Sunday Sermons

This is a recording from the sermon preached at St. David's Episcopal Church on Sunday, 2/22, the First Sunday in Lent. In this sermon, seminarian Daniel Bentley addresses the unfashionable topic of sin in the Episcopal Church, arguing that avoiding honest reckoning with sin risks preaching what Dietrich Bonhoeffer calls “cheap grace.” Drawing on Genesis, he challenges a simple Sunday school readi...

Rev. Kristen Hawley preaches an Ash Wednesday sermon at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., reflecting on the prophet Joel’s call to return to God, who is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. She contrasts the ways congregants may experience Ash Wednesday as either a joyful invitation or a daunting summons to repent, fast, pray, and give alms, emphasizi...

Rev. Kristen Hawley’s sermon at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. on February 15th, the Last Sunday after the Epiphany, invites congregants to reflect on their own “mountaintop moments,” both joyful and difficult, marked by awe and transformation. She connects a family conversation about Harry Potter’s “Divination” and “Transfiguration” to Transfiguration Sunday, describing Jesus’ t...

This is a recording from the sermon preached at St. David's Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, February 8th, 2023, on the Fifth Sunday in Epiphany. In this sermon, Rev. Jim Quigley delves into challenging scriptures from Isaiah 58, the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's Gospel, and Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. He distills his reflection into two key points: the idea that the...

This recording is from the sermon preached at St. David's Episcopal Church on Sunday, February 1st, during the Fourth Sunday in Epiphany. In this sermon, Rev. Kristen Hawley explores two essential questions arising from the day's scripture readings: 'How then shall we live?' and 'Who is God and what is God like?' Drawing on the prophet Micah and Jesus's Beatitudes, Rev. Hawley teaches that God is...

This is a recording from the sermon preached at St. David's Episcopal Church on Saturday, January 24th, for the Third Sunday in Epiphany. In this sermon, Rev. Kristen Hawley explores the profound significance of the Epiphany season and the story of the Magi. She reflects on the transformative power of encountering Christ and urges the congregation to embrace epiphanies in their lives. By incorpora...

This is a recording from the sermon preached at St. David's Episcopal Church on Sunday, January 18th, on the Second Sunday After the Epiphany. In this sermon, Rev. Jim Quigley delves into the transformative power of the questions posed by Jesus in the Gospels, particularly focusing on the question 'What are you looking for?' The sermon encourages the congregation to reflect on their deepest desire...

In her sermon on the First Sunday after the Epiphany at St. David's Episcopal Church, the Rev. Kristen Hawley reflects on her journey from feeling like a 'fish out of water' during her seminary years to finding meaning in everyday occurrences. She shares a personal anecdote about placing nativity figures in her home and how her child's curiosity about the wise men's journey led her to deeper refle...

In this sermon delivered by the Rev. Jim Quigley on Sunday, January 4 during the Second Sunday of Christmas at St. David's Episcopal Church, the focus is on how to maintain the magic and message of Christmas even after the season ends. Rev. Quigley contemplates on the concept of 'bifurcating' life and faith, advocating instead for a consistent expression of one's Christian values in all aspects of...

In this sermon delivered on the First Sunday of Christmas at St. David's Episcopal Church, the Rev. Jordan Rippy reflects on the continuing celebration of Christmas, recounting the humorous confusion over the 'Twelve Days of Christmas' gifts. She then shares anecdotes from a recent nativity play, highlighting an unexpected encounter with a Flemish Giant Rabbit. Moving into deeper theological discu...

The Rev. Jim Quigley, during a Christmas Day sermon at St. David's Episcopal Church, reflects on why Christmas becomes more meaningful as one ages, emphasizing the shift from receiving to giving. He discusses the profound significance of Christ's birth and the intellectual insights from the Gospel of John. Jim shares personal anecdotes about his family's Christmas traditions, highlighting the impo...

Rev. Kristen Hawley welcomed the congregation to a Christmas Eve service at St. David's Episcopal Church. She introduced the concept of incarnation theology and emphasized that even children can grasp its essence. Using examples from recent baptisms and children's insights, she highlighted how children naturally understand and express theological truths. The sermon connected the ideas of baptism,...

