a sermon from Fr. Nathan

Paul’s story reminds us that it is possible to oppose God sincerely, religiously, and even legally, while still being profoundly wrong. Fear, pride, and the desire for control can slowly push love out of our hearts until punishment feels righteous. Paul did not think of himself as evil; he was blind, and he needed an intervention. Christ met him with a light brighter than the noonday sun, exposing not only his actions but the deeper resistance of his heart. That same light still confronts us today, calling us away from fear and violence and toward repentance, forgiveness, and life in the light of Christ.

a sermon from Dcn Bryan

Epiphany is not a season that asks the Church to invent something new about Jesus, but one that calls us to recognize and attend to what God has already accomplished.

Again and again in today’s readings, the same story comes into focus—from the blood that marked Israel’s deliverance, to the servant who delights in God’s will, to a people sustained by grace, and finally to the Lamb of God who is revealed and followed.

Our life with God begins not in striving or self-improvement, but in recognizing and trusting what God has already done in Christ, and allowing that revealed grace to shape how we follow him and bear witness in the world.

a sermon from Fr. Nathan

When we come to Matthew 3 and the baptism of Jesus, we are entering a moment shaped by deep religious corruption, imperial domination, and a people longing not only for forgiveness but for deliverance.

John the Baptist calls Israel to repentance in this context, and Jesus—though he has no sin to repent of—chooses to descend into the Jordan to stand with the repentant and the oppressed.

In doing so, he sanctifies the waters, turning baptism from a mere sign into an effective means of God’s saving work, and reveals himself as the one who brings new creation where sin has disfigured the world.

At his baptism, God reveals Jesus’ affiliation with sinners, his allegiance to the Father rather than empire or institution, and his authority as the true Son of God whose power restores rather than crushes.

Joined to Christ in baptism, we share in this same pattern of descent and resurrection, receiving both the call and the promise to live his life for the sake of the world.

A sermon from Fr. Nathan

As a new year begins, we’re invited to reflect on the rhythms that shape our lives—both the joyful milestones and the difficult stretches that test our faith. Drawing on the imagery of pilgrimage from Psalm 84, this our sermon explores what it means to journey toward God through valleys marked by weariness, sorrow, or uncertainty, and to discover that even these places can become sources of life. Rather than avoiding hardship, we’re encouraged to prepare for it by cultivating practices that make us ready to receive grace when we need it most. Jesus himself models this kind of preparation through learning, prayer, community, and trust in the Father, long before he reaches the darkest moments of his path. The invitation is simple: to make space for grace, to walk from strength to strength, and to trust that God meets us faithfully in every season ahead.

a sermon from Fr. Nathan

“A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.” These words from *O Holy Night* capture the deep longing of humanity. We live in a world marked by division, violence, and cycles of self-destruction. Many of us feel the weight of brokenness—not only in society but within ourselves. Yet into this darkness, a light has come.

The Gospel of John reminds us: *In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.* All things exist through Christ, and every life depends on Him. This truth changes everything. When we recognize that God is not distant but present—Emmanuel, God with us—we begin to see who He truly is and who we are meant to be.

The incarnation reveals God’s love and mercy. Jesus came not to condemn but to forgive, to restore relationships fractured by sin. When we believe in His name, we experience healing and peace. This transforms how we live: mercy replaces judgment, forgiveness replaces resentment, and love becomes the foundation of community.

The message of Christmas is not sentimental—it is revolutionary. Christ breaks chains of oppression, calls us to love one another, and invites us into a family where there is no “us” and “them,” only “us.” His law is love, His gospel is peace. When we live in this light, we become witnesses of hope in a weary world.

Christ the babe is Lord of all. Christ the babe was born for you. This is the truth that changes everything.

a sermon from Fr. Nathan

We are always looking for signs, asking God to show us what to do, yet the truth is that God has never been reluctant to make himself known. King Ahaz refused God’s sign not because he lacked information, but because he did not intend to trust or obey, while Joseph risked everything by trusting the word God gave him. The sign promised in Isaiah was not simply a moment in history, but a promise unfolding toward its true fulfillment in Jesus Christ, God with us. In Christ, God does not merely give guidance from a distance—he comes near, bears our sin, conquers death, and stands firm in faith where we could not. This same living Christ is present now among his people, inviting trust, obedience, and hope grounded not in fear or compromise, but in God’s faithful love.

a sermon from Bishop Ken Ross at the ordination of Rachael Toliver to the Diaconate.

Ordination does not create a higher or holier calling, but names a particular role within the shared vocation of the whole Church as a kingdom of priests. God repeatedly calls his people out of fear and self-protection—the places where we hide—into trust, obedience, and participation in his work. The vocation of service is shaped after Jesus himself, who came not to be served but to serve, especially among the vulnerable and overlooked. This way of life does not arise from pressure, self-denial for its own sake, or religious performance, but from living securely in what Christ has already accomplished for us. When the people of God stop grasping and begin serving, they discover joy, freedom, and the power of God’s kingdom made visible.

a sermon from Fr. Koos

We often assume that seeing leads to believing, but Advent reminds us that it is not so simple. John the Baptist, faithful and fearless, ends up in prison asking a haunting question: Is Jesus really the one? Jesus does not answer with slogans or arguments. Instead, he points to what is happening—the blind see, the lame walk, the poor hear good news. Some witness these signs and rejoice; others see the same things and are scandalized. Advent teaches us patience when faith feels fragile. God is still at work, even when hope feels delayed, hidden, or hard to trust.

a sermon from Fr. Nathan

Advent announces that God brings peace where we least expect it. Isaiah’s promise of a shoot from Jesse’s stump shows that Christ enters a world fractured by violence, fear, and exhaustion—and begins restoring it from the inside out. His Spirit-filled rule brings a peace rooted in justice: the vulnerable are defended, the wickedness within us is purified, and predatory patterns are transformed into harmony. This peace is not merely future; it breaks in now as Christ forgives, heals, and reshapes us. As we become his resting place, we carry his reconciling presence into our neighborhoods, revealing the peace he is making in all creation.

a sermon from Fr. Nathan

Advent trains us to anticipate Christ’s coming—not only the tender beauty of Bethlehem, but the Lord who returns in judgment to renew all things. Scripture shows the nations welcoming God’s judgment, because his truth heals and sets things right. We, too, often fear judgment, either from wanting our own way or from shame over sin, yet Christ’s judgments bring mercy, not destruction. At the cross God turns an instrument of death into the gateway of life; he reshapes us the same way. Advent invites us to practice repentance now, trusting that Christ’s judgment is always for our good.