Category Archives: Sermons

What does God sound like?

The texts for Sunday July 19, 2015 (8th Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary 16): Jeremiah 23:1–6; Psalm 23; Ephesians 2:11–22; and Mark 6:30–34, 53–56 This past week, I was up at the Lutheran Summer Conference at Silver Bay on Lake George. I was teaching a class on listening for God’s voice —for the presence of God— in our everyContinueContinue reading “What does God sound like?”

Shall we rise?

The texts for Sunday June 28, 2015 (5th Sunday after Pentecost): Lamentations 3:22–33; Psalm 30; 2 Corinthians 8:7–15; and Mark 5:21–43 Jesus finds his way into town and, despite crowds pressing in, he heals two. Or at least just two in this story. Two seemingly very different women. One, barely a woman — just 12ContinueContinue reading “Shall we rise?”

Today, you will be baptized

The texts for April 19, 2015 (Easter 3B): Acts 3:12–19; Psalm 4; 1 John 3:1–7; and Luke 24:36b–48 Today, JJ, you will be baptized. I wanted to take a moment to tell you about what this means and what you can expect. First of all, when you are baptized, you will encounter God. In theContinueContinue reading “Today, you will be baptized”

Remain with me

A reflection for Good Friday.  The Gospel:  John 18:1 – 19:42 (sung) Stay with me Remain here with me Watch and pray Watch and pray … These words, which come from a Taize chant, come from a different Gospel account of Jesus’ passion.  They are from Jesus’ lips asking his disciples to stay awake inContinueContinue reading “Remain with me”

The Prayer of Service

A meditation for Maundy Thursday.  The gospel text:  John 13:1-35 When my Granddad died, my Grammy and my mom — his wife and daughter— cleaned. A lot. They got incredibly busy with emptying closets and cleaning up the house.  And there was knitting.  And cooking.  And running errands.  And doing what needed to be doneContinueContinue reading “The Prayer of Service”

Death becomes Birth

“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was muchContinueContinue reading “Death becomes Birth”

A Voice Crying Out || Spoken Word

The texts for Sunday, December 7, 2014 (Advent 2B): Isaiah 40:1–11; Psalm 85:1–2, 8–13; 2 Peter 3:8–15a; and Mark 1:1–8. The audio of the sermon:  Advent 2B Here is my first ever attempt at Spoken Word (a form of poetry, for those unfamiliar).  Please be kind.  Also, learn more about Spoken Word and hear some of the best at TED here: https://www.ted.com/topics/spoken+wordContinueContinue reading “A Voice Crying Out || Spoken Word”

God Tearing Open the Heavens

The texts for Sunday, November 30, 2014 (Advent 1B): Isaiah 64:1–9; Psalm 80:1–7, 17–19; 1 Corinthians 1:3–9; and Mark 13:24–37 Audio of sermon:  Sermon Advent 1B … In the demonstrations and riots and commentaries in the articles about systemic racism and the militarization of the police Even in the heart-touching stories of those who do care and rise up toContinueContinue reading “God Tearing Open the Heavens”

The homeless King

The texts for Sunday, November 23, 2014 (Christ the King):  Ezekiel 34:11–16, 20–24; Psalm 95:1–7a; Ephesians 1:15–23; and Matthew 25:31–46. The audio of the sermon: Sermon for Christ the King … when we separate ourselves from others when we refuse to acknowledge, as Dorothy Day said, our own soul’s hunger and our own homelessness, we separate ourselves from a GodContinueContinue reading “The homeless King”

Who is this master?

The texts for Sunday, November 16, 2014 (23rd Sunday after Pentecost): Zephaniah 1:7, 12–18; Psalm 90:1–8[9–11] 12; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11; and Matthew 25:14–30. Link to the audio file of the sermon:  Sermon on the Master and three slaves **Most of the sermon was preached without manuscript.  In this sermon, I compare Mary’s Magnificat and the God that she describes there withContinueContinue reading “Who is this master?”

Bridesmaids Deconstructed

The texts for Sunday, November 9, 2014 (22nd Sunday after Pentecost):  Amos 5:18–24; Psalm 70; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; and Matthew 25:1–13. Link to the audio file:  Sermon for the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost … Our faith is a faith of waiting of deep, hopeful longing of knowing, somehow that life and creation could be better could be more just couldContinueContinue reading “Bridesmaids Deconstructed”

The Challenge of New Things

The texts for Sunday, October 26, 2014 (Reformation Sunday):  Jeremiah 31:31–34, Psalm 46, Romans 3:19–28 and John 8:31–36 I didn’t record the sermon this week, but I sang the gospel using Luther’s rules for the chanting of the Gospel.  A practice run before worship is below.   The sermon is roughly transcribed following. Audio of Gospel:  Chanted GospelContinueContinue reading “The Challenge of New Things”

There is God— (A sermon for Good Friday)

Text: Luke 23: 26-49 (following other reflections on Luke 22:39-71 and Luke 23:1-24) Do you hear that? Do you hear the silence? The stillness? The heaviness? It seems the proper response to this —To tragedy And yet, more than tragedy—as though this happened by accident or by some random act of injustice— No, this isContinueContinue reading “There is God— (A sermon for Good Friday)”

I am the Elder Brother

The texts for Sunday, March 10, 2013: Joshua 5:9–12; Psalm 32; 2 Corinthians 5:16–21; and Luke 15:1–3, 11b–32 I am the elder brother. I remember hearing this text many times as a kid while my own brother seemed to be nothing but difficult —in and out of juvenile detention facilities using drugs failing classes inContinueContinue reading “I am the Elder Brother”

God, the Gardener

The texts for Sunday, March 3, 2013 (Lent 3C): Isaiah 55:1–9; Psalm 63:1–8; 1 Corinthians 10:1–13; Luke 13:1–9 Tragedies are (as what we name of them states) Tragic. Sad. Shocking. Horrifying. Disorienting And those of us who find ourselves living on the other side of a tragedy are left first of all to grieve theContinueContinue reading “God, the Gardener”

The Importance of Doubt

This reflection was preached for the Longest Night service, December 21, 2012. This service is meant to be a service of prayer, healing, and space for sorrow amid a generally cheerful time. Little surprise, in Connecticut of late (especially so close to Sandy Hook) it’s not been overly cheery as we mourn those we knowContinueContinue reading “The Importance of Doubt”

Slivers of Light

The texts for Sunday, December 16, 2012:  Zephaniah 3:14–20; Isaiah 12:2–6; Philippians 4:4–7; and Luke 3:7–18 You don’t light a candle in a well lit space You don’t use a flashlight to guide you in the middle of the day. You don’t hope and dream when the world is perfect… It’s almost the Winter Solstice.ContinueContinue reading “Slivers of Light”