Category: Sermons

1 Christmas
First Sunday after Christmas Day
December 31, 2023

First Reading: Isaiah 61: 10-62:3
Psalm 147
Second Reading: Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7
Gospel: John 1: 1-18

Collect:

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

“IN THE BEGINNING was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Well, let me ask, did you sigh after Christmas Day? The busyness is over! We have been in a whirlwind and going strong since Thanksgiving, maybe even before that. 

Maybe you already started packing up the decorations, taking the tree down, just to be able to relax and look forward to the New Year.

Some stores start putting Christmas decorations out in September. They are preparing for the Christmas holiday, “not” because they are excited that the birth of Jesus is drawing near, but they are excited to make the sales, as early as they can, to get as much as they can. 

It is because we get sucked into it every year. We see the displays and it causes us to get excited. 

My brother really disliked it all, and he was not alone. Do not get me wrong, he loved Jesus and he was very close to God. 

What he did not care for was the stress of it all, he could not afford to buy all the things his kids wanted.

Thousands of people are just like that, they want to give to their families what everyone else is doing for theirs. 

Money worries, anxiety, loneliness, grief, difficult family relationships. These are just a few of the issues people have during this season.

In the gospel of John, he starts with Genisis “In the beginning” Christmas begins, where Genisis begins…with God and in God and in God’s creation. “The beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. “All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.”

John tells the Christmas story with these nine words, 

“And the Word became flesh and lived among us.” 

God, the God of creation, the one who revealed himself to humanity, God became flesh, completely human as you and I. “He” was the Word, God himself. 

Matthew and Luke tell all about the birth of Jesus, the beautiful story we shared last weekend. 

John’s version is not the warm and fuzzy story of the birth…but John just gets to the point… The beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. “All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.”

There is one part of the scriptures in the gospels, that are the same, “The light” 

“What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”

When John talks about the light shines in darkness, we all get it, we somehow understand this and we know that it can not be described any other way. Because no one had never seen God, the light begins to shine on God and with that, Gods radiation is spread over the world, for all to see. 

This is the Christmas story we celebrate and look forward to; Jesus coming into the world, in his life, in his ministry, his teaching, his death and his resurrection. In all of this, we finally have the light we need to see God.

To circle back around, it is okay to shop and buy those presents for Christmas, remember that God is in all things and all things are in God, so what we do during the Christmas season is okay with God. 

Consciously we are children of God, we practice the Christian life with confidence. We need to keep the incarnate Christ close to us, in our hearts, as every heartbeat, we have is Gods Word. 

And when we put ourselves at His service, we become transformed. “From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”

Remembering the Words of John, and “we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” 

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath

Nativity-The Birth of Jesus Christ
Year B
December 24, 2023

First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Canticle 3
Second Reading: 16:25-27
Gospel: Luke 2: 1-14, (15-20)

Collect:

Fourth Sunday in Advent

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Collect:

The Nativity of our Lord

O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Good News of Great Joy

Gospel: Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

Joseph and Mary have traveled 90 miles to the city of Joseph’s ancestors: south along the flatlands of the Jordan River, then west over the hills surrounding Jerusalem, and on into Bethlehem. 

Joseph was a descendent from the house of David, he and Mary were engaged and they went to register Mary.

While they were there, Mary goes into labor and she gave birth to her firstborn son, they wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger.

Mary, Obedient and Faithful

She is a model of discipleship, she agreed to God’s plan… for her virgin birth of the Savior of the world; she was a person of great prayer and a person of great faith and she said yes! to the angel, even when she really had no clear idea of what it meant when she excepted this call. 

Mary now, is placing her own desires aside, and agreed to be the Mother of the divine Son.

This was Mary’s great contribution and model for discipleship: to be… not only Jesus’ mother, but his follower as well, and she, who would carry forward his mission!

Mary’s life therefore, becomes a model for all Christians: not only for women, but for men who desire to be faithful to God’s call.

She was an excellent example for single, married, and widowed women today, for people who are financially poor and spiritual poor, and for those who want to follow God.

Tonight is the night that Mary gave birth to Jesus, the one who said, I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness. 

(John 8:12)

He was not born in a temple, but in a wooden structure with a grass roof and surrounded by animals.

Though, we live so long after the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, today/tonight we find ourselves with Mary and Joseph at the manger.

Close your eyes and imagine the smells, feel the cool air, hear the animals, see their warm breath in the air and see the faces of Joseph and Mary, as they look upon this Holy Child.

This amazing little face, the Holy face, the face of God in the flesh. 

