December 29, 2024 - The First Sunday after Christmas

Lectionary Readings

In the name of our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace ☩ Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

One of the things that gets better the older you get is getting clothing for Christmas. As a kid, there was nothing worse than getting socks or a pair of dress pants that you “needed” as a Christmas gift. But now, give me some nice dress socks and you’ll get an authentic “thank you.” Well, this morning we heard the prophet Isaiah proclaim, “God has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness.” Though we might not think of what God gives us at Christmas as being clothing, it’s the metaphor that Scripture gives us and is one that fits quite well.

December 25, 2024 - Christmas Day

Lectionary Readings

In the name of the God who is one with us. Amen.

Though it might sound like it, denominalization is not a term used to describe the splintering of Christians into different groups. No, denominalization is the technical term that linguists use to describe what is otherwise known as “verbing.” It’s when we take a noun and turn it into a verb. As in, “I miss being a child, adulting is hard,” or “I’ve been to enough Christmas parties, I’m ready for some introverting,” or “During the Christmas season, I’ve been priesting a lot.” These are all examples of denominalization, and they put the emphasis on the action, making the verb, even if it’s not normally a verb, more immediate and to the point.

December 24, 2024 - Christmas Eve

Lectionary Readings

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

“To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” Well, go on then, get moving. Was it not clear? “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests on his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” How else can I say it? “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all.” It’s almost like we don’t know how to hear Good News anymore.

December 22, 2024 - The Fourth Sunday of Advent

Lectionary Readings

O come, O come, Emmanuel. Amen.

When I was on sabbatical last year, I was in the Edinburgh airport getting ready for a short flight over to Dublin. I was flying on one of those very economical airlines. I think the one-way ticket was something like 45 euros, so I guess you get what you pay for. Well, the time of the departure came and went with not so much as a word from any airline staff. Up until this point, the two dozen or so of us who were on that flight had been ignoring each other – earbuds in ear and reading books. See, we were waiting on something that was going to be predictable. But when it got to be the time that we were supposed to have landed in Dublin but still hadn’t even boarded the plane, the waiting turned from boredom to anxiety. And with that change, our disposition towards others changed as well – bookmarks went into books and headphones got put away and we started to talk to one another. It started with the basic “I wonder what’s going on?,” to the more personal “What are you planning to do in Dublin?” What made the waiting more bearable was the sense of community, knowing that we were not waiting alone.

December 15, 2024 - The Third Sunday of Advent

Lectionary Readings

O come, O come, Emmanuel. Amen.

“What then should we do?” It’s the “so what” question that preachers know always has to be addressed for a sermon to do its work. How does the Gospel intersect with our lived experiences? The crowds were out in the wilderness to be baptized by John and hear his preaching. They’re motivated to bear fruits worthy of repentance, but need some guidance on what exactly that means and so they ask, “What then should we do?”

December 14, 2024 - Diocesan Ordination of Priests

 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.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!” On a day like today, following St. Paul’s advice has never been easier. As we gather to celebrate what God is doing in the Church through the ministries of Daisy, Chipper, and Liam, we are indeed rejoicing. Thanks be to God for each of you and the family, friends, and congregations that brought you to this day.

December 8, 2024 - The Second Sunday of Advent

Lectionary Readings

O come, O come, Emmanuel. Amen.

One of Tyler’s interests is linguistics and the etymology of words. She often shares insights about where words come from and why we use this word instead of that other word. It’s a helpful reminder that our words shape our understanding of and interaction with the world. In the same way as the colors of the world around us impact our mood, the implications and sounds of the words we use impact us in profound ways. Consider time. Is time something we use, waste, guard, or spend? It might sound small, but how we speak about time changes our relationship to it.

December 1, 2024 - The First Sunday of Advent

Lectionary Readings

O come, O come, Emmanuel. Amen.

We’re all waiting for something – test results, the semester to be over, the chance to open Christmas presents, an upcoming trip. Advent is a season all about waiting. In fact, that’s what the name of the season means. Advent comes from a Latin word that means “arrival” or “coming.” It was the word for the ceremonial arrival of the emperor in a city. Advent is a season in which the Church prepares us for the coming of Christ.