Holy Trinity Silicon Valley - Homilies & Sermons

This Easter Sunday, we explore the moment the risen Jesus asks Mary Magdalene a deceptively simple question at the empty tomb: "Who is it that you are looking for?" From John's Gospel, we walk through Mary's journey from grief to revelation, and consider how that same question speaks to three kinds of people today: those searching for a Jesus they once knew, those waiting for a God who will finall...

In a valley that celebrates power, ambition, and agency, Palm Sunday confronts us with something radically different. Rector John Gorin walks us through Matthew 27, where Jesus stands before Pilate in what can only be described as peak powerlessness: betrayed by a friend, denied by another, facing injustice, and mocked by the crowd. Yet in that moment, Jesus models something our culture rarely tea...

What do you do when God seems late and the situation has already gone past the point of no return? This sermon sits with the hardest question faith asks us to hold: not whether God can bring life from death, but what we do while we wait. In this final Sunday of Lent before Holy Week, David McGaw explores the painful pause between death and resurrection through the lens of Ezekiel's valley of dry b...

Why does Jesus ask a Samaritan woman for a drink - and what does her story have to do with your deepest longings? In this Lenten sermon, Mayo Adigun traces the thread of thirst from Israel's wilderness in Exodus to a quiet well in Samaria, where Jesus crosses every barrier (ethnic, social, and moral) to reach one woman carrying the weight of five broken covenants. Drawing on John 4, Genesis's well...

In this sermon, Rev. John Gorin draws on the harrowing story of the Donner Party and the quiet, prayerful faith of Patrick Breen, a father who kept a diary of devotion through months of starvation and freezing cold to explore what it means to hope in God when circumstances feel impossible. From the headlines of military escalation in the Middle East to sweeping AI-driven layoffs, and from the pers...

What if temptation isn't something to be embarrassed about, or dismissed with a wink and a smile? In this first Sunday sermon of Lent 2026, David McGaw takes on one of Christianity's most misunderstood topics and reframes it entirely: temptation isn't cute, but it doesn't have to be crushing either. It's an invitation to grow. Opening with a crowd-singalong of The Temptations' "My Girl," David dra...

As we observe the final Sunday in the season of Epiphany, we move from the revelation of the wise men to the ultimate revelation of Jesus’ divine nature. In this episode, we explore the Transfiguration, a pivotal event recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke that confirms Jesus as both incarnate and divine. To find out more about Holy Trinity Silicon Valley head to: https://www.holytrin...

What would it take to completely reset your life? In this Ash Wednesday message, Rev. John Gorin of Holy Trinity Silicon Valley opens the Lenten season with a powerful reflection on letting go of ego, self-reliance, and the worldly scorekeeping that pulls us away from God. Drawing on the remarkable story of U.S. Olympic skier Colby Stephenson, who survived a devastating car accident and returned t...

In this sermon delivered on Mission Sunday during the liturgical season of Epiphany, we explore the calling of every believer to be an agent of rescue in a world that is "harassed and helpless". Drawing from the dramatic true story of a young boy's grueling swim to save his family stranded at sea, the message frames our mission through three distinct lenses: rescue is our experience because we sha...

Podcast Episode: The Foolishness of God In the series finale of "Church Matters," we explore Paul’s letter to a Corinthian church struggling to find its identity amidst a culture obsessed with **money, sex, and power**. While the world demands visible signs of strength and sophisticated intellectualism, the Gospel offers something seemingly contradictory: a crucified Messiah. This episode dives in...

In this episode, we dive into the second part of our "Church Matters" series, exploring Saint Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. While the Corinthians were "sanctified" and set apart for a special mission, they found themselves deeply fractured by earthly allegiances and personality cults. From favoring the intellectual rhetoric of Apollos to the traditional roots of Cephas (Peter), the early...

Does the church still matter in today’s world? In this sermon, Rev. John Gorin opens our three-part series, **"Church Matters,"** by exploring the opening of Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth. Despite being located in a bustling, secular commercial hub, the Corinthian church was called to be a "sanctified" and "equipped" presence—a calling that remains just as vital for us today in Silicon Va...

The decorations are down, the trees are at the curb, and the stores have already moved on to the next holiday. For many, the end of the Christmas season brings a vague sense of disappointment—a feeling that something was missing. In this week’s sermon from **Holy Trinity Silicon Valley**, Deacon Cindy Miller explores why the "holiday" often feels hollow when the true hope of Christ is forgotten or...

In this insightful message, Reverend John Gorin explores a unique moment in the life of Christ: the story of a young Jesus in the temple. Drawing from the Gospel of Luke, Reverend Gorin examines the only recorded event between Jesus’s birth and the start of his public ministry. He challenges us to look beyond the "Home Alone" moment experienced by Mary and Joseph and instead focus on the profound...

Is it possible to find the holy in the middle of the holiday rush? In the days following Christmas, it is common to feel a sense of "letdown" after the gifts are unwrapped and the guests have gone home. In this sermon, we explore the Prologue of John (John 1:1–18) to discover how the Logos—the Word—bridges the gap between the divine and the daily grind. Join us as we move from the manger to the th...

To find out more about Holy Trinity Silicon Valley head to https://www.holytrinitysv.org On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, Reverend John Gorin explores the profound significance behind the name given to the Messiah: Jesus. Based on the Gospel of Matthew and the account of Joseph’s dream, this sermon examines the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and the dual nature of Christ as both the human S...

"If God is real, why is there suffering?" It is perhaps the most common question asked by believers and non-believers alike. In this Advent sermon, we explore the tension of living in the "now and not yet"—waiting for the full restoration of the Kingdom while navigating the darkness of the current world. We look to the story of John the Baptist, who, despite his faithfulness, found himself in pris...

Lessons & Carols is a special Advent Service which pairs Scripture readings with Hymns and Carols to create a beautiful service of song and Scripture. Each Scripture reading and carol tells the story of the coming Messiah, Christ Jesus. To learn more about Holy Trinity Silicon Valley head to: https://www.linktr.ee/holytrinitysv

Two years ago, a routine chapel service at Asbury Seminary turned into an overwhelming experience of God's presence—an outpouring that drew thousands worldwide. What are the hallmarks of such a revival, and what is the appropriate human response? In this Sermon, Rev. John Gorin explores the characteristics of revival, from the recent events at Asbury to the historical, repentance-fueled movement l...

The history of mankind runs in cycles: nations are formed, rulers emerge, culture develops, there are wars and rumors of wars, then the glory of one nation is replaced by another. In Matthew 24:29-44, Jesus is speaking to his disciples, and now to us, about the end of this cycle, when he will come again to rule and reign as the King of kings. He tells them they will not know when this will actuall...

"Christ The King Sunday" - Deacon Cindy Miller by Holy Trinity Silicon Valley

In a world filled with rising tensions, unexpected challenges, and daily anxieties, how do we stay rooted in Christ? In this final message of the Good News in Anxious Times series, Rev. John Gorin explores Paul’s pastoral wisdom from 2 Thessalonians, offering a biblical roadmap for navigating the pressures we face right now — not yesterday, not someday — but in the present moment. Drawing from the...

In this sermon Rev. John Gorin discusses the realities of worry, anxiety, and fear, in an age marked by stresses and calamities. Where do we turn when we get overwhelmed or feel fearful for the future? Listen in on how to navigate these realities from a Christian lens. To learn more about Holy Trinity Silicon Valley head to: https://www.holytrinitysv.org

Feeling overwhelmed by the uncertainty of the world? In this powerful sermon, Rev. John Gorin unpacks the enduring 'Good News' of the Christian faith. Discover how to anchor your soul in lasting peace and find spiritual clarity when life is at its most anxious. Tune in for a timely message of hope for challenging times. To find out more about Holy Trinity Silicon Valley head to: https://www.holytr...

In this powerful sermon, Deacon Cindy Miller explores the true meaning of faith and righteousness through the lenses of Luke 18:9-14 (The Pharisee and the Tax Collector) and 2 Timothy 4:6-18 (Paul's final words). Discover why humility is not just a virtue, but the essential posture for approaching God, and how the one who humbles himself is exalted. Then, learn how to embrace a life of perseveranc...