock Party and Book Launch”

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”

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”