November 17, 2024 - The Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Lectionary Readings

Be with us, O Lord, for if you are with us nothing else matters, and if you are not with us, nothing else matters. Amen.

Things fall apart – it’s one of the truths of the natural world. As many are currently experiencing in one way or another, our bodies degrade over time. Maybe it’s an achy joint or a memory that isn’t quite as sharp as it used to be, our bodies fail. Relationships also fall apart – sometimes a friend moves away, differences become irreconcilable, or we end up so busy that we can’t keep up with all of our connections. Throughout our lives, our sense of who we are can also fall apart. Sometimes the death of a family member precipitates a change in our identity, or maybe it’s hitting a milestone birthday, or becoming an empty-nester. Whatever the cause, our carefully constructed sense of self is upended by the realities of life.

November 10, 2024 - The Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Lectionary Readings

O God of love, thank you for electing us in grace. Amen.

    Look, the last thing I want to think about is the election. It was a stressful and vicious season in which our divisions were amplified and billions of dollars were spent on commercials and flyers when we have too many people without food and shelter. And yet, the election is what is on many of our minds. As a preacher, I have three options. The first is that I could stick my head in the sand and focus only on a Biblical text. Essentially, I could preach a sermon that works today just as well as it would three years from now. Some would agree with that approach because they want a preacher and not a pundit in the pulpit. Others would see that approach as cowardly and would say that if the Church cannot speak to the realities of the world then we’re just wasting our time.

November 3, 2024 - The Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Lectionary Readings

Grant us to be scandalized by your subversive grace, O God. Amen.

            “The Bible says it, I believe it, that settles it.” Perhaps you’ve heard that phrase used in a conversation before. It’s often used to end a debate by appealing to the sovereignty of God. Sure, we might be tempted to dismiss such brazen logic as lazy or closed-minded; but in actuality, there’s something beautifully simplistic about putting our trust in God more than anything else. Goodness knows, I wish faith was that easy; that I always knew how to follow Jesus.

November 2, 2024 - All Souls

Lectionary Readings

In the name of the God who makes all things new ☩ Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen

            A week ago, I attended a week-long clergy wellness retreat hosted by the Church Pension Fund. It was a rich and deep time for both spiritual renewal and forming relationships with clergy from around the country. In a few conversations, the question of All Saints and All Souls came up and I realized that if the group of 25 clergy is representative of the wider Church, we are in the very slim minority of congregations that mark All Soul’s Day. In fact, only one other priest said that their congregation marks this holy day.

November 1, 2024 - All Saints

Lectionary Readings

In the name of God ☩ Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Perhaps more than any other message, the Church needs to celebrate and proclaim All Saints. Many of us have already voted in the upcoming election and if you haven’t, please plan to do so on Tuesday. In this election season, not only is our nation divided, but the Church has been ripped apart by partisanship. If we speak about “red churches and blue churches” we all know what that means. And that is a travesty – that the Church can so easily and neatly fit into partisan labels. 

October 20, 2024 - The Feast of St. Luke

Lectionary Readings

Come, Holy Spirit, and fill us that we might be your action in this community. Amen.

            You know how sometimes in school we have vocabulary tests? We study the definitions so that we know how to properly use the words. Having the right word for the right moment can be like a treasure. Well, this morning as we celebrate our patronal feast of St. Luke, I want to think about the word “church” and what it means. In particular, I want to think through what part of speech church is.

October 13, 2024 - The Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost

Lectionary Readings

God of possible impossibilities, help us to open our hands and let go so that we can receive your gracious love. Amen.

            The rabbi and leadership consultant Edwin Friedman has a collection of fables that offer insight into the human condition. One is called “The Bridge.” The protagonist is a person who spent the first part of their life searching for truth and trying out different things, encountering both successes and failures. Through prayer and reflection, they finally have a sense of purpose; they feel like their life has a direction and destination.