Notoriously Episcopalian

Part of being “notoriously Episcopalian” is a nerdy appreciation for the Book of Common Prayer. I have grown up with the current prayerbook, and really love the breadth of prayers it contains. I particularly love when a prayer seems to show up that I have either forgotten about or overlooked. In this season of pandemic, … Continue reading “And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallan...

"We are storytellers. Like all the people of God before us, we are called to tell the story of God’s salvation. And maybe in times of uncertainty and death, we need to linger in that story a little longer." In this time of physical distancing, my worshipping community is gathering online. Here is my sermon … Continue reading Go quickly and tell . . . This is a public episode. If you wou...

In this time of physical distancing, my worshipping community is gathering online. Here is my sermon offered for our online worship for Maundy Thursday "Maundy Thursday is about the commandment to love one another, as Jesus loved us. It is by this love, and not our signs and symbols or our church buildings, that the … Continue reading Maundy Thursday when the church doors are closed Thi...

Here is my rather nerdy sermon for the 5th Sunday in Lent, March 29, 2020, presented on Trinity Commons Zoom Evening Prayer Worship during this season of physical distancing. Readings are available here: Ezekiel 37:1-14 Romans 8:6-11 John 11:1-45 Psalm 130 And if you prefer, audio-only is available here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/dfc_attachments/public/documents/3275491/Sermon_Lent_5_3292020_Audio....

"Linus was right. Christmas isn’t about gifts, food, or the love of friends. Christmas is about the moment when heaven opened, and angels sang: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit notoriouslyepiscopalian.substack.com This is a...

On Saturday, November 16, 2019, I had the privilege of officiating the wedding of Matt and Steven at St. Francis Chapel at Camp McDowell. It was a real joy to be part of the beautiful day. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit notoriouslyepiscopalian.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discu...

In 1996 I bought my first copy of _Good Omens_ by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, and I have read it at least once a year for 23 years. Finally, after 8 years of ordained ministry, I have used this fantastic story as a significant part of a sermon. A sermon for the 20th Sunday … Continue reading A pharisee, a tax collector, and my favorite book This is a public episode. If you would li...

On October 24, 2019, I was invited to give the closing remarks at Greater Birmingham Ministries Summit - VisionQuest2020: Where do we go from here? This was the concluding event of GBM's observance of its 50th anniversary. The day began with remarks from Scott Douglas, GBM executive director, and Rabbi Jonathan Miller, Rabbi Emeritus of … Continue reading GBM Summit – VisionQuest2...

  I have never shepherded sheep, but for ten years I had the job of keeping up with Frankie (as well as taking care of two other dogs and a cat). So Frankie and her tendency to run came to mind when reading the parable of the Lost Sheep. Today marks one year since I … Continue reading The risky choice This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or...

Why is Jesus telling us where we should sit at a party and who should be invited? There is a lot more going on than table manners. This morning I had the chance to be with the good folks at St. Mark's in Birmingham, and offer a sermon on the 12th Sunday after Pentecost. Readings: … Continue reading How would Jesus host a dinner party? This is a public episode. If you would like to discu...

In this world of 24/7 instant news and comments and echo chambers, how do we live as followers of Jesus? What if in loving our neighbor, we also bore fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. What if instead of being quick to be right, we were quick to love? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with ot...

On this Seventh, Sunday of Easter, squeezed between the Feasts of the Ascension and Pentecost, we get the concluding passage of Jesus' prayer in John 17. John is perhaps my favorite Gospel, so I am prone to nerd out a little bit about the uniqueness of John. Each year in the Revised Common Lectionary we … Continue reading When Jesus prays for us… This is a public episode. If you w...

  This week I got to return to Christ Episcopal Church in Fairfield. It was certainly a joyful homecoming morning. Our readings for the day included John's final version from Revelation. The past couple of months, with Avengers: Endgame and Game of Thrones, it certainly seems like we love a good ending. So what does … Continue reading Revelation: Endgame – A Sermon for the 6th Sun...

