Episcopal Church of All Saints, Indianapolis: Recent Episodes
allsaintsindy
The Episcopal Church of All Saints blends ancient traditions with a modern worldview in our worship and service to the community around us. We welcome all (and we mean ALL) people to join us on Sundays at 10am and Wednesdays at 6pm.
1559 Central Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46202
The Third Sunday of Easter: Fr. Tom presents a sermon written by Fr. Charles (who is ill today)
Episcopal Church of All Saints, Indianapolis, Sermon, The Rt. Ref. Jeffrey Lee, Anglican, Anglocatholic
Episcopal Church of All Saints, Indianapolis, sermon, The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey Lee, Anglican, Anglocatholic
Episcopal Church of All Saints, Indianapolis, sermon, The Rt. Rev. Jeffery Lee, Anglican, Anglocatholic
Episcopal Church of All Saints, Indianapolis, sermon, The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey Lee, Anglican, Anglocatholic
Fr. Tom speaks of the giving of man's treasurers to God and pf the financial status of All Saints
Mother Andrea delivers her last sermon as rector of The Episcopal Church of All Saints, Indianapolis
The Episcopal Church of All Saints, Indianapolis, sermon, The Rev. Andrea Arsene, Anglican, Anglocathocic
Episcopal Church of All Saints, Indianapolis, sermon, The Rev. Andrea Arsene, Anglican, Anglocatholic
Mother Andrea preaches about the Holy Trinity and tells us that she will be resigning as Rector next month.
Mother Andrea speaks of the Holy Trinity and tells us briefly that she is resigning as Rector of All Saints
Mother Andrea speaks of things that take our breath away and compares them to the wonders of the Holy Spirit.
Episcopal Church of All Saints, Indianapolis, sermon, The Rev. Dr. Charles Allen, Anglican, Anglocatholic
Mother Arsene preaches on the First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ
Fr. Tom Honderich recalls important instances in the history of All Saints, Indianapolis
Mother Andrea speaks about the difficulty in interpreting today's Biblical passages regarding marriage.
Mother Andrea speaks of the life of beloved parishioner Coby Palmer at his Requiem Mass.
Mother Andrea preaching: The Feast of St. Mary the Virgin, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Mr. Tyler Regnier, postulant for Holy Orders from All Saints Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, tells the history of the consecration of women in the Episcopal Church and speaks of the feeding of the 5,000.
Mother Arsene speaks about the attempt on former President Trump's life and on other issues related to the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost.
Mother Arsene preaches on the Third Sunday after Pentecost and speaks of recent gay pride activities.
Mother Arsene preaches on the Sixth Sunday of Easter, the Sunday before the beginning of Rogation Days.
Mother Andrea Arsene, Rector of The Episcopal Church of All Saints in Indianapolis, IN, preaches on the Third Sunday of Easter.
Alleluia! The Lord is risen indeed! Mother Andrea Arsene preaches on Easter Sunday morning.
Mother King speaks of her calling to be a priest and outlines some of the ministries carried by lay people at All Saints.
The First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Sermon by the Rector, The Rev. Andrea Arsene.
Sermon on the evening of The Epiphany of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. The Rev. Andrea Arsene. Members and clergy of Christ Church Cathedral participating.
On the day of the Feast of All Saints, the name day of The Episcopal Church of All Saints in Indianapolis, Mother Andrea Arsene offers her words.
Sermon, All Saints Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, Canon Brendan O'Sullivan-Hale preaching.
Mother Andrea preaches at All Saints on the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Oct. 1., 2023
Mother Andrea speaks of The Feast of St. Michael and All Angels -- Michaelmas--on Sept. 18, 2023
Fr. Steven Powers speaks on the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost. (with apologies for poor sound quality due to technical difficulties.)
Mother Andrea Arsene preaches on Sunday, 8-13-2023, the Feast of St. Mary the Virgin, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
On the third Sunday after Pentecost, Mother Andrea Arsene preaches about celebration, men, and Juneteenth.
Father Gordon Chastain, former rector of All Saints Church, Indianapolis, describes a modern explanation of the Ascension of Christ into Heaven.
Mother Andrea Arsene preaches on the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, speaking about the Beatitudes.
Fr. Burke compares the history of The Episcopal Church of All Saints to today's readings.
Mother Arsene speaks of common "Biblical"sayings not in the Bible and explains the teaching of St. Paul in his second letter to the Thessalonians.
Injustice is not new. But God is big enough to hear our despair, and to strengthen us to do something about it. Mother Andrea Arsene preaches, 22nd Sunday after Pentecost
A short tax collector, Zacchaeus, climbs a tree to see Jesus to offer to share his possessions.
Bishop Jennifer speaks of baptism and confirmation. (Please forgive technical difficulties with the sound.)
Michael, the Archangel, protects us in battle, and all angels surround us as we attempt to change the evil in our world.
Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows speaks of the history and future of All Saints, Indianapolis, at the Service of Installation of new rector, The Rev. Andrea Arsene.
Mother Andrea Arsene speaks on the use of wealth in her first sermon as rector of The Episcopal Church of All Saints, Indianapolis
"Magnifying the Lord, the soul of Mary brings what is blurry into focus, makes the far away close, makes the unseeable seen." Canon Brendan O'Sullivan-Hale preaches on the Feast of St. Mary the Virgin, transferred (August 14, 2022).
Episcopal Church of All Saints, Indianapolis Sermon 8 - 7-22 by Mother Karen King by allsaintsindy
As much as our world might be a factory of despair right now, anyone who comes in here needs to know – you need to know - that God would not have our spirits wilt while our hearts are still beating. Canon Brendan O'Sullivan-Hale speaks Sunday, 7-17-2022.
Once upon a time there was a parish called All Saints where the people asked, "What are we to do?"
In these weeks of anxiety about our future, we turn to the God who comforts us “as a mother comforts her children” (Isaiah 66:13)
Photo by Xavier Mouton Photographie
"So when there’s a shaking of the ground we stand on, friends, know that Jesus Christ is our only fortress—the One who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, the Alpha and the Omega, the One who loves you unconditionally and calls you into life. God bless you.” The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught, Curate, preaches his final sermon at All Saints on the Third Sunday after Pentecost (June 26, 2022).
Readings: 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21; Psalm 16; Galatians 5:1, 13-25; Luke 9:51-62
The Holy Spirit works through all of us in amazing ways. On the occasion of his first celebration of the Holy Eucharist, Fr. Joel Munoz tells how the Holy Spirit worked through the All Saints Episcopal Church community to guide his priestly vocation.
Jesus didn’t just pray; he took action. The Rev. Jason Fortner preaches his last sermon as Deacon at All Saints, Indianapolis
"Church, if you are disoriented at the events of this week, hear Jesus’ words to you: You are my witnesses. My body is gone, but my Spirit is with you. You are my witnesses. Repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in my name to all nations." The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught, Curate, preaches on Ascension Day (May 26, 2022).
Fr. Charles Allen preaches about the Lamb of God in the Book of Revelation: John’s Revelation is all about a Lamb, not a lion. If you’ll allow a little alliteration, the key to what God is up to is not a conquering carnivore but a vulnerable vegetarian!
There is significant pain in modern life which we cannot avoid and it is cumulative and unbearable without the recognition that the universe, at its core, is created in love. The incarnation is the motherly embrace which keeps us all from losing hope,
“This is what an Easter faith hopes for: not to be numbed, but to live in the pastures of the Good Shepherd who walks by our side even in the chaos, and who will bring us to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught, curate, preaches on the Fourth Sunday of Easter (May 8, 2022).
Readings: Acts 9:36-43; Psalm 23; Revelation 7:9-17; John 10:22-30
Forgiveness in Christ is no mere sentiment, no: "Apology accepted," but a force of divine nature.
Jesus walks through our barriers, shows us that he can relate to us, gives us his Spirit, and enables us to forgive and be forgiven, bringing us unfathomable peace.
“The tomb is empty and we are free. The God who made us, the God who loves us, has done what we could not do, has offered his body on a cross and won our freedom from the lord called Death.” The Rev’d Samuel T. Vaught, Curate, preaches on Easter Day (April 17, 2022).
Fr. Charles Allen reminds us that we have all seen Jesus' resurrection tonight, have gone through it with him, and it will never stop remaking our lives.
Deacon Jason Fortner reminds us that It is crucial that we embrace the harsh truth of the cross, because we are called by Jesus to take up our own crosses and to follow him.
Mother Karen King tells of Jesus' teaching to love one another even at great cost to ourselves. Although it may be impossible to feel affection toward someone, we can still act on their behalf.
"This week, we will remember that salvation is achieved on a cross. Our salvation comes not from ourselves, but from a God who emptied himself, taking the form of a slave." The Rev'd Samuel T. Vaught, Curate, preaches on The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday (April 10, 2022).
Readings: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 22:14-23:49
"Sweet, refreshing water has broken forth in the desert. Mary has joined God in the new thing that God is doing among us." The Rev'd Jason Fortner, Seminarian, preaches on the Fifth Sunday in Lent (April 3, 2022).
Readings: Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3:4b-14; John 12:1-8
"Don't be afraid to be the younger son...do not be afraid to be in that place. It’s in that place, surely, that we will look up and see the Father running out to sweep us off our feet, to embrace us before we can even get our words out, to lead us home and kill the fatted calf and rejoice." The Rev'd Samuel T. Vaught, Curate, preaches on the Fourth Sunday in Lent (March 27, 2022).
Readings: Joshua 5:9-12; Psalm 32; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
"I don't know where the burning bush is today. But I trust that God is faithful, that God hears the voices of people as they cry out, that God remembers the holy covenant." The Rev'd Canon Kristin White preaches on the Third Sunday in Lent (March 20, 2022).
Readings: Exodus 3:1-5; Psalm 63:1-8; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9
"We are given a victory over death so unexpected and so incredible, that it makes Harry Potter's story more likely to be true." The Rev'd Samuel T. Vaught, Curate, preaches on the second Sunday in Lent (March 13, 2022).
Readings: Genesis 15:1-12,17-18; Psalm 27; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35
"Nobody’s telling you to cheer up. Still, light a rose-colored candle. Sing Gaudete, 'rejoice.' It’s not really faking it. It can help us open our eyes to what’s finally keeping us going in the first place: the One who drags us into inexplicable joy, the Peace that surpasses all understanding, sooner or later. The Lord is near." The Rev. Charles Allen preaches on the Third Sunday of Advent (December 12, 2021).
Zephaniah 3:14-20; Canticle 9; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18
The Rev. Joêl Muñoz preaches on the second Sunday of Advent (December 5, 2021).
Baruch 5:1-9; Canticle 16; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6
"What Advent demands of us is to truly want Jesus to return, not only as a baby in the manger, but as light from light on the throne of judgment, to usher in the age when 'the powers of hell shall vanish…and shadows clear away.'" Canon Brendan O'Sullivan-Hale preaches on the first Sunday of Advent (November 28, 2021).
Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36
"We will have missed the point of this day f we only convince ourselves that Christ is in charge as some kind of emotional and political coping mechanism to be tossed aside conveniently whenever our party is back in power." The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the feast of Christ the King (November 21, 2021).
Readings: 2 Samuel 23:1-7; Psalm 132:1-13, 14-19; Revelation 1:4b-8; John 18:33-37
"Hope and faithfulness can feel like fleeting things, like foolishness when our lives and our world are in turmoil." The Rev. Thomas Honderich preaches on the 25th Sunday after Pentecost (November 14, 2021).
Readings: Daniel 12:1-3; Psalm 16; Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25; Mark 13:1-8
"What we are doing tonight is incredible. We are being surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses…and we’re talking to saints. We’re surrounded by saints because we’re a part of the big picture of God’s triumph in and through and with human beings." The Rev'd Gordon Chastain preaches on All Saints' Day (November 1, 2021).
Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9, Psalm 24, Revelation 21:1-6a, John 11:32-44
"Jesus encourages his inquisitive student with this cryptic remark: 'You are not far from the kingdom of God." Mr. Jason Fortner preaches on the twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost (October 31, 2021).
Readings: Ruth 1:1-18, Psalm 146, Hebrews 9:11-14, Mark 12:28-34
"This crucifix, with the dressed-up priest Jesus, is giving us a clue about what Jesus is doing on the cross." The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost (October 26, 2021).
Readings: Job 42:1-6, 10-17; Psalm 34:1-8, (19-22); Hebrews 7:23-28; Mark 10:46-52
The Rev. Charles Allen preaches on the twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost (October 17, 2021).
Readings: Job 38:1-7, (34-41); Psalm 104:1-9, 25, 37b; Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-45
The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (October 10, 2021).
Readings: Job 23:1-9, 16-17; Psalm 22:1-15; Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31
"We need this vision, too. We need this story, this window, this promise that like a band of heavenly angels casting Satan out of heaven, Jesus Christ has destroyed Satan’s works of sin, and injustice, and pain, and death. We need to be reminded that on the cross, Christ has won." The Rev'd Samuel T. Vaught, Curate, preaches on the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, September 26, 2021.
Readings: Genesis 28:10-17; Psalm 103:1-2, 19-22; Revelation 12:7-12; John 1:47-51
"Depending on your background, Proverbs 31 might mean nothing to you, or it might mean a lot, and not necessarily for good...sadly, centuries of Christian women have found their identities and vocations in the Church defined through the narrow funnel of these 20 verses." The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (September 19, 2021).
Readings: Prov. 31:10-31; Ps. 1; James 3:13-4:3,7-8a; Mk. 9:30-37
Image: Rob Pongsajapan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/pong/), distributed under a CC BY license.
