Authors

Ben E. Helmer

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Ben Helmer has been vicar of St. James' since June of 2009. He has been ordained to the priesthood for 38 years. He was raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, graduated from Michigan State University and received his M. Div. from General Theological Seminary in New York. His wife, Jane, is a mostly retired horticultural writer and editor. They have two sons. Richard is a priest in the Diocese of California and Steven is a carrier pilot in the U.S. Navy. Ben has served churches in Northern Michigan, Western Kansas and West Missouri. He was also the staff officer for rural and small community ministries for the Episcopal Church from 1999-2005 when he retired. He and Jane were then invited to work in Louisiana for a year where Ben was a chaplain to clergy, diocesan staff and caregivers and Jane worked as a volunteer following the ravages in Katrina. In June of 2007 Ben and Jane went to Guam for 18 months where Ben served as archdeacon for the Episcopal Church in Micronesia before returning to Missouri. The Helmers now live in Holiday Island about 7 miles north of Eureka Springs with their chocolate lab, Jessie.  

Sermons and Bible Studies

A Year Ago…, All Saints’ Day (C) – 2010

November 01, 2010

A year ago a young hotel clerk showed up at an All Saints’ Day service. He told the priest as he left that it was the one day he felt […]

Throughout Pentecost, We…, Proper 19 (C) – 2010

September 12, 2010

[NOTE: Suggested hymn, “Amazing grace”] Throughout Pentecost we have been hearing readings that tell us about the nature of God. Today’s readings follow that theme with an in-depth look at […]

The Collect for Today Asks…, Easter 5 (C) – 2010

May 02, 2010

The Collect for today asks for us to be able to know Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life that we may follow in the way that leads […]

Remembering Refugees, Christmas 1 – 2009

December 27, 2009

[NOTE TO READER: The word Chuuk is pronounced to rhyme with “look.”] On the island of Guam, a U.S. territory in the western Pacific, there are many people who have […]

Have You Noticed…, Easter 3 (B) – 2009

April 26, 2009

Have you noticed that many of the post-Easter stories about the resurrected Jesus are centered on meals? The disciples knew the Lord in the breaking of the bread at Emmaus, […]

Full of Grace and Truth, Christmas 1 – 2008

December 28, 2008

“Fast away the old year passes.” So goes the last verse of the old Christmas carol, “Deck the Halls.” For Christians, our celebration of Christmas is but three days old. […]

Today We Read a Story…, Proper 8 (A) – 2008

June 29, 2008

Today we read a story that can chill one’s soul, especially a parent’s. However, if we focus only on the topic of parent and child, and the emotional and precious […]

One Could Summarize…, Lent 2 (A) – 2008

February 17, 2008

One could summarize the past two Sundays and today with a three-word theme: Transfiguration, Temptation, and Trust. On the last Sunday of Epiphany we went to the mountaintop with Jesus […]

Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending…, Advent 1 (A) – 2007

December 02, 2007

[RCL]: Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44 “Lo, He comes with clouds, descending,” are the words of a favorite Advent hymn. “Clouds descending” may have a majestic tone […]

Over the Past Few Sundays…, Proper 12 (C) – 2007

July 29, 2007

Over the past few Sundays, the lessons have focused on what it means to be a disciple and a follower of Jesus. Today we look at the depth of that […]

The Origins of This Great Feast, Great Vigil of Easter (C) – 2007

April 07, 2007

(If you are fortunate enough to be in a faith community that does the Great Vigil as part of its Easter liturgies, you are blessed indeed. This liturgy takes a […]

A Roadmap for Our Lenten Journey…, Lent 1 (C) – 2007

February 25, 2007

The lessons for the first Sunday in Lent can be viewed as a roadmap for our Lenten journey. They embody the theme of journeying: travel, protection, and longing for a […]

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