Category Archives: Sermons

A postcard for the 20th Sunday after Pentecost, 10/23/22. Pictured: Christ Church Cathedral, Nashville, TN, October 23, 2022. It was a gift to worship at Christ Church Cathedral in Nashville, Tennessee. Forty-eight weeks of the year, I am usually the one leading worship somewhere on Sunday morning. This past weekend I traveled to Nashville forContinue reading “A vacation in the pews”

A postcard for the 19th Sunday after Pentecost, 10/16/22. Pictured: The Rev. Dr. Sam Wells speaks at St. Stephen’s Birmingham on 10/15/22. Someone asked me what I did this weekend, and I replied, “Jesus stuff.” In addition to leading worship at the Church of the Messiah on Sunday, I got to do a lot ofContinue reading “Making meaning”

A postcard for the 18th Sunday after Pentecost, 10/09/22. Pictured: Misha was our smallest visitor at our Pet Blessing on 10/09/22. I know Easter or Christmas should be my favorite day at church, but I must confess the Pet Blessing tops my list. St. Francis of Assisi lived a life marked by joy and gratitude,Continue reading “My favorite day at church”

A postcard for the 17th Sunday after Pentecost 10/02/22. Pictured: The Mulberry Tree in Autumn, by Vincent Van Gogh at the Norton Simon Museum. I don’t know much about mulberry trees, but when I read this week’s gospel, I had a particular mulberry tree in mind. Several years ago, while visiting the Norton Simon MuseumContinue reading “The Mulberry Tree”

A postcard for the 15th Sunday after Pentecost 09/18/22. Pictured: Pepper, the dental therapy dog. This week I had to go to the dentist. I get a lot of anxiety about the dentist, which results in prolonging a visit until absolutely necessary. Well, this past week it was necessary. I decided to try a newContinue reading “Making the best of it”