"God is not a genie in a bottle. God is a man on a cross." The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Sept. 12, 2021).
Readings: Proverbs 1:20-33; Psalm 19; James 3:1-12; Mark 8:27-38
Image: "Alladin's Magic Lamp" by Jo Zimny Photos (https://www.flickr.com/photos/joeyz51/), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND license
"Jesus is bested, and he realizes it. It is the woman's persistence, her wit, and ultimately, her faith, that carries the day." The Rev'd Samuel T. Vaught, Curate, preaches on the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Sept. 5, 2021)
Readings: Prov. 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23; Ps. 125; James 2:1-17; Mk. 7:24-37
"People are quick today to challenge the church for its hypocrisy, and I'm sure since we are all sinners we can provide a lot of opportunity for others to judge our actions." The Rev'd Tom Honderich, Affiliate Priest, preaches on the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (August 29, 2021).
Readings: Song of Solomon 2:8-13; Ps. 45:1-2, 7-10; James 1:17-27; Mk. 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
"Be strong in the Lord, my friends. Know that the Bread of Life is right here in front of you. To whom else can we go?"
The Rev'd Samuel T. Vaught, Curate, preaches on the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost (August 22, 2021).
Readings: 1 Kings 8:22-30, 41-43; Psalm 84; Ephesians 6:10-20; John 6:56-69
"Nothing is going according to my plans, beloved. Perhaps nothing is going according to yours, either. But life is happening, and love is happening, and joy is happening. It turns out our plans are ephemeral; God’s promises are forever. And so to quote the mystic Dag Hammarskjöld, who must have been echoing Mary, I say, 'For all that has been, thank you, and for all that is to come, yes.'"
The Rev'd E. Suzanne Wille, Rector, preaches her final sermon at All Saints on the Feast of Saint Mary the Virgin (August 15, 2021).
Isaiah 61:10-11; Psalm 34:1-9; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 1:46-55
Is there forgiveness? The answer is YES. The Rev'd Samuel T. Vaught, Curate, preaches on the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 14). August 8, 2021
What we need is here. Mother Suzanne preaches on the tenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 13). August 1, 2021. 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a; Psalm 51:1-13; Ephesians 4:1-16; John 6:25-35.
The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the ninth Sunday after Pentecost (July 25, 2021).
Readings: 2 Samuel 11:1-15; Psalm 14; Ephesians 3:14-21; John 6:1-21
"Come away to a deserted place, all by yourselves, and rest a while." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the eighth Sunday after Pentecost (July 18, 2021).
Readings: 2 Sam. 7:1-14a; Ps. 89:2-37; Eph. 2:11-22; Mk. 6:30-34, 53-56
“Whether we are lost in ecstasy like David or just nodding our head a little cautiously, even today we can set our hope on Christ, and live to the praise of God’s glory." The Rev'd Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the seventh Sunday after Pentecost; Proper 10 (July 11, 2021).
Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19; Psalm 24; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6:14-29.
"'Whenever I am weak, then I am strong.' That is Paul’s conclusion in the passage we hear from his second letter to the Corinthian Church . . . . Though this is a central tenet of Christianity, few of us seek to follow this little way of powerlessness, of allowing our wounds, the thorns in our flesh, to be sites of God’s activity." The Rev'd E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the sixth Sunday after Pentecost; Proper 9 (July 4, 2021).
2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10; Psalm 48; 2 Corinthians 12:2-10; Mark 6:1-13
"The kingdom of God grows beneath the surface; its timing is a mystery...We do not know the times or seasons of the kingdom, or our participation in it." The Rev'd Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the third Sunday after Pentecost (June 13, 2021).
Readings: 1 Sam. 15:34-16:13; Ps. 20; 2 Cor. 5:6-17; Mk. 4:26-34
"If you were a Christian in the first two or three centuries of the church, it is quite likely that you would have, once, or twice, or a few times in your life, been accused of being a cannibal." The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the Feast of Corpus Christi (June 6, 2021).
Readings: Deut. 8:2-3; Ps. 116:1, 10-17; 1 Cor. 10:1-4, 16-17; Jn. 6:47-58
"The Great Wall of China, the Grand Canyon, a great work of art, will always be awesome, will always overwhelm you. But they will never stoop to love you." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on Trinity Sunday (May 30, 2021).
Readings: Is. 6:1-8; Ps. 29; Rom. 8:12-17; Jn. 3:1-17
"Who God is, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, finally, has been revealed to us. But why is this more than just theological jargon?" The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the Feast of Pentecost (May 23, 2021).
Readings: Acts 2:1-21; Ps. 104:25-35, 37; Rom. 8:22-27; Jn. 15:26-27, 16:4b-15
"What better protection than to dwell deeply in the soil of God's law?" The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the seventh Sunday of Easter (May 16, 2021).
Readings: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; Ps. 1; 1 Jn. 5:9-13; Jn. 17:6-19
Image: Eider Fernandez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/eiderfernandez/) distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
"The Ascension did not cancel out the Incarnation. God is with us." The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the Feast of the Ascension (May 13, 2021).
Readings: Acts 1:1-11; Ps. 47; Eph. 1:15-23; Lk. 24:44-53
"We don't have to earn God's friendship. All Jesus asks is that we abide, dwell, rest, deeply in that love, so that we might bloom from that love into God's likeness." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the sixth Sunday of Easter (May 9, 2021).
Readings: Acts 10:44-88; Ps. 98; 1 Jn. 5:1-6; Jn. 15:9-17
"It's a cliche that hurt people hurt people, but it's often true. But the opposite is also true: loved people love people." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the fifth Sunday of Easter (May 2, 2021).
Readings: Acts 8:26-40; Ps. 22:24-30; 1 Jn. 4:7-21; Jn. 15:1-8
"It turns out we're all beginners when it comes to love...but thanks be to God...for the Spirit that nudges us in the right direction." Mr. Jason Fortner preaches on the fourth Sunday of Easter (April 25, 2021).
Readings: Acts 4:5-12; Ps. 23; 1 Jn. 3:16-24; Jn. 10:11-18
"When we try to end pain or crush sorrow, we find that it arises again. There is another way, a way that holds sorrow and joy together, that doesn't deny the pain but transforms it." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the third Sunday of Easter (April 18, 2021).
Readings: Acts 3:12-19; Psalm 4; 1 John 3:1-7; Luke 24:36b-48
Image: Catherine Todd (https://www.flickr.com/photos/catherinetodd/), distributed under a CC-BY-NC license.
"'Peace be with you,' Jesus says, to those who abandoned them in his greatest hour of need." The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the second Sunday of Easter (April 11, 2021).
Readings: Acts 4:32-35; Ps. 133; 1 Jn. 1:1-2:2; Jn. 20:19-31
"Like Mary Magdalene, we've got nothing left but to go sit at a tomb...But it is there that our God works." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on Easter Sunday (April 4, 2021).
Acts 10:34-43; Ps. 18:1-2, 14-24; 1 Cor. 15:1-11; Jn. 20:1-18
"Bones. Dry, lifeless bones, everywhere he can see. And the a question: 'Mortal, can these bones live?'" The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches at the Great Vigil of Easter (April 3, 2021).
Readings: Gen. 7:1-5, 11-81, 8:6-18, 9:8-13; Ps. 46; Ex. 14:10-31, 15:20-21; Ezek. 37:1-14; Ps. 30.
"The real disease is sin. The risk factor is humanity. The cross is the only cure." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on Good Friday (April 2, 2021).
Readings: Is. 52:13-53:12; Ps. 69:104, 19-23; Heb. 10:16-25; Jn. 19:1-37
"We are about to do a great, and terrible, and holy thing." The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on Palm Sunday (March 28, 2021).
Readings: Mk. 11:1-11a; Is. 50:4-9a; Ps. 31:9-16; Phil. 2:5-11; Mk. 14:1-15:47
"Scripture is layered with helplessness and hopelessness because life is layered with helplessness and hopelessness." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the fifth Sunday in Lent (March 21, 2021).
Readings: Jer. 31:31-34; Ps. 51:1-13; Heb. 5:5-10; Jn. 12:20-33
"The 'course of this world' says when you have sinned, or hurt somebody, or hurt yourself, or not loved another person or yourself like you know that you should, there's no going back, no making it better. When you're damaged you're damaged. When you're dead you're dead." The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the fourth Sunday in Lent (March 14, 2021).
Readings: Num. 21:4-9; Ps. 103:1-2, 17-22; Eph. 2:1-10; Jn. 3:14-21
"I know I could benefit from Jesus flipping a few tables in my own heart." Mr. Jason Fortner preaches on the third Sunday in Lent (March 7, 2021).
Readings: Ex. 20:1-17; Ps. 19; 1 Cor. 1:18-25; Jn. 2:12-22
"Dare we believe that even now, even here, God's promise stands?" The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the second Sunday in Lent (February 28, 2021).
Readings: Gen. 17:1-7, 15-16; Ps. 22:22-30; Rom. 4:13-25; Mk. 8:31-38
"How can you think God is loving, that God loves you, when you're all alone, out here in the desert, surrounded by threatening beasts?" The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the first Sunday in Lent (February 21, 2021).
Readings: Gen. 9:8-17; Ps. 25:1-9; 1 Pet. 3:18-22; Mk. 1:9-15
"All things come to an end, friends. On the other side of Lent there is Easter. On the other side of a pandemic is a future of hugs and reunions and new and happy memories. On the other side of the cross is an empty tomb. On the other side of death is life." The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on Ash Wednesday (February 17, 2021).
Readings:
"Do you know what I say after a crummy year when we've had enough of reality and doing our duty and being careful and being alone? Do you know what I say as we face another Lent in lockdown, after a year that has felt like 52 straight weeks of Lent?" The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the last Sunday after the Epiphany (February 14, 2021).
Readings: 2 Kings 2:1-12; Ps. 50:1-6; 2 Cor. 4:3-6; Mk, 9:2-9
"Crowds of people are queuing up to get the cure, jockeying for position, figuring out how to cut the line. An exhausted health care worker slips out at dawn to catch the briefest moment of stillness before going back to work. Is this a description of life in 2021, or just the first chapter of St. Mark's Gospel?" The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the fifth Sunday after the Epiphany (February 7, 2021).
Readings: Is. 40:21-31; Ps. 147:1-12, 21c; 1 Cor. 9:16-23; Mk. 1:29-39
"We've forgotten how to make room for one another - I move a little; you move a little." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the fourth Sunday after the Epiphany (January 31, 2021).
Readings: Deut. 18:15-20; Ps. 111; 1 Cor. 8:1-13; Mk, 1:21-28
"It may be a new year, but it might not feel like it." The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the the third Sunday after the Epiphany (January 24, 2021).
Readings: Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Ps. 62:6-14; 1 Cor. 7:29-31; Mk. 1:14-20
"I’m hoping for a childlike trust, like Samuel, like Eli, like Dr. King, a trust that we are in God’s hands and, so, we can hear, we can speak, we can act, for God’s truth." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the second Sunday after the Epiphany (January 17, 2021).
Readings: 1 Sam. 3:1-20; Ps. 139:1-5, 12-17; 1 Cor. 6:12-20; Jn. 1:43-51
"That shimmering moment of baptism that adopted us into the family of God, that marked us as Christ's own, beloved, for ever - that can, that must, sustain us through any wilderness, through all temptations." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ (January 10, 2021).
Readings: Gen. 1:1-5; Ps. 29; Acts 19:1-7; Mk. 1:4-11
"To be alive is to be on the move." The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the second Sunday after Christmas (January 3, 2021).
Readings: Jer. 31:7-14; Ps. 84:1-8; Eph. 1:3-6, 15-19a; Mat. 2:13-15, 19-23
"Celebrating Christmas for more than one day gives us some room to consider other aspects of this holy season that we don't normally have time for." The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the first Sunday after Christmas (December 27, 2020).
Readings: Is. 61:10-62:3; Ps. 147:13-21; Gal. 3:23-25, 4:4-7; Jn. 1:1-18
"This Christmas might just be a dumpster fire, but isn't that the human condition generally?" The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on Christmas Eve (December 24, 2020).
Readings: Is.9:2-7; Lk. 2:1-20
"There is a hole in our hearts, a hole in our spirits. We have made mistakes, those things done and left undone. So much is wrong in our lives and in the world. We need not only face our own mistakes and the sins of others, but something larger...On the fourth Sunday of Advent we come face to face with Hell." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the fourth Sunday of Advent (December 20, 2020).
Readings: 2 Sam. 7:1-11, 16; Lk. 1:46-55; Rom. 16:25-27; Lk. 1:26-38
"The future, the life hereafter, the things to come—this is what Advent is all about...Heaven and Hell, too, though we may talk of them like distant realities, are so close—perhaps too close for comfort." The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the third Sunday of Advent (December 13, 2020).
Readings: Is. 61:1-4, 8-11; Ps. 126; 1 Thes. 5:16-24; Jn. 1:6-8, 19-28
“Judgment: it can be a thing of entertainment, until it comes to religion. Then we get really uncomfortable…Perhaps it would be easier if we thought of God more like Paul Hollywood or Prue Leith.” The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the second Sunday of Advent (December 6, 2020).
Readings: Is. 40:1-11; Ps. 85:1-2, 8-13; 2 Pet. 3:8-15a; Mk. 1:1-8
“As we wait for the winter to be over, as we wait for this pandemic to be over, as we wait to remember once again the birth of this child: keep awake.” The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the first Sunday of Advent (November 29, 2020).
Readings: Is. 64:1-9; 1 Cor. 1:3-9; Ps. 80:1-7; 16-18; Mk. 13:24-37
"God is found not only in mystical visions on mountaintops after years of prayer and study...We don't have to strain after God. Rather Christ is found in our neighbor, in the bodies of those around us - the beautiful, and the boring." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Feast of Christ the King (November 22, 2020).
Readings: Ezek. 34:11-16, 20-24; Ps. 95:1-7a; Eph. 1:15-23; Matt. 25:31-46
Image Credit: patheos.com
"If we want our hearts to be filled with more of God's love, to be with the church, to be with the poor, to be with the least and the lost, we can lead our hearts with our treasure." The Rev. Scott Gunn preaches on the twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost (November 15, 2020).
Readings: Zeph. 1:7, 12-18; Ps. 90; 1 Thes. 5:1-11; Matt. 25:14-30
"We dislike a judge-y God, but come on friends, we like judgment." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost (October 8, 2020)
Readings: Amos 5:18-24; Ps. 70; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; Matt. 25:1-13.
"If you are in need of strength, or an excuse for the choices you are making as you seek to live and bring love in these extraordinary days, say the names of the saints and the souls who have gone before. And not just today...but say them often and keep them close always, because the communion of saints is always in effect." The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows preaches on the Feast of All Saints (November 1, 2020).
Readings: 1 Jn. 3:1-3; Ps. 34:1-10, 22; Rev. 7:9-17; Matt. 5:1-12
"Simplicity is so tempting. Boil complexity down into a couple of nuggets so we know what to do, whether in religion or other parts of our lives...Want to succeed at work? Never start your day with email - but wait, hold on - make sure you start your day at inbox zero." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost (October 25, 2020).
Readings: Lev. 19:1-2, 15-18; Ps. 1; 1 Thes. 2:1-8; Matt. 22:34-46
"But a smart rabbi knows that there are more than two choices - that sometimes a question is best answered with a question." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (October 18, 2020).
Readings: Is. 45:1-7; Ps. 96:1-9; 1 Thess. 1:1-10; Matt. 22:15-22
"Whether the apocalypse is full of Zoom meetings or lava, leave that to Hollywood. Our story ends not in disaster, but in a feast." The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (October 11, 2020).
Readings: Is. 25:1-9; Ps. 23; Phil. 4:1-9; Matt. 22:1-14
Image: Gail (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mahinui/), distributed under a CC BY license.
"God expects justice and righteousness and laments especially the failure of leaders to establish such communities. But God's response to our violence is the Cross, is sending his Son...He doesn't respond to our violence with violence, but instead absorbs it...and responds with life, resurrection, and triumph over death. Does that sound naive?" The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (October 4, 2020).
Readings: Is. 5:1-7; Ps. 80:7-14; Phil. 3:4b-14; Matt.:21:33-46
"You are not an angel, and you never will be. You as a human being are created in the image of God, an honor granted no other creature, including angels." The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels (transferred to September 27, 2020).
Readings: Gen. 28:10-17; Ps. 103:19-22; Rev. 12:7-12; Jn.1:47-51
"But the K.O.G., the kingdom of God, is coming, where we don't get what we deserve, but we get grace freely given, manna to the hungry soul, and to the weary, rest." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (September 20, 2020).
Readings: Jonah 3:10-4:11; Ps. 145:1-8; Phil. 1:21-30; Matt. 20:1-16
“Jesus asks us to repent of the ways we hurt one another and invites us at the same time to forgive others. To forgive the ones who have hurt us. And he’s given us the language to do this—we practice it time we say the Lord’s Prayer: forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (September 13, 2020).
"Canceling those who step outside the lines, with whom we disagree, troublemakers, well, it seems to be a bipartisan sport. And of course, its a very human inclination. After all there's got to be a way to deal with people who will not abide by our rules, who pose harm to our community. Luckily Jesus provides a very human, even loving, way of doing so in the church." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (September 6, 2020).
Readings: Ezek. 33:7-11; Ps. 119:33-40; Rom. 13:8-14; Matt. 8:15-20
"May we be steadfast with those who suffer, and there find Christ himself." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost (August 30, 2020).
Readings: Jer. 15:15-21; Ps. 26:1-8; Rom. 12:9-21; Matt. 16:21-28
"Mary looks out at us from paintings and icons, from statues, with a seriousness, a compassion, that pierces our souls, drawing us toward her. In her, we see someone who knows suffering, and therefore understands and cares about our own. When God the Father seems far away it is natural to turn to Mary our mother, who knows just what human suffering is." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Feast of St. Mary the Virgin (transferred - August 16, 2020)
Readings: Is. 61:10-11; Ps. 34:1-9; Gal. 4:4-7; Lk. 1:46-55
"Friends, with Peter, Christ has built you into the church, and in the words of one of the New Testament letters that bears Peter's name, 'You are living stones.'" The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (August 23, 2020).
Readings: Is. 51:1-6; Ps. 138; Rom. 12:1-8; Matt. 16:13-20
"God doesn't rely upon our faith. God acts when we ask. If you hear nothing else, here this: we don't have to be perfect. We don't have to have all the right words. We don't have to know all the scripture or possess a deep faith." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the tenth Sunday after Pentecost (August 9, 2020).
Readings: 1 Kings 19:9-18; Ps. 85:8-13; Rom. 10:5-15; Matt: 14:22-33
"This is the context of a story that is likely familiar to most of us - the feeding of the 5,000 - one of Jesus's greatest hits. Because this story is so familiar it can be easy to miss some of these details, like the fact that Jesus is sad." The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the ninth Sunday after Pentecost (August 2, 2020).
Readings: Is. 55:1-5; Ps. 145:8-9, 15-22; Rom. 9:1-5; Matt. 14:13-21.
"None of us is immune to suffering, but we usually take turns doing it." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the eight Sunday after Pentecost (July 26, 2020).
Readings: 1 Kings 3:5-12; Ps. 119:129-136; Rom. 8:26-39; Matt. 13:31-33, 44-52
"I wonder what it would look like to live with this kind of hope today. How do we practice hope? Surely it doesn't look like cramming as many of us as possible into a church building and proclaiming that if we trust God enough none of us will get sick. And surely it doesn't look like being content with a political and social status quo that says, 'Well, everything works for me, so surely it does for everyone else.'" The Rev. Samuel T. Vaught preaches on the seventh Sunday after Pentecost (June 19, 2020).
Readings: Is. 44:6-8; Ps. 86:11-17; Rom. 8:12-25; Mat. 13:24-31, 36-43
"In this time of pandemic, a time we abstain from coming together to protect one another, especially the most vulnerable, is that not another kind of medicine - a participation in the self-giving nature of Jesus Christ, humbling ourselves, denying ourselves, for the good of one another?" The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Feast of Corpus Christi.
Readings: Deut. 8:2-3; Ps. 116:1, 10-17; 1 Cor. 10:1-4, 16-17; Jn. 6:47-58.
"Once the conflict begins, it's uncovered, it boils over, well, how can it be healed? How can it be healed, not just tamped down - or covered up, just simmering below the surface, until it erupts again." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on Trinity Sunday (June 7, 2020).
Readings: Gen. 1:1-2:4a; Ps. 8, 2 Cor 13:11-13; Matt. 28:16-20
"Today, as cities burn and people cry out, the spirit of God seems not much like a dove, but a phoenix, rising out of the ashes after the fire, leading us, begging us, inspiring us to live new lives - renewing our promises to follow and love God, to love our neighbor, to resist evil, to strive for justice and peace. On this feast of Pentecost, let us pray, 'Come, Holy Spirit, come,' and let us mean it." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on Pentecost (May 31, 2020).
Readings: Num. 11:24-30; Ps. 104:25-35, 37; Acts 2:1-21; Jn. 7:37-39
"When caught in the solitary angst of anxiety, we are much more susceptible to that prowling lion who likes to pick off the strays. We're much more vulnerable than when we are part of a community." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the seventh Sunday of Easter.
Readings: Acts 1:6-14; Ps. 68:10-10, 33-36; 1 Pet. 4:12-14, 5:6-11; Jn. 17:1-11
"So we’ve got a feast day devoted to parting from the one we love, or having the one we love hidden from us - and finding joy in it? Well this year, it looks like Ascension arrived right on time." Brendan O'Sullivan-Hale preaches on the Feast of the Ascension (May 21, 2020).
Readings: Ps. 96; Heb. 2:5-18; Matt. 28:16-20
"The hope Peter refers to is not a general sense that somehow all will turn out all right, nor a hope that if I'm good God will will reward me with a good life, but a tough, muscular hope that is larger than ourselves." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the sixth Sunday of Easter (May 17, 2020)
Readings: Acts 17:22-31; Ps. 66:7-18; 1 Pet. 3:13-22; Jn. 14:15-21
"When you no idea what to do, when you're exhausted worn out, angry and lamenting, there's only one place to turn in the Bible, and that's the Psalter: 150 psalms, poems, or songs that express the range of feelings about our lot in life and relationship to God." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Fifth Sunday of Easter.
Readings: Acts 7:55-60; Ps. 31; 1 Pet. 2:2-10; Jn. 14:1-14
Most of us only get a moment of the divine, a glimpse of the holy, but that is enough to provide a light in the dark.
In this time of darkness, when the darkness seems to be winning, what can we do? Let it shine, this little light of mine!
We are not the Messiah, nor can we save the world, but we are called to play our part inf the drama
It is traditional on the Feast of the Epiphany to share the dates of the upcoming moveable feasts (those feasts that don't fall on a fixed date like All Saints but "move" like Easter and all the feasts determined by that date)for the year. At All Saints the wonderful singer and Master of Ceremonies Mark Gastineau chanted the proclamation.
In a dark world, where violence threatens, where we are estranged, our God comes to us, a sojourner, to join us.
God has joined us in the flesh; thus there is nothing in our bodies, our lives, to spurn
Like the shepherds, like those who hear the good news of great joy, we are to be amazed, though not afraid, that Christ has come among us.
In this Advent season, we are warned of judgement, but what if judgement is different from what we thought?
As we live “in the meantime,” why stay awake?
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the first Sunday of Advent (December 1, 2019).
Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122, Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44
Image: Karin C. Lewis (flickr.com/photos/karinlewis), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license.
Saints are not born saints but grow into sanctity over time. We too can grow in holiness.
"Jesus isn't trying to be Emily Post here; rather, he's showing us the Kingdom of God."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (September 1, 2019).
Readings: Jer. 2:14-23; Ps. 81:1, 10-16; Heb. 13:1-8, 15-16; Lk. 14:1, 7-14.
Image: "Breakfast" by Dom Fellowes (https://www.flickr.com/photos/domfell/), distributed under a CC BY license.
The Rev. Michael Stichweh preaches on the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (August 25, 2019).
Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-10; Psalm 71:1-6; Hebrews 12:18-29; Luke 13:10-17
Seminarian Charles Russell describes how Jesus taught us to pray and what prayer can mean to us in our daily lives.
"When we cheat the poor, abuse the stranger, and pursue the gods of wealth and war, the word of God will depart from us, leaving us in spiritual famine." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the sixth Sunday after Pentecost (July 21, 2019). Readings: Amos 8; Psalm 52; Colossians 1; Like 10.
The Good Samaritan doesn't tell us who are neighbor is; it tells us how we are to be the neighbor.
Seminarian Charles Russell speaks of Jesus healing the leper. God is willing to care for our whole self if we would but trust, wash, and be clean.
"... we are a people of hope, a people who know that when the stone of the tomb eclipses all light from the sun, moon and stars, a yet more powerful spark remains."
"It can be dangerous to claim that one knows what the Holy Spirit is up to. I often hear people claim, even in our own denomination, that something is 'the work of the Holy Spirit' or that 'the Holy Spirit is doing a new thing,' though usually that just means that we are doing what we want to do and are trying to claim the Holy Spirit's stamp of approval."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Feast of Pentecost (June 9, 2019).
Readings: Acts 2:1-21; Ps. 104:24-34; Rom. 8:14-17; Jn. 14:8-17(25-27)
On either side of the river is the tree of life, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
Canon Brendan O'Sullivan-Hale preaches on the Fifth Sunday of Easter.
Readings: Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 148; Revelation 21:1-6, John 13:31-35
The Death of the Virgin Mary, Chora Church, Istanbul. Image: University of Michigan Library.
"It is the day in, day out belonging with and to Jesus that leads people to believe in, to rely on, depend on, trust Jesus, not some philosophical proofs or doctrines or dogmas, as important as those are."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Third Sunday of Easter (May 5, 2019).
Readings: Acts 9:1-20; Psalm 30; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19
"Zombie Jesus jokes do get one thing right - the body-ness of the Risen Lord, the messiness, the open wounds. They get that resurrection isn't a flick of the wand, but skin, and teeth, and guts." Brendan O'Sullivan-Hale preaches on the second Sunday of Easter (April 28, 2019)
Readings: Acts 5:27-32; Ps. 118:14-29; Rev. 1:4-8; Jn. 20:19-31
Image: "Zombie Warning" by This is Awkward (https://www.flickr.com/photos/reana/), distributed under a CC BY-ND license.
As he enters Jerusalem, as he walks the way of the cross, everyone is watching Jesus, but few are able to see him as he is. This Holy Week, look and see.
"How can we choose between food and beauty? There need not be a dichotomy, a divide, between the two..."
This parable might not be mainly about repentance and forgiveness but of wholeness. What if we focus on the older son, the one who gets overlooked?
