Sermons from 2021
The New Relationship
Luke 2:1-20 I wonder what the shepherds thought they would find when they went into Bethlehem? The angel said that a baby will be a sign but the shepherds didn’t say to each other, “Let’s go and see the baby” – they said “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” I wonder what they were expecting? I also wonder how they found the right place…
The Angels are Singing for you
I have two radio stations programmed in my car radio – KCBX for Public Radio and KUSC for classical music. This morning I was driving into San Luis Obispo, listening to Morning Edition on NPR. The segment was about our relationship with Russia. Suddenly I couldn’t listen any longer and hit the button for KUSC, which took me into the middle of the Angel’s Carol by John Rutter. What a contrast; from human conflict to angels singing peace on earth. …
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Micah 5:2-5a Luke 1:39-55 When I was on sabbatical and visiting family I dipped briefly into the family tree. I was surprised to discover that my grandparents who lived in North London all their lives were married in Wales. And that two months later, my father was born. It seems that there were some relatives in Wales and when my grandmother found that she was pregnant, she probably went, as Mary did, into the hill country away from the…
What we keep, keeps us
Philippians 4:4-7 Luke 3:7-18 Jaki Shelton Green is the first African American and the third woman to be appointed as North Carolina’s Poet Laureate. When Jaki offers writing workshops in prisons and jails one of her writing exercises starts with this statement, “What we keep, keeps us.” What we keep, keeps us. In the gospel reading today, John the Baptizer delivers a fiery and somewhat scary message to those who crowd into the desert to hear him. We tend to hear…
The Glory of God
Walking around shining like the sun. That is what it means to prepare God’s way – it means to be who we really are. The glory of God is revealed as we step onto the highway that God is preparing for God’s children.
Jesus is Coming
Today is the first Sunday in the church’s year. Advent Sunday. The first of four Sundays as we prepare to celebrate and remember Christ’s incarnation. And alongside our preparation for the coming of Christ as a human baby, as kind of a subplot, is our longing for the return of Christ in all his glory to sort out the mess that we humans create.
Jesus v. the Empire
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14Psalm 93Revelation 1:4b-8John 18:33-37 In the year 312, the Roman emperor had a dream. The night before the battle of Milvian Bridge which is in northern Italy, according to the 4th century historian, Lanctancius, the emperor Constantine “was advised in a dream to mark the heavenly sign of God on the shields of his soldiers and then engage in battle. He did as he was commanded and by means of a letter X turned sideways, with the top…
The New Story
Daniel 12:1-3Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25Mark 13:1-8 I have always been puzzled by the disciple in today’s gospel reading. What’s the big deal? Hasn’t he seen the temple before? Is he admiring the architecture like a tourist might? Or is he just wanting Jesus’ attention and doesn’t know what to say – “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” Or could it be that he (note that I am assuming it was a man) was still thinking that Jesus…
When God lets My Body Be
when god lets my body be From each brave eye shall sprout a treefruit dangles therefrom the purpled world will dance uponBetween my lips which did sing a rose shall beget the springthat maidens whom passions wastes will lay between their little breastsMy strong fingers beneath the snow Into strenuous birds shall gomy love walking in the grass their wings will touch with their faceand all the while shall my heart be With the bulge and nuzzle of the sea …
Humans Adapt, God Makes New
October 31 wears many hats, comes with many costumes. Today is Halloween, also All Saint’s Eve. Today on the Christian calendar this is Reformation Sunday or Ecumenical Sunday as St Ben’s celebrates it. St Ben’s also today celebrates the return of our pastor from Sabbatical, thanks be to God. Today is also the opening day of the UN’s Climate Change Conference. I’ll return to that soon. Here’s one more hat today. It’s also the fifth game of baseball’s World Series,…