Sermons from Saint Christopher's By-the-Sea, Portland Texas

Today's Gospel Lesson is the parable of the Good Samaritan, one of the most famous of Jesus' parables.  

On July 4th, our Independence Day, Saint Christopher's welcomed the Rev'd Dexter Lesieur, the Vicar of Devine, as our guest preacher for the day.  Father Dexter took his text from Matthew 5, beginning in verse 43. Due to a slight technical difficulty, the first sentence or two of his sermon did not get recorded.  However, the rest of the sermon does, indeed, remain intact.

Jesus sends 70 of his followers out to prepare the cities and town that he is to visit for his arrival.  And he sends them with great urgency as he has set his face to Jerusalem; he is headed there to complete his work.  Father Blackburn explores the meaning of this for the 70 men who were sent out, but also what that sending looks like for us today.  Our passage is from Luke 10:1-1...

Saint Paul, writing to the Galatians reminds them that we are set free in Christ Jesus from the grace and mercy of his gift of redemption.  But then what?  Father Blackburn explains what freedom is, what it means for us, and how we are to live into that freedom. The text is taken from Galatians 5:1, 13-25.

Today, we read a passage from Luke 8, and the healing of a man with a "Legion" of demons in control of him.  Jesus heals, or excorcisis these demon from him, and in doing so displays the Justice of God, as well as the restoration of the man.  Father Blackburn explores this passage and ask, "What do we need Jesus to also remove from our lives?"

Today is Trinity Sunday, the day when we call to mind in a specific way the nature of the Triune God:  The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  But, sometimes we forget how we relate to the Trinity as well, and our vocation as the Image Bearers of God.  Father Blackburn preaches this sermon about one of the great mysteries of the Church.

One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that is given to us is the Peace of Christ.  It is something that Jesus both promised and gave to his disciples.  But what does that peace truly look like, and how do we know what it is?  In this sermon, preached on the Feast of Pentecost, Father Blackburn shows the stark contrast between the peace of the world and the peace of Jesus.

After a tragedy like another school shooting, a terrorist attack, a natural disaster, we sometimes turn to prayer, or as many officials say, thoughts and prayers.  But sometimes, we say our prayers, and then do nothing.  So, what is the just and proper use of prayer?  Father Blackburn reflects on the purpose of prayer, how it has informed and shaped the course of history, and what o...

The Feast of the Ascension is part of the Great 50 Days of Easter.  Yet, it is one of the mysterious days, as it is hard to wrap our minds around what the ascension means for Jesus and also what it means for us.  Father Blackburn gives this sermon at our Ascension Day Liturgy.

The sermon from a Requiem Mass held at Saint Christopher's by-the-sea on Wednesday, 25 May at 5:30 p.m.

Today, the Church celebrates and prays for the land, the produce of farms and livestock, and all things that give us sustenance.  But, how does that relate to understanding of Creation now and the age to come.  Father Blackburn reflects on New Creation, Stewardship of Creation, and all the things that give us blessings in this life.

Acts 11:1-18 records Saint Peter retelling a story about what he had experienced with a group of Gentiles who had come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  During the time together, Peter witnessed the Holy Spirit at work in their lives, but he needed to give an explanation to the Church in Jerusalem as they questioned his wisdom and judgement.  Father Blackburn explores the assumptions m...

Jesus is not only the Good Shepherd, but he is also the True Paschal Lamb.  Our reading is from the 7th Chapter of the Book of Revelation.

The final chapter of Saint John's Gospel has Jesus asking Simon Peter how much peter love him.  And the answer is less that satisfying.  How do we move away from being fond of Jesus to truly loving Jesus.  The Sermon today is preached by the Rev'd. John Blackbuurn.

The Story of Doubting Thomas goes to us during Eastertide on the Second Sunday of Easter, as today, this evening in fact, is when Jesus reveals himself to Thomas.  But, how often are we "Thomases"?  How often do we need just a nudge to come to belief and faith.  Father Blackburn explores some of these questions during his sermon this morning.  The Gospel passage, from which thi...

Our Gospel Lesson from Evening Prayer on Easter Day comes from the Gospel according to Saint Luke.  In this passage, two disciples encounter the Risen Jesus while on the road to Emmaus, and they do not recognize him.  Father Blackburn ask questions that many of us might be asking as we think and ponder on this reading.  The Scripture this Sermon is based on is Luke 24:13-35.

Today is Easter Day!  We celebrate the Resurrection of our Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ.

For Centuries, the Christian Church has gather on this night to wait in vigil for Easter Morning, the morning of the Resurrection. Some of these Vigils lasted all night with readings—far more than we read this evening—and some even recited the entire book of Psalm into the night and early morning hours until the first rays of daylight shone through windows or broke on the horizon until they celebr...

This is the sermon from our Liturgy for Good Friday, 2022.  Father Blackburn is the preacher.

Today the Church celebrates Maundy Thursday, the giving of the New Commandment as well as the command and institution of the Lord's Supper, or the Holy Eucharist.  Part of the rites for this evening is the Ceremony of Foot-washing, the symbol of love and discipleship.  The other is that of Passover and our own redemption from Sin.  Father Blackburn explains these two rites in this s...

Today is Spy Wednesday, the day by tradition that Judas betrayed our Blessed Lord to the Chief Priests.  Father Blackburn asks the question, "When have you betrayed Jesus"?

One of the prophecies that weaves its way through both the Old and the New Testaments is the giving of Israel and the Messiah as the Light to the Nations.  Jesus, himself, speaks about light, and how he is the Light of the World.  This Light draws all men to God, and is found in many place in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others.  And once the light draws men, then they come to the House of...

During Holy Week, we hear the four Servant Songs found in Isaiah, as well as recall the events of Holy Week as told to us by Saint John's Gospel.  Fig Monday, the first day of Holy Week, calls us to remember both the first Servant Song, as well as the events at the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary after Lazarus has been raised from the dead.  The scripture passages are Isaiah 42:1-9 and...

Today, the Church celebrates Palm Sunday, sometimes known as the Sunday of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We gather before the service away from the Church to form a procession into the Nave.  We then hear the Passion of our Lord as told be the Gospel according to Saint Luke.  And we bury Jesus.  But why do we do this?  Why do we reenact all of this drama?  An...

This morning, Saint Christopher's was pleased to welcome the The Rev'd Eric Tarver.  Pastor Tarver is the preacher and pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Beeville, Texas.  His Sermon today was about the role and the cost of worship our Blessed Lord.  We were also happy to welcome the members of the Bethlehem Baptist Church Choir to sing in our Liturgy. Pastor Tarver's text was th...