Ordination Sermon: A Tall Order

10/22/22Rev. Richard Hogue In a little while, Bishop Susan will examine you, Pete and Michael, outlining the order ofministry on which you are embarking: As a deacon in the Church, you are to study the Holy Scriptures, to seek nourishment from them, and to model your life upon them. You are to make Christ and … READ MORE…

The Sunday Sermon: Beating Down the Doors of the Heart

October 16, 2022Penelope Bridges Last week in her sermon Maya talked about different views of faith: about the difference between an intellectual belief and an attitude of trust.  Today’s Scripture reinforces the notion that our faith is not about intellectual propositions that can be proved or argued: it is about a relationship, about opening our … READ MORE…

The Sunday Sermon: The Faith of the Outsider

October 9, 2022Maya Little-Saña Scripture: Luke 17:11-19On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves … READ MORE…

The Sunday Sermon: Celebrating St. Francis

October 2, 2022Penelope Bridges Today we celebrate St. Francis of Assisi, who has been called the most admired and least imitated of the saints. Francis was not a priest, but a modestly educated lay person who started a revolution against the grandeur and power of the Roman Catholic church. He dramatically rejected the luxurious lifestyle … READ MORE…

The Sunday Sermon: Prudence in God’s Economy

Luke’s gospel is notorious for its hard hitting and sometimes stymying parables, and we get another one today. This is one of the most confusing parables, and it’s been argued over and over again what it could possibly mean. While all those arguments are worthwhile, mostly because the archetypes for the various characters are somewhat … READ MORE…

The Sunday Sermon: The Hope We Need

September 11, 2022Penelope Bridges Jeremiah has a word for us today. He describes a hot wind, a wind of destruction, a metaphor for the coming national disaster of conquest by the Babylonian Empire. He sees a reversal of creation: the earth waste and void, light extinguished, the comforting stability of the mountains shaken, creatures and … READ MORE…

The Sunday Sermon: The Prophetic Task

Dean penny bridges preaching at pulpit

August 21, 2022Penelope Bridges Jesus is in the middle of his sermon at Sabbath services, and he looks up and notices someone on the edge of the congregation. By now, we have spent enough time with Luke’s Gospel not to be surprised by this. The way Luke tells it, Jesus has a knack for noticing … READ MORE…

The Sunday Sermon: Messy

Rev. Richard Hogue Jr.8/14/2022             Welcome back to our full space, everyone! The chancel improvement project was long and arduous, even messy, but thanks to our wonderful construction crew and the help of so many of you, we’ve made it to the other side. It is wonderful to behold! I only lived with the last … READ MORE…

The Sunday Sermon: Rich Towards God?

July 31, 2022Penelope Bridges If you were here last week you might remember that the reading from the prophet Hosea was quite startling, with its description of an unfaithful wife, and children named for God’s punishment of an unfaithful nation. Today’s reading provides some balance, with its beautiful parental imagery and the declaration that God … READ MORE…

The Sunday Sermon: Creativity & Faithfulness

7/24/2022Rev. Richard Hogue Jr.             Good morning, and a happy Comic-Con Sunday to you all! When I think of Comic-Con, I think of epic franchises, from those of Disney, to Adult Swim cartoons, Anime subcultures, gaming, and anything under the sun that offers people temporary escape or freedom of imagination. It is a veritable celebration … READ MORE…