Sermons
The Family Tree
In recent years, researching one’s family tree has become a very popular hobby, aided by genealogy websites on line. Finding out about one’s ancestors and history can help give us a sense of who we are, where we came from, what transpired in history to bring us to...
The King and I
When I was young, one of my favorite books was Anna and the King of Siam. I read this tale of the young Englishwoman who taught in the exotic Far East country of Siam, now known as Thailand, over and over and over again. One of the things that intrigued me most about...
Re-Deciding Our Lives
A friend of mine recently returned from a trip to France, one of the highlights of which was a tour of Chartres Cathedral. The first cathedral was built in that town sometime in the fourth century. That original...
Faith’s Foundation
The words are said at the beginning of every funeral in the Episcopal Church. And no matter how many hundreds of times I have heard or spoken them, they never fail to move me with their powerful proclamation of faith and defiance in the face of death. “As for me, I...
Pushing Boundaries for God
Today is All Saints’ Day, one of the major feast days of the Church, and one of my favorite days of the year. This first Sunday in November is the day that we remember the saints of the church – all of them, those who are important and have their own day on the church...
Dreaming With God
It has not been a good time for the people of Israel when the prophet Joel enters the scene. Wave upon wave of locusts have descended upon the country, each causing more and more destruction, until finally nothing is left. “The fields are devastated, the ground...
Nevertheless, She Persisted
One afternoon this week I began my sermon writing ritual. Spread out on my desk were a Bible open to today’s scripture passage, several commentaries, and a notepad. I was just getting absorbed in the work when Dunstan suddenly appeared. For those of you who are new to...
Singing God’s Song in a Strange Land
It was not the word from the Lord that the Israelites were hoping or expecting to hear. God is addressing the survivors of the Babylonian invasion of Israel, almost 600 years before the birth of Christ. Those who survived the...
Who Are the Prophets?
Amos 6: 1a, 4-7 Grace to you and peace in the name of God, Creator, Redeemer, and Holy Comforter. Amen Nearly 800 years before the birth of Jesus, the land of Israel was enjoying a long and peaceful period of prosperity under the reign of King Jeroboam. The...
The Resourceful Rascal
Luke 16: 1-13 In the name of God, Creator, Redeemer and Holy Comforter. Amen Last Spring, it seemed as if everyone was watching Jeopardy because James Holzhauer was something of a national phenomenon. When James was first introduced as a professional sports...
Lostness
Luke 15: 1-10 In the name of God, Creator, Redeemer and Holy Comforter. Amen. The gospels are always talking about sheep and shepherds, but there are very few of us at St. Dunstan’s in the 21st Century who know sheep up close and personal. I have had a personal...
Discernment
Luke 14:25-33 In the name of God, Creator, Redeemer, and Holy Comforter. Amen. Have you ever gotten started on a project and realized it was going to be a lot more work than you thought at first? Sometimes this happens on Christmas Eve around midnight when you’re...
Proper 14C Sermon
By The Rev. Bill Deneke A call to confession and hope belong together in Isaiah’s prophetic vision. Speaking for God, the prophet/poet proclaims God’s distaste for worship that denies the realities of poverty and injustice. God is tired of hearing your songs of...
Transfiguration Sunday
by The Rev. Deborah Silver I love mountains. When I was growing up at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California, I could look out of our kitchen window and see Mt. San Antonio or what we affectionately called Mt. Baldy because it had no trees...
The Feast of the Ascension
by The Rev. Dr. Deborah Silver I have always loved rocks. My grandson inherited this love of the earth and of rocks. When he was younger, whenever we took my dog Toby for a walk, we’d inevitably come home with hands and pockets full of rocks. If you come to my house,...