Sermons
Why are you weeping? God’s mercy endures for ever.
Why are you weeping? God’s mercy endures for ever.
John 20:15 & Psalm 118:1b
“My children love amusement parks. When they were little, I happily rode with them on the carousel. When they were older but their legs were too short to reach the bumper car peddle, I rode with them as they steered and I pushed the peddle. When they finally achieved the height required for the thrilling rides, I tried to ride with them.”
Lead Us Not Into Temptation
How did you cope with news reports this week? I was distressed and overwhelmed by the news. Fighting between Israel and Hamas resumed, causing the deaths and injuries of hundreds of children and noncombatant adults.
God’s Servants
“What were James and John thinking? Were they grasping for power or were the sons of Zebedee pursuing sacrificial service? The Gospel of Mark says James and John approached Jesus.”
What if We Get it Right?
“Peter was not alone. The Gospel of Mark makes it clear, the other disciples also failed to understand who Jesus was and what Jesus needed to do. Jesus was aware of their failure. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus met privately and repeatedly with the disciples. “
God, help us not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly so we can hold fast to the things that endure. (Proper 20 Collect)
“Peter was not alone. The Gospel of Mark makes it clear, the other disciples also failed to understand who Jesus was and what Jesus needed to do. Jesus was aware of their failure. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus met privately and repeatedly with the disciples. “
Who is Jesus?
“Jesus asked the disciples, who do the people say I am? They answered: some people say you are John the Baptist resurrected from the dead; others say you are Elijah returned by the God who took him from earth to heaven in a fiery chariot pulled by fiery horses; and still others say you are one in a long line of great prophets.“
Those who trust in the Lord, like a mountain cannot be moved,but stand fast for ever. Psalm 125:1
“Today’s passage from the Gospel of Mark describes trust in God that is so strong it is unmovable.“
Increase in us true religion, (BCP, Collect for Proper 17)
“We hear ‘Happy are they who dwell in the house of the Lord!’ Psalm 84:4. King Solomon and the people of Israel and Judah were happy. Construction was done and they were moving the arch of the covenant into the temple.”
Happy are they who dwell in your house! they will always praise you. (Psalm 84:3)
“We hear ‘Happy are they who dwell in the house of the Lord!’ Psalm 84:4. King Solomon and the people of Israel and Judah were happy. Construction was done and they were moving the arch of the covenant into the temple.”
Fear of the Lord
“Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Faith in God developed Solomon’s understanding and empowered him to act inaccodance with God’s will. Solomon became king of Israel and Judah around age 15..“
The Bible: A Gift That Keeps On Giving
“Last week we focused on King David. As we considered the ways David abused the power and privileges God granted him, we came to appreciate the relevance of the Bible. “
A Bible Telenovela
“The readings from the Hebrew Scripture (aka Old Testament) for last week and this week sound line soap operas, telenovelas or those true crime story shows. These Bible passages describe abuse of power, sexual violence, and murder.”
"Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Isaiah 6:8
"God asks the prophet Isaiah, in the first lesson, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”Isaiah 6:8. This invitation Isaiah to be God’s messenger came as God granted him a sneak peak of the heaven."
Witnessing Easter
In the first reading we heard Peter proclaim, “Now, I get it. God shows no partiality! Everyone and anyone who fears God and does what is right is accepted by God. I cannot continue neglecting and rejecting those whom God accepts. I must seek and attend to everyone because God loves everyone.”