We close our eyes again and this time, we feel the joy and the hope that the people then and now feel.

In the same region, the shepherds living in the fields, watching over their flock had a visit from the angel of the Lord, “the glory of the Lord shone all around them.” They were terrified, but the angel, comforts them, do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy.

The angel, God’s messenger, is sent to the shepherds to give them the message, that the newborn Jesus has been born, who is the “Messiah,” the Lord.

Scripture, tells us that God sent his messengers to those who were the recipients of his promise—not kings, theologians, or even relatives,

“But those whom a grown-up Jesus would want to help. The kinds of people that Jesus healed, the poor and the downtrodden. 

He knew He would be demonstrating and teaching compassion. 

But he also peached the good news of God’s love and salvation.”

The Good News and the Great Joy, Then, Today and forever to Come.

On this night the birth of Jesus Christ will be celebrant all over the world. This celebration will be done in various ways and in many languages, by people of all races. We need Jesus as much today as they needed Him. 

In St. Paul’s letter to the (Galatians 4:4-5) 

“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”

The key to this scripture is “The fullness of time,” not in the past, but in the present and future, for all of us, it was during their time and…. is ongoing.

Christ came into this world much like what we have today. Life was hard, disease was abundant, nations at war with each other and widows and orphans left behind.

We are all looking for peace, we, and the world longs for and looks for the peace… the angles sang about on that first Christmas morning.

You say, “Where is His peace?” The peace that Christ brings abides in you and I, and all who have trusted in Christ.  

The news anchor Robin Roberts was diagnosed with cancer, now years ago, and she would tell the story how she would struggle with the treatment and the suffering she endured.  Her mother would tell her, “Robin, everyone has something!” this was so Robin would stop feeling sorry for herself.

Jesus has been here already, He was already here on earth, He taught and healed and lifted people up. He brought light into a very dark world.

Nothing has changed a lot, as Robin’s mother said, everyone has something! 

I say, there will always be something going on, but every year we know that Jesus, in our hearts 

and minds will be here again, he will transform us and help to bring the darkness into light, the sadness back to joy, 

happiness will be here again and we will always know that Jesus, no matter how difficult things 

get, this night, God brought into the world the One who is “the light of the world.”

We know that Jesus will always bring good news and great joy to all the people. It is all about His life, His death and His resurrection that will bring salvation to the world. 

As we celebrate Christmas this holiday, lets focus on the future and the gift given to us year after year, the good news of Jesus Christ, the Anointed, the Messiah, who brought the good news of eternal life, divine forgiveness, and the true fulfillment.

Yes, as we look in the rear-view mirror of 2023, we pray for peace among all nations and healing of our nation and world, but we never forget the sacrifice of all the millions who lost their lives to the wars and those who still suffer. 

We also see, all the good that happen this year and all the people and organizations that step up to help those in need. 

All the donations of gifts, food, and kindness. This is what we are to be thankful for.

May the God of Hope fill you with Joy and Peace as you trust in him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of The Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)  

Amen

The Reverend Lola Culbreath

Sermon
October 22, 2015
Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 24
Year A

First Reading: Exodus 33:12-23
Psalm 99
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Gospel: Matthew 22:15-22

Collect:

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

AN IMAGE OF GOD

Last Sunday, we were talking about the parable that Jesus used Saying 

“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.”

(Mt 22:1-14)

Jesus had upset the Pharisees and the Chief priest, they are hearing insult after insult, they are not happy with Jesus, in the temple.

He has run those out of the temple, who were selling and buying. Jesus, reminded them, the Temple was a place for prayer not a market.

In all Jesus’s parables, the pharisees realize, he has been talking about them. They have now decided to try and trick Jesus in our lesson today. 

“Jesus cannot be tricked.”

Jesus Is still in Jerusalem; The Pharisees have come up with a scheme.

 “The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said.”

Here comes some of the Pharisees disciples and the Herodians, People who were loyal to King Herod. Funny how people will plot together and these were far from being fuzzy friends.

The Pharisees, did not want to pay taxes to their oppressors, who were pagans and so paying taxes to Rome, the Pharisees, apposed this. But King Herod’s position came with power, thanks to the Romans. It is all about the money, and who’s face is on the money, Jesus could be tripped up in who he sides with. 

He cannot speak against the tax, that would anger the Herodians and could lead to treason against Rome. If Jesus spoke in favor of the tax, it would cause problems with all those who followed him.

“Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” 

Jewish laws, they are not supposing to pay taxes to and empire.

