January 6, 2013, The Rev Doyt Conn preaching
We had a “name it and claim it” Christmas this year. I wanted a watch. I named it and low in behold, Christmas morning I claimed it. Kristin wanted a stethoscope. She named it and claimed it Christmas day. Margaret wanted an iPhone. She was more careful and circumspect, but she named it and claimed it. And Desmond was less circumspect. He wanted an iTouch, and he named it, and he named it again. And you guessed it, he claimed it Christmas morning.
November 25, 2012, The Rev Kate Wesch preaching
There are no raccoons or pledge cards or hives in this sermon – no reflections on money or pain or suffering. BUT, there is a debate about royalty and jurisdiction. There is conversation about the Kingdom of God. And, there are statements about TRUTH.
September 2, 2012, The Rev Doyt Conn preaching
It’s not often we hear Onward Christian Soldiers.
This song came up at the hymn sing Tom Foster led two Sunday’s back in the Great Hall; which gave Tom, Kate, Diane and myself cause to reflect on it during liturgy meeting. I pulled out the Hymnal and took a good look at the words.
August 19, 2012, Diana Bender preaching
When I was a child, my parents rarely if ever went to church, but I lived with my grandparents part of the time I was growing up as a young child then almost every summer once I was in school. My grandfather was a deacon in the Episcopal church. He often preached and frequently served communion. There was no Sunday school in summer, so I was there in the service each week. Sometimes bored, sometimes fidgety (well, let’s be honest, ALWAYS fidgety), but somehow deep in my heart I was so happy to be there in church. I suspect my grandparents thought I wasn’t paying attention at all, but something was happening for me.
August 12, 2012, The Rev Kate Wesch preaching
As the parent of a toddler, I crave sleep. Just to be clear, my daughter is almost two and she’s a great sleeper. We’re lucky and we know it. But, as a busy, working mother, I crave down time. I’m nostalgic for slow Saturday mornings with no obligations or responsibilities other than letting the dog out. But now, well as you know, life is very different.
July 1, 2012, The Rev Doyt Conn preaching
A lot of questions come to mind when I hear this mornings Gospel.
I wonder how Jesus knew the woman touched his robe? I wonder why Jesus made such a big deal out of it, particularly when he was on his way to attend to a dying girl. I wonder why the woman with the hemorrhage was so afraid? I wonder about the power difference between the head of the synagogue and the outcast woman? Both of whom fell at Jesus’ feet. I wonder why Jesus made the woman’s secret healing public, and yet sought to keep the public healing of the young girl secret?
I wonder where God was in this story? And I wonder where I would be or who I would be had I been there that day?
Knowing our bible is about more than knowing the stories, it’s about knowing where we are in these stories.
April 5, 2012, The Rev. Kate Wesch preaching
On this one night of the year, we remember in our words and actions, a most dramatic and pivotal moment in scripture. The night Jesus gathered at table with his friends for a final meal and once again re-ordered the structures of power through simple, – profound acts.
Jesus had already had a final meal with his beloved friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus at their home in Bethany. Now, he is saying goodbye to his disciples – the ones who have been with him every step of the way. But, his goodbye isn’t trite or melodramatic; rather, it is deliberate and sacramental and comes from a place of deep and abiding love.
Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God, a rabbi and teacher, a friend, is saying good bye through these simple (but revolutionary) acts of breaking bread and washing feet.
March 4, 2012, The Rev. Doyt Conn preaching
I received an email from a friend the other day asking the question:“When I get to a fork in the road, how do I know which direction to go?”
Peter reached a fork in the road at Caesarea Philippi.That is where we find him in today’s Gospel.He and the disciples were there with Jesus, who had just asked moments ago:“Who do people say that I am?” Peter responded, “the Messiah.” “You’re right,” Jesus replied, “but keep it to yourself.”“We are going to Jerusalem, where I will pick up my cross, walk to Golgotha,and be crucified.The fork in the road appears…Peter pulled Jesus aside. The Messiah was suppose to come to liberate the Jews, not die at the hands of the Romans. To which Jesus said, “Get behind me Satan, for you are setting your mind not on divine things, but on human things.”
Which of course is the answer to the question about the fork in the road, When you come to one set your mind on divine things not on human things.Which is all well and good,if we can tell the difference.