Sermons - The Rev. Meredith Kadet Sanderson: Recent Episodes
The Rev. Meredith Kadet Sanderson
Sermons from the Rev. Meredith Kadet Sanderson, an Episcopal priest serving St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, New York in the Diocese of New York.
“The kingdom does not require your fear or your anxiety or your protection. It only requires your trust and your participation.”
“Pay attention to the generosity, the goodness, the grace, and the power of the sower, who has more than enough."
"We know who we are. We recognize our family. And we will not betray the trust that has been given to us."
“The Christian life is paying attention to the reality of God’s love at the heart of all things. The resurrection reveals it.”
“The world is captive to the powers of this present darkness. And Jesus has come to set us free.”
“Hold these blessings. Let them make your heart more and more tender. Let them deepen your prayer. Let them inspire you to stand up and do what is right.”
“Your purpose as a member of the body of Christ is to be everything that you are and to offer everything that you have for your friends.”
Sermon for the Third Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 8) (June 29, 2025) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Second Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 7) (June 22, 2025) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for Trinity Sunday (June 15, 2025) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Day of Pentecost (June 8, 2025) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Seventh Sunday of Easter (June 1, 2025) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect ofthe Day.
Sermon for the Sixth Sunday of Easter (May 25, 2025) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect ofthe Day.
Sermon for the Fifth Sunday of Easter (May 18, 2025) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (May 11, 2025) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Third Sunday of Easter (May 4, 2025) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for Easter Sunday (April 20, 2025) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for Palm Sunday: The Sunday of the Passion (April 13, 2025) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Fifth Sunday in Lent (April 6, 2025) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Fourth Sunday in Lent (March 30, 2025) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Third Sunday in Lent (March 23, 2025) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Second Sunday in Lent (March 16, 2025) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany (January 26, 2025) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany (January 19, 2025) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for The Epiphany (January 5, 2025) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for Christmas Eve (December 24, 2024) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Third Sunday of Advent (December 15, 2024) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Second Sunday of Advent (December 8, 2024) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the First Sunday of Advent (December 1, 2024) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for Christ the King (November 24, 2024) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the 26th Sunday after Pentecost (November 17, 2024) at St.James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
You Belong, You Matter: Sermon for the 25th Sunday after Pentecost (November 10, 2024) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for All Saints Day (November 3, 2024) at St.James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Feast of St. James of Jerusalem (October 27, 2024) at St.James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost (October 20, 2024) at St.James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost (October 13, 2024) at St.James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (October 6, 2024) at St.James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (September 22, 2024) (Proper 20, Year B) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (September 15, 2024) (Proper 19, Year B) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (September 8, 2024) (Proper 18, Year B) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (September 1, 2024) (Proper 17, Year B) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (June 23, 2024) at St.James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Day of Pentecost (May 19, 2024) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Sixth Sunday of Easter (May 5, 2024) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (April 21, 2024) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Third Sunday of Easter (April 14, 2024) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Sunday of the Resurrection: Easter Sunday (March 31, 2024) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday (March 25, 2024) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Fifth Sunday in Lent (March 17, 2024) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Fourth Sunday in Lent (March 10, 2024) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Third Sunday in Lent (March 3, 2024) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Second Sunday in Lent (February 25, 2024) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the First Sunday in Lent (February 18, 2025) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Last Sunday after the Epiphany (February 11, 2024) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany (February 4, 2024) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany (January 28, 2024) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day.
Sermon for the Last Sunday after Pentecost, Christ the King (November 26, 2023) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of the entire worship service is available here.
What are we talking about? View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Proper 29, Year A
Sermon for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (November 12, 2023) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of the entire worship service is available here.
What are we talking about? View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Proper 27, Year A
Sermon for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (September 3, 2023) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of the entire worship service is available here.
What are we talking about? View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Proper 17, Year A
Sermon for the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ (August 6, 2023) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of the entire worship service is available here.
What are we talking about? View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: The Transfiguration
Sermon for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (July 30, 2023) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of the entire worship service is available here.
What are we talking about? View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Proper 12, Year A
Sermon for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (July 23, 2023) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of the entire worship service is available here.
What are we talking about? View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Proper 11, Year A
Sermon for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost (July 16, 2023) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of the entire worship service is available here.
What are we talking about? View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Proper 10, Year A
Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (July 2, 2023) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of the entire worship service is available here.
What are we talking about? View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Proper 8, Year A
Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (June 25, 2023) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of the entire worship service is available here.
What are we talking about? View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Proper 7, Year A
Sermon for the Third Sunday after Pentecost (June 18, 2023) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of the entire worship service is available here.
What are we talking about? View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Proper 6, Year A
Sermon for the Second Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday (June 11, 2023) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of the entire worship service is available here.
What are we talking about? View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Proper 5, Year A
Sermon for the Second Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday (June 4, 2023) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of the entire worship service is available here.
What are we talking about? View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Trinity Sunday (Year A)
Sermon for the Sunday of Pentecost (May 28, 2023) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of the entire worship service is available here.
What are we talking about? View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Pentecost (Year A)
What are we talking about? View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: The Seventh Sunday of Easter (Year A)
Sermon for the Seventh Sunday of Easter (May 21, 2023) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of the entire worship service is available here.
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: The Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year A)
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service the day is available here.
Sermon for the Fifth Sunday of Easter (May 7, 2023) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of the entire worship service is available here.
What are we talking about? View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: The Fifth Sunday of Easter (Year A)
Sermon for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (April 30, 2023) at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of the entire worship service is available here.
What are we talking about? View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: The Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year A)
On the practices that help us be ready for the moment that our eyes are opened to the reality of God's presence all along.
Sermon for the Third Sunday of Easter (April 23, 2023)
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: The Third Sunday of Easter (Year A)
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service for Easter Sunday (April 16, 2023) is available here.
Jesus didn't get through life unmarked; neither do we.
Sermon for the Second Sunday of Easter (April 16, 2023)
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: The Second Sunday of Easter (Year A)
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service for Easter Sunday (April 16, 2023) is available here.
Jesus came to show us that God is no stranger to our human life.
Sermon for The Sunday of the Resurrection: Easter Sunday (April 9, 2023)
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: The Sunday of the Resurrection: Easter Sunday (Year A) (we read the Gospel according to John)
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service for Easter Sunday (April 9, 2023) is available here.
All of us who go where God calls us are walking right next to Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
Sermon for Palm Sunday: The Sunday of the Passion (April 2, 2023).
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Palm Sunday: The Sunday of the Passion (Year A)
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service for Palm Sunday (April 2, 2023) is available here.
The power of God to raise up what is dead is the ground of the courage we need to apologize and make amends.
Sermon for the Fifth Sunday in Lent, Year A (March 26, 2023).
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Fifth Sunday in Lent (Year A)
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service for the Fourth Sunday in Lent (March 19, 2023) is available here.
When we suffer, we want to know why it’s happening. Jesus doesn’t offer answers, but he offers his presence.
Sermon for the Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year A (March 19, 2023).
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Fourth Sunday in Lent (Year A)
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service for the Fourth Sunday in Lent (March 19, 2023) is available here.
A second encounter, a second transformation: St. Photini meets Jesus, and moves from isolation to proclamation.
Sermon for the Third Sunday in Lent, Year A (March 12, 2023).
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Third Sunday in Lent (Year A)
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service for the Third Sunday in Lent (March 12, 2023) is available here.
Four remaining Sundays in Lent, four encounters with Jesus. On the second Sunday in Lent, we meet Nicodemus, a man transformed thanks to his own curiosity.
Sermon for the Second Sunday in Lent, Year A (March 5, 2023).
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Second Sunday in Lent (Year A)
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service for the Second Sunday in Lent (March 5, 2023) is available here.
On how Jesus teaches us to take a pause between inspiration and initiation. There's so many things we're tempted to say "Yes" to, but what if what we need (sometimes) is a long pause?
Sermon for the First Sunday in Lent, Year A (February 26, 2023).
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: First Sunday in Lent (Year A)
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service for the First Sunday in Lent (February 26, 2023) is available here.
At the corner of Fourth and Walnut in Louisville, the monk and mystic Thomas Merton famously had a vision of the glory of God hidden in ordinary people. Afterwards he wrote, “the gate of heaven is everywhere.”
Sermon for the Last Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A (February 19, 2023).
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Last Sunday after the Epiphany
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service for the Last Sunday after the Epiphany (February 19th) is available here.
What are we supposed to make of Jesus' words in Matthew 5, calling us to an impossible standard for our actions and our intentions?
Sermon for the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A (February 12, 2023).
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service for the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany (February 12th) is available here.
Nobody hides their light under a bushel—unless to protect it!
Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A (February 5, 2023).
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany (February 5th) is available here.
My five-year-old's current favorite book reminds us (every night!) that dreams "are meant to make you seem as if you don't know up from down." That's right—because the Gospel Jesus gave us is God's dream, turning the world on its head.
Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A (January 29, 2023).
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 9 am service for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany (Jan 29th) is available here.
My five-year-old's current favorite book reminds us (every night!) that dreams "are meant to make you seem as if you don't know up from down." That's right—because the Gospel Jesus gave us is God's dream, turning the world on its head.
Sermon for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A (January 22, 2023).
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Third Sunday after the Epiphany
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany (Jan 22nd) is available here.
What are you looking for? This question Jesus asks is a question to hold on to, and to ask ourselves again and again, in this season after the Epiphany when we learn what it means to follow Jesus.
Sermon for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A (January 15, 2023).
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany (Jan 15th) is available here.
The Dutch theologian Henry Nouwen has written that there are three lies about our identity that most of us will take on over the course of our lives: I am what I have, I am what I do, and I am who others say I am. But our true identity is found in baptism.
Sermon for the First Sunday after the Epiphany, the Baptism of Our Lord, Year A (January 8, 2023).
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: First Sunday after the Epiphany
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service for the First Sunday after the Epiphany, the Baptism of Our Lord (Jan 8th) is available here.
As you begin this new year, know that you are held in the arms of God, and that you are named beloved of God, and member of the body of Christ.
Sermon for the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus (January 1, 2023).
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: The Holy Name
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service for the Feast of the Holy Name (Jan 1st) is available here.
This is the story of how God came into the world to live among us, to live as one of us. And it's worth noting that God chose to come into the world in a very particular time and place and way—and not in some other way.
God came into the world where there was just a little bit of room for God. And that was enough.
Sermon for Christmas (December 25, 2022)
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Christmas Day, Selection I
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am Christmas Day service is available here.
Joseph had a plan—a good, righteous plan—to quietly send Mary and baby Jesus away. And then God showed up.
On the fourth Sunday of Advent, we contemplate in Joseph’s story a God who keeps coming back to us until we say our fullest “Yes” to God’s call.
Sermon for the Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 18, 2022)
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service is available here.
If even John the Baptist has questions about Jesus, then we, too, can accept our seasons of doubt and uncertainty.
Also! The difference between joy and happiness.
Sermon for the Third Sunday of Advent (December 1, 2022)
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Third Sunday of Advent, Year A
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service is available here.
In the Advent season of preparation, we separate what is necessary and nourishing from what is not needed.
Sermon for the Second Sunday of Advent (December 4, 2022)
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Second Sunday of Advent, Year A
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service is available here.
In Advent, "We begin in the deepest dark, in quiet and peace, with that attention to what burns unceasingly within us. And in that quiet, we let it grow, and we grow and it grows...until on the holy night of Christmas, it's enough to light us all up and set us all on fire."
Sermon for the First Sunday of Advent (November 27, 2022)
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: First Sunday of Advent, Year A
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service is available here.
On seeing the kingdom of God in the most broken and desolate places.
Sermon for the Last Sunday after Pentecost, Christ the King (November 20, 2022)
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: Last Sunday after Pentecost, Christ the King, Proper 29, Year C
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service is available here.
Jesus Christ is the bridge from nightmare to dream, and we are his Body.
Sermon for the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost (November 13, 2022)
View the scripture readings and the Collect of the Day: 23rd Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 28, Year C
Preached at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY. A video of our whole 10 am service is available here.
Our ministry here and now is knit by God into the vast and eternal fabric of the Body of Christ.
The parable of the unjust steward is the fourth in a series of parables that praise “bad stewardship”—letting go of what we think we need to hang on to.
There are so many hymns about being lost and getting found. We sing some of them in this week's sermon on the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-10). And we reflect on how God is better at finding than we are at getting lost.
St. Augustine had a friend who he loved “as if he should never die.” His insight is that when we really love, we go ALL IN—we don’t calculate the cost—which, when we love what dies, will be grief.
Jesus’ invitation in today’s Gospel is that we love everyone recklessly, unreservedly, and without calculating the cost.
Think of someone who helped you, believed in you, and wanted the best for you. Think about the gifts—tangible and intangible—that you received from them.
Now I have one question. Did you repay them?
No? Maybe that's how it's supposed to be.
What, besides having my coffee just the way I like it, gives my life weight and meaning?
Mary, Martha, and the one thing that is necessary. Also, this is the only sermon preached on July 17th 2022 anywhere in the world that doesn't mention the New Fancy Space Telescope images!
Thanks to the producers of The Lagniappe for inviting me to opine about cats, politics in sermons, and more, and also allowing me to attempt to explain the transitional diaconate. The Lagniappe is a podcast created by leaders at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Chenango Bridge, NY.
The story of the tower of Babel and the story of the first Pentecost are the same: stories of people being sent forth to dream bigger dreams.
What I want you to remember this week is that when Jesus was here on earth in a body like you and me, that he prayed for you. He prayed for you. He prayed for this church. He prayed for all of us.
So often, when we're called to make a difficult decision or we're called to walk alongside with someone else who's making a difficult decision, we don't hear God’s voice in a neat and tidy way.
Sermon for the Last Sunday after the Epiphany (February 27, 2022). After weeks of growing tension on the news, on Thursday morning we woke up to hear that Russia has invaded Ukraine. Radio reporters on the ground spoke to families fleeing Odessa on foot. They played recordings from their phones of the sounds missile strikes made in their hotel rooms.
And here is what I want to say to you about that:
Do not be ashamed to pray.
Sermon for the Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany (February 20, 2022). The other day I learned a new concept, the “Leaden Rule.” As you might guess, this is kind of the inside-out of the Golden Rule, and the rule is this: When I’m at my worst, I do to others that which I most fear having done to me.
Sermon for the Sixth Sunday of Easter (May 9, 2021). When you hear the word joy, is there a person, living or dead, whose face comes to mind?
Sermon for the Second Sunday in Lent (February 28, 2021). I once heard a woman in recovery from addiction sum up her life in this way. “My life [in recovery] didn’t become a rose garden. But it became a life.”
In the wilderness? Surrounded by beasts? You are not alone. Sermon for the First Sunday in Lent (February 21, 2021).
When have you experienced a moment of being with the love of God? Sermon for the Last Sunday after the Epiphany (February 14, 2021).