Calvary Presbyterian Church San Francisco

In the final of our series of three sermons on Jesus disturbing parables, Matthew’s gospel challenges us on what we are investing in our lives of faith, and what motivates us in our lives together. Given the generosity of God to us, are we investing that generous love in others, and in our communities? The sermon was delivered by Guest Preacher Rev. Scott Rennie. The reading was from the Book of M...

In the second of three sermons on famous parables of Jesus, we look at the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard. Parables are meant to disturb us and upend the usual way we think about the world. I guess like me, you wish the world were a more just place. We could settle for that, as far from reality as that seems! But what if God calls us to live beyond justice, and to live an unmerited generos...

In the first of three sermons on famous parables of Jesus we look at the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Parables are meant to disturb us, and upend the usual way we look at things and think about the world. If Jesus’ story was about a shameless son, then there is another character who is also shameless—the parent. What would it mean for us to think about God as being utterly shameless? The sermon wa...

The Book of Daniel offers us resurrection hope for this current time of division, lawlessness and disinformation. If something is false, it is not of God. If something is not of God, it must not stand. Daniel tells us that we will rise—from the dust of the earth—we shall rise! There sermon was delivered by Rev. Victor Floyd on August 4, 2024. The scripture reading was from Daniel 12:1-13.

Spoiler Alert: The four world empires of Daniel's time are depicted as ferocious beasts. In what ways are empires beastly and predatory still today? And what is God's relationship to the powers that be? The apocalyptic writings of Daniel are simply a revelation of God's sovereign rule and love of all God's people. So let the apocalypse be revealed, and may we continue to resist and...

There are stories in scripture and in our lives where people act as if doing the right thing is impossible because of certain rules. It happens in our passage in Daniel, sending Daniel to the lion's den. It will happen when Jesus is on trial at the end of his life.  We each have different levels of authority, power, and influence. Are we using our privileges to do the right things?  The sermon...

King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue whose height was sixty cubits and whose width was six cubits. If my biblical math is correct, that’s about 90 feet tall, and about 9 feet wide, which is maybe not a hallmark of strong engineering. It doesn’t have a base wide enough to support the weight of it. What are we building? And are we building it in a way that will last, or idols to draw attention t...

Do you remember your dreams? I try to pause when waking and think about my dreams, because I know they will scamper away the minute I get busy with my day.  Having a dream is one thing. Interpreting its meaning is another. And turning a dream into reality is a whole different level. What are your dreams? Where is God in your interpretation of them and your implementation of them?  The sermon was d...

In some of the most beautiful verse in scripture, the psalmist calls us to remember how deeply we are known by God, and how deeply we are loved. And it matters deeply. Sometimes in life we feel alone, we worry that either we have strayed beyond where God would follow, or we feel life has taken us past the limits of where God’s love would extend. It is a lie we tell ourselves—that we are beyond God...

A concerted band of doomsayers bind us with their messages: the world is ending, we're all gonna die, the sky has fallen and we just haven't noticed yet. God's Word tells us of an alternative plan: The Great Unwinding. Shed your funereal outlook! Rewrite your story! Let's dance!  The sermon was delivered on June 23, 2024 by Rev. Victor Floyd. The reading was from Psalm 30.

We often think of the word "bless" in the context of God blessing us. But Psalm 103 tells us five times to "Bless the Lord." What does it mean to bless God?  This Father's Day, as we look at a psalm that describes God as a father who has compassion for his children, we acknowledge that not all human fathers are this way. And we remember that God is described as much more th...

We gather in worship for praise. We also gather for worship in lament. In our life of faith, we should be able to bring to God, and bring to our community, the entirety of our lives. What kind of community grows in a place where people can be honest about the pain and the joys of their lives?  The sermon was delivered on Sunday, June 9 by Rev. Marci A. Glass. The scripture reading was from Psalm 1...

Psalm 100 is a psalm of praise. In it, the entire earth is called to praise, because praise is a job description of those God has created. Orienting our lives toward praise and gratitude is not an act of putting on rose colored glasses and refusing to see the broken and painful parts of the world. It helps keep the broken and painful parts of the world in the right perspective, which gives us the...

"They are like a tree replanted by streams of water, which bears fruit at just the right time and whose leaves don’t fade. Whatever they do succeeds." The sermon was delivered by Reverend Victor Floyd on May 26, 2024. The scripture reading was from Psalm 1 (Common English Bible).

There is an old Italian saying: "Traduttore, traditore." It is a remark that assumes that the task of translation is hopeless, that you can't ever properly transmit a work from one culture to another. But what if the translator is God? This Pentecost, wear red and experience how God is translating love, peace, and unity for us in this world.  The sermon was given by Rev. Joann H. Lee...

We ended our sermon series on being resurrection people by looking at what Paul said to the church in Corinth about resurrection.  There sermon was given by Rev. Marci A. Glass on May 12, 2024. The scripture reading was from 1 Corinthians 15:1-26, 51-57.

Through Holy Communion, we taste and see a mysterious kind of love. This Sunday, we celebrated the inclusive, expansive feast that nourishes us as resurrection people and feeds us for the journey ahead as sinners and saints.  There sermon was given by Rev. Victor H. Floyd on May 5, 2024. The scripture reading was from 1 Corinthians 13.

During this season of Easter, we have been going through a sermon series on being "resurrection people." But we are resurrection people, NOT perfect people. Resurrection people can still make mistakes, fail, fight, and flounder. But the good news of resurrection is that we can rise to try again. Have you made a mistake, fought with family, broken a promise, or done anything wrong since E...

When Paul and Silas preach the reconciling love of God in the capital city, the dominant society punishes them for "turning the world upside down.” Today, in our currently-irreconcilable culture, when we preach God’s inclusive love, we should expect no less! Shall the fundamentalists win? Or can God call on a more loving publicist, like you?  The sermon was given by Rev. Victor H. Floyd on Ap...

On Sunday we heard the story of Stephen in the Book of Acts. He's known as the first martyr for the Gospel. The root of the word 'martyr' comes from the word 'witness'. Maybe we can't all be (or don't want to be) martyrs, but what does it mean to take our witness seriously?  The sermon was delivered on Sunday, April 15 by Rev. Marci A. Glass. The scripture reading was f...

This Sunday begins a month of stories from the early, post-Easter church from the Book of Acts. In today's story, Peter and John heal a man outside the Temple. The man was begging for money. Peter offers him something else, if only he'll fix his attention to see it.  The sermon was delivered by Rev. Marci A. Glass on Sunday, April 7, 2024. The scripture reading was from Acts 3:1-16.

Mark's account of the resurrection doesn't include an appearance by Jesus. The gospel originally ended with a preposition, surely causing his 8th grade English teacher to weep. Mark's gospel ends with the women fleeing the tomb in terror.  But that's not the end of the story.  How often are our lives like that? When have you had a chance to write a different ending to a part of you...

The events of Palm Sunday flew in the face of all that seemed civil and polite for an occupied state of the Roman Empire. How dare this Jesus and his common followers mock the imperial parade celebrating the power and plunders of war? Who was this Jesus that compelled the people to wave palms and throw their cloaks on the ground in welcome? Join us on Sunday as wave our palms, sing our hosanna, an...

As we think about peace, it is important that we don’t only see peacefulness and quiet as the goal. Peace often requires a stand. Sometimes conflict is required to break through injustice so you can get to peace.  If we want to be blessed as peacemakers, we will need to stand in solidarity with the oppressed, to stand in opposition to the violence and injustice of the world, and to know that peace...

On that day, when evening had come, [Jesus] said to [the disciples], ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him,...