Sermon Archives - From Silence+Something To Say And To Do: Recent Episodes
Fr. Rob Lord+
Dear followers and readers of my blog: I started this blog, six years ago, in July 2018, as a way to continue to share my journey and ministry. I have begun to utilize a fresh and easier way of creating content and posting podcasts and articles: my Substack platform: The Journey And The Way “ …
Continue reading "Saying Goodbye To This Blog, Yet Still Creating On Substack"
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My Sermon this past Sunday at Church of the Incarnation, expressed my continued reflection on the “Parables of The Future.” The future pulls us and shapes us. In the Christian view, the being of humans is bound up with the future to which we are destined. Ultimately that future is the Consummation of all things, …
Continue reading "The Parable of The Talents: Living A Life Of Significance"
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I shared this homily today at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Orlando, on this 24th Sunday after Pentecost. My reflection is on the Parable of The Ten Bridesmaids, Matthew 25: 1-13. A story of entering every day, the reign of God. A story of the revelation of the heart, the deepest part of who we are …
Continue reading "Attentive Living In Christ: The Parable Of The Ten Bridesmaids"
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The gift of open doors and invitations to offer my vocation as a retired priest, are a treasure in my stage of life. This was true this past Sunday, having the joy of celebrating All Saints Sunday. The Feast of All Saints has deep meaning for me, having served as Rector of All Saints Parish …
Continue reading "All Saints Sunday: The Capacity To Make God Real"
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It was my great privilege and honor to give the Burial Homily for Alex Robertson, son of my good friends Randy and Pat Robertson, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Winter Park, FL. It was there, when I served as Rector, that our paths crossed on the Journey and the Way. I share these words …
Continue reading "For Alex: What God Creates, God Loves Everlastingly"
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It takes a great deal of courage to be a human being. Our journey through life as followers of Jesus is lived in the “now and the not yet” of a new unending kind of life. We have a transforming friendship with God here and now. There is a deep joy and peace that can …
Continue reading "Courage: A Word Of Assurance – A Word of Hope Romans 8:12-25"
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“For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2We are in a sermon series on Romans during the summer at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Orlando. I have had the joy of filling in for the Rector, Jonathan Turtle while he …
Continue reading "In Christ: The Truth And Way Of My Being"
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It was a gift of grace to preach on the Feast of The Ascension. I am grateful to be serving Fr. Jonathan Turtle, Rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, as a Retired Associate in the parish. I preach occasionally and hope to share my heart with all of you. Here is a short video clip. The …
Continue reading "The Ascension Of Jesus: Everywhere Present And Filling All Things"
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What is the basic direction and orientation of a truly human life? When St. Ignatius of Loyola had written his Spiritual Exercises, he added a short preface, a skeletal summary of the inner journey to be made through his Exercises. Later commentators called this preface ‘The First Principle and Foundation’. It has been compared to …
Continue reading "I Choose What Deepens God’s Life In Me"
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He was one of my best and lifelong friends. I met Fr. Eric Ravndal III, and his wife Sarah, and their four kids (Chris, Beth, Eric III, and Mary) in 1977. I was just 24 years old. We were both entering Nashotah House Episcopal Seminary on our journey to become Ordained Priests. We were instant …
Continue reading "For Fr. Eric Ravndal III R.I.P. – Christ The Consoler And Assurance Of A New Unending Life"
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As I walk and live in this stage of my life, good friends and companions whom I have known and loved on this earthly pilgrimage are no longer here. Jane Nies was one of them and she is now in the fullness of eternity with God. I was privileged to be the homilist at her …
Continue reading "For Jane Nies: Consider The Lilies, Behold The Radiance"
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In the gospel reading for the third Sunday of Advent, the imprisoned John the Baptist asks the most heart-breaking question in the bible and asks it for all of us: ‘Are you the one … or must we wait for someone else? When this inquiry is conveyed to Jesus, the Lord does not respond theoretically, …
Continue reading "Advent III: ” What You See And Hear”"
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This is my homily from the Second Sunday of Advent at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Orlando, Florida at the 8:00 am service. I enjoy the quiet contemplative atmosphere of the first Eucharist of the day as it gives me a reflective approach to offering my engagement with the Gospel reading. I have returned to Emmanuel for …
Continue reading "The Spiritual Wisdom of Advent II: John The Baptist"
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It was a gift today to serve as a Supply Priest at Christ The King Parish in Lakeland, Florida. We lived in Lakeland in 1981-1982 when I was serving as Assistant Rector of St. David’s Episcopal Church (sadly no longer a congregation). The Gospel Story of Jesus being welcomed by the two sisters Martha and …
Continue reading "The Sixth Sunday After Pentecost July 17, 2022 “Only One Thing Necessary – Attentive Openness To God.”"
