Year A, Pentecost 2, June 26, 2011

Genesis 22:1-14 (click on the scripture to read it)

Today’s Old Testament story about Abraham and Isaac was as ancient to Jesus as the stories about Jesus are to us today.  Without arguing over exact numbers, let’s say the stories about Jesus are 2000 years old, but the stories of Abraham are twice that.  The stories about Jesus are so

Year A, Easter 5, May 22, 2011

John 14:1-14 (click on the scripture to read it)

     I want to start by saying something that I’ve said before; the bible is not a book it is a library.  In it you will find every genre known to ancient or modern literature.  Not only is it a library, but also the Words contained within its covers are living and growing just like our understanding and relationship with God.  This is one of the things that is so great about the many books in this compilation.  Each time you read them, the individual stories and the overall picture becomes a little clearer, they sink a little deeper, and they become more real. 

Year A, Easter 2, May 1, 2011

John 20:19-31 (click on the scripture to read it)

The Word is alive….. what is it telling us here today? 
Are the scriptures telling us to have faith and not to doubt like Thomas?  I’m not one who really thinks Thomas was a doubter, and as far as faith is concerned, if you are here you have faith, and you’ve chosen to come together in this place to be fed and strengthen your faith.  The scriptures are alive and they seem to know what we need to hear; they know what we need to learn.  Sometimes we need to hear about having or keeping our faith, but I think for the here and now, today’s Gospel is about action…it’s about reaching out and sharing the faith we already have.

Easter Day, April 24, 2011

John 20:1-18 (click on the scripture to read it)

Kids Sermon + Adult Sermon

KID’S PART

Symbols

Show these symbols one at a time a see if the kids can tell you what they represent.

American Flag, Recycle, Chuck E Cheese, McDonalds, Christmas Tree

Hold up the EGG

Year A, Lent 5, April 10, 2011

Ezekiel 37:1-14 (click on the scripture to read it)

DRY BONES

Have you ever broken a bone?  Broken bones come in different degrees, from hairline fractures to compound fractures.  No matter what degree a bone is broken, you know instantly that something is wrong.  Bones don’t lie, they scream the truth.  All the bells and whistles go off as the nerves around the broken bone send a bolt of lighting to your brain.  Our first reaction is that of a nurturing instinct as we reach for the brokenness in hope that our embrace will bring comfort.  Quickly we realize that our embrace is not enough and we seek other things to promote healing.  Ice… we need Ice.  Ice is almost like a frozen light in our pain of fiery darkness.  We must extinguish the fire and numb the pain.

Year A, Lent 3, March 27, 2011

John 4:5-42 (click on the scripture to read it)

The Woman at the Well

     The Gospel story about Jesus and the woman at the well has always been a story that paints a vivid picture in my mind.  As I hear the Words, I can see beads of sweat clinging on the forehead of Jesus as he sits on the sandy ground next to an ancient spring fed well, given to the region by his ancestor Jacob.  I can envision the hot rays of the Noonday sun beating down on his dark skin as he rubs the souls of his feet, sore from a long journey.   I can almost imagine the dryness of his mouth being lost in his mind as he gazed at the view of a nearby mountaintop and became overwhelmed by the enjoyment in solitude of the moment. 

Year A, Epiphany 7, February 20, 2011

Matthew 5:38-48  (Click on the scripture to read it)

Last week Jesus opened our eyes to the difference between what it is like to live as God’s children through the written Law and what it’s like to be children of God through a relationship with Christ.

Under the Law it was easy to follow a set of black and white laws and when you broke those laws it was easy to follow the prescribed methods to return to God’s favor. When we embrace God through Christ things get harder; to live into Christ we have to live in real relationships and relationships are messy. 

Year A, Epiphany 3, January 23, 2011

Rector's Annual Report

Matthew 4:12-23  (Click on the scripture to read it)

Inquirer, Admirer, Follower

Today is a big playoff day in the National Football League, and the Super Bowl is

just around the corner.  Because of that, you get a football sermon illustration.

Year A, The Feast of the Epiphany 2011

Matthew 2:1-12 (Click on the scripture to read it)

Do you top your Christmas tree with an angel or a star? 

If your tree topper is an angel, then maybe you prefer Luke’s gospel story of how it was the host of angels that enlightened the shepherds in the fields and sent them out to find the baby Jesus lying in a manger.

Year A, Christmas Eve 2010

Year A, Christmas Eve 2010

John 1:1-14  (Click on the scripture to read it)

Neighborhood Christmas Theology

As Episcopalians we try really hard to pray what we believe and believe what we pray.  There is integrity to be found when the words we use to talk about God, or talk to God, match our actions.  For example, sometimes I hear people pray, Dear God, please be with Susan while she is going through this time of darkness in her life.  What the prayer has just said about God is that God was not already with Susan, and we needed to point her struggles out to God, so God would be with her.  Our actual belief is that God is with us all the time…, so for a prayer to be true to our belief system we should not ask God to be with someone, but rather we should ask God to help us and those in need to experience God’s presence in order to gain strength and hope from the reassurance of Emmanuel; the reassurance that God is with us.