Sermons

After his baptism, Jesus,full of the Holy Spirit,returned from the Jordanand was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,where for forty dayshe was tempted by the devil.Jesus has been fastingfor forty dayswhen we get these three specific temptations.The devil,the one waging waragainst the goodness of God’s creation,appeals to Jesus’ humanityon more than one level.He attacks […]

Every year we mark our faceswith the dryness of ashin the place where we’ve receivedand at least one child will receive at Easterfragrant oil in the shape of a cross.Every year we hear Jesus warnabout looking dismal and disfiguring our facesshowing others that we’re fasting.Every year I get to remind God’s people,that getting ashes isn’t

“This is a mountaintop experiencebut not the kind about which personswrite glowingly of sunrises,soft breezes,warm friends,music,and quiet time.On this mountain the subject is death,and the frightening presence of Godreduces those present to silence.”That’s how Fred Craddockwraps up his commentaryon this gospel passage from Luke.The gospel text todaytakes place about a weekafter Peter says that Jesus

O Lord,you have taught us that without lovewhatever we do is worth nothing.Without love,whatever we do is worth nothing.That’s the full circleof the text we hear from Luke todayand it ties in nicelywith the psalm too.Last week we heardLuke’s version of the beatitudeswhich aren’t just about hungering and thirstingfor righteousness sakebut about the hungry and

As a cradle Episcopalian, I am deeply uncomfortable with binary choices. To me, God is mystery and wonder – Kind of like a multiverse that I’ll never totally grasp. So today’s readings are kinda uncomfortable for me -they’re full of binary comparisons. Dead or not dead? Raised or not raised? Rich or poor? Happy or

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, *according to thy word;For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, *which thou hast prepared before the face of all people,To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, *and to be the glory of thy people Israel. Despite Cranmer’s expectationthat worship be in the common language –I

From the Common English Bible,“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,because the Lord has anointed me.He has sent me to preach good news to the poor,to proclaim release to the prisonersand recovery of sight to the blind,to liberate the oppressed,and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”This passage was appointed for this Sundayin

Dr. King said,“The arc of the moral universe is long,but it bends toward justice.”Y’all are familiar with that quote?When we take it out of its context –a Baptist minster doing worknot necessarily expectingto see the culmination –we may as well saywater just turns into winewhen you run out of wine. This passage from Johnthat we

In the name of God,in whom we live,and move,and have our being. Amen.My husband Brandon and Ihave been watching the showSomebody, Somewhereon Max.We watched an episode this weekwhere a gay man who has been religiousis talking to another who still is.The one still involved in the churchsays, “Church is where you gowhen you’re confused.”They’re in