Why do we continually harm one another? How can we explain repeated tragedy? These things are not caused by God, but we must turn to God for help in changing our own minds and the minds of others in our community to uproot violent ideologies. But sometimes we must simply weep with others without trying to figure out why heartbreak has happened.
Jesus looks down the scope of history and laments all the ways we desecrate holy places, the earth, one another.
"How often we are lured away from OUR identity, tempted to be other than we were created to be: Beloved of God?" The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the first Sunday in Lent (March 10,2019) Readings: Deuteronomy 26; Psalm 91;Romans 10; Like 4.
"If we clear the space and invite God into the room we have made, then God will go to work." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on Ash Wednesday (March 6, 2019). Readings: Joel 2; Psalm 103; 2 Corinthians; Matthew.
As Jesus is transfigured on the mountain top, Peter, James, and John realize that He is the Messiah and that they are to follow him down the mountain all the way to the cross.
"Jesus is not cursing the rich, the joyful, the full; rather he is saying that those things are their own reward. But they are not signs of God's blessing or symbols of their own faithfulness. This is definitely not the prosperity Gospel."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the sixth Sunday after the Epiphany (July 17, 2019).
Readings: Jer. 17:5-10; Ps. 1; 1 Cor. 15:12-20; Lk. 6: 17-26
Image: "Merzouga, Morocco, 19:26" by Christiaan Triebert (https://www.flickr.com/photos/christiaantriebert/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
"A call to all of us to keep the vision of the heavenly kingdom as a hope in our lives." The Rev. Thomas Honderich preaches on the fifth Sunday after the Epiphany (February 10, 2019). Readings: Isaiah 6; Psalm 138; 1 Corinthians 15; Luke 5.
In a time of constant change, a whirl of infinite options, and a need to adapt or die, where is our mooring?
"Beloved, we have been blessed with joy and grace; we have been blessed with good wine, good news, and it is ours to share."
"The most scandalous reason we baptize, are baptized, and renew our baptismal vows: We have to die." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the first Sunday after the Epiphany (January 13, 2019). Readings: Isaiah 43; Psalm 29; Acts 8; Like 3.
“It is in our Lord who came down, entering in to our lives, so that each and every one of us matters, everyone is a You, no one is an It, and by God's grace we learn the truth, how to live, how to love, how to be human.”
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6, 2019).
Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12
There is an infinite distance between reading God's Word in Scripture and experiencing God's love in Jesus.
“This Good News of Great Joy is for you, and for me, and for all of us, no matter how small or humble we are, or feel ourselves to be. To the Ruler of the Universe, the Creator of the Cosmos, each and every one of you...counts.”
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on Christmas Eve (December 24, 2018).
Readings: Isaiah 9:2-7; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-20
“But as I studied the passage, I was put in mind, not of fire and brimstone, not of repentance, but of, well, Monty Python.”
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Third Sunday of Advent (December 16, 2018).
Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-20; Isaiah 12:2-6; Philippians 4:47; Luke 3:7-18
Image: Monty Python and the Holy Grail, 1975
Advent promises joy and mercy, but first there must be repentance and judgement. When we will not, cannot, change our ways, God will find the way home to us so that we may greet the coming of Christmas and redemption.
Just as we are returning to the beginning of things, we are invited to look at the very end of them.
How can Christians be formed deeply so that they live differently in days of fear and uncertainty?
What are the urgent risks distracting you from what is not urgent but deeply important?
"Happy are those who have Jacob for their help, their hope is in the Lord their God". The Rev. John Gedrick preaches on the Pentecost 25 (November 11, 2018). Readings" 1 Kings 17; Psalm 146; Hebrews 9.
“The venerated Rabbi took the challenge: ‘What is hateful to you, do not do to the others; all the rest is commentary. Go and learn.’”
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Twenty-Forth Sunday after Pentecost …. (November 4, 2018).
Readings: Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Psalm 119 1-8; Hebrews 9:11-14; Mark 12:28-34
Image: Daniel Mitsuo (flickr.com/photos/fore), used under a CC BY-NC 2.0 license.
This revelation to St. John is a book of comfort to those in distress during hard times.
Photo by Leo LaPorte
The Rev. Charles Allen preaches on the Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost (October 28, 2018).
Readings: Jeremiah 31:7-9; Psalm 126; Hebrews 7:23-28; Mark 10:46-52
What do you do when you are afraid? Denial, competition, and seeking security are all responses to fear. Sharing in Christ's cup, baptism, and cross free us from these responses to fear.
Joseph Robert Stuart March 14, 1962 - October 7, 2018
Eulogies by David Stephens and Samuel Davis Sermon by the Rev. E. Suzanne Wille
Readings: Jer. 29:11-14; Ps. 23; Rev. 7:9-17; Jn. 14:1-6 October 20, 2018
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost (October 14, 2018).
Readings: Amos 5:6-7, 10-15; Psalm 90:12-17; Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31
Image: Grufnik (flickr.com/photos/grufnik), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license.
“The very best version of a marriage we will see in this age is one where ultimately death severs the bond, leaving one spouse to carry the grief that is the echo of love. Our certainties are uncertain, friends.”
Mr. Brendan O’Sullivan-Hale preaches on the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (October 7, 2018).
Readings: Genesis 2:18-24; Psalm 8; Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12; Mark 10:2-16
Image: Dennis Jarvis (flickr.com/photos/archer10), distributed under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.
The fierce power and intensity of St. Michael the Archangel make perfect sense in our world in which hate, fear, and evil are so prominent.
"Who is the greatest? Where does this desire come from - this desire to be greatest, to be better than? Is it sin? Is it pride? Maybe. But might there be a humbler, more heartbreaking answer?"
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches of the eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (September 23, 2018).
Readings: Jer. 11:18-20; Ps. 54; James 3:13-4:3; 7-8a; Mk 9:30-37
Image: "The Champ" by Rob Schultz (https://www.flickr.com/photos/truebluetitan/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
None us is deserving, yet we receive abundant grace through the unrelenting mercy of God, not crumbs from the table, but full loaves, heavy and fragrant.
"We have so many ways to answer the question because so many before us have attempted to answer it. But on the day Jesus asked the question, Peter and the other disciples had little to go on."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (September 16, 2018).
Readings: Is. 50:4-9a, Ps. 116:1-8; James 3:1-12; Mk. 8:27-38
"Whenever my dad would let a string of curse words slip out in frustration, we'd say, 'You need Jesus.' Whenever my mom would fret over the preparations before a dinner party and she'd get impatient or snippy with us, we'd say 'Mama needs Jesus.'"
The Rev. Erin Hougland preaches on the fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Sept 2, 2018).
Readings: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9; Psalm 15; James 1:17-27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Image: Tomasz Tuszko (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tomasz_tuszko/), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND license.
Mother Suzanne Wile assures us that when we fall into despair, doubt and sinful behavior, we can always trust and rely on God to help us find our way home.
"Now for many people, Mary makes her appearance yearly at the Christmas pageant, where she sits on a little stool in a long dress with a veil over her head, holding a doll. She says nothing, and she does nothing."
The Rev. Michael Stichweh preaches on the Feast of St. Mary the Virgin, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, transferred (August 12, 2018).
Readings: Is. 61:10-11; Ps. 34:1-9; Gal. 4:4-7; Lk. 1:46-55.
Image: Frank Smith.
"We were asking for food without worry, plenty without work, an answer to our wildest dreams, filet minon, caviar, and champagne, and you tell us that the answer is...bread. Are we hungry enough to accept that?"
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (August 5, 2018).
Readings: Ex. 16:2-4, 9-15; Ps. 78:23-29; Eph. 4:1-16; John 6:24-35.
Image: Jameson Fink (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesonfink/) distributed under a CC BY license.
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost(July 29, 2018).
Readings: 2 Kings 4:42-44; Psalm 145:10-18; Ephesians 3:14-21; John 6:1-21
Image: Steve Cadman (www.flickr.com/photos/stevecadman), used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.
Mother Suzanne preaches on our relationship with Jesus: “When we’re sent out, when we’re tired, when we’re at the end of our rope, it’s time to return to the Good Shepherd.”
Mother Erin Hougland speaks of Bible Scripture as a sacred mirror which shows us the power to inflict suffering when we are at our worst but also the power to save, heal, and love one another when we are at our best.
Mother Erin Hougland speaks regarding Jesus' teachings on shame and fear: "Shake the dust from your feet," Jesus says. "You are more than enough. You are God's beloved....Do not let the voices of shame and fear stop you from sharing God's unconditional love with this world."
"The Kingdom of God is like the bindweed vine that grows and multiplies even under the darkness of that really expensive weed barrier you bought so much of at Lowe's and nailed to the ground in your garden, with actual nails, in a final attempt to smother the darn thing."
The Rev. Erin Hougland preaches on the fourth Sunday after Pentecost (June 17, 2018)
Readings: Ezek. 17:22-24; Ps. 92: 1-4, 11-14; 2 Cor. 5:6-10, 14-17; Mk. 4:26-34
Image: Square Foot Gardening Bed by Wally Hartshorn (https://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyhartshorn/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
The Rev. Patrick Burke preaches on the Third Sunday after Pentecost (June 10, 2018).
Readings: Genesis 3:8-15; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1; Mark 3:20-35
"We don't have to understand. We only need to know our God is three persons: God the creator, who, of the love of us and the world, gave the Son. God the Son, the Beloved, who loves the world so much he gave his life and sent the Holy Spirit. God the Holy Spirit, the Love, who resides with us still, so that we might know that we are never alone, that we are accepted, loved, that God never, ever gives up...on us."
The Rev. E Suzanne Wille preaches on Trinity Sunday (May 27th, 2018).
Readings: Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 29; Romans 8:12-17; John 3:1-17
Image: Epiphany School, Dorcester (@TheEpiphanySchool)
"I always found an excuse to avoid worship throughout the week, but one Thursday afternoon I ran out of excuses. My homework was finished for the week, a meeting I had ended early, and I found myself outside the doors of the chapel and people were walking in for worship.
"'Ok Jesus,' I said to myself, 'I'll go sit in there, but I'm not doing anything.'"
The Rev. Erin Hougland preaches on Pentecost (May 20, 2018).
Readings: Acts 2:1-21; Ps. 104:25-35, 37; Rom. 8:12-17; Jn 15:26-27, 16:4b-15
Image: "The Holy Spirit" by Lawrence OP (https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND license.
"But God is in our hearts," he said to me, clearly confused, as I am often telling him God is in our hearts.
"Yes...God is in our hearts and God is in Heaven. God is in us and all around us," I explained.
"Like the Force," he said.
"Sure, yeah, like the Force. God is like the Force."
The Rev. Erin Hougland preaches on the Feast of the Ascension (May 10, 2018).
Readings: Acts 1:1-11; Ps. 47; Eph. 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53
Image: "King Yoda" by Justin Case (https://www.flickr.com/photos/justin_case/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
Mr. Patrick Burke preaches on the Sixth Sunday of Easter.
Readings: Acts 10:44-48; Psalm 98; 1 John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17
"What we do in here on Sunday cannot be mistaken for the work of tending the garden. What we do here on Sunday morning, or any time of worship, is the work of sabbath."
The Rev. Erin Hougland preaches on the Fifth Sunday of Easter (April 29, 2018).
Readings: Acts 8:26-40 Ps. 22:24-30 1 John 4:7-21 John 15:1-8
Image: Malcolm & Amanda (https://www.flickr.com/photos/plantstoriesproject/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license
"Experience Jesus in the world and help others to see Jesus at work in their lives." Mr. Patrick Burke preaches on the Third Sunday of Easter (April 15, 2018).
Readings: Acts 3:12-19; Psalm 4; 1 John 3:1-7; Luke 24:36b-48
"In that moment of tenderness, Thomas knows that it is true. Not only has death been defeated, but so has vengeance, alienation, betrayal, separation, shame."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the second Sunday of Easter (April 8, 2018).
Readings: Acts 4:32-35; Ps. 133; 1 Jn. 1:1-2:2; Jn. 20:19-31
“Not everyone gets it, not everyone wants it, but to those of us who are being saved, it is the power of God, and we who have met the resurrected Jesus are called to be Holy Fools in a world that is deadly serious with injustice, violence, and greed.”
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on The Resurrection of Our Lord, Easter Sunday (April 1, 2018).
Readings: Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; John 20:1-18.
"The Cross shows us who God in Jesus is, and the Cross shows us who we are, a mingled yarn, sinners of good intention, but lousy follow-through."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on Good Friday (March 30, 2018).
Readings: Is. 52:13-53:12; Ps. 69:1-4, 19-23; Heb, 4:14-16, 5:7-9; Jn. 18:1-19:42
The Rev. Erin Hougland preaches on Maundy Thursday (March 29, 2018).
Readings: Exodus 12:1-4, 5-10, 11-14; Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35
"To follow Jesus is to follow him, not just to the healings and miracles of those who have been cast aside. To follow Jesus is to follow him all the way to the cross. To follow him is to lose our lives, to let the seeds of who we are as God’s precious creations, fall into the ground and to be transformed."
The Rev. Erin Hougland preaches on the Fifth Sunday of Lent (March 18, 2018).
Readings: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51:1-12; Hebrews 5:5-10; John 12:20-33
"Over time, Red Velvet Jesus became pretty important to me. I started talking to him throughout the day, quick prayers, questions about what to do, sometimes scolding him for getting me into this line of work."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the fourth Sunday of Lent (March 11, 2018).
Readings: Num. 21:4-9; Ps. 107:1-3, 17-22; Eph. 2:1-10; John 3:14-21
"For what matters more than what we know is how we love. True solidarity, true friendship, true love is putting our lives on the line for another, with one another."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Third Sunday of Lent (March 4, 2018).
Readings: Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22
Image: Mckeyhan Mancini (www.flickr.com/photos/mckeyhan), distributed under a CC BY 2.0 license.
"In the desert, it's just you and your thoughts. There are few comforts; there are many threats... Temptations come, unique to us, attacking our identity. "Who do you think you are?" a sinister voice coils in our ear. "This is how life is, it will never get better," a voice whispers.
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the First Sunday of Lent (February 18, 2018).
Readings: Genesis 9:8-17; Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:9-15
Image: Jeppestown (www.flickr.com/photos/jeppestown), distributed under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.
"Have we got action and reflection going on here? Are we responding to what people really need? But also are we praying about why or how we would respond to people's needs. Do we know the mission and purpose out of why we do respond? It takes both action and reflection according to Jesus."
Father Tom Honderich preaches on the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (February 4, 2018).
Readings: Isaiah 40:21-31; Psalm 147:1-11, 20c; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-39
Image: 23 Images Photography (www.flickr.com/photos/jeffandmeredithpurganan), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license.
"A modern Christian, I found practices like the laying on of hands beyond the pale, irrational. So I returned to my own private prayer, but I kept one eye open to watch what was going on."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the fourth Sunday after the Epiphany (January 28, 2018).
Readings: Deut. 18:15-20; Ps. 111; 1 Cor. 8:1-13; Mk. 1:21-28
Image: AmslerPIX (https://www.flickr.com/photos/amslerpix/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
"In this dark time, at any dark time, we have a choice: stare only at the dark, sink into the mire of the awful that we humans do to one another, certain that nothing we do matters. Or we can look to the horizon, see the birds wheeling above, see what's worth saving, and look the Son, who promises us that even now the kingdom is near, and invites us to follow."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the third Sunday after the Epiphany (January 21, 2018).
Readings: Jon. 3:1-5, 10; Ps. 62:5-12; 1 Cor. 7:29-31; Mk. 1:14-20
Image: Paul Stewart (https://www.flickr.com/photos/astrostew/), public domain.
"Jesus comes from every crappy place you can imagine: the poorest places, the villages withour running water, the countries with volatile governments, cities where children attend schools without heat in winter or the water system poisons the people with lead, the rural areas overwhelmed with opioid addictions and overdoses, places where natural disasters have crushed infrastructure, and people are struggling to rebuild."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the second Sunday after Epiphany (January 14, 2018).
Readings: 1 Sam. 3:1-20; Ps. 139:1-5, 12-17; 1 Cor. 6:12-26; Jn. 1:43-51
Image: "Harvey Day 5-12" by J. Daniel Escareño (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jdescareno/), distributed under a CC BY-ND license.
"Baptism is not a guarantee that our lives will be easy; it is not a promise that God has a perfect plan for our lives. It is a promise that we are deeply known and loved, so beloved that we can risk giving love away to a world in desperate need of it."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the first Sunday after the Epiphany (January 7, 2018).
Readings: Gen. 1:1-5; Ps. 29; Acts 19:1-8; Mk. 1:4-11.
Image: Ahmed Ibn-Lahoucine (https://www.flickr.com/photos/elevationmann/), distributed under a CC BY license.
"We gaze upon the infant Jesus, gurgling in his mother's arms, as she smiles beatifically upon him, as kings kneel before him. But, as we look at the Magi and Mary looking adoringly at Jesus, we must realize, too, that the infant Jesus looks back...at us."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Eve of the Epiphany (January 5, 2018).
Readings: Is. 60:1-6; Ps. 72-1-7, 10-14; Eph. 3:1-12; Matt. 2:1-12
"In dark times we need hope. Not false hope, not unfounded optimism, but glimmers of the good, signs that all is not lost."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the first Sunday after Christmas (December 31, 2017).
Readings: Is. 61:10-62:3; Ps. 147:13-21; Gal. 3:23-25, 4:4-7; Jn. 1:1-18.
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on Christmas Eve 2017.
Readings: Is. 9:2-7; Ps. 96; Tit. 2:11-14; Lk. 2:1-20
“This is the irrational season…had Mary been filled with reason, or fear, there’d be no room for the child.“
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 24, 2017).
Readings: 2 Samuel 7:11, 16; Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26, Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38
Image: Linus BK (www.flickr.com/photos/lkafka), distributed under a CC BY-ND 2.0 license.
"We must testify to the light, although we are not the light, not in charge, not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the prophet. But we are Christians, standing at the foot of the manger, at the foot of the cross, pointing to the light of the world."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the third Sunday of Advent (December 17, 2017).
Readings: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Luke 1:46-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
“With the day-to-day injustices that seem to never end, we as a people who follow the God who has remained steadfast and faithful throughout recorded history not only rely on that hope, but are called to share that hope with those who experience these issues.“
Mr. Patrick Burke preaches on the Second Sunday of Advent (December 10, 2017).
Readings: Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8
Image: Michael Toy (www.flickr.com/photos/mtoy), distributed under a CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 license.
"We live in a 'winter is coming' world, where the clouds are gathering, the dark is rising, and we're starting to think that it all might come to an end. But we have a 'summer is coming' God.
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the first Sunday of Advent (Dec. 3, 2017).
Readings: Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37
Image: Denis Collette (https://www.flickr.com/photos/deniscollette/), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND license.
"What if we today are the servants with two talents or even five talents? New Testament scholars still debate how much a talent is worth. Conservative scholars estimate the talent's value around $30,000; more loosey-goosey scholars tell us that a talent is worth roughly $1.25 million. So let's go wild this morning and side with the liberals! Congratulations! You and I are multi-millionaires!"
The Rev. Dr. Gray Lesesne preaches on the twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost (November 19, 2017).
Readings: Judges 4:1-7; Psalm 123; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30
“So, Beloved, keep the faith, say your prayers, love one another, trust in God, so that when the dark comes—and come it will—when the waiting seems too long, and it times it will, you stay put, trusting the Bridegroom will arrive.“
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost (November 12, 2017).
Readings: Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25; Psalm 78:1-7; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13.
"Living as a Christian - I mean, really living living as a Christian, following the radical teachings of Jesus isn't easy, which is why being part of a community is so important."
The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows preaches on the twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost (November 5, 2017).
Readings: Joshua 3:7-17; Ps. 107:17-7, 33-37; 1 Thes. 2:9-14; Matt. 23:1-12.
Image: Tom Hard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/thart2009/) distributed under a CC-BY license.
"The Saints do not ignore the world as it is, but they have a kind of double vision, seeing the troubles of this world, its mixed-up values, while still able to see the Kingdom of God as the hope of what should be, of what is breaking in, and then choosing to live there and by those values of blessedness, rather than by the values of our tired old world."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on All Saints' Day (November 1, 2017).
Readings: 1 John 3:1-3; Psalm 34:1-10, 22; Revelation 7:9-17; Matthew 5:1-12
"In whatever way Mrs Hodgkins offended God's holy laws, she knew the grace and forgiveness of God and more importantly — she shared it with her neighbors."
The Rev. Michael Stichweh preaches on the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost (October 29, 2017).
Readings: Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Matthew 22:34-46
"Jesus may have escaped the trap that the Pharisees set for him, but he left a saying that has trapped Christians ever since: 'Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's.'"
The Rev. Tom Honderich preaches on the twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (October 22, 2017).
Readings: Ex. 33:12-23; Ps. 99; 1 Thes. 1:1-10; Mat. 22:15-22.
Image: Kevin Dooley (https://www.flickr.com/photos/pagedooley/) distributed under a CC BY license.
“So he invited everyone: good and bad, rich and poor, beggars and prostitutes, tax collectors and soldiers, Republicans and Democrats and Independents, Americans and North Koreans, Internet trolls and ACLU supporters, those who’ve lived admirable, saintly lives and those who have erred, screwed up, not been very nice. Everyone gets invited, everyone is welcomed to the party where the food is sumptuous and the wine flows. The only requirement for being there is to say “yes” to the invitation, to accept the generosity of the host.”
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (October 15, 2017).
Readings: Exodus 32:1-14; Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23; Philippians 4:1-9; Matthew 22:1-14
"This is tough for us, we humans neurally hardwired to punch back when punched, to think the only way to oppose violence is with more violence. But it is not God's way."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (October 8, 2017).
Readings: Ex. 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20; Ps. 19; Phil. 3:4b-14; Matt. 21:33-46.
Image: Gerry Menacsa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/gerrym/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
"In a country where so many command that we must stand for the flag, but never bow to the weak who need help; where the highest good is too often the individual who warns, 'Don't tread on me'; we turn to the only One who has true authority over us."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (October 1, 2017).
Readings: Ex. 17:1-7; Ps. 78:1-4, 12-16; Phil. 2:1-13; Matt. 21:23-32
Image: "Gadsden Flag" by jackiembarr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jackiembarr/), distributed under a CC BY license.
"Even as we celebrate St. Michael's triumph in heaven and ask the help of all the angels, the devil now prowls the earth, where we are, struggling with Satan, or if you are of a more metaphorical mindset, with evil and sin."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels (transferred, September 24, 2017).
Readings: Gen. 28:10-17; Ps. 103:1-2, 19-22; Rev. 12:7-12; Jn. 1:47-51.
Image: Coventry Cathedral by Herry Lawford (https://www.flickr.com/photos/herry/), distributed under a CC BY license.
“That’s the kingdom of heaven: a cross-shaped economy of grace and mercy and forgiveness; where the king refuses to be in the sin-accounting business anymore. None of us will get what we deserve. Thanks be to God.“
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (September 17, 2017).
Readings: Exodus 14:19-31; Psalm 114; Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 18:21-35.
Image: Damon Winter/The New York Times
"If one holds the cynical view that human relationships are merely transactional, based on a tit-for-tat ethic, then it's impossible to understand why the church, why Christians, why we, would defend, care for, love, people for any reason other than personal gain."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (September 10, 2017). Due to some technical issues the first couple of minutes of the sermon are missing.
Readings: Ex. 12:1-14; Ps. 149; Rom. 13:8-14; Mat. 18:15-20.
"Friends, no matter how we slice it, the only things that matter spiritually are divine things: our spiritual monument, our spiritual intentions, and most of all, our spiritual actions and outcomes."
Deacon Brantley Alexander preaches on the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost (September 3, 2017).
Readings: Exodus 3:1-15; Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28
Image: Cody Jones (www.codyljones.com), all rights reserved.
"Because they knew who their God was — the Creator who brought them and all creation into being — and called it all good, they saved baby boys, one of whom was Moses, who later led all of the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. Who you say God is determines what you do next."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (August 27, 2017).
Readings: Exodus 1:8-2:10; Psalm 124; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20.
Image: Mike Maguire (www.flickr.com/photos/mikespeaks), distributed under a CC BY 2.0 license.
"Often when we are faced with the raw pain of another, we try to ignore it, hoping it will go away, and we can turn to something more pleasant. And if that doesn't work, we take comfort from friends who assure us this isn't our problem."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (August 20, 2017).
Readings: Gen. 45:1-15; Ps. 133; Rom 11:1-2a; Matt. 15:10-28
Image: Brooke Novak (https://www.flickr.com/photos/brookenovak/), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND license.
Mr. Patrick Burke preaches on the Feast of St. Mary the Virgin, transferred (August 13, 2017).
Readings: Is. 61:10-11; Ps. 34:1-9; Gal. 4:4-7; Lk 1:46-55.
Image: Dimitris Kamaras (https://www.flickr.com/photos/127226743@N02/), distributed under a CC BY license.
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Feast of the Transfiguration (August 6, 2017).
Readings: Ex.34:29-35; Ps. 99; 2 Pet. 1:13-21; Lk. 9:28-36
Image: Andrea Kirkby (https://www.flickr.com/photos/andreakirkby/) distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
“I’d say Jesus is keeping the Kingdom weird or making it weird. And He’s inviting us to be weird, too. After all, if we risk everything we have to follow God, if we’re willing to have our whole lives changed, well, let’s face it - most people won’t understand. They’ll think we’re weirdos.”
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Eighth Sunday of Pentecost (July 30, 2017).
Readings: Genesis 29:15-28; Psalm 128; Romans 8:26-39; Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
Image: The Unipiper (snippier.com)
“Turns out we’re terrible at telling wheat from weeds and that if we start weeding, we’ll do nothing but focus on weeds rather than seeking the beautiful crop of wheat. God’s good kingdom, growing up around us.“
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Seventh Sunday of Pentecost (July 23, 2017).
Readings: Genesis 28:10-19a; Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24; Romans 8:12-25; Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Image: Sleepy Claus (flickr.com/sleepyclaus), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
"There is a wonderful mystery in the emergence of plants. We plant, yes, but we are not in final control of what happens. This parable reminds us that even though we may be planting seeds for the in-breaking Kingdom of God, the timing and ultimate germination of this Kingdom is not in our control."
Brother Daniel-Chad Hoffman preaches on the sixth Sunday after Pentecost (July 16, 2017).
Readings: Gen. 25:19-34; Ps. 119:105-112; Rom. 8:1-11; Matt. 13:1-9, 18-23
Image: "The Sower" (Millet), photograph by Thomas Hawk (https://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
"Whatever our fears are, they are from us: from our culture, from our brokenness. Whether they’re rational or not can certainly be debated, but they are not from God. Justice and mercy: they are from God, and when we make the choice to resort to violence, that is not from God. That is not living into the Kingdom, and as Christians, that is what we’re called to do.” #AaronBailey
Mr. Patrick Burke preaches on the Fourth Sunday of Pentecost (July 2, 2017).