Did you notice how nice they are to Jesus…” Teacher, we know that you are sincere!” Jesus knows they are testing him and He calls them hypocrites? 

He has them show him the head of the coin and tells them to give to the emperor what is his and to God the things that are God’s!

The denarius they showed Jesus, there was an image of the empire on one side and the image of a women on the other side name Pax.

An image of anyone on the coins was against Jewish laws, “Moses Law”

The answer that Jesus gives, comes from Genesis 1:26-27, which says, “And God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness.” “So, God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them.” 

Confusing but God did create Ceasar in his image, so he should have the coins.

Jesus, makes this all irrelevant, the money and taxes, He affirms the taxes, yes, we do owe the state, there is however limits.

Conclusion

I have here a couple of coins, they are the dollars that came out a few years ago. 

This one is our first president, George Washington, someone to be admired because of him being the first president. I also have one of Sacagawea, the Shoshone women, a teenager I might add, that helped Lewis and Clarks expedition in achieving their mission by exploring the Louisiana Territory. She traveled thousands of miles form North Dakota to the Pacific Ocean.

What most I like about her coin, is it has “In God We Trust.” I looked at several of the coins and not all of them have this quote. Not, sure why?

It is not who is on the coin, but to remember, that, the person, was created in the image of God. And the coin spends the same, but when we give it away, we are giving God’s love and trust.

We need to live more fully into the image and likeness of God, that my friends, is who we are, if we believe in the scriptures, we believe that, we are in God and God is in us.

The story proves that religion is a matter of the heart, and that God does not care about the tireless things, like where or what you do with your money. 

He knows that we must have money to survive with, but to keep in mind that we are also, to give back to God, we are created in his image and we are to be his disciples to the rest of the world, teaching that life begins in the image of God.

Good News

Jesus is the promised Savior the one whom God fulfilled the promises he made to his people.

The good news is, it was not just only for the Jewish people, whom Jesus was with, but for the whole world. 

We have given ourselves to God and when we did this, we were promised that God would love us forever. 

We were made in his image; we are free to give to all who ask, share to those about the kingdom of God and tell the good news to everyone.

We must never forget to render unto God the things that are God’s and In God we do trust.

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 19
Year A
September 17, 2023

First Reading: Exodus 14:19-31
Canticle: The Songs of Moses and Miriam
Second Reading: Romans 14:1-12
Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35

Collect:

O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Lift High The Cross

On September the 14, we observe the feast day of the Holy Cross Day. The cross reveals the depth of God’s love for us. Jesus’s death is not just a historical event, it is the ultimate act of God’s love for all His people

One story I will always remember. At the age of 19 on May 30^th, 1431 Joan of Arc an English Soldier was burned at the stake, through the flames, she asked if the cross could be held high so she could see through the flames.

Jesus asked us to take up the cross and follow Him.

In our baptism, the sign of the cross is traced upon our forehead, a reminder that we are marked as Christ own forever. 

Forgiveness Helps The Soul

Jesus has been traveling with the disciples to Jerusalem. He has been healing people, curing people from diseases, like epileptic. He walked on water, fed 5000 people, raised Lazarus from the dead. He took his disciples Peter, James and John to the high mountain, there they saw Moses and Elijah.

He was asked to teach them how to pray, (Matthew 6:9-13), Jesus says, Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.  

Jesus is preparing His disciples as He gets closer and closer to Jerusalem. In (Matthew 17:22-23), As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.

So, in today’s gospel Peter comes to Jesus and asked Him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but I tell you, seventy-seven times.”

Why did Jesus say this? Why not just say, once is enough! Jesus wants His followers to forgive those who ask for it, to let it be second nature to them. 

There should be no limits on how many times we are willing to forgive someone who seeks forgiveness. 

Jesus continues to tell them that the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wishes to settle accounts with his slaves.

The King forgives the accounts of a slave, after he begged forgiveness. But the slave did not offer the same lenience to a fellow slave who owned him money.

Jesus’s message is that we are to treat everyone, like what would be done in the kingdom of heaven. Not seven times, but seventy-seven times or more then you can count. 

God’s response to limitless debt…. a limitless amount of forgiveness.

We forgive because God has first forgiven us.

When we have a friend, family member or someone we know sin against us, we are reminded in todays gospel on how important it is to our Creator that we forgive that person.

I get it! Sometimes the hurt is so incredibly bad, the act against you or your family is the worst and horrific crime and sin, that to forgive, would take incredible courage.

To learn how to forgive, you must learn what forgiveness is not. Most of us think we know about forgiveness, but here are some of things that it does not mean.

