Seekers recognizes that any member of the community may be called upon by God to give us the Word, and thus we have an open pulpit with a different preacher each week. Sermons preached at Seekers, as well as sermons preached by Seekers at other churches or events, are posted here, beginning with the most recent.
Click here for an archive of our sermons.
Feel free to use what is helpful from these sermons. We only ask that when substantial portions are abstracted or used in a written work, please credit Seekers Church and the author, and cite the URL.
“Conversion – and the Fullness of Time” by John Morris
October 9, 2016
Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost
We’re approaching Recommitment Sunday. I will certainly be recommitting to Seekers. Marjory talked in her sermon last Sunday about how, for her and Peter, Seekers is like a biological family, in one important respect: as she ages, she hopes and prays that we Seekers will take care of her. That’s how I feel too. I have no biological family left, and of course no children, though thanks to Katie, I’ve inherited a very nice group of her family. But when I think of being old, and depending on others for help, it’s Seekers I’m picturing.
So this moment in our liturgical year doesn’t have a lot of drama for me. I’m one of you, and I’m not going anywhere. But I’ve been thinking about recommitment in general – recommitment to what it means to be a Christian. How did I get here?
“Mustard Seed Faith” by Marjory Bankson
October 2, 2016
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Text: Luke 17:5-10 “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
Recommitment season happens at Seekers every year at this time, and it recalls our roots in Church of the Saviour. From 1946, when it started, to 1976, when it was reborn as six small churches, C of S became widely known through Elizabeth O’Connor’s books and Mary Cosby’s presence at various conferences. As a mark of its vision for Christian unity, Church of the Saviour even joined the World Council of Churches in 1948 as the Council was forming after WW II. And that’s one of the reasons why we use the lectionary today – because it links us with church unity by using the same biblical texts that other churches use around the world.
During the 30 years of its singular existence, Church of the Saviour became famous for taking seriously the biblical mandate that every person has a call and gifts for ministry. In her book, Journey Inward/Journey Outward, Elizabeth O’Connor described the personal disciplines that we still expect of our members, and she described collective action by mission groups as the “journey outward.” Most churches functioned with a committee structure, headed by an ordained clergy person, and spiritual guidance was left to the preacher. Even at Church of the Saviour, understanding mission groups as the primary means of spiritual formation did not take root until the early 70s.
“Listen Up!” by Peter Bankson
September 25, 2016
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
INTRODUCTION
Annual recommitment is a key element in the life of Seekers Church, maintaining a tradition of the Church of the Saviour begun with the initial commitment of founding members in 1947. Each year we renew our commitment to Christ and to the Seekers Church in a conscious and intentional way. In Seekers, God’s call and our commitments are linked together. Every choice you make, every call you answer changes all of us! This year “Recommitment Sunday” will be October 16th, three weeks from today.
“Listening and Waiting for God” by Kevin Barwick
September 18, 2016
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
This short sermon is on waiting and listening when no calling seems to come forth, and consequently not knowing the next step. I invite you in the next few minutes that when I pause that you also pause within yourself to listen if God is speaking to you in some way. [Pause]
“Recommitment in Gratitude for God’s Saving Grace” by David Lloyd
September 11, 2016
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Fifteen years ago today it was a beautiful September morning. I was in Rosslyn, conducting a meeting of the heads of the military services’ social services program that addresses child abuse and domestic violence in military families. We were meeting with staff of the Defense Task Force on Domestic Violence to discuss the challenges in implementing its recommendations. I would be drafting a proposed DoD response for the Deputy Secretary of Defense to transmit to the Congress. Based on the discussion we anticipated stressful months ahead and we were ready for a break, earlier than usual at a little after 9 am.