Category Archives: sermon

Thinking out loud

Since yesterday, I’ve seen a number of emails, tweets and Facebook posts along the lines of “What are you going to say on Sunday?” It’s a little bit like the supreme court affirmation of affordable care all over again. I … Continue reading

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Year B, Proper 9: Hometown preaching

July7/8th, 2012, St Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Elyria, Ohio One summer, my son wanted to buy me a gift. All through our vacation, whenever there was a gift shop or stall, he asked to buy me something, and I kept saying … Continue reading

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A prophet without honour

Two brothers grew up a few years apart. They were close for a time, but grew somewhat apart. They moved in different circles. The elder brother worked hard and achieved some recognition, even notoriety. Every so often the younger brother … Continue reading

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Healthcare and healing

It is tempting, as many have observed, to link this Sunday’s readings to this Thursday’s Supreme Court decision upholding the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare. Politics from the pulpit are tricky. The need to be prophetic and the need to … Continue reading

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The seating plan

I can see today’s story being used in the early church to combat the subtle prejudices, favouritisms, and snubs that might otherwise have kept from full inclusion and assimilation new Christians, non-Jewish Christians, Christians from other countries, cultures and languages. … Continue reading

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Year B, Proper 7: “To thine own (God-given) self be true”

St Andrew’s, Elyria, OH; Saturday June 23rd 2012/Sunday June 24th 2012 David and Goliath. It’s one of the stories that we grew up with; one of the dramatic biblical episodes that makes it into all the children’s illustrated Bibles; the … Continue reading

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Bernard Mizeki and the ultimate blasphemy

It’s back – the unforgivable sin, the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, tucked into the readings for the commemoration of Bernard Mizeki, catechist and martyr. This time, we read Luke’s contextualization of the epigram. It is interesting in its little … Continue reading

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Year B Proper 6: Through God’s eyes

A Saturday night homily for St Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Elyria, OH. Come see us some time! How would you describe Jesus to someone who had no idea who this man was or what he meant to the world? Where would … Continue reading

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Does size matter?

Last week, the elders of Israel were quite rude and unmannerly to Samuel, declaring him “old,” and demanding a king. Samuel was justifiably offended, but God told him to go ahead and give them a king (1 Samuel 8). God … Continue reading

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2 Corinthians and the naive faith of Henry Vaughn

When I was twelve, my English teacher told my parents that I was quite naive in my reading of the class poetry assignments. I knew why she said that. We had been reading Henry Vaughn, who seemed almost jealous of … Continue reading

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