Readings: Genesis 22:1-14; Psalm 13; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:40-42.
Image: Christ Church Cathedral, Indianapolis
"John the Baptist's version of faith is too hard! Jesus' is too easy! Just like us, they want what THEY want: a God, a faith, that is 'just right.' And, of course, 'just right' usually means 'just like me.' Not surprisingly, Jesus isn't having it."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the fifth Sunday after Pentecost (July 9, 2017).
Readings: Gen. 24:34-38, 42-49; Ps. 45:10-17; Rom. 7:15-25a; Matt. 11:16-19, 25-30.
Image: Rick Gordon (https://www.flickr.com/photos/rgordon/), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND license.
"Thurman is writing to men and women of color, but even among the majority of us in this congregation who are white, many of us know in our bones what this feels like: that for some of us to hold hands or present as one's true gender in public is to invite violence; that to struggle with health or money solicits derision from congressmen who say it would all be affordable if you just bought a cheaper phone."
Brendan O'Sullivan-Hale preaches on the third Sunday after Pentecost (June 25, 2017).
Readings: Genesis 21:8-21; Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17; Romans 6:1b-11; Matthew 10:24-39
Image: Alberto Alerigi (https://www.flickr.com/photos/albertoalerigi/), distributed under a CC BY license.
"The Anglican Communion had been struggling over our identity for some time as the British Empire collapsed but the churches birthed by the Church of England remained. The consecration of Gene Robinson was a flashpoint for the Church. The crisis led to a conversation about what held us together as a worldwide body - our history? The Archbishop of Canterbury? Our shared liturgy?"
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Feast of Corpus Christi (June 18, 2017).
Readings: Deut. 8:2-3; Ps. 116:10-17; 1 Cor. 10:1-4, 16-17; Jn. 6:47-58.
Image: Karin Hamilton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/episcopalct/_, distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
Gordon Chastain, Geoffrey Butcher, and Tom Honderich remember the Rev. Tom McCart at his funeral, June 17, 2017.
"It's why the doctrine of the Trinity resonates with us so well: this interplay and this dance between Father, Son, and Spirit Is relational. It includes all of creation, which is blessed and good in the eyes of God." Mr. Patrick Burke preaches on Trinity Sunday (June 11, 2017). Readings: Genesis 1:1-2:4a; Psalm 8; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20.
Image: Joanna Young (flickr.com/joanna_young), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
"The Holy Spirit is calling us, we the Church, out into the world - now and always." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Feast of Pentecost (June 4, 2017). Readings: Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b; Romans 8:22-27; John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15. Image: © Tim Jensen, used with permission.
"For each of us there is a place in God's house; there is a place especially for you, Erin, on that's not about how good or wonderful you are, but one that's about loving you for exactly who you are."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches at the ordination of Erin Hougland to the Sacred Order of Deacons on June 1, 2017.
Readings: Jer. 1:4-9; Ps. 84; Acts 6:2-7; Lk. 22:24-27
"Let's not stare up into heaven, waiting for the coming of the Kingdom. We who are in the world must love it for the sake of God."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the seventh Sunday of Easter (May 28, 2017).
Readings: Acts 1:6-14; Ps. 68:1-10, 32-36; 1 Pet. 4:12-14, 5:5-11; Jn. 17:1-11.
Image: Clive A. Brown (https://www.flickr.com/photos/cliveabrown/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
“The Church is a ship, keeping us safe, but that doesn’t mean that ship is to seek safety." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the sixth Sunday of Easter (May 21, 2017). Readings: Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:8-20; 1 Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21.
"Left to its own devices, a rat would return to the bottle with cocaine over and over again until it died. But a later researcher examining the study noticed that there was always just one rat in each cage with nothing to do but choose between two bottles. So he ran the experiment again."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the fifth Sunday of Easter (May 14, 2017).
Readings: Acts 7:55-60; Ps. 31:1-5, 15-16; 1 Pet. 2:2-10; Jn 14:1-14
Image: Paul Narvaez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_photographer/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license
"The role of the shepherd is a matter of presence more than anything else. Political forces, social mores, and plain stupidity are powerful and real enemies of faith. Confrontation is critical, but it does not change opinions. Ultimately, presence is what changes hearts."
The Rev. Tom Honderich preaches on the fourth Sunday of Easter (May 7, 2017).
Readings: Acts 2:42-47; 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10; Psalm 23
Image: MCAD Library (https://www.flickr.com/photos/69184488@N06/), distributed under a CC BY license.
"What are we to make of this story of two folks who make a round trip from Jerusalem to Emmaus and back? What can we take away from a biblical story with a happy ending?" The Rev. Brantley Alexander preaches on the third Sunday of Easter.
Readings: Acts 2:14a,36-41; Psalm 116:1-3, 10-17; 1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35
Image: "Emmaus Road" by Sarah Brush (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahhamilton/), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND license.
“Peace. Forgiveness. Vulnerability. Being sent out to do His work. Those are the qualities of the risen Lord. That’s how we know Jesus in our lives. That’s how we show Jesus to the world.“ The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Second Sunday of Easter (April 23, 2017). Readings: Acts 2:14a, 22-32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31
"This is the night when we hear God's word coming down to us, speaking to us, the night we move from fear to hope." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches at the Easter Vigil (Saturday, April 15, 2017). Readings: Genesis 22:1-18; Exodus 14:10-31, 15:20-21; Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21, 9:4b-6; Zephaniah 3:14-20; Romans 6:3-11; Matthew 28:1-10. Image: Stephanie Harris, used with permission.
"We are a fearful, violent people when we look to the state rather than to our God, when we look to ourselves rather than to God, when we choose fear over hope, judgment over love, violence instead of peace. And I confess to you, on this Good Friday, I no longer hope that we're going to change."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on Good Friday (April 14, 2017).
Readings: Is. 52:13-53:12; Ps. 69; Heb. 10:16-25; Jn. 18:1-19:37.
Image: Thomas Hawk (https://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
“Tonight, we leave this place speechless, surrounded by darkness. We don’t turn our backs on the unspeakable pain that all-embracing love must undergo. We let the darkness itself open our eyes. We let the silence speak with meaning no words can capture." The Rev. Dr. Charles Allen preaches on Maundy Thursday (April 13, 2017). Readings: Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 116:1, 10-19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35.
"Today, we enter the drama. Faithfulness or expedience? Humility or power? The way of the cross or the way of injustice? This week, we choose." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday (April 9, 2017). Readings: Matthew 21:1-11; Psalm 118; Isaiah 50:4-9; Psalm 31:9-16; Phillipians 2:5-11; Matthew 26:14-27:66. Image: Friends of Father Pedro Opeka (flickr.com/akamasoa), used under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license.
"Jesus doesn't prevent the calamity, doesn't work in magic tricks, turning back time, forcing weather or biology or our own human hearts to his will. Rather, Jesus works with what is."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the fifth Sunday of Lent (April 2, 2017).
Readings: Ez. 37:1-14; Ps. 130; Rom. 8:6-11; Jn. 11:1-45.
Image: Tim (https://www.flickr.com/photos/79890322@N02/), distributed under a CC BY license.
"Suddenly, the witch interrupts, noting that though they could come up with a solution, what they're really interested in is finding fault. And doesn't that just get at something about us?"
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the fourth Sunday of Lent (March 26, 2017).
Readings: 1 Sam. 16:1-13; Ps. 23; Eph. 5:8-14; Jn. 9:1-41
Image: Pedro Nuno Caetano (https://www.flickr.com/photos/pedrocaetano/), distributed under a CC BY license.
“…and it’s not because he forgives their sins. It’s not because he explains some complicated history or theology to them. His salvation is this: a conversation. Seeing, knowing, and loving the one before him.” The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the third Sunday of Lent (March 19, 2017). Readings: Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 95, Romans 5:1-11, John 4:5-42
"We try to come to Jesus in the hope of being and doing better. Of making a difference in the world. All too often we are faced with the reality of just how deep our sin goes and how broken our world is." Mr. Patrick Burke preaches on the Second Sunday in Lent (March 12, 2017). Readings: Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17. Image: Jamie (flickr.com/jamiesrabbits),used under a CC by 2.0 license.
"Then when the voices come, the ones enticing us to be other than we truly are, the ones talking to us from the gas pump on the side of the road, we can rest instead in our belovedness." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the first Sunday of Lent (March 5, 2017). Readings: Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11. Image: Wrote (flickr.com/wrote), used under a CC by 2.0 license.
“Lent is a season for truth-telling. This is the time when we admit where we have gone wrong. Instead of looking to hand off the responsibility or the blame to another person or event or circumstance, this is the time we look only at ourselves.” The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on Ash Wednesday (March 1, 2017). Readings: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, Psalm 51, 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21.
"Despite the glorious Transfiguration, despite the words from God: 'This is my Son, my Beloved...Listen to him,' well, this is clarity we just might not want."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the last Sunday after the Epiphany (February 26, 2017).
Readings: Ex. 24:12-18; Ps. 2; 2 Pet. 1:16-21; Matt. 17:1-9
Image: Sina S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sinax/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
“We will need to resist injustice- that’s one of the ways we Christians are called to be perfect, to be holy, to be separate from a world that still too often loves to oppress and divide- but even as we do that, we are called to love, love even our enemies, even those who persecute us- for we are never to give up on anyone because, as Congressman [John] Lewis says, “Hate is too heavy a burden to bear.“ The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the seventh Sunday after Epiphany (February 19, 2017). Readings: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18; Psalm 119:33-40; 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23; Matthew 5:38-48
"God is not interested in a sin management plan for individuals. Rather, he has a plan for transformation into a new creation."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the sixth Sunday after the Epiphany (February 12, 2017).
Readings: Deut. 30:15-20; Ps. 119:1-8; 1 Cor. 3:1-9; Matt. 5:21-37.
Image: dmitri_66 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/dmitri66/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
"When Jesus tell his disciples 'You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world,' he's reminding them of who they truly are: followers and lovers of God, no matter where they are, no matter what government they live under, or how deep into exile they go."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the fifth Sunday after the Epiphany (February 5, 2017).
Readings: Is. 58:1-12; Ps. 112; 1 Cor. 2:1-16; Mat. 5:13-20
Image: furtwangl (https://www.flickr.com/photos/furtwangl/) distributed under a CC BY license.
“But the very ones who are struggling, suffering, the ones who are overlooked and powerless, those - we, when we’re in that place - are the ones God loves especially. That’s who the kingdom is made of." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on Epiphany IV (January 29, 2017). Readings: Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Matthew 5:1-12 Image- Cody Jones, used with permission.
"For, Beloved, when we are called, we are not called just to do something, we are called to be something." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the third Sunday after Epiphany (January 22, 2017). Readings: Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1, 5-13; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23. Image: BARMCD (flickr.com/bar-portfolio), used under a CC BY-NC 2.0 license.
"To become set aside as a royal person, or to be appointed by God as a king or prophet, you'd need to have at least a pint of oil poured over your head." The Rev. Brantley Alexander preaches on the second Sunday after the Epiphany (January 15, 2017).
Readings: Is. 49:1-7; Ps. 40:1-12; 1 Cor 1:1-9; Jn. 1:29-42
“If the great surprise is that John and we need to see Jesus anew…that means we are free, free not just from ourselves, but free to enter into the mess and the muck of one another’s lives.” The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the first Sunday of Epiphany, The Baptism of Our Lord (January 8, 2017). Readings: Isaiah 42:1-9, Psalm 29, Acts 10:34-43, Matthew 3:13-17. Image: conejoazul (flickr.com/photos/conejoazul), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license.
"This tradition of using the natural world to guide us is ancient, though fading as we turn to GPS and our phones. But in the ancient world, mountains, and bodies of water, and stars were the way to steer one's course." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6, 2016).
Readings: Is. 60:1-6; Ps. 72:1-7, 10-14; Eph. 2:1-12; Matt. 2:1-12
Image: strftime (https://www.flickr.com/photos/deromanok/), distributed under a CC BY license.
"And I don't know how many of you've ever come up against people who will say, 'Have you been saved?' And finally I decided the answer would be, 'from what?'" The Reverend Jackie Means preaches on the Feast of the Holy Name (January 1, 2017). Readings: Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 8; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:15-21. Image: Ordination of Jackie Means at All Saints on January 1, 1977 (World Wide Photos/Episcopal Archives).
“We can know that our lives, though small, are never insignificant, because we know that God has joined us in them." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on Christmas Eve (December 24, 2016). Readings: Isaiah 9:2-7, Psalm 96, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-14. Image by sputnik (flickr.com/photos/hellosputnik/), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license.
"I know you want to be safe; I'm asking you to break the rules for love." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the fourth Sunday of Advent (December 18, 2016). Readings: Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25. Image: Lawrence OP (flickr.com/paullew), distributed under a CC BY-NC 2.0 license.
"It was there in the parish hall, with a glass of sherry in one hand and a Christmas cookie in the other, that I was attacked by an owl. She screeched, 'Are you the preacher who compared our congregation to a fruitcake?'"
The Rev. Michael Stichweh preaches on the third Sunday of Advent (December 11, 2016). Readings: Is. 35:1-10; Lk. 1:46-55; James 5:7-10; Matt. 11:2-11.
Image: Eduardo Skinner, distributed under a CC BY-NC license (https://www.flickr.com/photos/eduardoskinner/).
"It's okay if we take some time in prayer to be ready for the next phase of our mission; in fact, it's an expected and wonderful part of the journey." Patrick Burke preaches on the first Sunday of Advent (November 27, 2016). Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44. Image: liz west (flickr.com/calliope), distributed under a CC BY 2.0 license.
"In Christ's kingdom, there is no contempt for the suffering, only love and solidarity; in his kingdom, there is lavish mercy and forgiveness. In his kingdom, there is true love - but it is a costly love."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Feast of Christ the King (November 20, 2016).
Readings: Jer. 23:1-6; Ps. 46; Col. 1:11-20; Lk. 23:33-43.
Image: Lawrence OP (https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/), distributed on a CC BY-NC-ND license.
"For wherever lines are drawn or walls are built, Jesus is always with those who are being pushed out. That's where we are to be, too." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost. Readings: Malachi 4:1-2a, Psalm 98, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Luke 21:5-19. Image: Victoria Pickering (flickr.com/vpickering), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license.
"If we're going to believe in the God of the Bible, the God of Jesus, we simply have to be willing not to know all the details." The Right Rev. Catherine Waynick, Bishop of the Diocese of Indianapolis, preaches on the twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost (November 6, 2016). Readings: Job 19:23-27a; Psalm 17:1-9; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17; Luke 20:27-38. Image: Lawrence OP (flickr.com/paullew), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license.
“If you feel more sinner than saint, if your language is salty, if your temper is less than even, if vanity is your vice - don’t despair. You’re in good company." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on All Saints’ Day (November 1, 2016). Readings: Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18, Psalm 149, Ephesians 1:11-23, Luke 6:20-31 Image- Amber(flickr.com/photos/amccy), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license.
"Beloved, you are beautiful, I love you, and God adores you." The Rev. E Suzanne Wille preaches on the twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost. Readings: Isaiah 1:10-18, Psalm 32: 1-8, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12, Luke 19:1-10.
(Apologies that the recording of this week's sermon has some mic issues up till about 1:45 - hang in there!.) "...if we within Christian community draw lines between ourselves and others, as Biblical scholar David Lose writes, we're going to keep finding God on the other side." Brendan O'Sullivan-Hale preaches on the twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost (October 23, 2016). Readings: Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22; Psalm 84:1-6; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-14. Image: Stephanie Harris.
"Some rough edges require softening, but the rough edges that keep us sharp and fierce enough to wrestle with God, to cry out for justice? Well, those, I think we'd better keep."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost (October 16, 2016).
Readings: Gen. 32:22-31; Ps. 121; 2 Tim. 3:14-4:5; Lk. 18:1-8.
Image: Duarte JH (https://www.flickr.com/photos/duartejh/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
"How healthy is my ministry of care and concern for my family, my friends, my neighbors, my acquaintances?" The Rev. Brantley Alexander preaches on the twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost (October 9, 2016). Readings: 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c, 2:1-4; Psalm 111; 2 Timothy 2:8-15; Luke 17:11-19. Image: Cody Jones (www.codyljones.com), used with permission.
"The size of our faith doesn't matter. God matters." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (October 2, 2016). Readings: Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4; Psalm 37:1-10; 2 Timothy 1:1-14; Luke 17:5-10. Image: adamnsinger (flickr.com/77437968@N00), distributed under a CC BY-ND 2.0 license.
“We honor St. Michael and all the angels when we listen to God’s messages that we are called to do scary things that sound impossible now and will only sound like good news later." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels (September 25, 2016). Readings: Genesis 28:10-17, Revelation 12:7-12, John 1:47-51, Psalm 103.
"When leaders offer bold visions, encouraging their people to struggle against the odds for something larger than themselves, they give us hope and life."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the 16th Sunday after Pentecost (September 4, 2016).
Readings: Deut. 30:15-20; Ps. 1; Phil. 1-21; Lk. 14:25-33.
Image: fourthandfifteen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/chelmsfordblue/), distributed under a CC BY license.
"So what are we to learn from this wily manager's approach, which is dishonest all the way around, and from the commendation of it, that we, too, ought to make use of dishonest wealth?"
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the 18th Sunday after Pentecost (September 18, 2016).
Readings: Amos 8:4-7; Ps. 113; 1 Tim. 2:1-7; Lk. 16:1-13.
This sermon incorporates ideas from Barbara Rossing (workingpreacher.org)and Sarah Dylan Breuer (sarahlaughed.net).
Image: Jason Comely (https://www.flickr.com/photos/rinkjustice/), distributed under a CC BY license.
"We can take the Shepherd and the Woman as images for a God who never, ever, stops searching for us, no matter how lost we are - feeling distant from God, struggling with illness or addiction, beset by some grief that won't let us go..." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (September 11, 2016). Readings: Exodus 32:7-14; Psalm 51:1-11; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-10. Image: Kelly Garbato (flickr.com/smiteme), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license.
“The reality of His kingdom is that people are invited to the table who we wouldn’t expect, people who are different, people who are not thought of as acceptable, people who are hard to love, people who do not fit the status quo.” The Rev. Tom Honderich preaches on the fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (August 28, 2016). Readings: Sirach 10:12-18, Psalm 112, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Luke 14:1, 7-14.
“Keeping the Sabbath isn’t about doing nothing fun at all on Sunday. The Sabbath was instituted not to punish us but to free us." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (August 21, 2016). Readings: Isaiah 58:9b-14, Psalm 103:1-8, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17 Image- Devlin Thompson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/devlinthompson/), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license.
"She doesn't just say that God will lift up the lowly and fill the hungry and bring down the proud and the rich. Rather, she puts all that in the past tense, trusting that God has already done what God has promised." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Feast of St. Mary the Virgin, Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ (August 14, 2016). Readings: Isaiah 61:10-11; Psalm 34:1-9; Galatians 4:4-7; and Luke 1:46-55. Image: Lawrence OP (flickr.com/paullew), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license.
"It started with a story of some friends having a great dinner party at their home... it was one of those magical nights, you know the kind of night I'm talking about." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (August 7, 2016). Readings: Genesis 15:1-6; Psalm 33:12-22; Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16; Luke 12:32-40. Image: Hjalti Þór Daviðsson (flickr.com/hjaltiphotography), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license. Listen to the NPR episode referenced in this sermon here: npr.org/programs/invisibilia/485603559/flip-the-script.
"Not many find a way to be both rich and faithful." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (July 31, 2016). Readings: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14, 2:18-23; Psalm 49:1-11; Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 12:13-21. Image: mickeyvdo (flickr.com/mc-pictures), distributed under a CC BY 2.0 license.
"We all know this prayer so intimately that I wonder if we even think about it any more, which is part of its beauty. We don't have to think about it." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the tenth Sunday after Pentecost (July 24, 2016).
Readings: Gen. 18:20-32; Ps. 138; Col. 2:6-19; Lk. 11:1-13.
Image: Enrico Prins (https://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrico/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
"Are you sadder than usual? Angrier? Are you losing hope? Wherever you are, you're not alone." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (July 17, 2016). Readings: Genesis 18:1-10a; Psalm 15; Colossians 1:15-28; and Luke 10:38-42. Image: Matthew Aldridge (flickr.com/mpaldridge), distributed under a CC by 2.0 license.
"Let's not be too quick to cast ourselves in the role of the Samaritan. Let's take a look at the parts of ourselves that are lying wounded on the side of the road." Mr. Brendan O'Sullivan-Hale preaches on the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (July 10, 2016). This sermon owes a debt to Fr. Marcus Halley's reflection, "What white churches can do about racism... aside from just praying" (https://blackandwhiteandinlivingcolor.com/2016/07/09/what-white-churches-can-do-about-racism-aside-from-just-praying). Readings: Deuteronomy 30:9-14; Psalm 25:1-9; Colossians 1:1-14; and Luke 10:25-37. Image: Phil Roeder (flickr.com/tabor-roeder), distributed under a CC by 2.0 license.
"Independence and dependence. Two approaches to life. One is unrealistic when you get right down to it, and the other is obviously impractical. So what shall we do to balance them?" The Rev. Tom Honderich preaches on the seventh Sunday after Pentecost (July 3, 2016). Readings: Isaiah 66:10-14; Psalm 66:1-8; Galatians 6:1-16; Luke 10:1-11, 16-20. Image: Brent Finnegan (flickr.com/bfinnegan), distributed under a CC BY-NC 2.0 license.
"In the midst of our lives, when hatred arises, when fear threatens - let us respond with love." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the sixth Sunday after Pentecost (June 26, 2016). Readings: 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21; Psalm 16; Galatians 5:1, 13-25; Luke 9:51-62. Image: Mark Brunner
"Good news looks like crossing boundaries." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the fifth Sunday after Pentecost (June 19, 2016). Readings: Isaiah 65:1-9; Psalm 22:18-27; Galations 3:23-29; Luke 8:26-39. Image: Stephanie Harris.
"I wonder how many miss the good news of love and forgiveness because the risk of entering a church is too great, because too often they've heard the message of judgment, and not of Jesus." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the fourth Sunday after Pentecost (June 12, 2016).
Readings: 2 Sam. 11:26-12:10; Ps. 32; Gal. 2:15-21; Lk. 7:36-8:3.
Photo: Meghen McConnell
"The Eucharist is not a prize for the perfect but the food that God gives us." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on The Feast of the Body and Blood of Our Lord: Corpus Christi (May 29, 2016). Readings: Deuteronomy 8:2-3; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, 16-17; John 6:47-58. Image: Andrew Pantyukhin (flickr.com/infofarmer), distributed under a CC BY 2.0 license.
"If Jesus is God, on the night before He died, when Jesus was praying in the garden of Gethsemane, 'Remove this cup from me, yet not what I want but what you want,' who is Jesus praying to? And if Jesus is God, how can he pray, 'Not what I want, but what You want?'" Brendan O'Sullivan-Hale preaches on Trinity Sunday (May 22, 2016). Readings: Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; Romans 5:1-5; and John 16:12-15. Image: Andrea Kirkby (flickr.com/andreakirkby), distributed under a CC BY-NC 2.0 license.
"And, of course, the Holy Spirit didn't come just once, long ago..." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on The Day of Pentecost: Whitsunday (May 15, 2016). Readings: Acts 2:1-21; Romans 8:14-17; John 14:8-17, 25-27. Image: Waiting for the Word (flickr.com/waitingfortheword), distributed under a CC BY 2.0 license.
"How can I be saved so I'm not a prisoner to fear?" The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the seventh Sunday of Easter (May 8, 2016). Readings: Acts 16:16-34; Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21; John 17:20-26. Image: Matthias Müller (flickr.com/nachtheuel), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license.
"Without this vision, this communication, this guiding by the Holy Spirit, this meeting between businesswoman and missionary might never have happened." The Rev. Tom McCart preaches on the sixth Sunday after Easter (May 1, 2016).
Readings: Acts 16:9-15; Ps. 67; Rev. 21:10, 22-22:5; Jn. 14:23-29.
"Think about where we are as a society when we exclude immigrants, when we worry about what bathrooms transgender people use, when our political system prevents some people from voting because of their color...How do we usher in the Kingdom?" The Rev. Tom Honderich preaches on the fifth Sunday of Easter (April 24, 2016).
Reading: Acts 11:1-18; Ps. 148; Rev. 21:1-6; Jn. 13:31-35
Image: Pacheco (https://www.flickr.com/photos/pachecophotography/), distributed under a CC BY-ND license
"God is our shepherd, but shepherds are not dreamy creatures who wander around in a pastoral landscape, playing flutes." The The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Fourth Sunday of Easter (April 17, 2016). Readings: Acts 9:36-43; Revelation 7:9-17; John 10:22-30. Image: Gianluca Carnicella (flickr.com/ingirogiro), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license.
"When we are stripped of all, when we are mired in guilt or shame, grieving something we have done or something that's been done to us, so naked, so vulnerable that we are no longer relying upon ourselves but on God, God can redeem whatever we've done." The The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Third Sunday of Easter. Readings: Acts 9:1-20, Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19. Image: Chris Wells (flickr.com/photos/mrwellz), distributed under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.
"Beloved, Jesus is risen, but he is not unwounded. And out of his wounds - the physical marks left by nails, and the spiritual wounds left by betrayal and desertion, Jesus brings neither wrath nor retribution."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the second Sunday of Easter (April 3, 2016).
Readings: Acts 5:27-32; Ps. 150; Rev. 1:4-8; Jn. 20:19-31
Image: Lawrence OP (https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND license.
"But before the bread can be shared, it must be broken. Before the wine can be drunk, it must be poured. And so again by our actions tonight we are gathered up into the Mystery of Jesus." The Rev. Gordon Chastain preaches on Maundy Thursday (March 24, 2016).
Readings: Ex. 12:1-14; Ps. 116:1, 10-17; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Jn. 13:1-17, 31b-35; Matt. 26:30-46.
Image: Quinn Norton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/quinn/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
"How do you prepare to die when you've got less than a week to live?" The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on Palm Sunday. Readings: Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31 9-16, Phillipians 2:5-11, Luke 19:28-40
Image: Rachel Andrew (www.flickr.com/photos/rachelandrew/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
"What is the point of poetry during war, music in time of death, acts of kindness in a world roiling with anger, aflame with hatred, terrified of terror?" The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the fifth Sunday of Lent (March 13, 2016).
Readings: Is. 43:16-21; Ps. 126; Phil. 3:4b-14; Jn. 12:1-8.
"This is the story of the Prodigal Father, a parent who spends forgiveness and love recklessly, generously, lavishly, extravagantly." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches of the fourth Sunday of Lent. Readings: Joshua 5:9-12, Psalm 32, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32.