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I offer this meditation and prayer on the exquisite Hymn: Come Down O Love Divine, sung by Anglicans and Episcopalians around the world on Pentecost Sunday. The lyric was composed by Bianco de Sienna, Italy, in the 14th century. The tune is from Ralph Vaughn Williams. (I play an instrumentation of the melody I created …
Continue reading "Come Down O Love Divine: A Hymn Meditation For Pentecost"
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I have just returned from a wonderful invitation to lead a Mens Retreat for The Brotherhood of Saint Andrew of The Diocese of Oklahoma. My very good friend Fr. David Bumstead, The Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Tulsa OK, also invited me to Celebrate Eucharist, Preach, and Officiate at Evensong this past Sunday, May …
Continue reading "The Good Shepherd And Confident Companionship"
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Jesus’s ultimate parable of the return of the Prodigal Son speaks truth at every part of our journey through life. Jesus himself is the “parable of God” who is aways revealing the heart of the Father. The heart of the Father is compassion and he sees us as we are and can be: …
Continue reading "Lent IV: The Fathers Heart+The Fathers Hands, The Prodigal Son"
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My sermon today is taken from Philippians 4:4-7. It is a letter from jail to God’s people and it is saturated with joy. What helps me as I contemplate Paul’s advice to “rejoice always” is remembering that he writes his letter from prison, while awaiting trial and anticipating death. It requires that we hold …
Continue reading "Advent III: Joy And The Guarding of God"
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I’m after a deep, authentic, and healthy Christian spirituality and life. It is my deepest longing. Spiritual formation and growth are my hearts desire. It has been my true north in parish ministry and my earthly pilgrimage. It still is. Over the years, pastors have become many other things: visionaries, entrepreneurs, community organizers, social …
Continue reading "“The Ultimate Concern” – Sermon For October 10, 2021"
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This is one of the most challenging of Jesus’s words to his apprentices on his way of crucified love. It is challenging because Jesus is insisting that his disciples take themselves seriously. Not literally, but really, really seriously. And he’s inviting you to take yourself seriously, too. To realize that what you say matters …
Continue reading "Homily on Mark 9:38-50: “It Would Be Better For You…”"
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It is very important to remember and to always keep before your mind this fact: You are an unceasing spiritual being, created for an intimate and transforming friendship with the creative Community that is the Trinity. On the Sixth Sunday of Easter we hear these remarkable words of Jesus: “I do not call you servants …
Continue reading "Beyond Forgiveness: A Transforming Friendship"
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It has been a mere seven days after we shouted together, “Alleluia!” and sang, “Christ the Lord is Risen Today!” John invites us to face our doubts, speak our fears, and yearn for more — more intimacy, more encounter, more experience of the living, breathing Christ. In John’s Gospel we see Jesus having deep and …
Continue reading "Easter II: Doubt, Trust, and Personal Encounter With Jesus"
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It was a joy to be Celebrant and Preacher on Easter Day as the Interim Rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Orlando Florida. Here is my homily based on John 20:1-18. May you always find the courage each day to say “yes” to the Present Risenness of Jesus, welcoming him each day with joy. Here …
Continue reading "The Open Door of Present Risenness"
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Are you ready? The readiness is all. If there’s anything we should all be preparing for, it’s eternity. Forming our eternal lives begins now and lasts forever. This is your one and only life. Are you the person you want to be? The parable of the Ten Bridesmaids teaches all would-be followers of Jesus …
Continue reading "Are You Ready? Living The Attentive Life Matthew 25:1-13"
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I am deeply grateful for the invitation to preach and celebrate the Holy Eucharist today at St. James Episcopal Church, in Ormond Beach, Florida. Fr. Roy Allison, their wonderful Rector gave me this gift and opportunity to take his Sunday Service for him. It was a true joy to share my heart within the beautiful …
Continue reading "Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost: The Christ Focus"
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In my ongoing journey of life and vocation, I have kept my hands open to the invitations the Lord brings me to companion people through my words and presence. Yesterday I preached this sermon at Church of The Incarnation, Oviedo, Florida. My text was from Romans 12: 1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and …
Continue reading "Joy: The Fuel of The Spiritual Journey"
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Dear Friends: As I step into this time of Online Video communication, I’m sharing a reflection I created for Emmanuel Episcopal Church at the invitation of their Rector, Fr David Bumstead. The Story of the Raising of Lazarus in the Gospel of John offers great hope and encouragement as Jesus confronts the reality of sickness and …
Continue reading "The Fifth Sunday Of Lent: Words We Need To Remember At Such A Time As This"
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Once again, I found joy and synergy with God in the gift of preaching at Emmanuel Episcopal Church today. I am so honored to serve their very fine Rector and my friend, Fr. David Bumstead. So grateful. The focus of my sermon from the Gospel lesson for today, was receiving the grace to “answer the …
Continue reading "Epiphany 3: Finding The Grace To Answer The Call"
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