Category: Sermons

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Sermon
Second Sunday of Advent
Year B
December 6, 2020

First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm 85: 1-2,8-13
Second Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-15a
Gospel: Mark 1:1-8

Collect:

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

We Can Not Lose Hope

God’s people are comforted……
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. (Isaiah 40:1-11)

In this and every Advent season, we focus on the promise that God made to his people and how that promise was fulfilled in Jesus.

Change is among us in this time of Advent expectation. Many of us may have already experienced the kinds of change that faith can bring, but that doesn’t mean the change is over. 

Yes, a year older this Advent season, one more year of knowledge, another year immersed in the life of faith. A year of uncertainty, loss, isolation, suffering for so many. 

Advent is a reminder that change is upon us, and while those changes may cause some temporary tears, they also will have moments of joy! 

Advent is also that unchangeable season when the same concepts, the same words rise over and over again, year after year, to challenge our hearts and minds. I can honestly say, mine has been challenged this year. I do however find comfort in God!

With the year we have had in 2020, it has been a challenge for all of us, learning new ways of worship. 

Isaiah (40:1-11)
The Old Testament in Isaiah, he tells the people of Israel that they will be Comforted, 

A voice cries out: In the wilderness and prepares the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 

The Lord is going to come and free them again, from the suffering and their anguish, the Lord will once more rule over them, as a compassionate shepherd.    

Gospel: Mark 1:1-8
John the Baptist

The Second Sunday in Advent and our attention is turned to John the Baptist in our Gospel reading today. 

John the Baptist is the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth who preached a message of repentance and salvation, John saw himself as a forerunner of God’s promise of the savior of the world, who will be coming. 

John is the last of the old covenant prophets. Since he was in his mother’s womb, he was chosen by God and he has been expecting Jesus, so why shouldn’t he be the one in Advent to help us prepare the way? 

Mark, gets right to the point, He takes a page from Isaiah and says…

The Beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God….As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:  “ Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” 

We all know John was different, a man that was quirky, that dressed different and he preached up a storm, you better repent and clean your life up, that was your only hope to be saved. Get baptized now, before it’s too late! It worked, he scared people, some thought he was Elijah coming back from the grave and some thought maybe he was the Messiah that had been promised to them, but John wouldn’t have it.

“I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.

I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Good News we have Hope:

Advent and Christmas calls us to praise God as we actively await the coming of Christ, prepare our hearts and lives for his arrival, and claim and celebrate the new hope we have in Jesus Christ.

God didn’t come into this world with a fortune of money and power and influence, God chose to become human and live among us and the Savior of the world was born a vulnerable child. 

We are now in the second Sunday of Advent we hear from the prophet Isaiah, who God had spoken to and Isaiah speaks tenderly to Jerusalem… “Comfort, O Comfort my people, “says you God. 

Psalm :85: 8,10

I will listen to what the Lord God is saying, *for he is speaking peace to his faithful people and to those who turn their hearts to him.

Mercy and truth have met; *righteousness and peace have kissed each other

Conclusion:

This is a time, where we can change our own behavior, as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ our savior, we face our own failures, fears and sins. It is a time that we need to help those who are suffering and we can’t be much help to them, if we have not faced our own sins and failures.

Comfort, O comfort my people! God hears your prayers, he hears and knows your pain, he will lead you through the wilderness and prepare you for the day the Lord comes again.

God knows how much people have suffered and how many have suffered a loss of a loved one, but he has not left their side, he suffers with us.

I had to remind myself during this past year and just recently, just how much I need God, how much I need to listen to him and remember that he is in charge of my life.

Each year we realize that this ever-changing world. So, we change and renew new ways to live a life that maybe we are not accustom too and it’s difficult to change. But we have to change and grow and that is how we learn to draw closer to God, without difficulty and suffering, we can’t learn from our past.

 St. Peter scripture says: 

“What sort of persons ought you to be…. in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for the hastening the coming of the day of God.”

Open your hearts to change and know that God hears your cries, but also knows that just like he tenderly comforted his people of Jerusalem, he will comfort us. 

The greatest gift of all was Jesus Christ, God himself, come to earth because he loved us. Nothing else compares. But he also brought other gifts. He brought hope and peace. 

