Sermons

10 Jul

Posted at 20:44h in Blog

Ephesians 1:3-14 Several years ago I had the opportunity to visit the ruins of Ephesus in Turkey.  I had a private tour with a very knowledgeable young tour guide.  He was filled with tid-bits of history of Paul and the beginnings of the early church in Ephesus.  He spoke of the marble roadway leading down from the huge Temple of Diana.  (400 ft long, 250 ft wide, all made in marble).  The roadway led down through the market for the rich; down through the market for the poor; down past the fabulous architecture of the library and city hall;  ending at...

02 Jul

Posted at 22:28h in Blog

This week we celebrate the Feast of St Peter and St Paul on June 29th and the collect for the day is: Almighty God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you by their martyrdom:  Grant that your Church, instructed by their teaching and example, and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen. What a powerful prayer.  Grant that your Church, instructed by the Apostles teaching and example, and...

19 Jun

Posted at 20:00h in Blog

Happy Fathers Day! Our readings for the 4th Sunday after Pentecost are pretty familiar.  I would think next to Moses’ parting of the Red Sea, David facing Goliath is right up there.  As I reflected on the story of David facing the arch-enemy of the Israelite nation, my attention seemed to be drawn not to David and his great feat of heroism but upon Jessie, his Dad. We don’t know a lot about Jessie.  He had 8 sons, David his youngest.  He was the son of Ohed, and grandson of Boaz and Ruth in the line of Judah.  He was a farmer...

13 Jun

Posted at 17:03h in Blog

Pentecost 3B       Mustard seed This week Susan and I took our turn at being teacher for two of our grandchildren.  My appreciation for our school teachers and parents forced into home schooling has increased dramatically. Our Gospel reading for this week speaks of the sowing of seeds.  I know that my young grandchildren are a fertile soil awaiting seeds to grow.  However, my math skills with the new Math lessons have been highlighted this week as inadequate at best.  I’m beginning to realize the soil in my life has pretty well dried up and cracks are beginning to show.  So I am...

03 Jun

Posted at 16:00h in Blog

A few years ago, Susan and I went on a road trip.  I always wanted to travel Route 66 through the United States.  We connected with the highway in Oklahoma.  In the tourist books one of the attractions was the site of the Oklahoma Bombing.  I didn’t know too much about the bombing but we thought we would check it out.  What I was not expecting was to be emotionally affected for the rest of our trip. Where the building once stood is now a large pool of water with 168 chairs overlooking the pool.  Some little chairs alongside the larger...

21 May

Posted at 12:19h in Blog

May 23, 2021 The story is a familiar one.  It was 50 days since the resurrection.  10 days since the Ascension of Jesus to the right hand of the Father and Luke tells us it was during the Feast of Pentecost.  The Book of Acts tells us the followers of Jesus were all together in one place.  Suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house.  They became aware of something like tongues of fire resting on each one of them and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues.  The gift...

14 May

Posted at 12:01h in Blog

Acts. 1:21-26 How do you make decisions, choices?  Often it seems like we take a coin and give it a flip.  When we were kids we would spend hours perfecting how we would catch a baseball bat using all kinds of strange hand movements to get to the top of the bat and win the privilege of having first choice as we pick the ball team. You knew if you got Preston, you had a really good chance of winning.  However, I always prayed that I wasn’t that last kid. Our story from the Book of Acts tells of the choosing of Matthias, by casting...

06 May

Posted at 15:03h in Blog

This Sunday is Mother’s Day.  A day set aside to acknowledge Mothers.  Mothers who have been there for us; encouraged us; helped us; and got us through the trials and tribulations of life.  As a good friend said one time about teenagers: “Just get them through, whatever it takes, just get them through”! For those of us whose Mom just got us through! We say … Thanks Mom. Each year I try to figure out what I shall buy my Mom for Mother’s Day and I always go back to flowers.  This year once again with Covid 19 protocols it is difficult.  So, flowers it is. Recently I...

05 Feb

Posted at 14:37h in Blog

Dear Friends. It is hard to believe that I will be with you as Priest in Charge since March 1, 2020.  We have not held very many services in St. Andrews and none in St. Matthews.  I sure hope this year will see changes to that. We continue to pray for the day when we will meet once again. As you may have noticed, we did not have an AGM last year due to Covid-19 and this year we will be trying something new.  We are going virtual;  a Zoom meeting.  Please see below for the invitation to join me on February 21 at NOON.  You can join either...

29 Jan

Posted at 15:43h in Blog

January 28, 2021 Mark 1:21-28 21They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught.  22They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.  23Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit,  24and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.”  25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”  26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying...