Resurrection South Austin

Rev. Eileen O’Brien | February 13, 2026 In this powerful ordination sermon for Rev. Scott Madison—the first openly gay Black man sent to seminary and ordained by the Diocese of Texas—the preacher celebrates a day of historic firsts while honoring trailblazers like Absalom Jones. Through the story of Albert Goodson's hymn "We've Come This Far by Faith" and reflections on staying focused on Jesus am...

Deacon Scott Madison | February 08, 2026 Deacon (for now) Scott Madison shares his powerful confirmation story with Bishop John T. Walker and traces the remarkable legacy of Absalom Jones, the first Black priest in the Episcopal Church. Through personal narrative and historical reflection, this sermon reveals how one person's courage to shine God's light creates ripples across generations—from Jon...

Father Shawn McCain Tieres | February 01, 2026 In a world of violence and injustice, what does it mean to truly worship God? Father Shawn McCain Tieres confronts the temptation toward neutrality and 'staying out of politics,' arguing that authentic Christian worship—as Micah 6 demands—requires justice, kindness, and humility that shapes our entire lives. Drawing on the witness of Rabbi Heschel, Ma...

Janna Osborne | January 04, 2026 The cozy nativity scene transforms into a desperate flight to Egypt as the holy family becomes refugees fleeing Herod's violence. This sermon explores Matthew's deeper narrative connecting Jesus's early life to Israel's history and to the 117 million displaced people today. When Joseph risks everything to protect his child, he foreshadows all who would carry Christ...

Father Shawn McCain Tieres | January 18, 2026 Even John the Baptist, Jesus's own cousin, confessed 'I myself did not know him' until the Spirit revealed who Jesus truly was. Father Shawn explores how knowing Christ isn't about religious obligation, perfect attendance, or correct beliefs alone—it's about accepting Jesus's invitation to 'come and see.' Through personal testimony and biblical insight...

Father Shawn McCain Tieres | January 11, 2026 On the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we explore why Jesus—sinless and perfect—chose to begin his ministry standing in muddy water alongside broken people seeking forgiveness. This sermon unpacks what "God with us" truly means: not a distant consultant available when we need advice, but a God who descends into our mess, stands in solidarity with the...

Scott Madison | December 28, 2025  In the space between Christmas and New Year's, many of us are "faking it till we make it"—celebrating while grieving, smiling through sadness. After losing his mother this year, Deacon shares how the incarnation speaks directly to those struggling through the holidays. Through Isaiah's promise of salvation, John's revelation of the Word made flesh, and the realit...

Father Shawn McCain Tierres | Christmas Eve 2025 We all understand the beauty of Christmas—the joy, the gathering, the adorable pageants. But there's something profound we often overlook: Christmas is about power. Not the power of Caesar Augustus issuing decrees or empires flexing military force, but a radically different kind of power. Tonight, we encounter God's immeasurable power wrapped in clo...

Deacon Scott Madison | December 21, 2025 In a world filled with healthcare crises, violence, and injustice, it's easy to wonder where God is. This Advent sermon explores the profound meaning of Emmanuel—God with us—through Joseph's faithful obedience and God's relentless love demonstrated in Christ. Discover how God is already present in our lives, calling us to embody that divine love for our nei...

Father Shawn McCain Tieres | November 30, 2025 - Advent 1 In a world designed to keep us anxious, distracted, and scrolling, Jesus calls us to "stay awake"—but what does that really mean when we're already exhausted? This Advent sermon explores the crucial difference between being kept awake by algorithms, fear, and endless demands versus choosing to stay awake for hope, love, and God's coming kin...

Father Shawn McCain Tieres | November 23, 2025 The world's advice in tough times is always 'save yourself,' but Jesus did the opposite. On the cross, mocked and dying, he refused to save himself—and that's exactly how he became King. This sermon explores Christianity's most counterintuitive mystery: how a crucified God overthrows darkness not through power and self-preservation, but through forgiv...

Father Ryan Boetcher | November 16, 2025 In a world that feels increasingly apocalyptic—filled with war, economic uncertainty, and political turmoil—Jesus offers a surprising perspective on bad news. Drawing from Luke 21, this farewell sermon explores how Jesus transforms our anxiety about the world's chaos into an opportunity to testify. Like the bur oak tree with its deep roots and thick bark th...

Father Shawn McCain Tieres | November 09, 2025 Using the relatable image of kids running toward the wrong goal at halftime, this sermon explores how our vision of the future shapes every decision we make today. Drawing from Jesus' encounter with the Sadducees in Luke, we discover that resurrection isn't just a distant hope—it's a present reality that reorients our compass when we feel lost, stress...

Father Shawn McCain Tirres | November 2, 2025 On All Saints Day, Father Shawn explores how God's people find courage to act in troubled times, weaving together Halloween joy, community solidarity, and Jesus's radical Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6). When the church raised nearly $3,000 in two days for neighbors facing SNAP benefit cuts, it embodied the kind of "hope stubborn enough to outlast the hea...

Deacon Scott Madison | October 26, 2025 Deacon Scott unpacks the parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector with refreshing honesty, challenging us to see ourselves in both characters. Through a vulnerable personal story and the powerful reminder that "justice for the oppressed can feel like oppression for the oppressor," he reveals how most of us live in the "mushy middle" of God's grace—part holy...

Father Shawn McCain Tirres | October 19, 2025 When's the last time you truly wrestled with God—not with polite prayers, but with honest, frustrated demands? Drawing from Jacob's all-night wrestling match and Jesus's parable of the persistent widow, Fr. Shawn challenges us to embrace a faith that refuses to give up, that's unafraid to get our hands dirty with God. This sermon calls us beyond cynici...

Father Shawn McCain Tirres | October 12, 2025 Father Shawn explores the story of ten lepers healed by Jesus (Luke 17) and what it means to live in "in-between places"—those tensions between health and unhealth, certainty and doubt, belonging and exclusion. He challenges us to see how Jesus consistently draws near to the doubly excluded and calls us to join him in that same work of radical welcome.

Father Shawn McCain Tirres | October 5, 2025 In a world that gives us countless reasons to ask "God, where are you?", Father Shawn explores the ancient question of theodicy and offers a refreshing alternative to cynicism: regrounding ourselves in the resurrection power of Christ. This isn't a pep talk—it's a reorientation to what real power looks like and a reminder that God holds us even when our...

Father Ryan Boetcher | September 28, 2025 What does it mean to be truly wealthy? Drawing from the prophet Amos, Psalm 146, and Jesus's parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Father Ryan contrasts two visions of wealth: one that isolates us through accumulation, and God's "great economy" where wealth is measured by what we give away. Through stories ranging from "It's a Wonderful Life" to the Lakota...

Angela Matei | September 7, 2025 What does it really mean to be a disciple of Jesus in 2025? Angela explores Luke 14's challenging call to "count the cost" of following Jesus—not as a literal journey to Jerusalem, but as an honest examination of what attachments, fears, and relationships might hold us back from responding faithfully to where Jesus is leading us today. She offers practical tools fo...

Father Shawn McCain Tirres | August 31, 2025 Exploring how sermons are sacred conversations where we wrestle together with God's truth. Through Jesus's teaching on humility and invitation, we discover that Christ calls those who cannot pay Him back - including us - to find freedom in returning to our true identity as people made in God's image.

Join Father Shawn, Melissa Flanagan, and Father Ryan as they dive into the history and heart behind Resurrection Church's beloved St. Francis Fest! In this episode, we explore who St. Francis was, why churches have blessed animals for centuries, and how this 9th annual celebration has become a cornerstone community event in South Austin. Event Details: 📅 October 5th, 2024 🕐 4:00-6:00 PM 📍 Nomad...

This week, Fr. Shawn, Fr. Ryan and Melissa Gray sit down to preview our exciting offerings for our Sunday Fall Formation Classes. If you'd like to learn more about the class offerings and sign up today, go to https://rezaustin.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3123706

Father Ryan Boetcher | August 24, 2025 Using the story of Jesus healing a bent-over woman on the Sabbath, Fr. Ryan challenges our understanding of Sabbath rest—revealing it's not just about personal renewal, but about liberation and healing for others. Drawing from Luke's Gospel and Isaiah 58, he calls us to see suffering and act with compassion. www.rezaustin.com

In this episode of our hit podcast, Father Shawn sits down with staff members Deacon Scott and Kirsten to share their personal journeys as LGBTQ+ Christians. As the church prepares to participate in Austin's Pride parade, they discuss what it means to create authentic, inclusive community while navigating questions of faith and sexuality. Scott shares his experience growing up in welcoming Episcop...