Going DeeperWith Christ Episcopal Church

Easter 2024 Matthew 28:1-10 Father Mark's Easter sermon focuses on the transformative power of the resurrection. He points out that in the Gospel accounts, Jesus' followers initially fail to recognize the risen Christ, signifying that something about Him has changed. This transformation extends to Mary Magdalene and the disciples, who are no longer just followers but become apostles, sent...

The Passion of Jesus Christ as told in Mark 14:1-15:47.

Full Immersion John 12:20-33 Fr. Mark uses a humorous story about a woman trying to avoid full immersion baptism to illustrate how we often try to protect our vulnerable inner selves by staying on the surface of life, preoccupied with the external world. He says we need to die to our false surface self in order to find our true self in God. Jesus himself felt the human fear of losing his individua...

Love or Judgment? John 3:14-21 Father Mark’s sermon revolves around interpreting the famous biblical verse, John 3:16, which states, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." Father Mark discusses how this verse can be interpreted as either comforting or terrifying, depending on one's perspec...

Beyond the Marketplace John 2:13-22 Father Mark's sermon focuses on the story of Jesus cleansing the temple. He argues that the act was driven by Jesus' frustration with the temple becoming a marketplace. Traditionally, people brought animals for sacrifice, but the temple merchants inflated prices and prioritized profit over worship. This commercialization contrasted with God's free fl...

Facing Ourselves Mark 1:9-15 This sermon by Father Mark delves into the themes of self-examination and living a life centered on divine things, drawing on the Gospel of Mark and Sister Joan Chittister's book "Falling Upward." Father Mark emphasizes the importance of introspection and confronting our inner selves, challenging the tendency to blame others and avoid responsibility. He a...

Fast and Feast Mark 1:9-15 Father Mark's sermon explores the concept of the wilderness as a place of testing and transformation, drawing parallels between the experiences of Jesus and those of the congregation during Lent. He emphasizes the presence of two opposing forces in our lives: the "divisive, oppositional, satanic spirit" that separates us from God and others, and the "l...

Transfiguration Mark 9:2-9 Christianity teaches that Christ can be born a thousand times in Bethlehem, but all are in vain until he is born in each individual. The meaning of the transfiguration is not just that Jesus was transfigured 2,000 years ago, but that we are called to say yes to our own transfiguration and metamorphosis into something greater than ourselves. As we enter Lent, it is a time...

Weak and Strong Mark 1:29-39 Father Mark's sermon delves into the narrative of Jesus' healing and exorcism activities in Capernaum, as described in the Gospel according to Mark, highlighting Jesus' deliberate choice to maintain the Messianic secret. He interprets Jesus' refusal to allow demons to reveal his identity as a strategic measure to prevent misconceptions about his messiah...

Root of Authority Mark 1:21-28 Father Mark's sermon focuses on the unique authority of Jesus as depicted in the Gospel story, where Jesus teaches and performs an exorcism in a synagogue. He contrasts Jesus' innate authority with the external, institutional authority of the scribes. The people in the synagogue recognized Jesus' authority as emanating from his essence and connection with...

Beyond Nets and Boats Mark 1:14-20 In his sermon, Father Mark explores the Gospel of Mark, specifically the story of Jesus calling Simon, Andrew, James, and John to follow him. He discusses three ways to interpret this story: as a historical account, a rationalized narrative, or a personal, deeper message. Father Mark emphasizes the importance of understanding "repentance" in its origina...

Come and See John 1:43-51 Father Mark's sermon, based on the Gospel of John, delves into the theme of invitation and openness, using the story of Philip inviting Nathaniel to meet Jesus. He highlights how Nathaniel's initial skepticism about Jesus being from Nazareth reflects a common human tendency to prejudge and dismiss others based on superficial attributes like their origin, social st...

Baptism and Belonging Mark 1:4-11 Father Mark's sermon focuses on the theme of identity in the context of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. He explores how Jesus, at his baptism, was reaffirmed by God as His beloved son. This affirmation of identity, Father Mark suggests, is crucial before Jesus begins his earthly ministry and faces temptation. He draws parallels between this divine af...

Discharging Our Loyal Soldier Luke 2:22-40 Father Mark's sermon reflects on the biblical narrative of Simeon and Anna encountering the infant Jesus in the Temple. He explores the theme of transitions in life, using Simeon's experience as a metaphor. Father Mark extends this metaphor to our lives, suggesting that we often struggle with identity and purpose after major life transitions, akin...

Story Power Fr. Mark's Christmas Eve sermon reflects deeply on the power of stories, particularly the Christmas narrative, as tools for discovery and understanding. He begins by recounting the Gospel of Luke's account of Jesus' birth, emphasizing how stories, even those seemingly simple like the Christmas narrative, have profound impacts on us. He notes that our brains are wired for st...

Beyond Amazement John 1:1-14 If we are to honor these texts, we cannot avoid personal involvement. All of these texts are “after our souls.” We must go beyond our initial amazement, which can block our deeper spiritual development. We can harbor within us a pondering heart, which is the vital path of discipleship, as we reflect on the multiple aspects of Christmas which include the birth of Christ...

Beyond Belief Luke 1:26-38 Rev. Wendy's sermon starts with a personal anecdote about hearing the song "Mary Did You Know?" and transitions into exploring the theme of impossible pregnancies in the Bible. She connects Mary's miraculous conception of Jesus with other biblical stories of unlikely births, such as those of Elizabeth (John the Baptist's mother), Sarah (Isaac's...

Preparing the Way Mark 1:1-8 In the season of Advent, Father Mark's sermon takes us through a reflective journey, guided by the Gospel of Mark.  We are part of the continuing Gospel. We are real life characters in a Gospel that has no end. We must clear and straighten the path for the advent of Christ into our lives. We can open the way for the coming of Christ into every moment of our lives....

Advent Hope Amidst Worldly Turmoil Mark 13:24-37 Father Mark addresses the concept of apocalyptic predictions, referencing figures like Martin Luther and Christopher Columbus who foretold the end of the world. He clarifies that the term 'apocalypse' originally meant revealing hidden truths, especially God's love in dark times, rather than world-ending events. Father Mark relates this t...

Becoming Little Christs Matthew 25:31-46 This the last day of the church year, and we celebrate The Feast of Christ the King. The kingship we celebrate is one of emptying oneself. God exalted Jesus because He emptied himself, humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death on the Cross. This is Christ our King. He redeemed us not with His sword, but with His blood, by dying. “With deeds of love an...

How We See is How We Live Matthew 25:14-30 The pieces of the puzzle in today’s Gospel don’t seem to fit together unless we look at it in the context of the Kingdom of Heaven. What is analogous to the talents in the parable, that God hands over to us? God has handed over to us His own Spirit. The third slave in the parable sees God as harsh and punitive, and lives his life not in faith but in fear...

Choosing the Eternal Bridegroom Matthew 25:1-13 The people of Israel faced a crucial time of discernment: who will they serve? Jesus said that we cannot serve two masters. Yahweh chose Abraham and his descendants as his own people, and Yahweh wanted them to choose Him, to love Him as much as He loved them. For this reason the analogy of marriage often is used. We, the “wedding guests,” are invited...

Soul Matthew 5:1-12 What is the soul? And where does it go when our bodies die? One definition is that soul refers to the sacred depths of ourselves, the dimension of our being where we experience meaning, passion, and compassion. We are most alive when we are one with our soul. Often we are not in touch with, connected with, our soul. One reason we meet in worship is to connect with the sacred de...

Currency Matthew 22:15-22 The question of taxes is a divisive and heated issue, not just now but also in the time of Jesus as is seen in this week’s Gospel with the imperial tax. The discussion was intended to put Jesus between a rock and a hard place, with nowhere to turn. But Jesus refused to play that game. Jesus plays a different game, that of a life centered in God, the Kingdom of Heaven whic...

The King’s Invitation Matthew 22:1-14 The parable of the king’s wedding feast is a parable about the Kingdom of God. We are invited to join the feast, and to enter into the Kingdom of God. The religious leaders of the time rejected the invitation. They didn’t want to be changed, to be transformed. They preferred their familiar, routine, lives.  We are like this. We often prefer to remain citizens...