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath

Last Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 29
Year A
“Christ the King Sunday”

First Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-16,20-24
Psalm 100
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

Today is the
Feast of “Christ the King”

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, now and forever. Amen (BCP 236)

Wisdom and Glory
Ephesians 1:15-23

I pray that God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 

This lesson is about how Jesus Christ has been given supreme wisdom, power, dominion, and glory. The Apostle Paul, speaks to the Ephesians and he has heard about their faith and love toward all saints and he lets them know, that very reason is why he remembers them in his prayers.

Judgement Time
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

Jesus said, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.”

“When I was hungry, you fed me. When I was thirsty, you gave me drink. When I was naked, you clothed me. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me in. When I was sick and imprisoned, you cared for me.”

The people on the right (sheep) were surprised: Lord, when? They asked. “When did we feed you, or give you drink, or clothe you, or welcome you, or care for you?” And Jesus said “Whenever you did it to one of the weak ones, you did it for me.

He turns to the people on the left (goats) and they faced the reality…that as people, they failed to help anyone. They will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

We have been taught, that Jesus will come again in glory. Matthew tells us, Jesus will sit on the throne of glory. 

I see him next to God and every nation gathered around. To us “all people” will be gathered around.  He tells us, we will be separated like separating sheep in a herd, that have goats mixed in and the sheep and goats will be separated. The sheep on the right and goats on the left.   

Normally we read a lot of parables about the Kingdom of God. How to follow Christ’s teachings and to live a Christ like life.

Our baptismal covenant found on (pp. 304-305) says: Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching…persevere in resisting evil…proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ…seek and serve Christ in all persons…strive for justice and peace among all people? I know!! It’s a lot to ask, God expects us to fail, but then we continue to do as we have been taught, and help those less fortunate then we are. 

This isn’t a parable, it’s the fact and most of us do not like to be judged, but we have to face the fact that we at some point in our life now or later we will have to face the throne of God.

When my brother and I were about 5 years old to 8, we went into our neighbor’s strawberry patch and picked a big coffee can full of strawberries. We didn’t expect to get caught, except we had a path leading from our yard into his yard and it was pretty obvious to my dad. So, first, we had to stand in judgment before my father, that was scary enough, but then he made us go and apologize to our neighbor and we had to stand before him in judgment. 

To our surprise both my father and the neighbor forgave us. The punishment was standing before them.

We know by the scriptures that we have been forgiven by the grace of God, through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

So, what is it? Are we forgiven? Have we been forgiven by the Grace of God? Or is God going to hold our sins against us? I believe as most of you do, that all our lives we have heard about God’s grace and it is true, he does forgive our sins and he forgives us if we have disobeyed him. 

But we also need to realize that what he expects from us is that…we will continue in the apostles’ teaching.

We will never directly provide Jesus with a good meal, a bed to sleep in or a warm coat, but if we do this for anyone in need of these things we have done it for Jesus.

Faith and Love

We will be in the advent season next Sunday. Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year; the season begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on the day before Christmas. 

It may be a time for a new beginning for us as Christians; it lets us focus on the promise that God made to his people and how that promise was fulfilled in Jesus. Change is among us in this time of Advent expectation.

Many of us may have already experienced the kinds of change that faith can bring, but that doesn’t mean the change is over, we will continue to grow.  Advent is also that unchangeable season when the same concepts, the same words rise over and over again, year after year, to challenge our hearts and minds.

As we wait in expectation and preparation for the coming of the Lord, let’s remember what the apostle Paul said to the Ephesians…. 1:15-23

I pray that God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath

Let us Pray

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Todays words remind us that when we are in tumult or distress that our savior has assured us we are not alone and will always be blessed with His presence. As the world around us can be diluted with stress, hysteria, chaos our savior is the voice that calmed the sea and heals all afflictions yesterday, today and tomorrow. Todays message also reminds us that we need to trust each other as our lives move in this topsy turvy world. Our courage is bolstered by the Passion Christ lived, died and rose for and displays the vision provided to insure us that this world is not the property of evil or fear but it is the gift we are given to shape, share and promote love and compassion in all peoples.

