Covid 19

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The Generosity of God

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“Every generous act of giving…every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father or Mother of lights…” Every gift that we receive, every generous thing that we do for others, they all come from God.

Have you ever gotten’ or given’ the perfect gift? “Oh, wow! Thank you, it’s perfect! How did you know?”

Perfect for me or perfect for them, for this time, this occasion. And it’s not so much the thing we get or receive, but the attention that was paid to choosing it. The genuine care and listening, and the intimacy of the relationship that it demonstrates. A perfect gift, showing us how valued and loved we are. So it is with God. GOD IS GENEROSITY. Biblical scholar Peter Rhea Jones comments, “To be generous is consonant with the nature of God.” I am reminded of the Doxology, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise God all creatures here below, praise God above ye heavenly host, praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.”

We sing out our praise, recognizing what we proclaim when we receive the gifts at the altar, “All things come of thee O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee.”

Every generous act of giving, every perfect gift come from God, in fact, they ARE God.

To read or listen to Ryan’s entire sermon for the 14th Sunday after Pentecost click “Read More.”

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In the Name of Jesus Christ

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When we serve in the name of Jesus, we are not left alone. We are given what we need to sustain us in ministry. Like Elijah in the wilderness, who was overwhelmed enough to ask that he might die, God’s messenger said to him, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.” Jesus is our nourishment, our bread for the journey. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” “Taste and see”, the psalmist writes. You will see. You will see.

Click “Read More” to read or listen to Deacon Nancy Crawford’s entire sermon for the 11th Sunday after Pentecost.

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Waiting for God: Oh What Do We Do While We Wait

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Does anyone else feel a little bit of hope? Anticipation that an end to our horrors is nigh? We’re told that this end is coming, and we’re just now beginning to see it, breaking through the clouds like a single ray of sunshine. I’m talking about the Covid-19 vaccine, of course. We’ve learned to live with the daily messages of doom. We’ve secluded ourselves for reasons of hope, but too often with the result of hopelessness. We’re presented daily with sickness statistics and death statistics and dire warnings about wearing our PPE and staying home. But now, suddenly, it’s beginning to feel like our vigilance isn’t hopeless, and that is because of the “good tidings” we’ve heard about a vaccine that is coming soon. We’re still locked down, still washing our hands vigorously, still maintaining our distance from others, still doing what we need to do to safeguard ourselves and our neighbors. But where just a month ago it felt onerous, now it feels like there’s an attainable goal, and that gives new energy. It’s the energy of expectancy;

Click “Read More” to read or listen to Dr. Crow’s complete sermon for the 2nd Sunday of Advent

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For the Sake of Others: Considering the Common Good

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Paul says, “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” This passage, of course, is so consistent with the Gospels. It is so consistent with Jesus’s teachings on loving your neighbors as yourself, his teachings in the Beatitudes, his teachings in washing the Disciples’ feet. It resonates with his very life. Paul goes on in this passage to say that looking not to your own interests, but to the interests of others is the mind of Christ.

Click “Read more” to read the entire sermon or to listen to the audio version.

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Tomorrow (Sunday September 29) we have another Rite 13 ceremony. Come support our youth and their parents as they mark this important time of growth, change, and wonder. Your presence in the pews tells our youth that they matter and they have a commu
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Worship. Serve. Grow in Faith.