Chris Yaw

I am a Christ Lover

Chris Yaw

Welcome! I’m an Episcopal priest serving a congregation in Metro Detroit... With a passion for gun safety... A zest for online Christian formation... A zeal for video blogging... A budding writer... A heart for those who have unintentionally harmed... A commitment to workforce housing... A love for marrying people... And a wonderful wife, three kids, and a cat... If we have common interests or not, I'd love to connect with you.

Me

Contact Details


  • St. David's Episcopal Church, 16200 W. Twelve Mile Road, Southfield, Michigan, 48076, USA


  • +011 248-557-5430


  • chris@stdavidssf.org

St. David's

I have served as rector of St. David's Episcopal Church in Southfield, MI for 16 years, join us Sundays in person or via zoom.

St. David's Gun Disposal

Working on the issue of unwanted gun disposal, we've made some real progress in helping rid the U.S. of unwanted firearms.

ChurchNext

Since 2013 we have been helping people learn more about faith through our online learning courses at ChurchNext.

Oakland Housing

Helping middle income families get better housing is a challenge that Oakland Housing has been addressing for 75 years.

Hyacinth Fellowship

Because hurting others hurts us, the Hyacinth Fellowship organizes support groups and reminds us that we are not our worst mistakes.

Yaw Wedding

I have been officiating weddings for more than 20 years and continue to find joy in helping couples build lifelong relationships.

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U.S. Guns Produced Today
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Americans Accidentally Killed Today
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Homeless Americans
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Weddings Performed
  • The Attic vs. The Mall

    The Attic vs. The Mall


    My friend took on a big job the other day - decluttering his attic.

    He had planned to finish by noon so he could go to the mall. Then he found a big box of mementos and home furnishings from his college days. He had such fun going through them, sorting, arranging, discarding, and then using them to decorate other rooms in his house, that before he knew it, it was dinnertime.

    He never made it to the mall. He had found his treasure elsewhere.

    In violation of my self-imposed restriction on quoting pop stars, I have to admit that singer Sheryl Crow was quite profound when she sang, “It’s not getting what you want, it’s wanting what you’ve got.”

    The re-discovery of our most precious possessions is one of the most rewarding aspects of our Lenten journey of Making Order. We are reminded that we humans can only possess a limited amount of things. And when we sort, sift, declutter and are left with only those things that really mean something to us, we can realize that we already have all we need.
  • Dealing with Stuff

    Dealing with Stuff


    I have a friend who lives in a modest home in a modest neighborhood filled with modest possessions. This doesn’t mean he’s not competitive or ambitious. It does mean that he’s discovered a really important secret to living a contented life:

    The only thing that trumps having everything is needing nothing.

    During Lent we’re examining the issue of de-cluttering. We are exploring the relationships we have with our stuff, and looking for ways that the things that surround us draw us closer to, or farther from, the One we adore.

    This Sunday we have the example of King Herod, who was an archenemy of Jesus, mainly because of the ruler’s penchant to value possessions, prestige, and power over people. After all, there are fewer transgressions that stoke the ire of God worse than our own, fear-based proclivities to put things over people.

    This is not to say that possessions are bad or evil. It is to remind us that everything that surrounds us was created in order to point us to God. Finding ways to respond appropriately is our task and joy.

    So in the midst of our de-cluttering we notice that God’s presence becomes more real when there are fewer things getting in the way, and when those few things that remain remind us of who gave them to us.

    Yes, a surefire way to be less possessive is to have fewer possessions, but perhaps even more helpful is to make sure that the things we cherish have a way to bring us appreciation and thanks.
  • Yaay! I Smashed the Car!

    Yaay! I Smashed the Car!



    Ever so often we need to remember that deep down in our hearts, there is joy.

    A foundational Christian conviction is that believers live joyful lives 24/7. This can sound absurd because life is full of unhappy events.

    We break our legs, stub our toes, and smash our cars.

    But even when faced with the saddest of events, like losing a loved one, we are never without the joy that tells us, ‘What a blessing that person was in my life. What terrific times we shared. What an important role they played in helping me become me. I am so thankful to have had that person in my life.’

    As we embark upon our Lenten journey, and its somber tones of repentance and self-reflection, let us never forget the ever-present joy that God has put in our hearts. May our 40-day journey provide moments of reflection and remembrance of these deep convictions. And let us seize the day with vigor and optimism, knowing that no matter what it brings, there is joy.
  • Mountains and Valleys

    Mountains and Valleys


    I have a friend who was contemplating suicide.

    He called a suicide hotline and, thankfully, received some really good advice.

    They told him was to be on the lookout for his next, best day. And when he was having that day, to write down what was happening around him and how he was feeling. Then, the next time he contemplated suicide, to take out that description and remind himself of how wonderful life can be.

    I’ve heard the word despair defined like this; being certain that tomorrow will be no better than today. And because we all have bouts of despair, it is really good for us to have some way of imagining that things almost always get better.

    This weekend we will celebrate our last Sunday before the season of Lent. And we will hear this advice in a biblical context. We will see that one reason many of us have some amazing days, is so that we can be encouraged on those days that are not so good.

    So where are we right now? If we’re in the bowels of despair, how can we remind ourselves of the good times? If we’re on the mountaintop, how might we commit to memory the exhilaration of being there?

    I’ve heard a pastor say that we’re either headed toward a crisis, experiencing one, or recovering from one. While this may be a rather fatalistic description, it does illustrate the cyclical nature of our human experience.

    Cheer up, things get better, there’s plenty to live for. God is always nearer than we think.
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    ADDRESS

    St. David's Episcopal Church, 16200 W. Twelve Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48076 USA

    EMAIL

    chris@stdavidssf.org

    TELEPHONE

    +011 248-557-5430