Notoriously Episcopalian

A sermon for Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024, offered at the Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Heflin, Alabama. Principal text: Mark 16:1-8 “Now what we want at this point is to hear how the women left that tomb and did as they were instructed. We want to hear how they proclaimed the news that Jesus had risen. We want to hear how they encounter the risen Jesus in the garden or on the road. But that...

It has been a few years since I’ve had the chance to preach on Good Friday. I was grateful to join St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Birmingham for their observance of Good Friday. Principal Text: John 18:1-19:42 “The coming of Jesus’ hour means that we are coming to the end of the story. We are coming to the point, the aim, the goal of Jesus’ mission. It also means that we are going to witness the...

A sermon for the 13th Sunday after Pentecost, August 27, 2023, offered at the Church of the Messiah in Heflin, Alabama. Principal text: Exodus 1:8-2:10 "In our history books, women are often relegated to the position of supporting characters, when they are remembered at all. But on this day when we recall the powerful witness to God of the defiance of Shiphrah and Puah, I hope we can also not forg...

A sermon offered for the 12th Sunday after Pentecost, August 20, 2023, at the Church of the Messiah in Heflin, Alabama. Principal text: Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28. "So whatever it means to be Jesus, son of David, incarnate God, it means that Jesus walks on water and calms the storm on one day, and the next day that same Jesus is challenged by a Canaanite woman and has his mind changed. It is incar...

A sermon for the Feast of the Transfiguration, August 6, 2023, offered at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Alabaster, Alabama. Principal text: Luke 9:28-36. “So what does Barbenheimer have to do with the Feast of the Transfiguration? A fair question to ask. I would say surprisingly a lot.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus epi...

A sermon for the Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday, April 2, 2023, offered at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Alabaster, Alabama. "The cross is not just about forgiveness of our personal sins, though that is part of it. The cross is not about sorting out who is sufficiently righteous and faithful to be a Christian because that is none of us. The cross is a stumbling block only if we make it anyt...

A sermon for Christmas Eve, December 24, 2022, offered at the Church of the Messiah in Heflin, Alabama. Principal Text: Luke 2:1-20 I've only been in one Christmas Pageant in my life where I played both the Christmas Star and the Angel of the Lord. I relished my part as a holy interruptor providing crucial information for the story that was playing out below. Little did I know that I was going to...

A sermon for the 4th Sunday of Advent, December 18, 2022, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Greensboro, Alabama. Principal text: Matthew 1:18-25 “Matthew’s Christmas, without the familiar and comfortable manger scene, reminds us that Christmas is about God coming to us and God with us. Christmas is about the beginning of the recreation of the world. It challenges us to act beyond our current under...

A sermon offered for the 3rd Sunday of Advent, December 11, 2022, at the Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Heflin, Alabama. Principal text: Matthew 11:2-11 “The life of John the Baptist shows us that Jesus does not ask us for blind belief or an unexamined faith. We are active participants in our beliefs. We also play an active role in shaping other people’s beliefs.” This is a public episode. If...

A sermon offered for the 2nd Sunday of Advent, December 4, 2022, at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Roanoke, Alabama. Principal text: Matthew 3:1-12 “Often during Advent, preachers caution their congregations against moving too fast to Christmas. But I wonder if the better invitation is prepare for Christmas well. Prepare to offer hospitality to friends and strangers. Prepare to share meals with...

A sermon for the First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2022, offered at the Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Heflin, Alabama. Principal texts: Romans 13:11-14 * Matthew 24:36-44 “Advent helps us reset our clocks. It serves as a reminder that Jesus has come, and that we are now preparing for his return. It is a reminder that we know the end of the story, but we are responsible for writing our chap...

A sermon for the Last Sunday after Pentecost--Christ the King Sunday, November 20, 2022, offered at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Greensboro, Alabama. Principal text: Luke 23:33-43 "Today is the feast of Christ the King, and the lectionary gives us this scene of Jesus on the Cross to understand what kind of king Christ is. Our king is one who does not serve himself. He meets violence and betrayal...

A sermon for the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost, November 13, 2022, offered at the Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Heflin, Alabama. Principal Text: Luke 21:5-19 "To prepare us for this ministry of waiting, testifying, and enduring, we have the gift of Holy Scriptures. Through reading, hearing, and studying scripture, we can hold fast to the hope of everlasting life. The Bible, the story of God and...

A sermon for All Saints Sunday, November 6, 2022, offered at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Roanoke, Alabama. Principal Text: Luke 6:20-31 "When we hear Jesus teaching the disciples on the plain, Jesus knows that he is expecting a response that the disciples cannot give on their own. He is calling them into a life of faith that is dependent on God and on each other. Their dependence on God and e...

A sermon for the 21st Sunday after Pentecost, October 30, 2022, for St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Faunsdale, Alabama. Principal text: Luke 19:1-10 "Jesus brings Zacchaeus from being on the outside of the community to being fully included as a son of Abraham. He is a sinner. He is a tax collector. But he is a son of Abraham. And TODAY the Kingdom of God is for him too.” This is a public episode...

A sermon for the 20th Sunday after Pentecost, October 23, 2022, written for the Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Heflin and recorded in Nashville, TN. Principal text: Luke 18:9-14 "This parable is not so much about our actions but about realizing whose grace and mercy we are talking about. It is not for the Pharisee or the tax collector to determine who should receive grace. It is not for me or...

A sermon for the 19th Sunday after Pentecost, October 16, 2022, at the Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Heflin, Alabama. Principal text: Luke 18:1-8 As Episcopalians, our life is shaped by how we pray. We pray not only with our words, but we also pray with our bodies, and we carry our prayers out into the world. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers o...

A sermon for the 18th Sunday after Pentecost, October 9, 2022, at the Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Heflin, Alabama. Principal text: Luke 17:11-19 “What Francis and the leper who came back show us is that faith is a call and response. God gives grace and healing, and we respond with gratitude and are made whole.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribe...

A sermon for the 17th Sunday after Pentecost, October 2, 2022, at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Roanoke, Alabama. Principal text: Luke 17:5-10 “The apostles don’t need faith to move mountains. They need faith enough to do the work they are called to do. They need faith to serve God, each other, and their community.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscrib...

A sermon for the 15th Sunday after Pentecost, September 18, 2022, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Greensboro, Alabama. Principal text: Luke 16:1-13 What do we make of this parable from Jesus that offers no hero to root for? Jesus speaks this confusing parable to the disciples, so what does it offer us about discipleship? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subs...

A sermon for the 14th Sunday after Pentecost, September 11, 2022, at the Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Heflin, Alabama. Principal text: Luke 15:1-10 “For those of us safely in the sheepfold, there is good news in these parables too. We are called not to determine the worth of who is found or the conditions of their member, but instead, we are called to join in the heavenly celebration.” This...

A sermon for the 13th Sunday after Pentecost, September 4, 2022, at St. Barnabas in Roanoke, Alabama. Principal text: Philemon 1-21 “Paul’s appeal to Philemon centers on their connections and relationship. Paul acknowledges Philemon’s rights in the situation, and is willing to forgo his rights and authority as an apostle and appeals based on love so that relationships could be restored.” This is a...

A sermon for the 12th Sunday after Pentecost, August 28, 2022, at the Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Heflin, Alabama. Principal text: Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 “It is through the power and presence of Christ that we can love without jealousy or fear. It is through Jesus that we can be content. It is through Jesus that we can offer hospitality to all without condition or fear.” This is a public epi...

A sermon for the 11th Sunday after Pentecost, August 21, 2022, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Greensboro, Alabama. Principal text: Hebrews 12:18-29 “So whatever you expected when you came to church this morning—joy, comfort, love, boredom—I imagine you didn’t come expecting to be shaken up. But that is what God promises. God promises to shake all of creation and heaven until only the unshakeabl...

A sermon for the 9th Sunday after Pentecost, August 7, 2022, at St. BarnabasEpiscopal Church in Roanoke, Alabama. Principal text: Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 “Our faith proves what we are waiting to see. Christ is the first fruits of the resurrection. The Eucharist is a foretaste of the heavenly banquet. The Church gives us a glimpse of the Kingdom of God. And that leads us to hope for the completion of...