Forgiveness does not mean you are pardoning or excusing the other person’s actions.

Forgiveness does not mean you need to even tell the person that he or she is forgiven.

Forgiveness does not mean you should forget the incident ever happened.

Forgiveness does not mean you have to continue to include the person in your life.

Forgiveness is not something you do for the person who wronged you; it is something you do for you, for peace within, to nourish your soul.

But if the person comes to you and ask you to forgive them. God wants you to forgive them not only for them, because they asked, again, for you to be able to heal and move forward. 

If we refuse to see God, to focus on God, when someone has done us wrong, we allow the darkness to creep within our souls and it could destroy you. 

To forgive is “not” to put yourselves in arms way again, as some might think, but it is to release you to freedom, that your heart and soul deserves.

I do believe that having our entire heart and soul where God dwells, that the benefits we receive, are the forgiveness of our sins, though God’s grace and mercy.

“Holy scriptures tell us that there is personal value in forgiving others, because we all have been granted unconditional love and forgiveness by God himself.”

Let us now revisit the Cross. Jesus died for our Sins, He died on the Cross, without Jesus’s death on the cross for our sins, no one would have eternal life. 

Jesus Himself said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”

If you have resentment, go to the Cross you must surrender the matter over to God, asking God to replace your resentment with forgiveness and love toward the other person.

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 18
Year A
September 10, 2023

First Reading: Exodus 12: 1-14
Psalm 149
Second Reading: Romans 13:8-14
Gospel: Matthew 18:15-2

Collect:

Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Why Are We Here?

Paul’s letter to the Romans, will show us that living a Christ like life, that the Love will be our motivation to keep all of God’s commandments by loving our neighbors like we love ourselves. 

There will always be some folks that feel they are better then others, that they know more or they can do no wrong. 

There are many times, that anger, hurt feelings and the lack of communication will drive us toward either sweeping everything under the rug to keep the peace, or it can lead to, one mistake that people make, is they are too quick to judge, the knee jerk reaction, I call it. 

It is always better to step back from a situation and think about whatever it is that is bothering you, before reacting. 

This is where you can run into conflicts, leading to the possibility of a verbal argument, resulting in hurtful feelings. 

I know that we cannot always avoid it, but we should be in the mind set as disciples of Christ always, Paul, says let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is our Christian obligation to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, Love…itself never hurts.

 If we keep the commandments of Moses, “Owe no one anything, except to love one another; fore one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” The commandments are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Matthew 18:15-20

The lesson today was one I had to give great thought and attention too. 

What do I say to our congregation about this? 

Are you a Gentile or a tax collector?

In this reading, Jesus is giving instructions about how to handle conflicts with each other. How to handle church discipline. This passage gives us clear practical steps we should take in a difficult situation, letting Jesus provide us another way in our gospel lesson today.

I feel most of you will agree that if only conflicts in every aspect of our lives, could be handled between each other with open communication and respect for each other, we all would live in a better and different world. 

Chapter 18:20, Jesus says, “Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” 

Most of Jesus’s followers would have related this to the Old Testament passage, in Deuteronomy 19:15-19 says that two or three witnesses must agree in order to bring a legally binding charge against someone.

But we need to relook at the gospels and particular Matthew. Right before this passage in 

(Matt 18:15-17) are Jesus’s warnings about being a stumbling block for anyone. 

Next is the parable of the shepherd who leaves 99 sheep to search for the one lost sheep

Right after that Jesus tells Peter we are to forgive members of the church seventy-seven times.

And then Jesus tells the parable of the slave who is forgiven by his master but refuses to forgive his debtors.

There are lots of passages about the importance of forgiveness and these lessons on forgiveness, help us understand our lesson today.

How did Jesus treat the tax collectors, He treated them over and over with compassion, teaching his followers, that everyone can be forgiven for their sins.

His words were “let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. It does not mean wash our hands of them. It means, we need to continue to be visible witness of God’s steadfast love for everyone.

As it turns out, it is a very important lesson for us. There is no church without a conflict, how we handle such a conflict is to follow his instructions “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

We can lose ourselves from our pride and the self-absorption to be right all the time.

Learn to forgive, to understand and to bind ourselves together with the unbreakable love of Christ, and to follow his example.

Remembering the Ten Commandments, that Love will be our motivation to keep all of God’s commandments by loving our neighbors like we love ourselves. 

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath

Thirteeenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 16
Year A
August 27, 2023

First Reading: Exodus 1: 8-2:10
Psalms 124
Second Reading: Romans 12: 1-8
Gospel: Matthew 16: 13-20

Collect: 

Grant, we beseech thee, merciful God, that thy Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all people, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, for ever and ever. Amen.

To Build a Church, It takes a Village

Exodus 1: 8-2:10

Two brave women, two Hebrew midwives, Shophrah and the other, Puah, were told by the new King of Egypt, Pharaoh, to kill all newborn males born to the Israelites. He is also going to increase their labor, by killing all the newborn males he is trying to interfere with God’s promise to Abraham of numerous descendants.

These brave women, were more afraid of God, then the King, so they just would not do it.

And from this we have the story of Moses, his mother hides him in a basket in the river and he is found by Pharaoh’s daughter.

The women of the story, the mother and sister of Moses, the daughter of Pharaoh, and the midwives who earlier refused to be a part of this scheme, all become for us beacons. Stepping up to the plate, so we can have this foundation that was promised in the Hebrew scriptures.

Romans 12: 1-8

Paul’s appeal is that we not… let what is happening in the world change us to be like everyone else, but to continue to renew our minds, so that we continue to discern what the will of God is, good and acceptable and perfect. 

Spiritual worship, in volves the presentation of the body, accomplished by the renewal of the mind.

We are all one body in Christ, we are all individuals and members of one another. As Christians we are to live now, being transformed from within. We all have gifts that have been given to us.

Matthew 16: 13-20

“Who do you say that I am?”

We hear Peters confession “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Simon Peter becomes the first person to make the great Christian Confession of faith. He names Jesus the Messiah, the hope of Israel, the son of the one who created heaven and earth.

Peter gets it right, He has answered the question from Jesus correctly and it is of no surprise; he is, after all, the number one disciple among the twelve. 

Peter has been paying attention to the public ministry of Jesus at least for the moment. 

 He has observed the healings of mercy, he heard the sermons on justice, and how Jesus fed thousands with a small amount of bread. His revelation that “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” On the boat he also said, “Truly you are the Son of God.” 

An important moment in the disciple’s lives, Peter is anointed by the Son of the living God.

“Blessed are you, “For the flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.”

Everything the disciples have experience with Jesus, all that they have seen, toughed, listened to, sights…. It was not just the knowledge and experience, through flesh and blood, but it was revealed that it was a revelation from God.

Whatever Jesus reveals, is what God reveals and this is also from Jesus to Peter and the disciples. 

“I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heave, and whatever you loose on earth will be loose in heaven.”

Conclusion:

“You are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church.”

This church and all churches that the Lord began with Peter, and that we are a part of, is a holy and sacred thing. It is not just a place together of voluntary like-minded people; it is not primarily or at its heart a human institution.

It is instead a dive mystery, a holy vast space today, that continuity serves Christs presence, a continuance of faith, tradition and doctrine and a connection to those who went before us.

I said earlier in Romans, The Church, the scripture goes on to say. “For as in one body we have many members and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many are one body Christ, and individually we are members one of another.” 

Christians are to live now, being transformed from within, they are no longer bound by external law. 

It takes all of us to build up the church in the community, it takes all of us, as disciples of Christ to grow and help the village. We have all been given gifts by Gods grace.

We need to be strong like the women Shophrah and the other Puah, recognizing who needs our protection.

Amen,
The Reverend Lola Culbreath

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost: 
Year A
August 13, 2023

First Reading: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b
Second Reading: Romans 10: 5-15
Gospel: Matthew 14: 22-33

Collect:

Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

How Great is your Faith 

Gospel: Matthew 14: 22-23

This past week we were all horrified by the fire that swept across Maui and destroyed thousands of buildings, homes, and communities. 100’s of souls may be missing.

The fire burned the beautiful town of Lahaina. A town filled with history, the 200-year-old banyan trees, and the historic church, that was among the beloved landmarks. 

The church has been standing since Lahaina was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii in the 1800.

I have never had to escape for my life, in a fire, war, flooding, other natural disasters.  So, to say I understand is only a cliché, that should not be used. We do not know what they went through, but we can imagine the horror of it all; and bow our heads in prayer. I do know, if I was in a situation like this, I would be calling out to Jesus, just like Peter did.

“Lord, save me!” 

In the chapter 13 prior to this one and in chapter 15, the chapter after, Jesus had found out about the death of John the Baptist and He had gone off alone in a boat to pray. 

What did the crowd do? They followed Him. 