With all we are being exposed to today to be reminded of our saviors presence is indeed the one and only non wavering guarantee to ease our dismay. We share this with all our family, friends, all seekers of peace. I know that the challenges can sometimes seem insurmountable but be sure our shepherd stands at the gate and protects all the lambs in His flock. I was provided a wonderful prayer in the past week and want to share it with all.

My Jesus I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritualy into my heart. I embrace You as if You are already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen

God bless and keep you all during this most trying but wonderful holiday season.

Rev John

Proper 27-Nov 8th

Hope and fear, laughter and tears have been part of our journey.
Joy and pain, longing and doubt meet on the pathway.
Often, we do not believe, O God,
and sometimes we doubt that your promises can be true.
Grant us and our world the freedom to laugh, the courage to cry,
the heart to be open and the faith to believe. (J. Philip Newell)

Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25

In the final chapter of Joshua, he has guided the twelve tribes into the land of Canaan, as promised by God, and the renewal of the covenant is the culmination in the life of the people. 

The people rehearse the story of God’s saving acts toward them; freedom from slavery in Egypt, protection on the journey, and the land promised by God. Our memory connects the past to the present state of things, and by recalling old stories it helps us make sense of the present condition. This is a way “Joshua” encourages Israel to choose life through their worship of the Lord. 

The people promise to serve the Lord. Joshua then calls them to be witness that they have made their choice and instructs them to prove it by getting rid of all symbols and tokens of other gods that they may possess. The choice to worship the Lord requires the movement of the heart; by choosing to serve the Lord with mind and heart.

Psalm 78:1-7

The Psalmist in this psalm is a teaching voice from among the people; “Hear my teaching, O my people.” The storyteller intends to share the story and instructions of God so that it may pass from generation to generation. It is how we show a commitment to the covenant given by God. Later generations rely on the commandments to have order in both personal and communal life. We as of 2020 are still honoring the covenant of God. The stories of God and of ourselves in our community in the tradition of God’s teaching the sacred word passed from generation to generation.

1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18

Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, power of memory is at work again however, the memories of loved ones by the community now creates deep worrisome questions for the community. Paul is attempting to respond to a concern held by the community relating to the fate of those that died before Christ’s return.

Paul’s uses memory to call the community into hopefulness through Christ. Through the memory of Christ’s resurrection, Paul gives words of hope to the people in a time of grief. Unlike others who have no hope in death, the community is reminded that they are covered in the life, death and resurrection of Christ. The death of loved ones prior to Christ return, the dead will be the first to bask in the warmth of Christ’s love in the resurrection.

Matthew 25:1-13

The week following All Saints’ Sunday is a time to contemplate the whole company of heaven and we should expect a parable attentive to the second coming of Christ. Our attention to the coming season of Advent in two weeks will be a time to meditate on the second coming of Christ. In the reading from 1 Thessalonians shares Jesus’ parable about the ten bridesmaids and waiting anxiously and following a sleep. “Keep awake therefore, you know neither the day nor hour” Some of the bridesmaids are prepared. They have come with extra oil for their lamps. The foolish do not. With the approach of Advent, the message seems to reverberate; “Prepare the way of the Lord.” (Isaiah 40:3)

The split in the group of bridesmaids is a focus on the positive and negative behavior of members of the community. Those who are prepared and those that expect God to satisfy every need; this if the group that holds to the idea that it is God’s duty to care for their needs. This is not just about being prepared; But is a “call to live each day though it were the last, not in mortal fear of the worst, but in hope for the best; “the new heaven and the new earth.

All Saints Sunday
Year A
November 1, 2020

First Lesson: Revelations 7:9-17
Psalm 34:1-10-22
Second Lesson: 1 John 3:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12

The Collect

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Blessed—-Happy 

We come together today to remember All the Faithfully Departed those known and unknown to us, and All of them are in the company of Heaven, they are standing around the throne.

 In our reading of Revelations, they were singing “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

The Gospel:
Matthew 5:1-12

Our Gospel lesson on the Beatitudes and just like Moses, Jesus ascends a mountain to begin his teaching, and His disciples gather around him. 

