Sermon – The Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost – November 19, 2023

A sermon that blends the parables of the workers in the vineyard and that of the talents with the invitation found in the Cardinal Virtues of Courage (why you trust in God when you sign a pledge card) and Prudence (doing the right thing at the right time for the right reason) closing with Luke 12:48 (too whom much has been given much is expected) preached on The Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 28 A) at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Beaufort NC – November 19, 2023.

Picture Credit: Envelope/Card Photo by Mediamodifier on Unsplash

Sermon – The Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost – October 29, 2023

A sermon that brings a nine week series titled as Living as Shalom to a close with Jesus’s teaching on loving God and neighbor as expressed in Archbishop William Temple’s Prayer of Self-Dedication preached on The twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 24 A) at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, Jacksonville NC on October 29, 2023.

Photo Credit: Photo by Alex Block on Unsplash

Sermon – The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost – October 22, 2023

A sermon that presents newly baptized children with godparents beyond those standing at the font such as the church community as we remember that we belong to one another…together with God’s help, we can make one another stronger preached on The twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 24 A) at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, Jacksonville NC on October 22, 2023.

Photo Credits
Baptismal Shell Photo by Josh Eckstein on Unsplash 
Hands Heart Gold Photo by Marek Studzinski on Unsplash

Sermon – The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost – October 15, 2023

A sermon placed just after my 50th wedding anniversary where I contemplate what it means to share and model solemn vows such as for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness or health, to love and to cherish in a world filled with pain and conflict such as when Jesus told the story of the cast out wedding guest preached on The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 23 A) at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, Jacksonville NC on October 15, 2023.

The wisdom of Dorothy Law Nolte is found in this sermon. You can learn more at https://childrenlearnwhattheylive.com

Photo Credits
1 Corinthians Photo by Leighann Blackwood on Unsplash 
Forest Fire Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash

Sermon – The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost – October 8, 2023

A sermon that sees the Apostle Paul’s statement “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus” as a caution rather than an exhortation when shared with Psalm 19’s “Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins” preached on The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 22 A) at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, Jacksonville NC on October 8, 2023.

Photo credits
Caution Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
Caution stripes Photo by Pop & Zebra on Unsplash

A Prayer of Self-Dedication

Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you,
so guide our minds,
so fill our imaginations,
so control our wills,
that we may be wholly yours,
utterly dedicated unto you;
and then use us, we pray you, as you will,
and always to your glory and the welfare of your people;
through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Book of Common Prayer – Page 832

Sermon – The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost – October 1, 2023

A sermon featuring the Pearl of Great Price: a story about the surprising Good News that unfolds when you commit to sell all that you have and discover your real role was always that of God’s steward as you share love preached on The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 21 A) at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, Jacksonville NC on October 1, 2023.

Five Stewardship Commitment Points
1. Evangelism calls people to commitment.
2. Christian Formation teaches the meaning of that commitment.
3. Worship celebrates that commitment.
4. Stewardship is the practice of that commitment.
5. Discipleship that leads to Apostolic Action is the outcome of that commitment.
Download a PDF of my expression of The Pearl of Great Price stewardship sermon.

Sermon – The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost – September 24, 2023

A sermon that explores how you set expectations that prompt both adult and childish responses as you live as Shalom while being so human as to grumble and complain when God provides what God promises preached on The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 20 A) at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, Jacksonville NC on September 24, 2023.

Photo Credits
Angry Face Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash
Coins Photo by rupixen.com on Unsplash

Sermon – The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost – September 17, 2023

A sermon that explores the questions: How do you handle receiving the blessing of God when you least expect it and need it most? How does your manner of reception live as Shalom? Preached on The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 19 A) at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, Jacksonville NC on September 17, 2023.

Photo Credit – Personal from the collection of William Carl Thomas

Sermon – The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost – September 10, 2023

A sermon that moves through personal story and the importance of Jesus centered principles expressed in the Benedictine expression “Listening with the Ear of the Heart” as essential to Living as Shalom preached on The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 18 A) at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, Jacksonville NC on September 10, 2023.

Image credits:

Single ear Photo by Franco Antonio Giovanella on Unsplash
Heart wall Photo by Tengyart on Unsplash

Sermon – The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost – September 3, 2023

A sermon that begins a nine week series entitled Living as Shalom with connections to peace, koinonia, justice, mercy, and grace, as we find Shalom at the heart of the mission of the Church to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ preached on The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 17 A) at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, Jacksonville NC on September 3, 2023.

Peace Photo by Jonathan Meyer on Unsplash 
Shalom Photo by JACQUELINE BRANDWAYN on Unsplash