It’s the 1st Sunday of the month, therefore Fr. Charles begins with a message to our children… It is also the first Sunday in October when we traditionally begin our Stewardship campaign. Being a Christian steward as Fr. Charles points out to the children and to us, means far more than what we traditionally think of in the church – money. Stewardship simply means by definition, ‘employed to manage another’s property’. So, what is the connection of stewardship to this Sunday’s Gospel? In our Gospel reading, Jesus commands the disciples to do something which is beyond their capabilities. And the disciples know they can’t do it on their own. Knowing this, Jesus supplies them with everything to do that which he asks. So, what about us? Listen to Fr. Charles as he explains what stewardship really means to us as Christians, and how we, like the disciples, are capable of doing what Jesus’ asks.

We are all fighting for something - an idea, an ideology, an ideal - a way of living that we want to see prevail on this earth, and especially in our lives. As Christians, we are fighting, too. The Apostle Paul tells his protege, Timothy, to “fight the good fight.” So, how? How are we, as Christians, to fight? The answer might surprise you. Listen in as Fr. Chris talks about how Christians are to fight the good fight to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our Sunday’s Gospel was from Luke 16:1-13. At first reading, it seems simple enough - rich man discovers his manager is being dishonest and fires him. But as Fr. Charles breaks down the parable, it is not so simple. This parable is not, as Fr. Charles points out, a parable that Jesus usually tells. Instead, Jesus uses this parable of the dishonest manager to illustrate how “sons of the world” pursue money and possessions. But Jesus contrasts that by describing how “sons of light” should use, money in order to pursue God.

It is the first Sunday of the month, therefore Fr. Charles begins with a message to our children.

In our Gospel reading, Luke 14: 25-33, Jesus says that anyone who wishes to follow him must hate his mother, father, brothers and sisters, their spouse, and children and even their own lives. But how can Jesus command us to love our enemies and then to hate our families? Obviously, Jesus doesn’t intend for us to literally hate our families, but he does tell us that we must be willing to forsake everything if we are to follow him. Listen to Fr. Charles as he discusses the importance of preparing for the road that lies ahead of us.

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This Sunday, Fr. Bob Gresser gave our Sunday’s sermon based on Ecclesiasticus 10:7-18 and Proverbs 9. Listen to Fr. Bob as he answers the question: ‘How do we act with wisdom and avoid being foolish?’ Sometimes, it is hard to know the difference.

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A judgment is coming for Israel and many will not escape it. But the greater tragedy is that those who are not delivered from the coming judgment, were provided every opportunity to escape. And while this is a story about Israel, the same lesson can be applied to our world today. Every opportunity to escape the coming judgment, is being provided to you by Christ. Like Israel, will we continue in our stubborn barrenness, or will we flower and bloom, just as God has always intended?

Jesus says he gives us his peace, but he also says he came to cause division. How can this be? Listen in as Fr. Chris takes up an important topic - human sexuality - and connects it to these words of Jesus.

It’s probably fair to say that most people have an ongoing conversation in their heads about fear and faith. Yet, as we all want things to work out well, we also have to distinguish between faith and wishful thinking. Listen in as Fr. Chris builds on Jesus’ words, “Have no fear,” to talk about what a life of real faith truly looks like in our lives.

In a world that is fraught with both coveting and greed, Jesus addresses both sides of this cancerous coin in Luke, Chapter 12, verses 13-21, reminding us that one day we will die and we can’t take it with us when we go. But, there are some things that we can and will take with us when we go. Listen in as Fr. Chris talks about what they are and why they’re important.

Fr. Charles begins by recapping key concepts in July 17th's sermon, based on Luke 10:25-42, to set the stage for a radical shift in how those in Jesus’ time viewed the Kingdom of God. Remember we asked the question: “Who’s in?”. So, what is the connection of God’s Kingdom to this week’s Gospel reading? Listen to Fr. Charles as he reminds us of all the Good News associated with those two words, “Our Father”.

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