Category Archives: sermon

Unexpected gifts: Saint Nicholas

A homily for Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland’s Evensong celebration of the Feast of Nicholas, Bishop of Myra As a child, I heard the story of Jesus welcoming the children and he was the antidote to unfriendly adults, the ones who frowned … Continue reading

Posted in homily | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Year C Advent 1: New Year’s Resolutions

I think that it was the phrase, “dissipation, drunkenness and the worries of this life,” heard just now in the gospel according to Luke, that made me think of New Year’s resolutions. New Year’s resolutions. We’ve all made them. We’ve … Continue reading

Posted in sermon | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Luke 21:25-36

Dissipation, drunkenness and the worries of this life circle their prey; the room dizzies, spins, sickening; swirling skirts’ colours and patterns staining the food, pulling you into the dance; something is calling, falling … snapping back into sharp-edged focus, technicolor … Continue reading

Posted in lectionary reflection, poetry | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christ the King Sunday

When Israel first asked for a king, they went to the prophet Samuel and said, “give us a king to govern us like all the other nations have,” and Samuel was angry and had words with God, and God said, … Continue reading

Posted in sermon | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christ the King, King George, and Elvis

This Sunday is Christ the King Sunday. Some people are calling it the Reign of Christ Sunday, because of revolutionary or other associations which render the title of king less than desirable in their imaginations. Imagination is key when it … Continue reading

Posted in sermon preparation | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Year B Proper 28: It’s (not) the end of the world

As we move towards Advent, when we await the arrival of God among us, we start looking in our scripture readings at the end of the world. Every year, whether the 2012 famous for Mayan millennium angst or any other … Continue reading

Posted in sermon | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hannah’s hope: Eli’s affirmation

One last story about Hannah and me before Sunday. Eli saw Hannah praying in the temple, and assumed that she was drunk, because her lips were moving but she made no sound. He tried to send her away; but she … Continue reading

Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon preparation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Hannah’s hope: Anticipation

I don’t often tell this story, because it makes me seem a little bit mad. But Hannah understands. Hannah left the temple and she ate and drank and her countenance was no longer sad. She wasn’t pregnant; she had no … Continue reading

Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon preparation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hannah’s hope

I could say a lot about Hannah. I feel as though I almost know her, I have almost met her, across a crowd, just out of reach. I recognize her, the tilt of her head, her hair obscuring her face. … Continue reading

Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon preparation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Year B Proper 27: Loving and giving

Naomi had lost everything. I mean, everything. It is just too hard to imagine, to think about Naomi’s loss. When she came back to Bethlehem, she wouldn’t even answer to her given name. When her old neighbours recognized her and … Continue reading

Posted in sermon | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment