Calvary Presbyterian Church San Francisco

"They are like a tree replanted by streams of water, which bears fruit at just the right time and whose leaves don’t fade. Whatever they do succeeds." The sermon was delivered by Reverend Victor Floyd on May 26, 2024. The scripture reading was from Psalm 1 (Common English Bible).

There is an old Italian saying: "Traduttore, traditore." It is a remark that assumes that the task of translation is hopeless, that you can't ever properly transmit a work from one culture to another. But what if the translator is God? This Pentecost, wear red and experience how God is translating love, peace, and unity for us in this world.  The sermon was given by Rev. Joann H. Lee...

We ended our sermon series on being resurrection people by looking at what Paul said to the church in Corinth about resurrection.  There sermon was given by Rev. Marci A. Glass on May 12, 2024. The scripture reading was from 1 Corinthians 15:1-26, 51-57.

Through Holy Communion, we taste and see a mysterious kind of love. This Sunday, we celebrated the inclusive, expansive feast that nourishes us as resurrection people and feeds us for the journey ahead as sinners and saints.  There sermon was given by Rev. Victor H. Floyd on May 5, 2024. The scripture reading was from 1 Corinthians 13.

During this season of Easter, we have been going through a sermon series on being "resurrection people." But we are resurrection people, NOT perfect people. Resurrection people can still make mistakes, fail, fight, and flounder. But the good news of resurrection is that we can rise to try again. Have you made a mistake, fought with family, broken a promise, or done anything wrong since E...

When Paul and Silas preach the reconciling love of God in the capital city, the dominant society punishes them for "turning the world upside down.” Today, in our currently-irreconcilable culture, when we preach God’s inclusive love, we should expect no less! Shall the fundamentalists win? Or can God call on a more loving publicist, like you?  The sermon was given by Rev. Victor H. Floyd on Ap...

On Sunday we heard the story of Stephen in the Book of Acts. He's known as the first martyr for the Gospel. The root of the word 'martyr' comes from the word 'witness'. Maybe we can't all be (or don't want to be) martyrs, but what does it mean to take our witness seriously?  The sermon was delivered on Sunday, April 15 by Rev. Marci A. Glass. The scripture reading was f...

This Sunday begins a month of stories from the early, post-Easter church from the Book of Acts. In today's story, Peter and John heal a man outside the Temple. The man was begging for money. Peter offers him something else, if only he'll fix his attention to see it.  The sermon was delivered by Rev. Marci A. Glass on Sunday, April 7, 2024. The scripture reading was from Acts 3:1-16.

Mark's account of the resurrection doesn't include an appearance by Jesus. The gospel originally ended with a preposition, surely causing his 8th grade English teacher to weep. Mark's gospel ends with the women fleeing the tomb in terror.  But that's not the end of the story.  How often are our lives like that? When have you had a chance to write a different ending to a part of you...

The events of Palm Sunday flew in the face of all that seemed civil and polite for an occupied state of the Roman Empire. How dare this Jesus and his common followers mock the imperial parade celebrating the power and plunders of war? Who was this Jesus that compelled the people to wave palms and throw their cloaks on the ground in welcome? Join us on Sunday as wave our palms, sing our hosanna, an...

As we think about peace, it is important that we don’t only see peacefulness and quiet as the goal. Peace often requires a stand. Sometimes conflict is required to break through injustice so you can get to peace.  If we want to be blessed as peacemakers, we will need to stand in solidarity with the oppressed, to stand in opposition to the violence and injustice of the world, and to know that peace...

On that day, when evening had come, [Jesus] said to [the disciples], ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him,...

We look at how true peace requires radical kindness (not just being nice), being able to see humanity and dignity in even our deepest of enemies. We acknowledge these relationships' deaths and believe that new life can be experienced. In conflicted times today, it is even more difficult to choose this path, but these are the times when we may need to most . . . and if we can't trust that t...

We are living, historically speaking, in peaceful times. Compared to almost every other century, people alive today are less likely to die because of violence and war. It doesn't feel like that when we read the news though, does it? When world leaders rattle their sabers and try to convince us to live in fear, what if we could respond with a different vision instead? The sermon was delivered b...

Humans can tend to sometimes be grouchy folks, quick to be at odds with each other, and masterful at building walls between us. The author of Ephesians refers to Jesus as our peace. Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus breaks down the dividing walls we build. What does it mean to be one in Jesus? How can our faith lead to plant peace in new ways that will help us sow more shalom and wh...

This Sunday we celebrated Transfiguration Sunday, the day when Jesus's true nature is revealed. Transfiguration does not mean the same thing as the word transformation. Transformation is when someone or something is changed or remade; whereas, transfiguration implies a revelation of one's true nature. Jesus is not changed on the Mount that day, he is known and revealed for who he truly is....

A chance encounter with an outsider and an unexpected request invite Jesus’ involvement and compel his compassion, challenging his place and plan at the beginning of his public ministry. The sermon was delivered on February 4, 2024 by guest preacher Rev. Laurie Kraus. The scripture reading was from Mark 1:35-45.

A sermon delivered by Rev. Victor H. Floyd on Sunday, January 28, 2024. The reading was from Mark 5:1-20 . Exorcism was to the Early Church as psychotherapy is to us today. In a famous story from Mark's gospel, Jesus helps a very troubled man—a "demoniac"—get unstuck and live a better life. Bring your demons with you this Sunday; there's no place better for them than church! 

A sermon by Rev. Marci A. Glass delivered on January 21, 2024. The reading was from Mark 3:7-35.

A sermon by Rev. Joann H. Lee, delivered on January 14, 2024. The reading was from Mark 2:13-22.

A sermon by Reverend Marci Glass delivered on Sunday, January 7, 2024. The reading was from Mark 1:1-20.

A sermon by Reverend Joann H. Lee delivered on Sunday, December 31, 2023. The reading was from Matthew 2:1-12.

A sermon by Reverend Marci A. Glass delivered on Sunday, December 24, 2023. The lessons were from Isiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:1-20, and John 1:1-5, 9-14. Merry Christmas!

A sermon by Reverend Marci A. Glass delivered on Sunday, December 17, 2023. The scripture reading was from Luke 1:5-25, 57-80.

A sermon by Reverend Victor H. Floyd delivered on Sunday, December 10, 2023. The scripture reading was from Ezra 1:1-4, 3:1-4, 10-13.