The Sunday Sermon: Get out of the boat

My brother, who lives on the west coast of Scotland, has a boat. He has sailed for years and even taught sailing for a while. Whenever I go to visit him I love going out for a sail with him. Sometimes we sail over to the Isle of Cumbrae, a small island whose distinguishing feature … READ MORE…

The Sunday Sermon: remember who you are made to be

Today we will bless the bees, so I thought it only fitting to start by telling the story from a movie about bees. The Bee Movie was a kids movie from 2007, an animated movie about a bee named Barry. Bee life, according to this movie, was monotonous. Most of the bees loved it. It … READ MORE…

The Sunday Sermon: Ministry in Public

Matthew’s story of the baptism of Jesus has some unique quirks. For example it’s the only version that has John and Jesus having a conversation. Even though Matthew has said nothing about them being cousins – that’s Luke’s story – John clearly recognizes Jesus as someone sent from God, someone who is better equipped than … READ MORE…

The Christmas Eve Sermon: Do not be afraid

Christmas Eve, 2014 St. Paul’s Cathedral San Diego, California Isaiah 9: 2-7 Luke 2: 1-14 Come Holy Spirit: Touch our minds and think with them, touch our lips and speak with them and touch our hearts and set them on fire with love for you. AMEN. I. I had another sermon written for tonight. I … READ MORE…

The Christmas Sermon: The Light Shines in the Darkness

Alleluia, unto us a child is born. Come, let us adore him. “In the beginning was the Word”.This morning’s reading from John’s Gospel transports us to the realm of the transcendent, the mystical. It stands in contrast to the vivid, real-world story-telling of Luke, that we heard last night, with the manger and the shepherds. … READ MORE…

The Sunday Sermon: let the light find you

I had a friend once who worked very hard to make sure that all of his plans went the right way. He followed all the rules. He worked hard. He found a spouse. He had children. He saved money. He did everything he was supposed to. But one day, his world came crashing in, and … READ MORE…

The Sunday Sermon: The season of Hope

Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul And sings the tune without the words And never stops at all. New Englander poet Emily Dickinson knew the power and necessity of hope, in a land where winter seems to go on for ever. Today we face a mess of contradictions. It’s the … READ MORE…

The Sunday Sermon: A Better Vision

Isaiah casts a vision of a better time to come, Paul exhorts us not to be weary in doing what is right, Jesus offers apocalyptic prophecies of end times and persecutions … I promise you that I didn’t choose these readings this morning: they are the gift of our lectionary. But they do have much … READ MORE…

The Sunday Sermon: Just for Today

All Saints’ Day/Year C Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 Ephesians 1:11-23 Luke 6:20-31    Just for today I will not worry Just for today I will not be angry Just for today I will do my work honestly Just for today I will give thanks for my many blessings Just for today I will be kind to … READ MORE…