The disciples wanted Jesus to send them away, it was getting late. Jesus wants the disciples to feed them first. They replied, but we only have 5 loaves and two fish. Jesus looked up to heaven and blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples and all ate, about 5000 in all.

Jesus sends the disciples out in the boat to the other side. Jesus went up the mountain by himself to pray…again! When evening came, He was alone again, and the boat was far out in the lake, the wind had become so strong, they were trying to row against it, waves crashing up against the boat, rocking it around. Some of the disciples were experienced fishermen and most likely had callused hands from rowing, but to row against the wind is another story.

The wind in Maui, is what caused the fire to destroy so much in its path, no matter how we try we can not stop the wind, we are however trying to use the wind to our advantage by powering electricity, but to stop it, it is not happening. 

Jesus came walking toward the disciples on the water, at 4:00 in the morning and when they saw him, they were terrified, thinking maybe a ghost! Jesus, spoke and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Now the disciples are truly terrified. The same words are used to express Herod fear at getting the news from the magi that a child was born to be king; the same fear that Zachariah mute when an angel of the Lord appeared in the Temple. These same words familiar to them. 

“Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Was it the storm that tested the disciples or was it the presence of Jesus in the storm?

We have read in different lessons of the gospel, “do not be afraid,” the angles spoke to Joseph and Mary, about Jesus, the same words to Peter, John, and James on the mountain, and by an angel to the woman at the tomb of Jesus.

Great Faith

In the world we are living in today…I cannot think of a time when we need “Great Faith.” I feel we need to get down on our knee’s, in front of our Lord and ask him to help us. We need to pray not only for ourselves, but for our nation, our cities, and communities. And especially the Hawaiian people.

Our job is to recognize the presence of Jesus, He is always walking toward us. Listen to his words, trust Jesus, and get out of the boat. Ask for help when you need it. Cry out if you need to “Lord save me.” 

Pray that God will help those in Hawaii and hold your people together in these times.  Ask for his mercy and grace to help us all, to be patient with each other, and continue to love one another. 

We are living out our faith and we are being tested through trials and our faith should grow into the “Great Faith” that invites us to Him; empowering us to seek Him in every situation; and for us to trust Him always.

Jesus says, “Take Heart it is I; do not be afraid.”

Amen
 The Reverend Lola Culbreath

The Transfiguration Sunday
Year A

First Reading: Exodus 34:29-35
Psalm 99 or 99:5-9
Second Reading:2 Peter 1:13-21
Gospel: Luke: 9:28-36

Collect:

O God, who on the holy mount revealed to chosen witnesses your well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistening: Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may by faith behold the King in his beauty; who with you, O Father, and you, O Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

FAITH and LIGHT

Imagine Jesus on a normal day walking with three of his disciples, Peter, James, and John.

Jesus appears to them to be normal, when he asked them to come with him…. But on this day, he leads them high on a mountain, by themselves…Right before their eyes, He was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them.  

This no ordinary morning, no ordinary walk…the light was so bright, it was almost blinding. We all at one point in our lives, have looked at a light so bright, that we had to look away or close our eyes, it was so bright.

Suddenly they see Elijah and Moses talking to Jesus…they were so terrified by this, that Peter, not really knowing what else to say…says, “Rabbi, maybe we shouldn’t be here, you want us to go and prepare three dwelling places, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”? what else could he say?? Maybe it is his way to honor them, by putting up areas of worship for them.

Then a great cloud overshadowed them…and a voice came from the cloud. 

“This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”

Let us go back…They climb this mountain and are separated from the other disciples, then Jesus is transformed before them in a bright light, and two of God’s greatest, are there talking to Jesus.

Next comes the shadow of heavy clouds and a Thundering voice out of the clouds….” This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” After this dramatic moment, Jesus was found alone and 

James, Peter, and John left and went back down the mountain and kept silent and did not tell anyone what they had witnessed.

I am pretty sure they agreed to this, who would believe them and how would they explain it…after all Jesus is still there and they do not really know what is going on!  One thing they did know was this was no ordinary walk, it was not an ordinary day but a cloud came over them and over shadowed them; they were scared…terrified!

Conclusion:

Peter, James, and John have experienced the past, the present and the future all in an instance.  

The Ascension of Jesus, does not mean he is gone somewhere up there! Jesus, like God is in all things and in all places.

Yes, the Ascension of Jesus Christ to be at the right hand of God, and He rose to the elevation and the position of all authority in heaven and on earth, to share that authority with God.

I wonder how we would find that experience? That Peter, James and John had?

