First Sunday after Christmas Isaiah 61:10 – 62:3 Psalm 147:13-21 Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 John 1:1-18 “And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Today we come upon one of those passages in the New Testament that sounds as if we are overhearing someone else’s … READ MORE…
Christmas Day/Year C Isaiah 62:6-12 Titus 3:4-7 Luke 2:8-20 I was reminded recently from a commentary written by The Rev. Dr. David Lose, a professor at Luther Seminary, how shepherds at the time of Jesus’ birth were not romantic or saintly types. From years of Christmas pageants, movies, lovely cards, and artwork, the image of … READ MORE…
Isaiah 62:6-12 Titus 3:4-7 Luke 2:8-20 Good evening. On behalf of all the people of St. Paul’s Cathedral, I welcome you and am so glad you are here with us tonight. As we say every Sunday, whoever you are and wherever you are on the journey of faith, you are most welcome to participate fully … READ MORE…
Advent 3/Year C Zephaniah 3:14-20 Philippians 4:4-7 Luke 3:7-18 I think as any preacher will tell you, there is the sermon we prepare and the one we end up preaching, and they’re not always the same. I had started this one several days ago and the story in it revolves around some young people who … READ MORE…
It is the final, great Day – the Day of the Stewardship In-gathering, not the end of time exactly but the finale to the annual pledge campaign. Maybe, for some of you view, like the early Christians and the parousia, it is the day for which you have been waiting and longing. The theme of … READ MORE…
Christ the King/Year B Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 Revelation 1:4b-8 John 18:33-37 It has been really fun watching the progress of the organ restoration. The work being done is incredible and I can’t wait for the debut of this almost new instrument. But one of the unanticipated side effects of watching the restoration is how it … READ MORE…
It is wonderful to be gathered together in this cathedral to honor and to give thanks to God for the men and women who answered the call of their country by serving the cause of freedom in the Armed Services. I’d like to ask all our veterans to stand and be recognized. Would you please … READ MORE…
All Saints’ Day/Year B Isaiah 25:6-9 Revelation 21:1-6a John 11:32-44 Following the tragic explosion of the space craft Challenger on January 28, 1986, in a speech to the nation, President Ronald Reagan, talking about those who had lost their lives, closed with the words, “We will never forget them this morning as they prepared for … READ MORE…
Proper 25/Year B Jeremiah 31:7-9 Hebrews 7:23-28 Mark 46-52 “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”― Antoine de … READ MORE…
Proper 23/Year B Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 Hebrews 4:12-16 Mark 10:17-31 I recently told my story at our Spiritual Autobiography class, and I was reminded of the adage, which I cannot remember the exact words of, but it’s something like, “the past isn’t.” Meaning, obviously things happen to us prior to the present moment, but as … READ MORE…