WEEKLY eNEWS

October 23, 2026



The Twenty-second Sunday

after

Pentecost

Theodore and Samantha

Dear Friends,



The 2013 science fiction movie Her tells the story of Theodore, a lonely, sensitive man, heartbroken by the failure of his marriage, who develops a relationship with a sophisticated computer operating system which (or who) he names Samantha. The relationship begins as a “friendship” and develops into love. Through various twists and turns Theodore and Samantha become more intimate, but in the end, Samantha leaves him.

What was fantasy and science fiction has become virtual reality in just 13 years. With the advances in artificial intelligence, about half of American adults are using chatbots, computer programs that simulate human conversation through voice or text. And it’s estimated that nearly 20 percent have communicated with a chatbot that simulates a romantic partner. This advance has prompted a sharp critique from Sherry Turkle, a sociologist, psychologist and MIT professor, in her recent book, Artificial Intimacy: Who We Become When We Talk to Machines. 

She argues that relying on human-like AI chatbots for emotional support erodes human empathy, deepens loneliness and replaces real relationships with pretend care. She contends that real relationships require hard work and risk, while machines offer easy validation.  The phony consolation of technology avoids the complex demands of human friends or partners.

“Living an authentic real relationship requires a willingness to be honest, open and vulnerable.”

The suggestion that we could find the equivalent of love through an artificial intelligence chatbot raises a question for Christians who are followers of the gospel of love.  In his famous book, The Four Loves, C. S. Lewis explores the meaning of love by analyzing four words in Greek, the language of the New Testament.  In English we can use the one word “love” to cover everything from chocolate to God.  Greek has words to cover affection, friendship, and romance.  And the Greek word agape, Lewis translates as charity and calls it the highest form of love. While the natural loves of affection, friendship and romance are experienced broadly by us humans, Lewis considered agape love a supernatural virtue inspired and sustained by God and made possible for us by grace. 

It is that word agape that is used in this weekend’s gospel as it records the primary commandment of love for God and neighbor. Taken together agape love of God and love of neighbor summarize “all the law and the prophets”.  To manifest and experience that love calls us to enter into meaningful and authentic relationships that can require sacrifice.  In St. Paul’s famous and familiar passage on love (1 Cor. 13) agape love is set out as the highest and most profound spiritual gift.  When we consider the supremacy of love in this passage, it is clear that this love is not a feeling we generate on our own but comes to us as a gift of grace from a loving God.  This love is patient and kind, bears all things and avoids selfishness.

This passage commending the highest form of love is, by my reckoning, read at the majority of church weddings.  In reality, of course, living the day-to-day experience of married life in constant agape love would be a hoped-for goal rather than a reality, a goal that can be approached only through grace.  I have in mind especially one of the prayers for the married couple from the prayer book:

Give them grace, when they hurt each other, to recognize and acknowledge their fault, and to seek each other’s forgiveness and yours.

The highest form of love that St. Paul describes can enable forgiveness but it is does not come naturally even to the most “in love” couples.  Living in an authentic real relationship requires a willingness to be honest, open and vulnerable.  It is a process that might take years of dedication and growth rather than an instant click on a computer screen.  Christian communities like ours at St. Mary’s strive to provide an environment with that transformation, enabled by the grace of God, can take place.

Blessings, 

Greg

For Reflection

1. What is the difference between feeling loved and experiencing the kind of love that requires honesty, vulnerability, and sacrifice?

2. How might the convenience of technology make it easier for us to avoid the difficult work of building and sustaining meaningful relationships?

3. Where in your own relationships might God's grace help you practice greater patience, forgiveness, or generosity?

Two Weeks at a Glance

Our Google calendar is updated and now available on our new website.

For a full listing of St. Mary's events, check our Google calendar.

You're Invited

The Youth Ministry will meet (lower level Parish House or outside if good weather) on Sunday, 10.25 at 11:15 for pumpkin carving and pizza lunch. We will have pumpkin carving tools, but please bring a pumpkin for your child to carve.

If you need a pumpkin for your child, contact Cory Howland.

November Family Dinner

We'll provide the turkey and gravy, and you bring the sides for a Thanksgiving Family Dinner on Wednesday, November 4.

Details and signup are online.

If you'd like to host the December dinner and have questions, contact Jerry Culver.

Celtic Spirituality

Greg and Jennifer continue their four- week series on Celtic Spirituality this Sunday at 11:15 in St. George's Chapel in the Parish House.

No registration is necessary, so please join the circle and learn more about how the sacred and ordinary are intertwined.

Join us for an afternoon of Celtic music this Sunday, October 25.

To learn about Fálite, the concert, and to purchase tickets, visit our website.

Come Worship with Us

WEEKENDS AT ST. MARY'S

5:00 PM, SAT | Holy Eucharist

Historic Church

10:00 AM, SUN | Holy Eucharist

Historic Church

Click on the image above for the service bulletin for this weekend.

4:00 PM, SAT | Christian Meditation

Lower Level | Parish House

Have an announcement?

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For all other types of communication:

Contact the Rector if you'd like it verbally announced at worship. 

Contact Parish Associate for Administration Karen Laroche to be included in writing in the weekly worship bulletin.

Image credits: Richard Grosvenor, Historic Church, watercolor, used with permission.

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