"That's the fear that political demagogues use to gain your vote and your allegiance; that's the fear that makes us afraid of stranger; that's the fear that builds walls."
The Rev. Michael Stichweh preaches on the third Sunday of Lent (February 28, 2016).
Readings: Ex. 3:1-15; Ps. 63; 1 Cor. 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9.
Image: Tony Webster (https://www.flickr.com/photos/diversey/), distributed under a CC BY license.
"Jesus does what any mother hen does: He puts himself between us and the fox, opening his wings wide to protect us, baring his own breast, giving his own life, so that we might be saved." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Second Sunday in Lent (February 21, 2016). Readings: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Psalm 27; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35. Image: Tambako The Jaguar (flickr.com/photos/tambako), distributed under a CC BY-ND 2.0 US License.
"What kind of gift can you imagine bringing to an infant, a king, who calls us to die to our old selves, even as he brings us new life?"
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6, 2016).
Is. 60:1-6; Ps. 72:1-7, 10-14; Eph. 3:1-13; Matt. 2:1-12
Image: Dave Harris (https://www.flickr.com/photos/brangdon_j/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
"We are made to love and serve God, to love and serve one another. Anything that tempts us away from that is identity theft." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the first Sunday of Lent (February 14, 2016).
Readings: Deut: 26:1-11; Ps. 91:1-2, 9-16; Rom. 108b-13; Lk. 4:1-13.
Image: Jonathan Colman (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jcolman/), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND license.
This sermon is inspired in part by "Lent 1 C: Identity Theft", by David Lose (http://www.davidlose.net/2016/02/lent-1-c-identity-theft/)
"Remember that you will die, but first you're going to screw up a few times." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on Ash Wednesday (February 10, 2016).
Readings: Is. 58:1-12; Ps. 51:1-17; 2 Cor. 5:20b-6:10; Matt. 6:1-6, 16:-21.
Image: Lazy Librarian (https://www.flickr.com/photos/angieharvey/), published under a CC BY-NC license.
"Hold on to the Holy, beloved; take it with you from the mountaintop so that you can see it also in the valley, where people are walking around, shining like the sun."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the last Sunday of Epiphany (February 7, 2016).
Readings: Ex. 34:29-35; Ps. 99; 2 Cor. 3:12-4:2; Lk. 9:28-43a.
Image: newelly54 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/newelly/), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND license.
"I may have used some R-rated words with some regularity: the person in front of me was going too slow; the person behind me too fast. And those people merging right before a lane was closing for constructions? Complete and total…well, I'm in the pulpit." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the third Sunday after the Epiphany (January 24, 2016).
Readings: 8:1-3; Ps. 19; 1 Cor. 12:12-31a; Lk. 4:14-21.
Image: K2D2Vaca (https://www.flickr.com/photos/k2d2vaca), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND license.
"Mary is making a 911 call, an SOS. This is a panic-stricken moment, a last chance." The Rev. Dr. Gray Lesesne preaches on the second Sunday after the Epiphany (January 17, 2016).
Readings: Is. 62:1-5; Ps. 35:5-10; 1 Cor. 12:1-11; Jn. 2:1-11
Image: Lawrence OP (https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND license.
"I now part company with the Bard when he insists, 'What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.' Well, maybe. But our names matter."
The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord (January 10, 2016).
Readings: Is. 43:1-7; Ps. 29; Acts 8:14-17; Lk 3:15-17, 21-22.
"The miracle of the incarnation is not something to be pondered in a day". The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the first Sunday after Christmas (December 27, 2015).
"Come All Ye Faithful, Joyful and Triumphant ?" The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on Christmas 2015. Distributed under a CC-BY-NC 2,0 US License
"Singing also helps us live into feelings we don't yet possess: hope, joy, faith."
Readings: Mic. 5:2-5a; Heb. 10:5-10; Lk. 1:L39-55.
Image: St. George's School (https://www.flickr.com/photos/stgeorgesschool/), distributed under a CC BY license.
"John answers to people's own lives, to who they are and how they live right now: 'whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.'"
Readings: Zeph. 3:14-20; Is. 12:2-6; Phil. 4:4-7; Lk. 3:7-18.
Image:
"During this season we are to be detectives of hope, discoverers of joy, sleuths of holiness." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the first Sunday of Advent (November 29, 2015).
Readings: Jer. 33:14-16; Ps. 25:1-10; 1 Thess. 3:9-13; Lk. 21:25-36.
Image: Pascal (https://www.flickr.com/photos/pasukaru76/), placed in public domain.
"Of all the devastations of that time, the one that most deeply affected him was realizing that these young men were not equipped to face death, that there was no difference between those raised in the church and those raised outside the church." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on Christ the King Sunday (November 22, 2015).
Readings: 2 Sam. 23:1-7; Ps. 132:1-13; Rev. 1:4b-8; Jn. 18:33-37.
Inn a scholarly and witty sermon, Fr. Charles Allen chronicles the genealogy and misbehavior of Ruth and Boaz, suggesting that without the very human misbehavior of these Biblical characters there would be no Jesus.
On this All Saints Day, Mother Suzanne Wille describes saints as those whose purpose in life is to know, love, and serve God and God's people.
"She showed up at an evening service and was clearly very devout, but when I talked to her after Mass it became clear that she was, well, a little drunk." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost (October 25, 2015).
Readings: Job 42:1-6, 10-17; Ps. 34:-18; Heb. 7:23-38; Mk. 10:46-52 Image: Can Pac Swire (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18378305@N00/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
"'I wonder if one of you kids can give me a word for what God is like,' he said. A young boy piped up immediately: 'Dangerous!'" Brendan O'Sullivan-Hale preaches on the twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost (October 18, 2015). Readings: Job 38:1-7, 34-41; Ps. 104:1-9, 25, 37b; Heb. 5:1-10; Mk. 10:35-45.
Image: NASA
"Diagnosis? Terminal self-importance, progressive self-reliance. Prescription? Shed all that is false." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the 20th Sunday after Pentecost (October 11, 2015). Readings: Job 23:1-9, 16-17; Psalm 22:1-15; Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31.
Image: Nicolás Boullosa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/faircompanies/), distributed under a CC BY license.
"When we boil down today's Gospel to its essence, we are left with some simple things. God loves us all." The Rev. Brantley Alexander preaches on the 19th Sunday after Pentecost (October 4, 2015).
Image: Jimmy Emerson, DVM (https://www.flickr.com/photos/auvet/), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND license.
"Why do we celebrate St. Michael when what he has done is conquered the Dragon in heaven, only to force him down to earth, where we are, struggling with Satan, or if you are of a more metaphorical mindset, with evil and sin?" Readings: Gen. 28:10-17; Ps. 103:19-22; Rev. 12:7-12; John 1:47-51.
"Finally, Inigo Montoya says, 'You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.' How often are we in that same situation?" The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (September 13, 2015). Readings: Prov. 1:20-33; Ps. 19; James 3:1-12; Mk. 8:27-38.
Image: Nicolas Micciola (http://nickini.deviantart.com), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND license.
"He's showing us what it looks like when we demean people. He's showing us what it looks like when people are begging us for help and we turn away." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (September 6, 2015). Readings: Is. 35:4-7a; Ps. 146; James 2:1-17; Mk. 7:24-37. Image: Stephen Melklsethlan (https://www.flickr.com/photos/stephenmelkisethian/), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND license.
"Just as we in the church arent' sure we want to talk about sex, the earliest editors of the Bible weren't sure they wanted to include this book in it!" The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Readings: Song 2:8-13; Ps. 45:1-2, 7-10; James 1:17-27; Mk. 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23. Image: Jean-Pierre Bluteau (https://www.flickr.com/photos/turkian/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
"But Jesus, bread of life, watching so many of the 5,000 walk away, turns to the original twelve disciples and asks poignantly, longingly, 'Do you also wish to go away?'" The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost (August 23, 2015). Readings: 1 Kings 8:1, 6, 10-11, 41-43; Ps. 84; Eph. 6:10-20; Jn. 6:56-69. Image: Mark Carter (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mfcarter/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
"Mary as priest makes perfect sense. After all, who was first to turn bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ?" The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Feast of St. Mary the Virgin (transferred, August 16, 2015). Readings: Is. 61:10-11; Ps. 34:1-9; Gal. 4:4-7; Lk. 1:46-55. Image: Edith OSB (https://www.flickr.com/photos/edithosb/), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND license.
"Love doesn't look like birthday cake or a five-course meal; it looks like bread. Plain but nourishing, not extravagant but enough." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (August 9, 2015). Readings: 2 Sam. 18:5-9, 15, 31-33; Ps. 130; Eph 4:25-5:2; Jn. 6:35, 41-51. Image: Will Clayton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/spool32/), distributed under a CC BY license.
"We're sure we can come up with the right answers, but what we often fail to do is examine our questions." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the tenth Sunday after Pentecost. Readings: 2 Sam. 11:26-12:13a; Ps. 51:1-13; Eph. 4:1-16; Jn. 6:24-35. Image: Erica Minton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/rrrrred/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
"We live in an era that tells us to take time for ourselves, to treat ourselves. But while we are told that we deserve to indulge ourselves, our culture isn't interested in our deepest needs." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the ninth Sunday after Pentecost (July 26, 2015). Readings: 2 Sam. 11:1-15; Ps. 14; Epj. 3:14-21; Jn. 6:1-21.
Image: Roadside Pictures (https://www.flickr.com/photos/roadsidepictures/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
"Belief is not something one just picks up in a big package. It is composed of countless acts and little moments of unexpected grace and surprising acts of charity and wonder." The Rev. Michael Stichweh preaches on the eighth Sunday after Pentecost (July 19, 2015). Readings: 2 Sam. 7:1-14a; Ps. 89:20-37; Eph. 2:11-22; Mk. 6:30-34, 53-56. Image: Sharyn Morrow, distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND license.
"We know this story - it's as old as Homer and Shakespeare, as new as Game of Thrones, and House of Cards." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the seventh Sunday after Pentecost. Readings: 2 Sam. 6:1-5, 12b-19; Ps. 24; Eph 1:3-14; Mk. 6:14-29. Image: Stefano Corso (https://www.flickr.com/photos/pensiero/), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND license.
"We have messages about being uncomfortable and vulnerable. Neither of these are our favorite things as humans." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the sixth Sunday after Pentecost (July 5, 2015). Readings: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10; Psalm 48; 2 Corinthians 12:2-10; Mark 6:1-13. Image: Brendan O'Sullivan-Hale.
Amy Hemphill preaches on the fifth Sunday after Pentecost (June 28, 2015). Readings: 2 Sam. 1:1, 17-23; Ps. 130; 2 Cor. 8:7-15.
"Where was Jesus at 9:00 on Wednesday night?" Brendan O'Sullivan-Hale preaches on the fourth Sunday after Pentecost (June 21, 2015). Readings: 1 Sam. 17:32-49; Ps. 9:9-20; 2 Cor. 6:1-13; Mk. 4:35-41.
The phrase: "covered in the spilled blood of their friends and family" is a quote from Doug Perdue & Jennifer Berry's article "In an hour, a church changes forever," Charleston Post & Courier, June 19, 2015.
Image: jalexartys (https://www.flickr.com/photos/fayncbikerjaa/), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND license.
"Jesus is not trying to teach us a sensible lesson…Parables are not cute, not easily understood or explained." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the third Sunday after Pentecost (June 14, 2015). Readings: 1 Sam. 15:34-16:13; Ps. 20; 2 Cor. 5:6-17; Mk. 4:26-34. Image: John Liu (https://www.flickr.com/photos/8047705@N02/), distributed under a CC BY license.
"When Nicodemus went out that night to find Jesus, he couldn't have explained to his wife that he was going to talk with the Second Person of an Undivided Trinity." The Rt. Rev. Cate Waynick preaches on Trinity Sunday (May 31, 2015). Readings: Is. 6:1-8; Ps. 29; Rom. 8:12-17; Jn. 3:1-17.
Image: David (https://www.flickr.com/photos/50339292@N07/), distributed under a CC BY license.
"If I were collecting baseball cards for the Holy Trinity, I'd be psyched to get God the Father or God the Son, but I'd trade extras of them in a heartbeat for the Holy Spirit." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on Pentecost (May 24, 2015). Readings: Acts 2:1-21; Ps. 104:25-35, 37; Rom. 8:22-27; Jn. 15:26-27; 16:4b-15.
Image: Brendan C. (https://www.flickr.com/photos/brendan-c/), distributed under a CC BY license.
"Everything we do - everything! - for love is not lost." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the seventh Sunday of Easter (May 17, 2015). Readings: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; Ps. 1; 1 Jn. 5:9-13; Jn. 17:6-19. Image: Farrukh (https://www.flickr.com/photos/swamibu/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.
"We have not been left. We have not been abandoned. We have all we need." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Feast of the Ascension (May 14, 2015). Image: Angela (https://www.flickr.com/photos/alstonfamily/) distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND license.
"Friendship in this age of self-promotion can be more about us broadcasting ourselves to others than about a mutual relationship…In an age of self-focus, does this idea of being 'friends' with Jesus still speak to us?" The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the sixth Sunday of Easter (May 10, 2015). Readings: Acts 10:44-48; Ps. 98; 1 Jn.5:1-6; Jn. 15:9-17. Image: Raj (https://www.flickr.com/photos/prince_tigereye/?rb=1), distributed under a CC BY license.