Sermons

Blessed are the poor, we hear Jesus say today. Blessed are the hungry, those who weep, and those who are hated because they follow him. In these beatitudes, or blessings, Jesus is naming those on the margins, the outskirts of society, and saying that in God's kingdom...

We have competing events on the calendar today. On the secular calendar it is Groundhog Day. Sometime this morning a groundhog in Pennsylvania will come out of its hole and blink at the cameras surrounding it waiting to see if it sees its shadow, something to which...

Those of you who have been here for a while may remember that about 10 years ago I participated in a program put on by the National Park Service commemorating the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, and the ensuing successful voting rights march from Selma to...

It is one of my favorite images of Jesus, although I have never seen it visually depicted anywhere. There are dozens of portrayals of  Jesus being baptized – paintings of him standing in the river with his cousin John, going under the water, coming out it, the...

There were signs telling them change was coming. First was a large, brilliant star, almost as bright as the sun as it streaked south across the night sky.  Next came the birds, thousands of them, big and black, of a kind never before seen in the village, filling...

It is good to be gathered with you on this most holy of nights, the night that we celebrate the birth of a baby who will change the world. Everything about this evening is special -- the music that our choir and instrumentalists have practiced for so many hours; the...

When I looked at the scripture readings for this week I was reminded of a game from Sesame Street. Four objects would be shown on the screen while one of the characters sang these words: “One of these things is not like the other. One of these things just doesn’t...

"Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light." This is the prayer that begins the season of Advent, the beginning of a new church year, and time of preparation for the coming birth of the Messiah. Advent could well be...

Today is the last Sunday of the liturgical year. It is known as Christ the King Sunday, a theme that is reflected in our readings. This image of Jesus as king has never really resonated with me. Maybe that's because the founders of this country deliberately chose not...

Do you trust the Bible? That's what a sign in front of a church I passed recently asked.  Do I trust the Bible? It's an interesting question; one that leads me to other questions. Do I trust the Bible for what? To teach me about science? For medical advice? As a...

By the rivers of Babylon we sat down and wept,when we remembered you, O Zion.As for our harps, we hung them upon the trees in the midst of that land.For those who led us away captive asked us for a song,and our oppressors called for mirth;"Sing us one of the songs of...

Today is All Saints' Sunday, one of the major feast days of the Church, and one of my favorite Sundays of the year. This first Sunday in November is the day we recognize the saints of the Church -- all of them, those who are of historical importance and have their own...

"If the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?" These words were uttered by Gideon at a time when Israel had been overtaken and ruled by the Midianites. It is a dark chapter in Israel's history. After seven years of brutal occupation, an angel appears...

Two weeks from Tuesday we will elect the next president of our country. Some of you have already voted; others like to wait until election day to cast their vote.s As November 5th draws nearer I can feel my anxiety levels rising. From conversations with many of you,...

Jesus said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” St. Anthony of Thebes, brought up in a wealthy Christian family, but orphaned at age 18, heard these words one day in...