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Sermons
Everyone will know (Fr. David Houk)
May 15, 2022. John 13:31-35. Christians are known for many things. Some are more positive than others. What is St. John’s known for? Listen to the sermon. Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
MORESuperheroes not Superhumans (Laura Warner Gilmer)
Easter 4: May 8, 2022. Psalm 23. We celebrate “Maternal Caregivers Day” with Laura Warner Gilmer in the pulpit, pointing to the Lord Jesus as the model for care, nurture, protection, and comfort. Listen to the sermon.
MOREThe charcoal fire (Fr. David Houk)
Easter 3. May 1. John 21:1-19. Jesus appears on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and teaches Peter what it means to love and be loved. Listen to the sermon.
MORETurning the tables (Fr. David Houk)
Easter. April 17. Luke 24:1-12. Luke’s Gospel continues the theme of God’s heart for the poor, weak, unpopular, and outcast, all the way through the story of the resurrection. Listen to the sermon. Art by William Bouruereau, La saintes femmes au tombeau, 1890.
MORETouching lives till his very last breath (Fr. David Houk)
Palm Sunday. April 10. Luke 22:39-23:56. Even on his way to death, good things happen wherever Jesus goes. Listen to the sermon. Photo by Jackson David on Unsplash
MOREBullσκύβαλα (Fr. David Houk)
Lent 5: April 3, 2022. Philippians 3:4b-14. Paul uses a pretty strong word to describe his futile religiosity. Maybe we could use that word, too, to describe the self-righteousness that has kept us from the love of Christ. Listen to the sermon.
MOREPursuit! (Fr. Oliver Butler)
Lent 4: March 27, 2022. Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32. Jesus’s parable of the prodigal is really about two lost sons. And his message is good news for rule keepers and rule breakers. Listen to the sermon. Photo by DICSON on Unsplash
MOREGood to grow (Laura Warner Gilmer)
Lent 4: March 20, 2022. Luke 13:1-9. Jesus tells a parable about fig tree, an image for how we are to grow and bear fruit. Laura Warner Gilmer suggests that it takes the whole Body of Christ to spur growth in one another. Listen to the sermon. Photo by Todd Quackenbush on Unsplash
MOREJerusalem: a holy mess (Fr. David Houk)
March 13, 2022. Luke 13:31-35. Jesus likens himself to a mother hen who only wants to hold her babies close. Fr. Houk reflects on how Jerusalemites, past and present, are resistant to his offer of love. Listen to the sermon.
MORETemptation (Fr. Randy Melton)
Lent 1: March 6, 2022. Luke 4:1-13. Fr. Melton reflects on Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness with practical advice as we begin the journey of Lent. Listen to the sermon. Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash.
MOREWhat’s wrong with the world? (Fr. David Houk)
Ash Wednesday: March 2, 2022. Joel 2 and Matthew 6. Fr. Houk gives the short answer and the longer answer on a day that calls us to face up to our own shortcomings. Listen to the sermon. Photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash.
MOREPatience (Chaplain Andrew Wermelskirchen)
Lent 1: March 6, 2022. Luke 13:18-21. It’s Episcopal School Sunday and Middle School Chaplain opens up Jesus’s words about seeds about the need for patience in our spiritual lives. Listen to the sermon.
MOREOn car wrecks and judgment (Fr. David Houk)
February 20, 2022. Luke 6:27-38 Fr. Houk gives two handles for us to hold on to as a way of putting into practice Jesus’ high ideals about loving people whom we may not like. Listen to the sermon.
MOREThe Real thing (Fr. Oliver Butler)
Epiphany 6: February 13, 2021. Philippians 4:4-9. 1 Cor. 15:12-20, Luke 6:17-26. Fr. Butler talks about reality in a virtual world, and how the real Jesus is good news for real people. Listen to the sermon. Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash
MOREFour call stories (Fr. David Houk)
February 6, 2022. Isaiah 6:1-8 and Luke 5:1-11. Beginning with the scriptural accounts of the calling of Isaiah and Simon Peter, Fr. Houk points our how we all have a story to tell about God’s grace working through imperfect people. Listen to the sermon.
MOREWhen Jesus subverts expectations (Sam Cripps)
Epiphany 4: January 30, 2022. Luke 4:21-30. Instead of giving the home crowd what they want, Jesus challenges the synagogue in Nazareth in a way that incites their anger. What is our response when God doesn’t deliver for us on cue? Listen to the sermon.
MOREExpect the unexpected (Laura Warner Gilmer)
Epiphany 3: January 23, 2022. Luke 4:14-21. As unlikely as the Parish Administrator offering the morning homily, Jesus wows the worshipers at the Nazareth Synagogue. And he continues to do so today. Listen to the sermon.
MOREFire (Fr. David Houk)
Epiphany 1: January 9, 2022. Luke 3:15-17;21-22. John the Baptist says that Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Fr. Houk reflects on three fiery things Jesus wants to give us. Listen to the sermon.
MOREYet in thy dark streets shineth (Fr. David Houk)
Christmas Eve, 2021. Luke 2:1-20. The world may be a dark place but the light of Christ shines still. You just need to look for it, receive it, and be willing to shine as well. Listen to the sermon.
MOREThe Little People (Fr. David Houk)
Advent 4: December 19, 2021. Luke 1:39-56. Mary, Elizabeth, and John the Baptist believe in big love, big grace, and a big God. Listen to the sermon. Photo by David Houk: The Carmelite Monastery on Mt. Carmel
MORERejoice! (Fr. Oliver Butler)
Advent 3: December 12, 2021. Philippians 4:4-9. St. Paul’s calls the church in Philippi to rejoice and Fr. Butler differentiates joy from happiness. Listen to the sermon.
MOREFinding God at the bottom (Fr. David Houk)
Advent 2: December 5, 2021. Luke 3:1-6. John is baptizing and calling people to repentance at the lowest place on earth. It seems that that is where God is doing his thing. Listen to the sermon. Photo by Amit Lahav on Unsplash.
MORELet the reader understand (Fr. David Houk)
November 28, 2021. Mark 13:14-23. Jesus’ words about the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD offers a warning for God’s people whenever they are tempted to trust in political messiahs. Listen to the sermon. Photo by Ben White on Unsplash.
MOREThree sermons in one (Fr. Michael Mills)
November 7, 2021. Guest preacher Fr. Michael Mills hits the topic of generosity from three different angles. If you’re inspired, you can pledge online at www.stjohnsepiscopal.org/pledge. Listen to the sermon.
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