Category: Sermons
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Third Sunday after Pentecost (2026)
The beloved St. Francis of Assisi is credited for saying,“Preach the Gospel at all times, use words if necessary.” Preach the Gospel at all times, use words if necessary. Most likely, Francis did not coin this phrase. It likely evolved from one of the instructions he gave to the Franciscan brothers for their rule of…
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Holy Trinity (2026)
I first learned of the Trinity in Sunday school. My Sunday school teacher described the Trinity by pointing to symbols posted on the wall. One of them was a three-sided triangle and the other three interlocking circles. That one looked suspiciously like the logo for the Olympics. Then she surprised us by cracking an egg…
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The Second Sunday of Easter (2026)
Alleluia! Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! Back in the stone ages when I was a kid in college, I remember Christians having a healthy presence on campus. There were several Christian groups and each had a unique theology, perspective, and set of practices. I had a few friends and acquaintances in these…
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The Resurrection of Our Lord (2026)
When we moved into our North Seattle home over ten years ago, we moved into a nearly empty house. I say “nearly” because the previous residents left us a lawn mower, some tools, and an “Earthquake Preparedness Guide.” It is posted on the wall in the garage. I’m ever grateful for these precautionary measures laid…
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The Second Sunday in Lent
March 1, 2026 When we lived in Northern California there was a church located practically in our backyard. It wasn’t the congregation I served but one I walked by every day with our dog. For the longest time there was a banner on the outside of the building that advertised a series for adults with…
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The First Sunday in Lent
January 26th, 2026 No sooner is Jesus baptized than he finds himself in the wilderness. The same Spirit that anointed him at his baptism sends him into the wilderness where for forty days Jesus fasts and contends with the devil. The evil one. Jesus goes from baptism by water to baptism by fire. Fresh from…
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The Third Sunday after the Epiphany
January 25, 2026 A couple of weeks ago Emily came to the saving waters of baptism. There she was washed in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There she received the laying on of hands and the prayer for the Spirit to fill her life and there she was anointed with the…
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The Baptism of our Lord
January 11, 2026 John was surprised when Jesus showed up for baptism at the River Jordan. John was baptizing people so that they would amend their lives to prepare for the coming of Jesus. Why would Jesus himself be baptized? With great exasperation John said to Jesus, “I should be baptized by you, not you…
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The Nativity of our Lord
December 25, 2025 The scriptures for this Christmas Day make remarkable claims about Jesus: These descriptions of Jesus are of Christ highly exalted – Lord of lords, King of kings, Lord of the church, Ruler of all. The proclamation of Christmas is that a tiny, vulnerable infant is all of these things. The exalted one…
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Christmas Eve
December 24, 2025 Have you ever noticed how some of our most beloved Christmas carols sing of Christmas in the present tense? Our early Christian forebears used a Latin term to describe the mystery of Jesus’ birth among us. The term is Hodie which means “today” or “now” or “nowadays.” Our ancient forebears who sang…