,

The Hope of Resurrection

,

We rarely talk about the resurrection or eternal life. But it seems quite appropriate this month when we celebrate All Saints and All Souls. As we look around the sanctuary and see the physical reminders, names and photos of loved ones who’ve died. This Great Cloud of Witnesses surrounds us, encourages us and shows us they way to life. And someday, we will be with them in everlasting joy, surrounded by the light and love of God’s presence within, all around and in between us. What an amazing vision!

Listen to or read Ryan’s entire sermon by clicking “Read More.”

,

The Feast of All Saints

,

Sometimes we use the word saint to be a synonym for being perfect. I think it does a great disservice to these saints, because if you read about their lives or their histories, you learn they were anything but perfect. They were real people like you and me, who had all kinds of challenges and struggles and doubts in their faith.

But they were something else. There is a great prayer that sometimes gets appointed on these Wednesday mornings services that says that the saints are the lights of their generation. I think that is a much better way to think about the saints.

Listen to or read Bingham’s entire sermon for All Saints’ Day by clicking “Read More.”

,

A Church Like Mary

,

A Marian church knows she is the object of gratuitous love, and that God has the heart of a mother.

A Marian church does not know the answers before the questions are asked. Her path is not mapped out in advance. She knows doubt and worry, the night and loneliness. She takes part in the conversation but makes no claim to know everything. She accepts that she is searching.

A Marian church stands at the foot of the cross. She does not take refuge in a fortress, or in a chapel, or in cautious silence, when others are being crushed. She is vulnerable, in her deeds and her words. With humble courage she stands with the most insignificant.

Listen to or read Ryan’s entire sermon for Mary Sunday by clicking “Read More.”

The Assurance of Things Hoped For

God has a dream for this world, a vision in which everyone can thrive, in which everyone doesn’t have everything they want, but they have at least everything that they need; that everyone can use the gifts that God has given them, and they can find joy and love and grace, have dignity and respect; that every person is given the honor due the image of God that is within them, the image of God in which they were made.

Listen to or read Bingham’s entire sermon by clicking “Read More.”

, ,

We Are Not Our Stuff!

, ,

Today, Jesus is talking to us about all those things that we work so hard to get. Although society tells us otherwise, Jesus reminds us that our lives and our identities are NOT based on the things we’ve accumulated. Sure, we need SOME things, and I know I certainly ENJOY certain possessions. But, like Martha, Jesus reminds us once again that our focus should NOT be on producing, consuming, or accumulating. Instead, it should be on relationship, on growing rich toward God. Today, Jesus challenges us, invites us, and reminds us, about our relationship with our things and our relationship with God.

Listen to or read Ryan’s entire sermon by clicking “Read More.”

, ,

Faith: Rooted in Relationship, Not in Answers

, ,

In the Epistle for today, Paul implores us to remain established in the faith, which brings up the question, what is the faith? What is faith itself? There is a popular idea of what faith is out in society, and many churches do teach it. It is the idea that faith is about having the right answer. You need to have the right answer about knowledge, you need to have the right answer about the nature of God, or the correct Biblical interpretation, or the morally correct position on some social matter, or knowing the right words to say. That is what faith is: being right. And since faith and salvation are so intertwined, it creates an anxiety about what happens if you fail the test, and the depth of the consequences if you do. In some traditions it is not failing the test, it is about getting any one answer wrong. If you don’t get an A+ it isn’t good enough. What are the implications of that? It can create a huge sense of anxiety in people, even trauma for understanding the faith in this way.

Listen to or read Bingham’s entire sermon by clicking “Read More.”

, ,

Rest!

, ,

In today’s story Martha is distracted, just like us, she has too many things to do, too much on her plate. She is worried and her mind is spinning from one thing to the next. And then Jesus comes along and says: There is need of only one thing.

How very Zen of Jesus! One thing? Really? Just one thing? Well, alright, go ahead and tell me what it is then!

Listen to or read Ryan’s entire sermon by clicking “Read More.”

   St. Mary's on Instagram     
follow us: @st.marys.eugene
Have you visited our sweet, little library? New things are happening! We have a shelf with book recommendations for people who are new to the Episcopal Church and shelves with Father Bingham and Father Ryan’s favorites.
There is a lot going on right now so check out last night’s Tuesday email announcements to see everything happening at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church - from worship, to responding to the SNAP benefit cuts, to gathering for connection. If you
Just a little reminder for today.
If you are looking for community and connection while exploring where spirituality fits into your life, check out St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (1300 Pearl St, Eugene) You are welcome here. You as you are. Questions, curiosity, doubt, wonder - we

Worship. Serve. Grow in Faith.