Hearts Open to the Word

We often miss God's voice because we expect it to sound a certain way—like a choir of angels or a clear, burning bush. But the story of Epiphany challenges our desire for a "correct" revelation by introducing the Magi: foreign astrologers who found the Messiah through the "weird" medium of the stars. Join us as we explore  Isaiah 60:1–6  and  Matthew 2:1–12  to discover how...

In a world dominated by the displacing decrees of emperors, fear often feels like the loudest voice in the room. Yet, the narratives of **Luke 2:1–20** and **John 1:1–14** reveal that God bypasses the centers of power to enter the world in the vulnerability of a manger. This sermon explores how the Incarnation is an act of divine solidarity, where God arrives not to fix the decree from above, but...

When we are exhausted, God’s "new thing" can feel like a threat. Drawing on  Matthew 11:1–11  and  Isaiah 43:19–21 , we see that hope is not a guarantee of easy outcomes, but the realization of God’s outlandish grace sustaining life even among the jackals and prison cells.

We embark on Advent in the realm of real, present anxiety, shaped by the historical context of Herod’s time. The central divine command guiding this journey is “Do not fear!” This episode delves into the manner in which God delivers this command, drawing parallels between past deliverance (Lamentations 3:55–57), where God “came near,” and Zechariah’s immediate terror as the promise materializes in...

Are you ready to cancel your subscription to adulthood? When the world feels overwhelmed by chaos, global instability, and the feeling of a  "crumbling empire,"  it's easy to succumb to exhaustion and cling to  "weak, fake powers"  of control. This sermon confronts the deep anxiety that paralyzes us and asks the impossible question posed by Scripture: How can we  "endu...

In this sermon on 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 and Psalm 98, we explore what it means to work together as beloved community. Drawing on the metaphor of creation as symphony, we'll address the balance between wholehearted participation and workaholism, between idleness and holy rest. The key question isn't how much we work, but what we're working for—when we shift from "What's in it...

In this sermon, we explore the anxiety-ridden church of Thessalonica, convinced they were living in the final moments of history. Sound familiar? When false teachers led them to believe "the day of the Lord is already here" (2 Thessalonians 2:2), the community became paralyzed—abandoning their work and waiting for cosmic rescue. Paul's response wasn't a detailed timeline of the e...

On All Saints Sunday, we remember our connection to the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us—from the well-known saints of church history to the beloved everyday saints who shaped our faith. In Luke's Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:20-31), Jesus presents us with his most radical teaching: blessing the poor, hungry, and grieving while warning the comfortable, then calling us to love ou...

In this stewardship kickoff sermon from October 26, 2025, Rev. Dr. Charissa Clark Howe explores Luke 18:9-14 and Psalm 84:1-7, weaving together themes of humility, radical welcome, and faithful stewardship. Through the story of "Wild Joe" and the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector, she illustrates how our shared dependence on God's mercy creates space for everyone in God's...

In this week's sermon, we explore Luke 18:1-8 and 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5, examining the parable of the persistent widow and what it teaches us about prayer, justice, and hope. Through historical context and modern application, we consider how different forms of justice work parallel the widow's persistence at the city gates. The sermon challenges us to find sustainable ways to participate in G...

Join us for a reflection on Luke 14:15-24, where Jesus tells a parable about a great dinner party and unexpected guests. On this World Communion Sunday, we explore what it means when those initially invited make excuses not to come, and how God's table becomes a place of radical welcome for those who have been historically excluded. This message challenges us to move beyond superficial accepta...

In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus tells a challenging parable about a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus that goes far deeper than a simple morality tale about wealth. Drawing on Robert Frost's poem "Mending Wall," Samuel Wells' A Nazareth Manifesto, and contemporary insights about isolation and community, this sermon explores how we create and maintain barriers between ourselves and ot...

In this sermon from September 14, 2025 (14th Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 19/Year C), we explore Luke 15:1-10 and Psalm 51:1-10, examining Jesus' parables of the lost sheep and lost coin. These stories challenge us to consider God's relentless seeking of the lost and the true nature of celebration in community. Against the backdrop of recent events and social division, we wrestle with questions o...

In this sermon exploring Jeremiah 18:1-11 and Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18, we examine how God works both individually and communally to shape us into vessels for justice. Using imagery of pottery and knitting, we consider what it means to remain malleable in God's hands while navigating the tensions between personal spiritual formation and systemic change. The sermon reflects on how covenant communit...

In this sermon on Luke 14:7-14, Rev. Dr. Howe reflects on Jesus' teachings about power, vulnerability, and radical hospitality in the context of another tragic school shooting. Jesus' words about dinner party etiquette reveal deeper truths about the upside-down nature of God's kingdom. This sermon examines how our cultural obsession with power and control contributes to violence, while Jesus calls...

In this week's sermon, we explore Jeremiah 23:23-29, examining how we often try to contain and domesticate God to fit our human expectations. Using imagery of cats in boxes, wheat and straw, and various types of hammers, we consider the difference between temporary comfort and lasting spiritual nourishment. The sermon addresses current events like challenges to civil rights, connecting them to...

In this sermon exploring Hebrews 11:1-16 and Genesis 15:1-6, Pastor Charissa examines what it means to live by faith rather than sight. Through a personal story about navigating unfamiliar roads in England, she illustrates how faith calls us to journey forward even when we can't see the complete destination.

Today's Gospel lesson is from Luke 12:13-21. Jesus responds to an inheritance dispute with a parable about a rich fool who hoards his abundance rather than sharing with the community. The sermon explores different forms of greed beyond material wealth, examining how our relationship with resources - whether money, attention, or influence - reflects our spiritual priorities and understanding of God...

Exploring Jesus' teaching on prayer through the lens of community and trust, this sermon examines how the Lord's Prayer shapes both our relationship with God and our connections with neighbors. Beginning with the parable of the midnight visitor, we discover how persistent prayer and radical hospitality transform our understanding of God's provision and our role in meeting one another's needs. The...

In this July 20, 2025 sermon exploring Luke 10:38-42 and Colossians 1:15-28, we examine the familiar story of Mary and Martha through the lens of Christ's reconciling presence. The sermon unpacks how Mary's radical choice to sit at Jesus' feet connects with Paul's cosmic vision of Christ as "the firstborn of all creation." Through three movements - Martha's dilemma, Mary's unconventional response,...

July 13, 2025 by Charissa Clark Howe

Year c Proper 9 First Scripture Reading Psalm 66:1–9 Second Scripture Reading Luke 10:1–11, 16–20

Today’s scripture is Acts 2:1-21

In this Ascension Day sermon focusing on Ephesians 1:15-23, we explore how Jesus' ascension completes the narrative arc of his earthly ministry and transforms our understanding of power. Through the metaphor of adjusting to light in a dark room, borrowed from Archbishop Rowan Williams, we see how Jesus becomes not just the light that blinds us, but the light by which we see the world anew. The ser...

First Sunday as the new installed pastor at Sixth Presbyterian Church. Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C, May 25, 2025. Preaching on John 14:23-29.