March 30, 2025 - The Fourth Sunday in Lent

Lectionary Readings

Abiding God, help us to know that we are always at home in your love. Amen.

Dorothy was right, “There’s no place like home.” After two full days of travel, 10 days in Kenya, and 4 unexpected days in London, I am so glad to be home. The team that went to Kenya, Dora, Tory, and Amy, and I will have a lot more to say about the time in Kenya in the coming weeks and months, but I do want to say thank you to the Parish and the Foundation for sending us as representatives of St. Luke’s to our friends and companions in Mumias, Kenya. We had such a fantastic time and enjoyed rich food, fellowship, and worship as we further built our relationship with the Cathedral there. That being said, I think the four of us would all agree that it is so very good to be home.

March 23, 2025 - The Third Sunday in Lent

Lectionary Readings

*Due to being stuck in London until Tuesday, this sermon was not preached, but is offered here in hopes that in reading it, the Spirit may still speak.

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

“Unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.” That’s a stark warning from Jesus that leaves me wondering what exactly it means to repent. Afterall, if repentance is how to avoid the other side of that “unless,” then I’m all ears.

March 16, 2025 - The Second Sunday in Lent

Lectionary Readings

Preached at the Bishop James Hannington Memorial Cathedral in Mumias, Kenya

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

Psalm 133 begins with: “O how good and pleasant it is when siblings dwell together in unity.” Indeed, it is so very good to be here. On behalf of Dora, Amy, and Tory, we are so delighted to be here, and we are overwhelmed with the beauty of your country and people. We are so very appreciative of the hospitality that you have shown us.

March 5, 2025 - Ash Wednesday

Lectionary Readings

Gracious God, you hate nothing that you have made, so keep us forever in the knowledge of this great love ☩ in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

This warmer weather has been a nice change. Baseball is again being played and early flowers are budding. All of this means one thing: spring is nearly here. And along with Spring break and March Madness often comes spring cleaning – when we realize that we didn’t quite make the progress on the New Year’s resolution to be better organized and so, bolstered by warmer weather, we spring to action.

March 2, 2025 - Quinquagesima

Lectionary Readings

O God of grace and glory, help us to behold that which you are helping us to become ☩ in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

In the Church Year, today is known as Quinquagesima – that’s a fun word, isn’t it? Quinquagesima: it means that we’re approximately fifty days from Easter and that this is the Sunday before Lent begins. On these Sundays between the Epiphany and Lent, the sermons have been focusing on our worship – exploring what we mean when say that foundational to our identity is “intentional worship.” Our worship is intentional in that it is deliberately and prayerfully planned and led, and it is intentional in that it is done with a purpose in mind. Today, as this sermon series concludes, I want to consider that last bit – what is the purpose of worship?

February 23, 2024 - Sexagesima

Lectionary Readings

Forgive the sins of the preacher, O Lord, that only your Word be proclaimed and only your Word be heard ☩ in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

For those who are paying attention to the news about the government, it’s a disconcerting time. Constitutional and historical norms are being disregarded, chaos and confusion are rampant, and there’s a tone of division and meanness that are menacing. You all know that in the Baptismal Covenant, we commit to striving for justice and peace among all people and pledge to respect the dignity of every human being. So for those of us who are committed to the ideas of treating people with respect, of caring for the environment, that families should not be ripped apart, that who a person loves should not impact their civil rights, that diversity and inclusion are not problems but virtues, for those committed to following the way of Jesus – we’re at a loss about what to do. Attending a rally can feel like an echo chamber, contacting Congress feels like an exercise in futility, posting on social media is vain virtue signaling, standing by idly and hoping that mid-term elections help seems too passive and naïve, and prayers are confusing because for many, this outcome is exactly what many prayed for. I wonder what Scripture has to say about all of this?

February 16, 2025 - Septuagesima

Lectionary Readings

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

I’m the last person to ask for advice about plants. I’m not sure if it’s overwatering, underwatering, a lack of fertilizer, or putting them in the wrong places, but not even a cactus that would make it in the barren desert is safe in my care. So don’t take my advice about plants, but do listen to Jeremiah and the Psalmist, they have something worth listening to. Jeremiah says “Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals… they shall be a like a shrub in the desert… But blessed are those who trust in the LORD… they shall be like a tree planted by water.” And Psalm 1 declares that those whose delight is in the law of the LORD are “like trees planted by streams of water… everything they do shall prosper.”