Practice What You Preach–14 Pentecost August 28

We’re human – fractured, fallen, sinful, finite human beings in need of God’s redemption and God’s love, which, thankfully, God offers us, abundantly, all the time. It’s this that allows us to stand on our feet, invites us to keep at it. Practice what you preach.

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we have something worth preaching and practicing. We are a people called to offer some good to the world and society in which we live. We have what James refers to in our appointed reading for today as “the perfect law of liberty” (1:25).

Proper 22, 2023 Clergy Day Sermon

The Chief Cornerstone was the first part of the building that was set. It’s the very first stone that went into the ground and everything else in the building took shape from that first cornerstone. If the other stones were not properly lined up with the cornerstone, then the building wouldn’t stand.

Stewardship Sunday & the Rich Young Man

Gracious and generous God, giver of all we have and hold as stewards; grant the people of this church a deep and abiding awareness that all that we have-our health, our incomes, our jobs, our talents – are gifts received from your hand. Send your Holy Spirit to help us as we swim against the rising tides of materialism and greed in our culture. Send your Holy Spirit to teach us that we make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give! Send your Holy Spirit to remind us that when we give generously and joyfully, we grow in grace and our spiritual lives are transformed as our stewardship becomes a witness to the love of Jesus Christ in our lives. We pray with grateful, thankful hearts, in the name of Jesus, the Christ…AMEN!

The Feast of Pentecost

The Diocese of New Jersey – Online Sermon The Feast of Pentecost – Year B – May 23, 2021 Acts 2:1 – 21 John 15:26-27; 16:4b – 15 Preacher: The

The Good Shepherd – 4 Easter 2021

The Syrophoenician Woman

I love this story. It’s one of my favorites in the New Testament. It invites rich reflection. To begin with, I think it portrays an “aha” moment for Jesus, a moment when he grew in wisdom and understanding. This makes some people uncomfortable. But consider.

As Episcopalians, it’s our teaching and conviction that Jesus is both “fully human” and “fully divine.” There are times in our reading of the Gospels when the full “divinity” of Jesus is on clear display, as when he casts out the legion of demons from that suffering Gerasene man (Mk. 5:1 ff.), or when he feeds 5,000 (Mk 6:30 ff.), or when he walks on water (Mk 6:45 ff.). So, too, there are times when we catch clear glimpses of Jesus being fully human. Consider his aching cry in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me” (Mk. 14:36).

Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.

Trinity Sunday

Tyranny of Choice–13 Pentecost August 22, 2021

Each and every day, faced by myriads and myriads of choices, we have to decide: Will we be lured by false choices and false gods? Or have we found our answer, and in this answer found our happiness and our souls? Have we found the one, Jesus, whose words and way offer us happiness, offer us oneness with one another and with God, offer us eternal life?

What Language Do We Speak? Pentecost 16

Some asked on that day twenty years ago, and some continue to ask, “Where was God?” My response is always, right there; right there in the selfless sacrifice of all those people who did not think of their own safety, but acted for the sake of others at great risk, and in far too many instances, at the highest cost. Greater love hath no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends, Scripture says (John 15:13). On September 11, 2001, that greater love was shown over and over and over again and that’s where God was. That’s where God always is. That is my conviction. That is our conviction as believers in Jesus Christ.

Who is the Greatest? Pentecost 17

When we welcome and serve the marginalized: children, the oppressed, welcome and serve those without power—we might think of Afghan refugees or immigrants at our borders, for example—when we welcome those who are broken through abuse and addiction, when we welcome and serve those who know they need Christ and his love or welcome and serve those who haven’t discovered that need yet….When we welcome all in his name and love we are welcoming Christ himself. When we welcome Christ, we are welcoming God.

Wonder Bread! 12 Pentecost 2021

We are called to witness to the power of love in a world that is too often inclined to hate. We are called to witness to peace in a world that prefers violence and warfare. We are called to a respect for the creation as a gift of God entrusted to us and our care in a world that is hellbent on the world’s destruction. We are called to be a people of faith, forgiveness and grace in a world whose primary mood and mode is often fear, judgement and anger.

links

Documents

Canceled Lay Leaders Town Hall with Bishop French

Canceled Lay Leaders Town Hall with Bishop French

Canceled Clergy Town Hall with Bishop French

Canceled Clergy Town Hall with Bishop French