A sermon for the Fifth Sunday of Easter offered at Christ Episcopal Church in Albertville, AL. In the reading from Acts, Peter is left accounting for what happens when the love of God lets loose the Holy Spirit on the world. The result is that our job is not to decide who God gives the … Continue reading Our job is to chase after the Holy Spirit This is a public episode. If you would li...

For some folks, Easter began last night with Vigil. Others filed into beautifully adorned churches this morning. All the alleluias were sung. Eggs hunted. Photos taken. And by early afternoon, folks maybe settled in for a nap in the comfort of the empty tomb and Mary Magdalene's proclamation, "I have seen the Lord!" And on … Continue reading “While in their joy they were disbelieving&#...

The Wednesday in Holy Week is at times referred to as "Spy Wednesday." On this day we hear the reading from the Gospel of John that describes the setting in motion of Judas' betrayal. In the Gospel of John, there are no thirty pieces of silver and Judas seems to be part of a cosmic … Continue reading A Sermon for Spy Wednesday This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this...

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. Holy Week is not about the disciples' unfaithfulness but rather reminds us of God's faithfulness to us. Here is my sermon offered at Trinity Commons April 14, 2019. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit notoriouslyepiscopalian.substack.com This is a public episode. If y...

On the Fourth Sunday in Lent, sometimes known as Mothering Sunday, we get the parable of a man that had two sons. This parable is one of Jesus' more popular one -- The Prodigal Son. It has all the makings of a hit -- dissolute living, disagreeable brothers, and a party. This parable captured the … Continue reading The Prodigal Son: Seeing & Being Seen This is a public episode. If yo...

Saturday, February 16, I went to "A Conversation with Dr. Angela Davis" at Boutwell Auditorium. This community event open to all was the result of a controversy, which you can read about here. It was a fantastic event, and you can read more about it here and watch a recording here. So it was with … Continue reading Dr. Angela Davis & the Sermon on the Plain This is a public episode....

Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany offered at a joint service of Trinity Commons and St. Andrew's Birmingham. Readings: Isaiah 6:1-8, [9-13] 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Luke 5:1-11 Psalm 138 https://s3.amazonaws.com/dfc_attachments/public/documents/3261296/Epiphany_5_Sermon_2_10_19.m4a This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus e...

A sermon for the First Sunday after the Epiphany at Trinity Commons, January 13, 2019. In baptism, we are marked as Christ's own forever. Through our share in Jesus' baptism, we too are beloved. How will we respond to this belovedness? https://s3.amazonaws.com/dfc_attachments/public/documents/3260408/Epiphany_1_TC_audio.wav This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other sub...

A sermon on the occasion of the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6, 2019, at Christ Episcopal Church in Fairfield, Alabama. The image above was taken at Christ Church and is our complete Nativity/Epiphany set brought from Malawi by the Senior Warden, Talitha Bailey. Childhood memories are funny things. For me, the words epiphany and … Continue reading Eureka! The Epiphany This is a public epis...

Sermon offered at Christ Episcopal Church in Fairfield, Alabama, on December 24, 2018. "But when we go out into that darkness, we must go out as agents of the peace of God. We must go out to tell the world that the heavens have been torn open. That the peace of God is among us … Continue reading Oh, how we need God’s peace! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss th...

Sermon offered for the Second Sunday of Advent, December 9, 2018, at Trinity Commons Episcopal Campus Center in Birmingham, Alabama. Our readings today invite us to consider the role of John the Baptist in preparing the way for Jesus' ministry and to consider how we continue in John's ministry of preparing the way for those … Continue reading “You, my child, shall be called the prophet...

Sermon offered on November 11, 2018, at the Celebration of Life of Jesse Pevear. Jesse served as the music minister at Christ Episcopal Church in Fairfield, Alabama. He passed away on October 13, 2018. https://s3.amazonaws.com/dfc_attachments/public/documents/3258180/Sermon_1111018_audio.m4a This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus e...