Sermons from 2024
Abiding Love for One Another: The Good News (and the Bad News)
Based on a sermon written by the Rev. Kay Sylvester, Rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Tustin CA, May 13, 2012 “This is my commandment,” Jesus tells his disciples, “that you love one another, as I have loved you,” and to “abide in my love”. “Abide” comes from the Germanic word bīdan, meaning “to remain or stay”, and connotes not simply an action, but a state of living and being. It is a stronger idea than an instruction, but a way…
God Is Love
“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1John 4) How many people here are on Facebook? Last month, there was a Facebook post that trashed the Christian religion, accusing it of being a destructive force in our country that threatens democratic rule. This particular post focused on the mean spiritedness of many Christians who…
The Good Shepherd
On this Good Shepherd Sunday, we engage familiar texts with new eyes, hearts, and spirits as we ask ourselves how we welcome those who may not already be a part of our fold into the flock.
Peace be with you
In our text for today, we encounter Jesus appearing to the disciples in an effort to assuage their fear. Jesus greets them with Peace be with you and asks for something to eat. As the encounter continues, we see the path of development for the disciples from fear to faith
Easter
Alleluia, Christ has risen. Let the light of Christ illuminate your path for us, Creator, redeemer, and sustainer. Amen As a part of my ordination process, I interned as a hospital Chaplain. It was an intense experience, to say the least, yet taught me a great deal about pastoral care, myself, grief, and caring for the dead and dying. One of the many moments of learning that will always stay with me from that time came from an interaction I…
Easter Vigil
On this most Holy of nights, we hear the ancient texts with open hearts, renew our Baptismal vows, and let the wisdom of the ancients preach far better than we could on our own.
Maundy Thursday
As we begin the triduum, we meet Jesus and his disciples for their last supper as Jesus shares a new commandment and guidance for his friends as he continues to explain soon they will need to figure out life without him here on earth.
A New Heart, A New Mind
During the fifth century AD, Britain ceased to be part of the Roman Empire and became a group of small warring territories, resulting in aggression against the populace. Slavery was a common fate for those captured in raids or warfare. It was into this context that a 16-year-old boy named Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who had attacked his family’s estate. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity. During that…
God’s World and the Ten Words
We’ve read today in Exodus 20 one of the most world-shaking, world-changing texts ever written. Exodus 19 and 20 tell us that the skies were thundering and lightening and Mt Sinai was shaking and smoking and the people were trembling in the distance when the LORD God spoke today’s words. This is the only place in the Hebrew Bible where the text says that God spoke directly to the people of Israel without any intermediary, not through prophets, priests nor…
Don’t turn away
In our texts for this second Sunday in Lent, we encounter Peter rebuking Jesus and Jesus doing the same as he calls Peter and us not to focus on those things of the human world but to focus on the divine. To also ensure we are not looking away from the pain and suffering of Christ. Our text this week calls us to pay attention and not skip ahead. To tear down the barriers between us and our neighbor and see Christ within us and those we meet. To not look away.
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