All posts filed under: Religion

Remarks at the Providence Jewish Community Vigil following the Tree of Life Shootings in Pittsburgh

October 30, 2018
by Nicholas Knisely
Current Affairs / Religion / Rhode Island

It is written in the Book of Proverbs (Chapter 16) that:     The mind of the wise makes their speech judicious, and adds persuasiveness to their lips.     Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. And a little further it is written that:     Scoundrels concoct evil, and their speech is like a scorching fire.     A perverse person spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.     The violent entice their […]

Please join in prayer for those murdered in Pittsburgh

October 27, 2018
by Nicholas Knisely
Reconciliation / Religion / Rhode Island / Sermons and audio

Today we are reeling from the news of the senseless and evil violence done to the innocent worshipers at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Our elder sisters and brothers in Judaism are God’s Chosen people and nothing will separate them from the Covenant their ancestors made with Holy and Living One. I ask Episcopalians across Rhode Island to please add this prayer to God asking for rest for the departed (El Maleh Rachamim) to […]

Anne Lyon Knisely Canon – may she rest in peace and rise in glory.

May 30, 2018
by Nicholas Knisely
Religion

On Monday morning my extended family gathered to say goodbye to my Aunt Anne. She was a mother, a sister, a clergy spouse, a friend and so much more. I was planning on being the preacher and the celebrant at the memorial service, but the weather in Baltimore on Sunday night caused my flight to be canceled and meant that I was not able to be with the rest of my family. Thank you so […]

If it can go wrong, it will. Facebook, privacy and Murphy’s Law.

February 12, 2018
by Nicholas Knisely
Religion / Web/Tech

Human experience is that technology is born filled with promise and usually quickly subverted to less than honorable ends. Wired reports on the way big tech, specifically Facebook, recognized what it had done, and what it thinks it can do to respond: This is the story of those two years [before and after the 2016 election], as they played out inside and around the company. WIRED spoke with 51 current or former Facebook employees for […]

Ash Wednesday: Not a time to be cute – Andrew Gerns

February 2, 2018
by Nicholas Knisely
Current Affairs / Religion

Valentines Day or Ash Wednesday? Is it reasonable to try to honor both? One must tread carefully on Ash Wednesday, because what is called up on this day most centered on penance is at once deeply personal and at the very core to our being and identity. We are acknowledging that we can’t go it alone. We recognize our limitedness. Together we will stare into our mortality. We will face the fact that we are […]

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

December 25, 2017
by Nicholas Knisely
Reconciliation / Religion

This poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is on my heart this Christmas season. He published it during the last year of the American Civil War: I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, and wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along The unbroken song Of peace on earth, […]

Merry Christmas!

December 23, 2017
by Nicholas Knisely
Religion

Look for God in the quiet still moments of Christmas Some years I find myself in the Christmas spirit early in December, some years it doesn’t seem to arrive for me until Christmas Eve is nearly upon us. This year it’s been the latter case. I know Christmas is nearly here and for the most part I’m ready, but I’m still in an Advent frame of mind. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been spending our last […]

The Theological context of Church Communications – a video of a presentation

October 25, 2017
by Nicholas Knisely
Religion / Web/Tech

Here in Rhode Island, those of us working in communications ministry are trying to gather quarterly to talk about our work, share tips and see how we can do things better. At the first of our gatherings I was given the task of presenting on “the theology of church communications”. This is the video of that presentation. It’s not… horrible. Actually, it’s rather entertaining to watch me fling the microphone cable around as I flail […]

Learning to survive

September 27, 2017
by Nicholas Knisely
Religion

On Sunday afternoon the House of Bishops and our spouses were invited to a Potlatch in Nenana, a town about an hour outside of Fairbanks. The Potlatch was held to honor our visit by the people of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Nenana and the native people of the forty plus villages found in the interior of Alaska. Most of the folks in the lodge were Episcopalian, most were native people, but because everyone in […]