Blessed means happy or satisfied. Jesus describes each beatitude and what they would mean to them, the promise of God’s comfort in the coming age. 

He offers and instructs them on God’s promise, and lets his followers know the ways that God wants them and US to live, and a world that God wants us to work toward.

Jesus centers on those who suffer, those who remain faithful, when we facing hardship, and like the pandemic, we have been facing for 9 months. Reminding us about compassion and care for others.   

I have been thinking about Happiness lately! 

Am I happy with the current situation? I feel like no matter how hard everyone tries; nothing is getting better. 

My niece and her family live in Washington state. They have a photography business and like so many, they had their struggle’s. After months of struggling and barly hanging on, eventually, were able to start booking sessions. They also started a boutique and recently got their business license.  

I responded to great! Good for you! I said, you know there are always things in life that we can’t change, but we can still find beauty and blessings in everyday things.  

Yes, I too had what’s called… COVID-19 fatigue!!! I am sure you all do too.

We are going to get through this together, this is what God has been preparing us for and he wants us to have faith, and know that, when we feel like the world has been turned upside down…we remain right side up, we can remain optimistic. 

Look for the Beauty and Blessings in everyday things!

In less than one month, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving, a time when we gather with our families and friends. 

Yet one more challenge we face during this time. What is the holiday going to look like in 2020.

The answer depends on you, how blessed or happy are you? Are you only going to feel blessed that day?

Ask yourself now, when we feel so uncertain, are you still blessed (Happy) everyday! 

No matter how you spend your day, Thanksgiving is still a special day to stop and reflect on everything we are grateful for.

I will be thankful, blessed and happy for my family, friends and how all of them make my life richer throughout the year.

Blessed and Happiness are not identical, but they can be one in the same.

As we remember today and celebrate the Feast of All Saints, we are called to give thanks to God for the blessings that the saints before us have given to the church, as well as many of blessings God has given to us.    

Let us not lose sight of the fact that today, God is calling us to bear witness to the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is a place that all of us can come to know. The Kingdom of God shines through when we pray for those who hate us and want to destroy us.

When we pray and help those in need and those less fortunate then we are.

The Good News is God’s Kingdom, it is built for all of us and all of the Saints are around the throne are singing.

 “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost:
October 11, 2020

First Reading: Exodus 32:1-14
Psalm 106:1-6,19-23
Second Reading: Philippians 4:1-9
Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14

Collect:

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, now and forever. Amen

Salvation and Joy
Gospel
Matthew 22:1-14    

Jesus has been in Jerusalem; he had entered into the temple and had driven out those who were buying and selling in the temple and reminded them…. this was a place for prayer. 

The crowds were yelling Jesus from Nazareth also Hosanna to the Son of David (Matt 21: 9-10) He was teaching and healing in the temple and had upset the Chief Priest and Scribes…what authority do you have? They asked.

He had left for one night and went out into Bethany and the next day went back to the Temple. He had more questions from the Chief Priests and the Pharisees…they heard all about the healing that was going on and they had listened to his Parables. When they realized he was talking about them, they wanted to arrest him but were afraid of the crowds. (Matt 21:45-46)

Jesus had more parables, saying “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son”. (Matt 22: 1-14)

Matthew is a gospel writer that believes that Jesus is God himself, he is the God of Israel. Matthew’s argument is in effect, if Jesus is “God with us” then his presence sanctifies the labors of those who work to serve him, even on the sabbath. Indeed, if Jesus is “God with us,” then his personal presence now takes the place of the Temple where the presence of God was formerly thought to dwell. (pg. 45 Reading Backwards)

Salvation:

Jesus is saying that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a wedding banquet and God is inviting us to come. The wedding banquet was ready…he found out who his true friends were, he discovered that his true friends, were not friends at all.

The King had sent slaves out to invite all his friends…they didn’t come, they all had excuses, he sent more slaves out and told them to invite everyone they see.

Refusal to come to the wedding banquet is refusing God, your refusing to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, even though we all have been invited.  

We are all welcome to come to the banquet, the rich, the poor everyone is welcome good and bad. God says you are all welcome at my table.

