Contemplative Episcopalian

Robert Heckner delivers a sermon on the fourth Sunday of Advent, 2019.

A sermon reflecting on Advent 3’s reading from James.

A message delivered at the funeral of one of our parishioners.

An Advent message reflecting on the true meaning of repentance.

A homily delivered on Dec. 1, 2019 (Advent 1). Two children were baptized on that day and the homily addressed the congregation’s responsibility towards those being baptized.

A conversation with Kurt McDowell about faith, fasting, exercise, weight loss, theology, and Jesus coming back as the Macho Man Randy Savage.

A homily preached on the cusp of Advent about change and how nothing lasts. But, Jesus promises to be the centering presence as we undergo seasons of change. We must find him in the NOW, though.

As we kick started our stewardship campaign Fr TJ delivered a sermon that cast a vision for St Paul’s future.

A homily for the feast of All Saints. What is the Church? What is a Saint? These are the questions addressed in this homily.

A reflection on the wisdom story that Jesus shares about the Pharisee (religious teacher) and the Tax Collector (a “sinner”). Hint, hint: ironically, you will come to discover that you are the Pharisee.

A homily reflecting on the story of Jacob wrestling with “the angel.” Who was this mysterious wrestler? God? An angel? Or, was it Jacob? Perhaps this story is not about humanity’s struggle with the Divine as much as it is about humanity’s struggle with humanity.

A sermon reflecting on the dynamics of living life together in community, and how to deal with all of the difficulties that accompany it.

A sermon delivered on Oct. 6, 2019 for the feast of St Francis. The full title is, “Through the Eyes of the Oppressed, Christ Sees You. Will you see Christ in Them?”

A sermon delivered Sept. 29, 2019 reflecting on Jesus’ wisdom story about the Rich Man and Lazarus.

A homily delivered on Sept 22, 2019 at St Paul’s. The topic: how praying for others heals us.

Met Trimm, a parishioner at St Paul’s, shared this message with us on Sept. 15, 2019. They preached at a special Evensong service where members of the church and the greater community came together to bless the Rainbow Pride Flag that had been created at our local Rock the Pride event.

This homily was delivered at St Paul’s I n Sept. 13, 2019. The occasion: Mass for the reparation for clergy abuse.

For this episode, Father TJ Humphrey interviews Reverend Shane Spellmeyer. The discussion topic? What it means to be gay and Christian in our world today.

A homiletical reflection on the spiritual discipline/posture of detachment along with a guided meditation focused on the collect prayer for 9/9/2019.

For this guided meditation we will be focusing specifically on breath work (breath as mantra), the Jesus Prayer, and my own personal mantra. The quote for the day comes from The Cloud of Unknowing.

A homily reflecting on Franciscan spirituality, contemplative prayer, the spiritual journey, the role of the Church, and inner transformation.

A homily reflecting on the Western Christian notion of the Dark Night of the Soul, teasing out what it means and how one makes their way through it.

A homily reflecting on the contemplative life, the spiritual journey, inner transformation, cultural change, and Luke 10:38-42.

Reflections on love, relationships, humanness, and God.

A homily reflecting on how the Divine interacts with our bodies. God loves us just as we are and we would do well to accept God’s acceptance of us.