Harrowing Of Hell

Category: Belonging & Inclusion

Judges: It’s a Goat Story

Sermon | October 5, 2014

October 5, 2014, The Rev. Doyt Conn preaching

You see, the Book Judges is a tragic tale like King Lear. It turns out that the Greek translation for the word tragedy is “goat story.” Weird, huh? A tragedy is the story of a goat’s life according to the Greeks. Here is why: when you let a goat loose, it goes to the top of a hill and then wanders back and forth across the hill as it eats its way to the bottom. It lets gravity be its guide, in a slow, unconscious act of consumption, as it sleepwalks its way down the hill.

Racism Is Real

Sermon | August 31, 2014

August 31, 2014, Emily Linderman preaching

I was planning on preaching my first Sunday morning sermon in this pulpit on the paradox of work and rest this Labor Day weekend. And I thought maybe I’d tell you a little bit about what in the world is an Associate for Staff and Ministry Formation anyway. I was planning on sharing with you why I care so much about the about the paradox of work and Sabbath and why I hope you might too. But some things are erupting all over our world and rippling through our communities and they have my attention.

In particular, Michael Brown, an unarmed, black teenager was shot 6 times and killed by a white police officer, and the resulting protests and the reinvigorated conversations about racism in journalistic and social media outlets, vigils, and organizing meetings all over our country, the world, and here in Seattle have more urgency than my job description.

The Keys to the Kingdom

Sermon | August 24, 2014

August 24, 2014, The Rev. Doyt Conn preaching

Jesus gives us keys to walk through a door into a space that is bigger than the one we left behind, and, how in this space we have the power to bind what is bad and to loose what is good. This process of binding and loosing starts with how we see a situation.

Transformation in the Silence

Sermon | August 10, 2014

August 10, 2014, Diana Bender preaching

I do believe that it’s hard to hear God clearly, to discern God’s call to us in the midst of the noise and busyness and distraction of our everyday lives. Like Elijah, we can’t hear God in the drama of the wind and the earthquake and the fire. It is only in the sheer silence that God’s voice or presence is able to be discerned.

Community Christian

Sermon | May 12, 2014

May 11, 2014, The Rev. Kate Wesch preaching

Being a Christian is all about community. It is about living your life the way Jesus would live it if he were you. And I believe that means praying for the girls in Nigeria, praying for their loved ones, and praying for their captors. It means writing or calling lawmakers. It means recognizing injustices in this world both abroad and in our very own backyard and having the courage to speak out. What today’s reading from Acts is talking about is this, living in Christian community.

The Road to Emmaus

Sermon | May 4, 2014

May 4, 2014, The Rev. Doyt Conn preaching

So I was wondering a couple of things this week as I was considering the Gospel. I was wondering why Cleopas and his companion were going to Emmaus. I was wondering why Cleopas and his companion didn’t recognize Jesus on the road. And I was wondering why they knew Jesus in the bread breaking, and why this compelled them to run back to Jerusalem. That is what I’ve been wondering this week. Why they were going to Emmaus? Why didn’t they know Jesus? And what about the breaking of bread sent them running back to Jerusalem?

Evensong

Sermon | February 9, 2014

February 9, 2014, The Rev. Kate Wesch preaching

It has been said that the service of Evensong has brought more of humankind to the church than any other form of worship. In its finest state, Evensong is a significant jewel in the crown of liturgical worship.

Humility

Sermon | January 26, 2014

January 26, 2014, The Rev. Doyt Conn preaching

I consider humility a bellwether virtue in guiding us through an age of Reformation. So today I’ll talk about the age of Reformation in which we stand and humility as a virtue, and what it is when it is grounded and what it is when it is set adrift.