All Souls Parish Sermons episodes:

• November 03, 2024All Souls/All Saints Day

  the Rev. Phil Brochard

  This sermon examines how eternal life, a promise held by believers now, can

  coexist with death. Using the story of Lazarus, Phil+ reflects on Jesus’s

  grief and anger toward death, showing God’s empathy with human sorrow.

  Drawing on Sandra Schneiders, the sermon urges believers to avoid despair,

  embracing life together in faith, love, and unity amidst division and loss.

  Jesus's command to unbind Lazarus symbolizes the need for communal support,

  suggesting that eternal life is lived through shared hope and mutual care.

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• October 27, 2024the Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost

  Nathan Brostrom

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• October 15, 2024the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost

  Emily Hansen Curran

  Emily Hansen Curran reflects on the story of the rich man, emphasizing that

  following Jesus is not about achieving or possessing but about being

  vulnerable and interconnected with others. Her sermon critiques the rich

  man's belief that he can achieve eternal life on his own through wealth or

  status, showing that salvation is a matter of emptying oneself and living

  in a "Kingdom economy" of humility and dependence. Jesus teaches that

  eternal life is gained through letting go of power, possessions, and

  privilege, and sharing with those in need.

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• October 06, 2024the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost/Feast of St. Francis

  The Rev. Emily Boring

  In this sermon, preached on St. Francis Day, the Rev. Emily Boring explores

  the story of Ananias and Sapphira from Acts, emphasizing the dangers of

  deceit and selfishness with worldly possessions. She contrasts this with

  the life of St. Francis, who embraced poverty to live in accordance with

  his values and devotion to God. She calls the congregation to reflect on

  their relationship with wealth and stewardship, urging them to align their

  resources with their faith and values, finding freedom in generosity. The

  sermon concludes with St. Francis’s famous Peace Prayer.

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• September 29, 2024the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

  The Rev. Phil Brochard

  This sermon reflects on Jesus’ teachings about power and humility in Mark

  9, where he holds a child while instructing his disciples on true greatness

  in God's kingdom. The disciples, shaped by a world that values coercive

  power, argue about who is the greatest, but Jesus teaches them that true

  power is found in service, especially toward the powerless. Jesus’ strong

  language warns against actions that harm the vulnerable, urging his

  followers to live by a different kind of power—one of compassion and

  healing. The sermon concludes by encouraging the congregation to resist

  worldly instincts for domination and instead embrace Jesus' radical call to

  serve and protect those at risk.

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• September 22, 2024the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

  The Rev. Emily Boring

  The sermon explores the questions, What happens when our plans and

  expectations are upended? Do we carry our own, narrow view of who Jesus is

  and what justice means? The Rev. Emily Boring explores her personal

  reaction to a New York Times article about the role of the evangelical

  church in spreading conservative political views. She reflects on her own

  privilege and the importance of empathy and humility in approaching

  political and religious differences. Drawing from Mark’s Gospel, she

  emphasizes how Jesus subverts human expectations of power and greatness,

  encouraging believers to challenge their assumptions about God’s plan.

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• September 17, 2024the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

  The Rev. Dr. Ruth Meyers

  In her sermon, the Rev. Dr. Ruth Meyers discusses discomfort around the

  term "Christian" due to its association with Christian nationalism, a

  movement that seeks to impose Christian values on the United States and is

  tied to white supremacy, anti-immigrant views, and political violence. The

  Episcopal Church has opposed this ideology, promoting instead the Gospel’s

  values of love, justice, and peace. She reflects on Jesus’s call to "take

  up your cross," interpreting it as a call to embrace the challenges of

  fighting for justice, not passively accepting suffering. The sermon

  emphasizes the need to reclaim Christian identity as followers of Jesus’

  way of love and service, rather than political dominion.

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• September 08, 2024the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

  Michael Drell

  Michael's sermon reflects on familiar yet uncomfortable themes from the

  Bible, focusing on Jesus' interaction with the Syrophoenician woman in

  Mark’s Gospel. Drawing from various interpretations, including feminist

  critiques, he explores how this story reveals Jesus as a human capable of

  growth and change. The woman’s persistence and cleverness challenge Jesus,

  leading to the expansion of his mission to include all people, even those

  outside his community. The sermon encourages reflection on personal

  transformation and the power of words to heal and bring change.

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• September 01, 2024the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

  the Rev. Phil Brochard

  The Rev. Phil Brochard recalls a conversation from 30 years ago about

  creating a "no rules" summer camp, where teenagers could learn to make

  ethical decisions without strict enforcement. He reflects on a biblical

  story where Jesus is confronted by Pharisees for his disciples' failure to

  follow hand-washing traditions, illustrating how righteousness should not

  be about outward observance of rules but about inner transformation and a

  genuine relationship with God. The sermon urges the audience to return to

  the root of their faith, focusing on what truly matters—living with a heart

  changed by compassion and justice.

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• August 25, 2024the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

  the Rev. Emily Boring

  Emily's sermon reflects on Jesus' declaration, "I am the bread of life,"

  exploring its comforting and profound significance. It delves into the

  multifaceted symbolism of bread as nourishment, memory, and spiritual

  sustenance. The sermon also examines the varied responses to Jesus'

  message, focusing on Simon Peter's momentous declaration of faith. It

  concludes by emphasizing that Jesus' invitation to eternal life is not a

  demand but a gracious offering of fullness and connection with God.

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