Sermons - St. Anne's Episcopal Church: Recent Episodes
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There is a malaise in the world now. Some of us are angrier, sadder, and more afraid. And much of this is due to what physicians are calling the fourth variant of Covid, which can leave us with a sense of depression and a lack of hope. But there is good news! Find out specific ways that becoming part of your church can actually work like a vaccine against this sense of malaise. A sermon by the Rev. Jane Milliken Hague.
Who should I trust?
Sometimes when we feel impatient, wanting to do the right thing, wanting a shortcut to salvation, we yell at God, saying "Just tell me what to do and I'll do it!" We don't understand that no matter how much we want heaven, we don't have the strength to do what it takes to get there. No matter how hard we try, we can't do it by ourselves. But luckily, God loves us so much, just as we are, that he sent Jesus to open the door of heaven to us. And if we trust Jesus, amazing things happen. A sermon by The Rev. Eugene Wright.
When the Pharisees test Jesus about his views on divorce, he answers not only from a cultural point of view, but also expresses God's will. Is it to marry, which should provide protection and justice, companionship and wholeness? What do Jesus's words mean in 2021 for marriage and divorce? And how can a community of faith be a resource for those who divorce? A sermon by the Rev. Jane Milliken Hague.
Stumbling blocks. Jesus talks a lot about them, and he has some pretty harsh words to say. Are you being a stumbling block to someone else who is practicing kindness? Find out what it means to be a stumbling block--from gossip to grudges--and the best ways to lift the stumbling blocks from others and ourselves. A sermon by the Rev. Jane Milliken Hague.
When we pray, we tend to put God in a box telling him exactly what we want to receive. While everyone who accepts Jesus as Lord will never be turned away, God doesn't always answer our prayers as we think he should. Find out not only why God may test our faith, but also why faith will always make a difference.
Fully nine in ten Americans believe Jesus was an actual person, and more than half of us profess to follow him. But who is he? Find out--in Jesus's own words--how to follow him. And know this: You are welcome in this church! Christ is here. A sermon by the Rev. Jane Milliken Hague.
If you could be granted one wish only what would it be? When God asked King Solomon what he wanted, he chose wisdom. God granted his request and retreated. That's how we often think of God—as distant. But all that changed when Jesus's feet walked on Earth. Find out how your wish of feeling God's presence within you has actually come true through the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. A sermon by the Rev. Jane Milliken Hague.
I want to know peace. I want to know love. I want to know joy. Imagine you are on a train--be it on the fast track or the slow track. Is the train going in the right direction or veering off? Find out how God can help you keep your train on the right track and fill that empty whole in your life with peace, love, and joy. A sermon by the Rev. Jane Milliken Hague.
That's MY team! Many of us enjoy rooting for our favorite sports team. But are you a fair-weather fan or a diehard follower? The same is true for Jesus Christ. Find out the first thing you need to do to become a real follower...and not just a fan. And then everything else will be added unto it. A sermon by the Rev. Eugene Wright.
On the brink of World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt assured Americans they had four essential human freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. Fear breeds a sense of scarcity. Find out how the assurance of God's love can help us overcome our fears to risk thinking big and step out with courage. A sermon by the Rev. Jane Milliken Hague.
Jesus, I need you now. Bad news can be overcome by good news when Jesus is the healer--both physically and spiritually. Hope, healing, and life is what Jesus does best. A sermon by the Rev. Eugene Wright.
Jesus was sound asleep in the stern of a boat as a storm raged around him. After his terrified disciples woke him, he stilled the storm with a simple command. "Peace! Be still!" That is power. Find out the stark difference between Jesus's power and human power in a way you may never have considered. A sermon by the Rev. Jane Milliken Hague.
The message of the parable of the mustard seed is profound: God says love and kindness will grow not only in the light, but also in the darkest of places. Find out what you need to do to help love and kindness grow like the tiny mustard seed into a giant bush. A sermon by the Rev. Jane Milliken Hague.
What is a king to God? The Hebrews needed a leader, and they begged the prophet Samuel to anoint a king for them. God chose Saul. Find out not only the somewhat shocking reason Saul was picked, but also what it means for Jesus to be the King of Heaven. A sermon by the Rev. Jane Milliken Hague.
Jesus stunned Nicodemus when he told him something absolutely dumbfounding--that he had to be born again. What?!? How?!? Ah! The answer is both mystery and miracle. A sermon by the Rev. Eugene Wright.
Come, Holy Spirit, come...but look out! Be ready! Find out how the breath of God is both a consolation and an empowerment and how to know the difference. A sermon by the Rev. Jane Milliken Hague.
Religion has gotten a bad rap. Find out five reasons why it's deeply fulfilling to attend church and be part of a community of faith. Even though the pandemic radically changed how we worship together, now this crisis can radically help us to reimagine church. A sermon by the Rev. Jane Milliken Hague.
After Jesus told his disciples he would be leaving them, Thomas, a bit panicked, asked him what path should they follow. Find out what Jesus tells his disciples about following the right path and how they—and we—will know if we're going the right way and if we're doing the right thing. A sermon by the Rev. Jane Milliken Hague.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, says, "I am here. Follow me." Find out when you will most feel God's presence and that shepherd's crook pulling you back from sin and harm. A sermon by the Rev. Jane Milliken Hague.