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.
September 1, 2013, The Rev. Doyt Conn preaching
God is always near, this near, in fact, but people who ignore God or pretend God isn’t real, or even believe God isn’t real, can’t know friendship with God. It requires mutuality, and if there is no mutuality, it is as if God isn’t there.
June 16, 2013, The Right Rev. Gregory Rickel preaching
This past Thursday we ordained five priests for the Church at St. Mark’s Cathedral. The day the Church was celebrating happened to be the day we celebrate the life of GK Chesterton. He was an amazing servant of God, who was known for his wit and candor. He has many great quotes, and I have lots of favorites, like “The Bible tells us to love our neighbors and to love our enemies. probably because they are generally the same people.”
But the one he is most famous for and is so often misquoted or paraphrased is this one: “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting, it has been found difficult and not tried.”
But perhaps my personal favorite quote of chesterton is one I left the new priests with Thursday night, “Let your religion be less of a theory, and more of a love affair.”
April 28, 2013, Charissa Bradstreet preaching
We often hear at Epiphany that, “In the kingdom of heaven, relationship is primary; all else is secondary.” Relationship is primary. It’s an extraordinary statement, placing relationship above right thinking and right acting. It seems to suggest in fact that when we make relationship primary, that is how we know we are thinking and acting in a way that is congruent with the heart of God and the kingdom of heaven.
February 10, 2013, The Rev Kate Wesch preaching
Today, evensong, or “evening song,” is said or sung daily at many cathedrals. Essentially, it thanks God for the day just past and asks God’s protection during the coming night. It is a quiet, reflective set of prayers, songs, and psalms, asking the worshiper to be still in spirit. In its full expression, the choir sings much of the service on behalf of the congregation.
January 27, 2013, The Rev Doyt Conn preaching
What I’d like to do now is share some kingdom of God patterns that I have seen emerge at Epiphany over the past few years and reflect on how these patterns give us a road map for how church is meant to work. The three examples I’m going to give mirror the three words we used to frame our parish conversations: worship, formation and community.
December 16, 2012, The Rev Doyt Conn preaching
It is times like these when we gather at church. It is where we come when we don’t know what to think and when we are uncertain about how to feel. It is where we come when we are not quite sure what to believe… we come here because we belong here. It is our place, this holy space. This is where we gather, where our souls sync together, unified through the power of liturgy.
November 4, 2012 Evensong, The Rev Kate Wesch preaching
The days falling between October 30 and November 2, encompassing Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day, have been set aside as sacred in the thoughts of my heart for many years now.