From the Rector

March 5, 2026

Dear Friends,

This week I am in Charlotte with hundreds of leaders from across The Episcopal Church for the annual Episcopal Parish Network conference. Over the last few years, this gathering has become an important part of my spiritual wellbeing and professional development. EPN brings together folks from parishes with similar size and resources to St. Michael’s to consider emerging challenges and possibilities for faith and ministry in our times. We are learning from each another: what is being tried out there, how is it bearing fruit, how are our communities being called to meet and adapt to evolving spiritual, social, financial, generational, and strategic dynamics in parish ministry.

We have not gathered here to peer longingly through the rose-colored lenses of religion. We are praying, worshiping, and gathering with wide awareness and intention, considering deeply the needs and longings of the very tangible world around us. We’ve looked at data, told stories, celebrated histories, and cast vision for how to engage the world as it is becoming. We’ve talked about generational transfer, changing demographics, the inevitability of AI, economics, and political turmoil. All of this, we have considered in faith and hope.

Most of all (I mean to say that with intent—most of all), we’ve talked about Jesus. We have considered what it means to be Christians and Episcopalians in these troubling times. Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe spoke clearly about the need for faithful witness. More than words, this witness is work (often below the surface, behind the scenes, and beyond merely making statements). This gospel work of mercy, justice and peace is rooted in the call of Jesus. It’s a call that comes amidst competing narratives and dangerous demands of christo-nationalism. We who Bishop Michael Curry has long called “the Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement,” are called to be faithful to the gospel of Jesus, live the Beatitudes, and to walk always in the way of love.

There is so much more to share and consider together. I can’t wait for all the conversations to come!

**Side note: I am very excited to welcome my dear friend Jacob Breeze to be with us Sunday. Jacob is a priest and theologian who lives in Houston. He’ll be in Portland for the next week on retreat, and I can hardly believe the fortune of his yes to my invitation to preach at 9&11 and help teach our first Episcopal 101 session after the 11:00 service.

It is going to be a great weekend together!

With you,

Scott+
The Rev. R. Scott Painter, Rector

From the Associate Rector / Del Rector Asociado

February 26, 2026

Good Folk of St. Michaels,

We have begun in earnest the solemn season of Lent: a time of self-examination, prayer, fasting, self-denial, Scripture study, and almsgiving. It is a time that many Christians turn attention to their spiritual life. During our daily living, of the changing chances of this life we often lose our focus on our spiritual life, I know I certainly do.

Throughout Christian history, our tradition has often talked about the spiritual life as a type of training, much like that undertaken for athletics or for physical fitness. There have been other metaphors that have been used such as treatment by a physician, or more recently relaxing into the presence of God.
According to the spiritual writer, Derek Olsen in his book Inwardly Digest: The Prayer Book as Guide to a Spiritual Life, these three controlling metaphors have these assumptions in common: 1) God’s action comes first, that is God loves us and is reaching out to us already, 2) we need transformation, and 3) we have some part to play in that transformation.

And just like physical training, there are steps and goals, though these aren’t as easily measured and quantified. But there is one ultimate test for our spiritual “training”: Is it helping me grow in love toward God and neighbor?
May the blessings of Lent be with us, that we may find each other growing toward the Mind of Christ, and progressing in the way of love.

Peace and love,
Padre Toni Álvarez

Queridos pueblo de San Miguel,

Hemos comenzado con seriedad la solemne temporada de Cuaresma, un tiempo de autoexamen, oración, ayuno, abnegación, estudio de las Escrituras y caridad. Es un tiempo en el que muchos cristianos prestan atención a su vida espiritual. En nuestra vida diaria, con las cambiantes circunstancias de esta vida, a menudo perdemos el enfoque en nuestra vida espiritual; yo, sin duda, lo hago.

A lo largo de la historia cristiana, nuestra tradición ha hablado a menudo de la vida espiritual como una especie de entrenamiento, similar al que se realiza para el atletismo o la aptitud física. Se han utilizado otras metáforas, como el tratamiento médico o, más recientemente, la relajación en la presencia de Dios.

Según el escritor espiritual Derek Olsen, en su libro Inwardly Digest: The Prayer Book as Guide to a Spiritual Life, estas tres metáforas principales tienen en común los siguientes supuestos: 1) La acción de Dios es lo primero; es decir, Dios nos ama y ya nos está tendiendo la mano; 2) necesitamos transformación; y 3) tenemos un papel que desempeñar en esa transformación.

Y al igual que el entrenamiento físico, hay pasos y metas, aunque no son tan fáciles de medir ni cuantificar. Pero hay una prueba fundamental para nuestro “entrenamiento” espiritual: ¿Me está ayudando a crecer en el amor a Dios y al prójimo?

Que las bendiciones de la Cuaresma nos acompañen, para que podamos encontrarnos creciendo en la Mente de Cristo y progresando en el camino del amor.

Paz y amor,
Padre Toni Álvarez

From the Rector

From the Rector

From the Associate Rector / Del Rector Asociado

From the office

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