Sermon: C Baptism of Our Lord 13 January 2013

Is 43: 1-7; Ps 29 1-11; Acts 8:14-17; LUKE 3: 15-17, 21-22

Gracious G*d, grant that those baptized into your Name may keep the covenant they have made. AMEN.

This morning we celebrate three distinct occasions, all connected through the presence and revelation of Jesus Christ, and also each connected to us in the here and now. First it’s the season of Epiphany, the season of light, when each week someone or some group understands that this baby, this particular person, is, in some way, in such close relationship with G*d that he made and makes real, an experience of G*d, with G*d, to those who are in these weekly stories. Second, the Sunday after the Epiphany is always the baptism of Jesus, and so we’ve heard that account. Since it’s Epiphany Season and the Baptism of Jesus, the Church has selected this as one of the liturgical dates appropriate for baptisms in the church. We are honored and blessed to be baptizing two children Theo Gray and Arthur Patrick Watson to welcome them into the church, this congregation of St. John the Evangelist, this parish of the Episcopal Church, the larger Anglican communion, and the whole Christian community—and with the human family reaching towards a connection with the eternal and Holy.

Sermon: C Advent 3 December 16, 2012

Zeph 3: 14-20; Cant 9 (Is 12: 2-6); Phi 4:4-7; LUKE 3: 7-18

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say Rejoice. AMEN.

My preaching guide, the one I so often use, oddly titles this Rose Sunday “A Call for Repentance.” Many of us are far closer to that feeling this morning, despite the Zephaniah and Philippians readings and Isaiah’s Canticle, which we just sang—“Surely it is God who saves me; I will trust and not be afraid.” Even after today’s Gospel begins with John the Baptist’s naming the crowd, “You brood of vipers,” it ends with the observation that, “So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.”

Sermon: B 7 Pentecost, Proper 10, 15 July 2012

2 Sam 6:1-5,12b-19; Ps 24; Eph 1: 3-14; MARK 6: 14-29

In the name of God who created us…now & always. AMEN

…”for Herod feared John, knowing he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.” Then the whole sorry story unfolds. Here are the homilies usually preached on this scripture, ones I’m not going to preach — remember that’s caller praeteritio — The Hebrew Scripture, a fine story, shows David leaping, dancing and making burnt offerings, but then taking, blessing and giving out food to the people, as was their custom. Was that foreshadowing Jesus and his actions, without the unseemly (too bad) leaping and dancing. Or a pious homily on the Ephesians, and that we have received, and we have, all spiritual blessings.

MEDITATION: MARK 6: 14 – 29

A highly recommended link: http://www.janrichardson.com/ Jan Richardson is an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church, author, modern painter in the medieval tradition of illuminated manuscripts (you can find these copyrighted images online.) She is a very thoughtful Biblical commentator, as well. Here’s a taste of her thinking about this Sunday’s gospel: