St. Mark's New Canaan

The Last Sunday after Pentecost: Christ the King.  Guest preacher: The Reverend Richard T. Williams, Pivot Ministries As followers of Jesus, there's a certain spiritual dress code we're called to follow. The apostle Paul teaches us what parts of our old selves we let go of in baptism and what new parts we take on. As life's challenges present themselves, however,  are we unable to p...

The Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost.  What biblical question do kids ask more than any other? "Is the Bible true?" What if our understanding of the Bible as an ancient library helped us see we've been asking the wrong question? Maybe we should instead think about what we can learn through the inconsistencies in various stories and where we find ourselves in them. #episcopal #epi...

The Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost.  Have you ever run late for something just to find yourself shut out? Maybe school, a show, or an airplane? Jesus shares a parable about five foolish bridesmaids who are shut out of a wedding banquet and five wise bridesmaids who are welcomed in. What does wisdom look like to Jesus?  #episcopal #episcopalchurch #episcopalian #church #jesusmovement #wayoflo...

All Saints' Sunday.  Some marathon runners complain that anyone can enter the race and call themselves a "marathoner" these days. Do we have similar thoughts about who we consider saints in the Church? Maybe, just like running a race, we find we still have an important role to play simply by entering, and we can still be an example for others. #episcopal #episcopalchurch #episcopali...

The Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost.  Jesus' teaching about loving our neighbor as ourselves is found across many other religions, and many of us know it as the Golden Rule. It's a phrase that makes for great bumper stickers but is much harder to follow. In a time of war and political divisions, how do we follow the radical call to see people on all sides as our neighbors? #episcopa...

The Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost.  Our spiritual lives are sometimes thought of as separate from all the other areas of life. The Very Reverend Dr. Andrew McGowan, Dean and President of Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University, points toward Jesus' response on what should be given to Caesar and to God as a way of helping us see how everything ultimately belongs to God. #episcopal #e...

The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost.  Jesus' parable about guests at a wedding banquet shares some interesting parallels with an episode of "The Crown". Both feature people being tested and judged for what they're wearing. Should we be worried that God will reject us if we fail some sort of test, or is the real message about what we should "clothe ourselves in" as pa...

The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost.  What can we learn from the life of St. Francis? His example, along with a parable from Jesus, teaches us to see the world as God does and shows us what is possible when we learn to let go and live simply. #episcopal #episcopalchurch #episcopalian #church #jesusmovement #wayoflove #christian #anglican #allarewelcome #christianity #prayer #jesus #iglesiaepisco...

The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost.  A youth of St. Mark's once asked Dean Robert if we are in control of our lives or if God is. The answer lies in the stories of a God who relentlessly pursues us and who asks us to listen rather than hardening our hearts. #episcopal #episcopalchurch #episcopalian #church #jesusmovement #wayoflove #christian #anglican #allarewelcome #christianity #prayer...

The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost.  What do Israelites and vineyard workers have in common? In this week's readings, they can't seem to stop complaining. Like the people in these Biblical stories, we usually HEAR nothing but the words being spoken to us. How might our view of others shift if we learned to LISTEN for the lived experiences that lay beneath those words?

The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost.  Jesus' parable about a forgiven man who is punished for refusing to forgive another forces us to question if God's own forgiveness is conditional. Perhaps this parable is really trying to teach us how we open ourselves to forgiveness when we show it to others, and how we cut ourselves off from it when we deny it from others. #episcopal #episcopalchu...

The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost.  When we end up in conflict with one another, we often want to push people out with no intention of bringing them back into community with us. Jesus, however, proposes a different path.  #episcopal #episcopalchurch #episcopalian #church #jesusmovement #wayoflove #christian #anglican #allarewelcome #christianity #prayer #jesus #iglesiaepiscopal   #theology #ang...

The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost.  Recent studies have shown a number of people leaving organized religion. Many Christians or former Christians find that churches have strayed from who Jesus is. How might we answer the questions Jesus poses in Matthew's Gospel: "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" and "Who do you say I am?" #episcopal #episcopalchurch #episcopalian...

The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost.  Why do we sometimes struggle to see ourselves as part of creation and how does that influence our actions? Two biblical examples serve as lessons about how ego can prevent us from seeing God and how our mindset can shift when we encounter God in the world around us. #episcopal #episcopalchurch #episcopalian #church #jesusmovement #wayoflove #christian #angli...

The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost.  In John's Gospel, Jesus breaks down barriers and embraces the Samaritan woman. So why does Matthew's Gospel show him treating the Canaanite woman like an outsider? Is this a sign of his humanity or is Jesus creating a teachable moment for his disciples? #episcopal #episcopalchurch #episcopalian #church #jesusmovement #wayoflove #christian #anglican #a...

The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost.  In the ancient Jewish world, only select people went on to study at a high level. A rabbi would need to call them to follow as their disciple. When Jesus called the unlikeliest of disciples, he did so because he believed they could do what he did. Do you believe he sees it in you too? #episcopal #episcopalchurch #episcopalian #church #jesusmovement #wayoflove...

The Feast of the Transfiguration.  The Transfiguration has been depicted in countless artwork but is it possible that we still fail to comprehend this event? Do we overlook the violence that is being foreshadowed? On the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, this feast day challenges us to follow the path of non-violence Jesus calls us down. #episcopal #episcopalchurch #episcopalian #church #je...

The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost.  What is the "Good News" we often hear about? For Jesus, the Good News points us to the kingdom of God. Being the teacher he is, Jesus uses 5 parables to help us understand the kingdom. Get ready for Summer School because Kingdom of Heaven 101 is in session! #episcopal #episcopalchurch #episcopalian #church #jesusmovement #wayoflove #christian #anglican...

The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost.  Not only are we divided over religion and politics these days but we also want to be the ones to condemn those who disagree with us. Jesus' Parable of the Wheat and the Tares communicates a different way of living. #episcopal #episcopalchurch #episcopalian #church #jesusmovement #wayoflove #christian #anglican #allarewelcome #christianity #prayer #jesus #ig...

The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost.  Rev. Elizabeth Garnsey explores a parable that is less about the Kingdom of God and more about Jesus. What kind of seeds does he plant in us and what happens when they begin to take root? What do his wisdom teachings reveal? #episcopal #episcopalchurch #episcopalian #church #jesusmovement #wayoflove #christian #anglican #allarewelcome #christianity #prayer #jes...

The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost.  This sermon is for anyone who is weary and carrying a heavy burden. Jesus' words in Matthew's Gospel offer a reprieve from all that weighs us down. What do our lives look like when we're yoked together with him? #episcopal #episcopalchurch #episcopalian #church #jesusmovement #wayoflove #christian #anglican #allarewelcome #christianity #prayer #jes...

The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost.  Jesus' advice to share a cup of cold water may not seem like a big deal, but small acts of kindness can go a long way. You may even be surprised by what you receive in return. #episcopal #episcopalchurch #episcopalian #church #jesusmovement #wayoflove #christian #anglican #allarewelcome #christianity #prayer #jesus #iglesiaepiscopal   #theology #anglicanchur...

The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost.  Does the Bible really say Jesus was nice? What if the Prince of Peace is really calling us into conflict and division? Fr. Peter Walsh reflects on some of Jesus' toughest words and how they show us what's worth fighting for. #episcopal #episcopalchurch #episcopalian #church #jesusmovement #wayoflove #christian #anglican #allarewelcome #christianity #pr...

The Third Sunday after Pentecost.  The Bible is filled with examples of fatherhood, both good and bad. Jesus' relationship with God as Father helps us understand what it means for us to know God in this way and how this relationship can form father figures today. #episcopal #episcopalchurch #episcopalian #church #jesusmovement #wayoflove #christian #anglican #allarewelcome #christianity #pray...

The Second Sunday after Pentecost.  Many people remember Jesus' command to love our neighbors. But with all the pressure to constantly be better and do more, are we forgetting to love ourselves? #episcopal #episcopalchurch #episcopalian #church #jesusmovement #wayoflove #christian #anglican #allarewelcome #christianity #prayer #jesus #iglesiaepiscopal   #theology #anglicanchurch #holyspririt...