Texts: Exodus 12:1-14 Psalm 149:1-9 Romans 13:8-14 Matthew 18:15-20 Manuscript: If you have been paying close attention these last few weeks, you could be forgiven for being a bit…confused right now. Two weeks ago, I started talking about Romans 13:1-7 and the context around it, beginning with Romans 12:1-8 in the first week, then finishing chapter […]
Texts: Exodus 3:1-15 Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c Romans 12:9-21 Matthew 16:21-28 If you were at with us last week, or listened to the whole service online, you may have recognized our prelude. Once again, we used Joseph Haydn’s “Austria,” a piece with a complicated history, including as the tune for the Austrian and German national anthems, […]
Texts: Exodus 1:8-2:10 Psalm 124:1-8 Romans 12:1-8 Matthew 16:13-20 Manuscript We have a great deal of musical talent in our congregation, so I suspect a fair number of you recognized our prelude and know a bit about its history. You might know the tune best from the hymnal. It is number 81 in Glory to God, […]
Texts: Genesis 45:1-15 Psalm 133:1-3 Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 Manuscript: My thanks to Maggie for giving us some of the background to our Genesis text during our Time for Young Disciples. Forgiveness is an essential component of our faith, a critical practice of Christianity, and a difficult one. We are called to work toward […]
Texts: Genesis 29:15-28 Psalm 105:1-11, 45b Romans 8:26-39 Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 Manuscript: Since we have been meeting remotely, few of you have seen our garden. Creating this garden was one of the things that excited us about coming here. Finding enough space with decent sunlight in DC is either difficult or expensive…often both. We are pleased […]
Texts: Genesis 28:10-19a Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24 Romans 8:12-25 Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 Manuscript: This, standing here in this pulpit and preaching to Katherine and a camera, is starting to feel normal. I know it is not. I know that this is still strange, and it may well still feel strange for many or most of you, but […]
Texts: Genesis 25:19-34 119:105-112 Romans 8:1-11 Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Manuscript: If, somehow, I was given the power to make one decree, write one rule for everyone, it would be…I should note, this is not the first time I’ve said this, and it won’t be the last: Everyone must work in the service industry for at […]
Texts: Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 Song of Solomon 2:8-13 Romans 7:15-25a Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 Manuscript: I’m about to blatantly steal a story from one of my friends, Jeff. Jeff is a multi-talented man. Leading and arranging worship music is one among his many gifts. Somewhere along the way of developing this talent, Jeff encountered a […]
Texts: First Reading Genesis 22:1-14 Psalm 13:1-6 Second Reading Romans 6:12-23 Gospel Matthew 10:40-42 Manuscript: Most of us know today’s text from Genesis pretty well. God tests Abraham by asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, now Abraham’s only son since Abraham sent Ishmael away. God asks Abraham to kill Isaac, the only son born to Sarah. God asks Abraham to […]
Texts: First Reading Genesis 21:8-21 Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 Second Reading Romans 6:1b-11 Gospel Matthew 10:24-39 Manuscript: This is all very strange. We’re here, outside, at St. Luke’s, and if I stop the sentence there, it might seem like any other summer. At least, I hope so. This is my first year with y’all, so it’s all new to me. […]