It is possible, that some of us have had different experiences in life, maybe not as clear and involved as the three disciples, but we… all have had our own time on the mountain of life or in the desert in life. 

We all have connected to God in different ways, through experiences of our own through our faith.

Good news

The Transfiguration is about change. This is a reminder that calls us to change into people who live with a sense of security. 

When we face challenges, we become afraid of the change. We have become people use to things to being a certain way, developing a sense of security. 

So, when we face a challenge or a change in our lives, we look to Jesus who says “Do not be afraid.” You can except these changes, “I will be with you.” And we will have times in our lives, when our faith is being tested and challenged, and Jesus will always be there to help us transform ourselves, climb that mountain, we cannot just have one experience and then say, okay, I made it, and I can stop there, we must come down the mountain with him and turn around and go back up. 

There is plenty more of growing to do and we must be ready for that invitation from Jesus to go, to walk in faith and asked to be transformed.

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath

Sermon

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 11
Sunday July 23, 2023
Year A

First Reading: Genesis 28:10-19a
Psalm 139:1-11,22-23
Romans: 8:12-25 
Gospel: Matthew 13:24-30,36-43

God’s Purpose will Prevail

The Collect:

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, now and forever. Amen.

What is the Kingdom of Heaven and Where is it?

Matthew 13, from the beginning, Jesus is teaching all who are following him. The great crowds have gathered beside the sea, to listen to him. He has been teaching in parables.

 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away.”

It is difficult for the farmers, to be able to watch their fields grow, only to have weeds taking over and squeezing the roots of the wheat they planted.

We all have the weight on our shoulders and some people have more then others, lost jobs, lost income, possibility of being homeless…. The people who gathered on the beach to hear Jesus tell them stories, were not much different. They all had experienced oppression from Rome. Even among their own people, they watched the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

Jesus, says, “Let everyone with ears listen” we are reminded that these parables are more than entertaining stories.

They are stories that read to us, and how we hear them, depends on the condition of our hearts and minds and where we are in our faith.

In the passages, following our gospel today, Jesus talks about 5 different parables regarding the kingdom of heaven.

“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So, it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil form the righteous. 

This is where we can have that AHA moment of understanding, is it always clear? No, but it is something the disciples understood, He is speaking their language where they could at a time in history that only they can understand him. 

He is saying, it is not far off in a distance, or up there, or somewhere out there. The kingdom is everywhere, in everything that God has created.

With the parables and the others to follow, he tells us just how big the kingdom of heaven is. By talking about the mustard seed.

Mustard seeds are so small that they can go un-noticed when planting wheat and the farmer would sow his wheat and soon a mustard seed would sprout up with the wheat.

The farmer of course, would want them re-moved, because they were weeds in his field.

Jesus is saying, it is hard to separate the good from the bad, but as his kingdom grows and like the smallest of the seeds, become the biggest in the field, to offer shade and comfort to the smallest of birds. (people)

Showing us and the people at that time, how God is at work in the world. 

Jesus has described the growth of the mustard seed and the flour mixed with the yeast and it turns out to be leavened bread.

I must tell you that yeast was used for many reasons during the time of Jesus and it was not positive. Its symbolized impurity, evil and unclean. 

But we also see the positive of how it grows, God’s kingdom grows, infiltrating all of creation and the world.

If we look and try to see God’s beautiful creation, imagining his presence in all things, growing like the unleavened bread.

Yes, just like the field of wheat, the seeds are difficult to see and the bad mixed in with the good, it is difficult to separate out. 

God is telling us, it is not your job to do that, I will do that, when I send the angels and they will separate the evil from the righteous.

Jesus wanted them, to see that it was a way to describe, how God is growing in the community and working in them to spreading the news of how God grows in each one of us.

The problem with us, we do not see God in all places and in all things. 

We only look for God when we need him, we do not realize that God is working in us every day in his kingdom that is bigger than we ever thought. 

In Romans, we see that Paul says, all things work together for good for those who love God.

People are God’s creation and we cannot be separated from his creations, we have been called and we are glorified in him. (Romans: 8:12-25)

The Christians have no further obligation to the flesh. They are to live according to the Spirit rather than the flesh. There is enormous privilege in Christian living in having the presence of power of the Holy Spirit in one’s life. 

What does God want us to do and how does He want us to handle these periods of waiting? 

(Romans 8:25) Paul encourages us by saying, “That we should look forward to something we do not have yet and to do so with patience and confidence.”

Paul means, not that all circumstances of this life are good for us, God’s love is reaffirmed; despite all present adversities, and that in all these things God’s purpose prevails.