This is about our salvation, we have been saved by the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. We have been given salvation. In our baptism, we have been given the inward spiritual grace in union with Christ in his death and resurrection, birth into God’s family and the Church, forgiveness of sins, and new life in the Holy Spirt.

The King represents God, who asks each and every one of us to come into his kingdom, it does not matter what we did in our life or who we are and he is telling us that the kingdom of heaven is for everyone. 

So, you wonder why did the king throw out the one guest that didn’t have a robe on, when he says we are all invited?  It’s because he had not given his life to Jesus.

We are told in scriptures that after we except Christ we are given the robe of salvation and we have a choice to except Christ and to go to the heavenly banquet

Philippians 4:1-9 

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Oh, my friends. if the world could remember these verses how much easier our lives would be.

We have Paul speaking to the Philippians from prison, there is a disagreement between two women if it’s not addressed it could be a disaster.

Separate yourselves from worldly concerns and engage yourselves in God’s work and God will supply you with your every need. We live in such a polarized world, political, social and economics. Everyone needs to turn back to God and “Give thanks in all circumstances”.

“Let your gentleness be known to everyone.”

Conclusion:

The message is about both God’s grace and the gratitude of those that God invites to Him. Why did the original guests neglect their invitation? The original guests represented the Jews.

Jesus came to His own people and His own people would not receive Him. Maybe they followed their will and not God’s will. Let’s ask ourselves, where we are in doing God’s will versus our own will?

God ask us to reach out to the last, the least and the lost!

Matthew explains why God turned from the Jews and gave the promise of salvation to the Gentiles.

The early church got the message, the same can happen to us. The kingdom of God is within a reach, the table is ready, the banquet hall must be filled.  God is giving us a choice to come to the wedding and join in the heavenly banquet.  

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

My Friends, scriptures tell us to give thanks in all circumstances!

And

Rejoice in the Lord always! No matter what, be Joyful, be Happy and give Thanks!

Amen
The Rev. Lola Culbreath

Proper 21

17 Pentecost

The Israelites have been freed from slavery in Egypt, they quarrel with Moses and demand the comforts they had been used to, without any consideration to the fact they are now free. They still expect that Moses and the Lord to take care of them. Their persistence in their complaints causes Moses to go to the Lord and ask for help with their wants. How many times do we ignore our relationship with God and feel that it is someone else’s responsibility to take care of us? God wants us to take care of ourselves, ask for directions and comfort but not to just complain and not take action to rectify the situation. The Lord provided for their safety and sustenance despite their doubt and unfaithfulness. There are times in our lives that we need extra help and God is always there for us. 

The Psalm calls attention to the splitting open of rocks for water, splitting open the sea, being led by a cloud. God’s people were to tell the stories to their children so that they would never forget the compassion and power of the Lord on behalf of Israel.

Paul is encouraging the believers be of one mind and spirit. In todays world it becomes easy to be pulled in different directions, due to the Political and Ideological difference that we hear and read about daily. We are reminded by Paul’s message to the Philippians encouraging the people to be of one mind and spirit by having the same love to all and to set loving examples. Unity can occur if we give up our selfish ambition as Christ has done with humility treat the needs of others as more important than our own. 

Paul goes on to state that we are to “work out your own salvation”, This is not to contradict justification by grace. Rather we are to take responsibility for our salvation, but to remember that the Lord is also at work in our lives 

When Jesus was questioned by what authority, was he is doing his teaching, Jesus opponents were hoping to discredit and trap him into declaring that his authority came from God, which makes him vulnerable to a charge of blasphemy. Jesus replied with another question. “Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Jesus question to the chief priests and elders put them in a quandary, forcing them to admit, “We do not know” Jesus responds to them was “neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things”

Jesus goes on to tell a series of parables. The man had two sons he asked the first son to go and work in the vineyard, but the first son refused. He then asked the second son who responded “I go, sir” but in fact he did nothing. Jesus then ask’s “which of the two did the will of the father. The first son changes his mid and goes to work in the vineyard, we might look at this as repentance, while the second son is shown to be a liar and a hypocrite.

The message here is that what matters is what we, do in response to God’s call. The religious respectability affirming the right thing, but not acting upon it, stands in the way of authentic response to God.