Harrowing Of Hell

Category: Sermons

Holy Trinity

Sermon | May 26, 2013

May 26, 2013, The Rev Kate Wesch preaching

She thought about it for a minute, and then predictably asked, “What’s the Holy Spirit?” Excellent question. Now, how on earth do I explain the Holy Spirit to a toddler? “The Holy Spirit is a very special gift from Jesus. The Holy Spirit is always with us. It’s like we are carrying around a small piece of God everywhere we go. It reminds us that God loves us.” “God loves us,” she repeated and then eagerly made plans to wear her bright red “Wonder Woman” t-shirt to church.

Holy Land, Holy Fire – Part 2

Sermon | May 19, 2013

May 19, 2013, The Rev. Doyt Conn preaching

The story we hear in the book of Acts today is one we hear every Pentecost. It is the story of the arrival of the Holy Spirit in a manner that changes all people, including Parthians, Medes and Elamites, as well as people from Mesopotamia, Pontus, and Pamphylia; but also Greeks and Palestinians, Russians and people from Georgia, Romania and Kazakhstan, and maybe, just maybe, people from a little parish in Seattle called Epiphany.

You may recall that 19 of us just returned from pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Our time there coincided with the Eastern Orthodox Holy Week. Jerusalem was packed with people from all over the world, on a journey to see the Holy Fire come out of the tomb from which Jesus rose victorious.

Holy Land, Holy Fire

Sermon | May 12, 2013

May 12, 2013, The Rev Doyt Conn preaching

I am back from the Holy Land as you can see. It is good to be home! The last time you saw me I was standing here with other pilgrims being commissioned by you for this sacred journey. I am happy to report that I have returned with all 18… which means I’m still a 100% on bringing pilgrims back from the Holy Land. That’s pretty good; actually that is sort of the bare minimum. Israel, as any of our pilgrims will tell you, is a safe and fascinating place. The real blessing is that they didn’t ditch me there.

A Paralyzed Man

Sermon | May 7, 2013

May 5, 2013, The Rev Kate Wesch preaching

Today, there are 22 pilgrims from Epiphany celebrating orthodox Easter in the city of Jerusalem. They are gathered in that most holy place with millions of others marking the day of Jesus’ resurrection in the very place where it all happened so many years ago.

RELATIONSHIP IS PRIMARY

Sermon | April 28, 2013

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.

After These Things…God Will Wipe Away Every Tear

Sermon | April 23, 2013

April 21, 2013, The Rev Doyt Conn preaching

“After these things” are the first words we hear in today’s reading from the book of Revelation. “After these things” are words that now adequately describe our life after bombs have gone off at the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

Do You Love Me More than These?

Sermon | April 14, 2013

April 14, 2013, The Rev Doyt Conn preaching

The day is lovely. It couldn’t be more perfect. Jesus turns to Peter, and sweeping his hand across all of these things, asks the most beautiful, powerful question in scripture, “Do you love me more than these?” Do you love me more than these? It is a question that I invite you to consider today as we consider the life of Peter.

From Being Closed Up to Being Called Out

Sermon | April 7, 2013

April 7, 2013, The Rev Kate Wesch preaching

How often do you think about your breathing? Is it only when it is compromised by allergies, or a cold, or endless coughing that keeps you up in the middle of the night? Maybe it’s when you sit down for meditation or prayer. As you sit in stillness, listening for that still, small voice, letting your thoughts flow in and out, you feel your chest rise and fall…..rise and fall.

Letting Go

Sermon | March 31, 2013

March 31,2013, The Rev Doyt Conn preaching

“I am spiritual, but not religious.” It is a statement that confirms these statistics. When I hear it I nod… no I don’t shake my head, I nod, because Jesus wasn’t religious either. Yes, it’s true. That might surprise you, coming from a priest, but Jesus was not only not religious, he was a bit anti-religious, which was a stance that ultimately landed him on the cross. That was back in the day when being spiritual but not religious actually cost something.