Sermons
Garment of Love by Amma Susan Oct. 11, 2020
Love is the robe that binds us together. One body, all people. But I don’t think Satan is welcome… it’s not possible to dwell in heaven, clothed in a garment of hate. But for the good and the bad, the saint and the sinner- Love is the invitation and the warning.
Creature Comforts by Amma Susan Oct. 4, 2020
If you look up the phrase “creature comforts” it generally refers to things that enhance or contribute to one’s physical well-being: food, clothing, furnishings, housing. The example given on dictionary.com uses this sentence: “Dean always stayed in the best hotels, he valued his creature comforts.” …I’m confident that animal lovers will concur, that it would…
Last Will Be First by Amma Susan Sep. 20, 2020
“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Mt. 19:30; 20:16) Some of you may relate to this childhood scenario: the school bell rings and we all flood out of the classroom onto the playground for recess. Before the ‘fun’ game of kickball can take place, the team captains firstly choose…
Keeping Score? by Amma Susan Sep. 13, 2020
An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. I have a score to settle. An accounting must be made. Justice must be served. This is the economy of the world. It is not God’s economy. It is not the way of God’s people; a called-out people. People of faith are called out of…
Love Does No Harm by Amma Susan Sep. 6, 2020
I find it interesting, that even though the Church is a microcosm of society, there seems to be misplaced idealism; an unsubstantiated claim that somehow, we’re above it all, we’re supposed to be perfect in all things, always ready to forgive, always generous beyond measure, always perfectly, morally scrupulous! But if that’s the case, then…
Follow Me by Tom Ward Aug. 30, 2020
For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? (Matthew 16:25) There are many passages from the Bible that have become figures of speech in…
Identity
There’s power in naming. The one who does the naming has the power over that which is being named. Think about the power that God bestowed upon Adam. God brought all of the animals of land, sea, and air to the man to see what he would name them. To name something, or someone is…
A Teachable Moment
I have to confess, that the gospel for today has always thrown me. I could never figure out why Jesus sounded so harsh, so cold and calculated, so well… “un-Jesus-y”! It’s one thing to point the finger at myself, at my own inherent biases and complicities. It’s one thing to poke holes in my defenses…
Hurricane Warnings
Warnings come in all shapes and sizes. But even the best and timely warnings don’t always prepare us. Warnings and calculations don’t always add up or lead to the right course of action. Instead, sometimes we find ourselves prostrate, sideways up a river, aground on a tiny island in the darkness of night…The greatest warning…
Blueprint
When I look around the world, I see so much chaos, mayhem, terror, violence, suffering and need, I can feel overwhelmed. This feeling of inadequacy and helplessness escalates when I come across yet another disturbing headline which happens on pretty much a daily basis. But do not be afraid, pray BIG! Today’s gospel message is…