Sermons

November 29, 2020

The First Sunday of Advent

On the surface, this text describes the end of time and a final glorious return of the Promised One. It’s known as the Little Apocalypse, predicting Jesus as a triumphal figure — quite opposite the message which Jesus conveyed with his earthly life. Apparently, Jesus’ followers couldn’t quite give up their dream of a warrior king who would, in the end, save them from all distress.

But others see this text as an inner journey, where Christ comes through the turmoil of our lives, not in some external triumphant way. That’s the path I want to explore with you today.

November 25, 2020

So, I’ve kept a gratitude journal off and on for years.  I’m sure you’re aware of what a gratitude journal is, but if you’re not or you need a refresher, a gratitude journal is a book in which you write at least three things every night that you’re grateful for.  I think Oprah recommended it at some point, and I’ve seen lots of articles from the various mindfulness and Buddhisty type email newsletters that I subscribe to about the benefits of keeping such a journal.  There’s a whole non-profit devoted to promoting gratitude practice that I also follow, and I’m pretty sure it’s not the only organization devoted to promoting the benefits of gratitude.  A daily gratitude practice is a very basic, very healthy habit that benefits one emotionally and spiritually.  And this year, it has absolutely not worked for me. 

November 22, 2020

Reign of Christ Sunday

May the eyes of your heart be enlightened! This is an opening prayer of the letter to the community in Ephesus. The latter part of this verse – knowing the hope to which God has called you – I will address in a few moments. My own heart leapt for joy when I discovered that this passage, one of my favorites, was one of the lectionary readings for this Sunday, a day I chose (or it chose me) before I knew what the lectionary was going to be. Verse 18, the focus of this sermon, was the scripture upon which I printed cards for the Christian youth as a blessing for their journey when they graduated from the program with Interfaith Youth for Climate Justice, where I served as a mentor. It expressed my fervent prayer that their eyes would be enlightened to know the hope they are called to heal God’s Creation.

The “eyes of your heart”….  What does that mean?!

At the outset, please forgive this sermon being less exegetical in the traditional academic sense than I am accustomed to being.  Suffice it to say this passage is known variously as a “thanksgiving prayer” was addressed to a community that has been tossed about by many conflicts internally and externally.  I enter this scripture as a portal or as a window into a way of being in these turbulent times in which we find ourselves.

November 15, 2020

This morning, a group of Seekers who were part of the book study of Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer, read the traditional Thanksgiving Address of the Haudenosaunee (Six Nations or Iroquois) people. Kimmerer notes that these “Words that Come Before All Else” are spoken at the beginning of the school day, as well as at other ceremonial and governmental gatherings.

November 8, 2020

Carla Works, Professor of New Testament at Wesley Theological Seminary, was our guest preacher. She spoke about the apostle Paul’s relationship with what she referred to as “First Church Thessalonika” and the hope that they–and we–have in Christ. The text of this sermon is not yet available.