This is a recording from the sermon preached at St. David’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, December 14th, the Third Sunday in Advent. In this sermon, Seminarian Daniel Bentley reflects on the significance of ‘Joyful Sunday’ during the penitential season of Advent. Bentley delves into the scriptural narrative, focusing on John the Baptist’s question about Jesus’ true identity. He explores themes of do...

Rev. Amanda Akes-Cardwell shares a poignant reflection on her faith journey. Through a significant moment when her son Sammy questions the crucifixion of Jesus, Rev. Amanda draws parallels to the current struggles faced by her community, emphasizing the importance of holding fast to the confession of hope. She explores the deep Christian belief in God’s faithfulness, encouraging her congregants to...

This is a recording from the sermon preached at St. David’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, December 7th, on the Second Sunday in Advent, during the 8:00 am service. In this sermon, Rev. Jim Quigley delves into the unique nature of the Advent season, emphasizing its invitation to wonder and awe. Through reflections and anecdotes, Rev. Quigley encourages the congregation to engage with the world and th...

This is a recording from the sermon preached at St. David’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, November 30th, the First Sunday in Advent. In this sermon, Rev. Jordan Rippy reflects on the unpredictability of the future through the lens of Wendell Berry’s essay ‘Leaving the Future Behind’ and the Gospel of Matthew’s ‘Little Apocalypse.’ Rev. Rippy discusses the importance of embracing uncertainty and bein...

This is a recording from the sermon preached at St. David’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, 11/23, Christ the King Sunday. In this sermon, Rev. Kristen Hawley reflects on the significance of Christ the King Sunday and Thanksgiving, highlighting the importance of gratitude, humility, and community. Through the story of her shared birthday experience with her brother and historical insights, Hawley unde...

Rev. Jim Quigley delivers a poignant sermon at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. on November 16th, the twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost. Amidst reflections on Christian eschatology and its complexities, he shares a personal story about his father’s bravery during World War II and contrasts it with a moment of panic. Through these anecdotes, Rev. Quigley examines the importance of...

This sermon, delivered by Rev. Kristen Hawley at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, November 9th (the twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost), explores the importance and symbolism of signs in our lives. It discusses how we all carry signs that convey who we are, pointing out that Jesus was challenged by the Sadducees in the gospel regarding resurrection and authority. Rev....

This is a recording from the All Souls Requiem Service preached at St. David’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, November 2nd. Rev. Kristen Hawley delivered a sermon reflecting on the significance of All Souls Day, a time dedicated to commemorating all the departed. She speaks about the interconnectedness of life and death and emphasizes that no one is lost in the economy of God. Rev. Hawley encourages...

This sermon, delivered by Rev. Jordan Rippy at St. David’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, October 26th, the nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost, reflects on the significance of the Nobel Prize and its winners as a testament to human perseverance, ingenuity, and the importance of community. Through anecdotes, such as Fred Ramsdale’s unexpected Nobel Prize in Medicine and Wangari Maathai’s influential en...

This is a recording from the sermon preached at St. David’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, October 19th, 2023, the nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost. In this sermon, seminarian Daniel Bentley reflects on the life of Mother Theresa, focusing on her internal spiritual struggles and comparing them to the biblical story of Jacob wrestling with God. Bentley emphasizes that struggles and doubts are a natur...

This is a recording from the sermon preached by Rev. Jordan Rippy at St. David’s Episcopal Church during a 5 pm Celtic Service on Sunday, October 12, the eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost. In this sermon, Rev. Jordan delves into the difficult topics of death, dying, and the grief that accompanies them. She references the biblical story of Ezekiel in the Valley of Dry Bones, highlighting the themes...

In this sermon delivered by the Rev. Kristen Hawley at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Washington, DC on Sunday, 10/12, the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, the biblical story of the healing of the ten lepers is explored. Traditionally, the focus is on the one leper who returned to thank Jesus, highlighting the importance of gratitude. Rev. Kristen delves deeper by examining the personalities an...

This sermon was preached by Rev. Jim Quigley at St. David’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, October 5th, during the seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Jim reflects on spiritual journeys as described by St. Theresa of Avila, drawing parallels between her teachings and the challenges faced by Jesus’ disciples. He elaborates on the idea of purification, illumination, and union in the spiritual doma...