Sermons
"Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us." The word advent means arrival or coming. During this season of Advent we prepare for the three comings, the three arrivals, of Christ.
Listen to or read the Rev. Bingham Powell’s entire sermon for the 3rd Sunday of Advent by clicking “read more.”
As the Gospels tell it, John and Jesus were second cousins, with Jesus being six months younger than John. The son of older parents who hadn’t expected to have a child by the time he came along, John was evidently a man who spent a great deal of time in the wilderness. Consequently at whatever point he felt called to become a forerunner of someone coming later, he didn’t go into the cities to urge people to repent and be baptized, but rather stayed in the wilderness in the region around the Jordan and let people come to him.
Listen to or read Sharon’s entire sermon by clicking “Read More”
Our second reading today come from Paul's Second Letter to the Thessalonians and in it he says, "How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face." These words from Paul strike a different chord nearly two years into this pandemic. This chord resonates more profoundly than ever before.
Listen to or read Bingham’s entire sermon for the 1st Sunday of Advent by clicking “Read More.”
We are very clearly divided, held captive by polarization and demonization by all sides. How will? How can this distance between us be bridged? When might we return to caring for each other, to listening, agreeing to disagree, and returning each person to the dignity they are due as people created in the loving image and likeness of God?
Listen to or read Ryan’s full sermon for the Last Sunday after Pentecost by clicking “Read More.”
Good morning, friends. This time of year, as the trees are losing their leaves and going dormant, as Advent approaches, we have a few weeks in which we’re led to contemplate something we Episcopalians don’t think about much: “eschatology,” the doctrine of “last things.” Lest we be tempted to ignore this subject, the Collect reminded us that all holy Scriptures, even those we find uncomfortable, are written for our learning. So let’s read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them, and hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life.
Listen to or read Dr. Loren Crow’s entire sermon by clicking “Read More.”
We find joy knowing that none of us will be separated from the love of God, not even death can do that! And we still grieve, we mourn the loss of those who will no longer be physically present with us here on earth. In today’s gospel, Jesus is grieving the loss of his friend Lazarus. Twice John points out that Jesus was “greatly disturbed” and “deeply moved.” Jesus wept at the reality of his friend’s death. Even though he knew that Lazarus would live again, very soon in fact, he still felt the very real, biting pain of his leaving this world, and the waves of grief that it set in motion for Mary and Martha, family and friends.
Listen to or read Ryan’s entire sermon for All Saints’ Day by clicking “Read More.”
You see that very clearly whenever Jesus engages with scripture, he is engaged in questions of interpretation. My favorite story of Jesus interpreting scripture is the time that the Disciples were picking grain on the Sabbath. Jesus is criticized for his Disciples working on the Sabbath, which seems to be a clear violation of the rules, the laws of scripture. But Jesus has a different interpretation. It is definitely not plain meaning. It is a creative and playful engagement with scripture. While the critics are talking about the Sabbath, Jesus says do you remember the story about David?
To hear or read Bingham’s entire sermon for the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost, click “Read More.”