Conclusion and Good News. 

The kingdom of God is as far as the ocean is wide and deep, the highest of the mountains and into space. We cannot even imagine the how big his kingdom is, because our minds do not reach that far.

Because we are in communion with Christ Jesus, God’s kingdom lives in each one of us and it is comforting to know that through us, God’s kingdom will continue to grow.

Remember, “That nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” And God’s purpose will prevail! (Romans 8: 38-39)

Jesus, help us to remember not to focus on things that are on the surface, but to focus on what is eternal and to not live in the artificial world, but to live for the spiritual world which is where we find our strength and our salvation in God’s kingdom! 

Amen.
The Rev. Lola Culbreath

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 9
Sunday July 9, 2023
Year A

First Reading: Genesis 24:34-38,42-49,58-67
Canticle: The Song of My Beloved (Song of Solomon 2:8-13)
Second Reading: Romans 7:15-25a
Gospel: Matthew 11:16-19,25-30

Collect:

O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving thee and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of they Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God for ever and ever. Amen

Rest For Your Soul

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

How many times have we been troubled by something and feel like we have the world on our shoulders? I have felt this way many times and I bet you have too. 

The first part of the gospel, Jesus said, “To what will I compare this generation? 

The Israelites were expecting a new king a Messiah and they were complaining that neither John the Baptist nor Jesus met their expectations. 

Jesus is showing how the current generation of Israelites is like children who are disappointed because their friends will not participate in their games.

Jesus is highlighting the reality of being judged by others. John the Baptist was judged to be too radical and Jesus himself considered too ordinary.

Our world is full of prenotions of who we think people should be like. Jesus desires us to be free of these prejudges and instead, be rooted and guided by His truth.

Heavy Burdens

We have all been guilty of trying to do everything ourself and not asking for help. It might be something as simply as trying to open a door with your arms full of things, you would rather struggle then ask for help.

Why a Yoke?

A yoke was made of wood and it was made to help the animals bear the heavy burdens. Did you know that it is possible, Jesus made yoke’s, He was a carpenter. 

Jesus is using the yoke as a picture, for them to imagine being together with someone by illustrating the use of a yoke. 

I thought of a bicycle built for two, you are working together to move the bike down the road, its less of a burden on just one person.  

Jesus promises us rest for our souls, by coming to him with our burdens, we can sit down those heavy burdens that we carry and He will give us rest. We take His yoke upon us and because of that, He will carry our burdens.

“Learn from me he says; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden in light.”

Why is it so hard for us to understand? Maybe you are someone that turns over your heavy burdens to Jesus and you can rest…. You know your now, in His loving care. 

But maybe it is something hard for you to do. You turn over your problems to Him, but you have not convinced yourself and you are still carrying the burden’s around with you.

We know that when we do turn over our problems to Jesus, who has stretched out his arms upon the cross, that He might embrace the whole world and take all our sins, all our burdens on himself.

If we can give up to God, to take Jesus’s yoke to lighten up our burdens, we also need to be open to God giving us the answers we are looking for. 

Stay alert and awake to the answers when God is helping lift those burdens. 

God often uses other people in your lives to help offer comfort and direction. It might take multiple answers, for you to be able to move on. 

God will help, just be open and ready. But first you must ask God for that help, pray, Jesus prayed to God many times. 

Sometimes we do not always ask, some people do not think they are worthy of help or underserving. 

Wrong! God knows what is going on and He is always there waiting for you to ask.

In the Gospel, Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. 

Do we thank God for all the prayers that has been answered? This loving giving God has show us through history just how much he works through broken things.

Story

The author of this story is unknown. 

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a yoke he carried across his shoulders. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a long time, this went on daily, with the water bearer delivering only one and a half pots of water to his master’s house. The cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection, and miserable that it was able to carry only half a load of water. One day it spoke to the water bearer by the stream. “I am ashamed and I want to apologize to you.”

“Why?” asked the water bearer. “What are you ashamed of?”

“I have been able to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house.”

The water bearer replied, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.” And as they went up the hill, the cracked pot noticed the sun warming the beautiful flowers on the side of the path. This cheered the pot some, but he still felt bad about being broken.

The water bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? That is because I have always known about your flaw, and I used it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you have watered them. For years now I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”

Let Jesus put His yoke on you, walk in love as He has taught us to do.

Remember if you feel you are flawed and your pot is cracked, while you are walking toward His altar of forgiveness, you might be watering and helping those along the way, we can spread His seeds of love as we find our own way, and you will find rest for your soul.

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath