A sermon for Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024, offered at the Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Heflin, Alabama.

Principal text: Mark 16:1-8

“Now what we want at this point is to hear how the women left that tomb and did as they were instructed. We want to hear how they proclaimed the news that Jesus had risen. We want to hear how they encounter the risen Jesus in the garden or on the road.

But that is not what the gospel of Mark gives us. Instead we hear that the women did leave the empty tomb—amazed and afraid. They said nothing…

As the listener, we are left wondering if the gospel writer lost his train of thought. We are left wondering what was maybe left out.

What could this ellipsis mean?”

It has been a few years since I’ve had the chance to preach on Good Friday. I was grateful to join St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Birmingham for their observance of Good Friday.

Principal Text: John 18:1-19:42

“The coming of Jesus’ hour means that we are coming to the end of the story. We are coming to the point, the aim, the goal of Jesus’ mission. It also means that we are going to witness the fullest extent of love.”

A sermon for the 13th Sunday after Pentecost, August 27, 2023, offered at the Church of the Messiah in Heflin, Alabama.

Principal text: Exodus 1:8-2:10

"In our history books, women are often relegated to the position of supporting characters, when they are remembered at all. But on this day when we recall the powerful witness to God of the defiance of Shiphrah and Puah, I hope we can also not forget the women of our more recent history, like the Philadelphia Eleven, and hear an invitation to look for the powerful women at work in our current struggle."

A sermon for the 13th Sunday after Pentecost, August 27, 2023, offered at the Church of the Messiah in Heflin, Alabama.

Principal text: Exodus 1:8-2:10

"In our history books, women are often relegated to the position of supporting characters, when they are remembered at all. But on this day when we recall the powerful witness to God of the defiance of Shiphrah and Puah, I hope we can also not forget the women of our more recent history, like the Philadelphia Eleven, and hear an invitation to look for the powerful women at work in our current struggle."

A sermon offered for the 12th Sunday after Pentecost, August 20, 2023, at the Church of the Messiah in Heflin, Alabama.

Principal text: Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28.

"So whatever it means to be Jesus, son of David, incarnate God, it means that Jesus walks on water and calms the storm on one day, and the next day that same Jesus is challenged by a Canaanite woman and has his mind changed. It is incarnationally complicated."

A sermon offered for the 12th Sunday after Pentecost, August 20, 2023, at the Church of the Messiah in Heflin, Alabama.

Principal text: Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28.

"So whatever it means to be Jesus, son of David, incarnate God, it means that Jesus walks on water and calms the storm on one day, and the next day that same Jesus is challenged by a Canaanite woman and has his mind changed. It is incarnationally complicated."

A sermon for the Feast of the Transfiguration, August 6, 2023, offered at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Alabaster, Alabama. Principal text: Luke 9:28-36.

“So what does Barbenheimer have to do with the Feast of the Transfiguration? A fair question to ask. I would say surprisingly a lot.”

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A sermon for the Feast of the Transfiguration, August 6, 2023, offered at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Alabaster, Alabama. Principal text: Luke 9:28-36.

“So what does Barbenheimer have to do with the Feast of the Transfiguration? A fair question to ask. I would say surprisingly a lot.”

A sermon for the Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday, April 2, 2023, offered at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Alabaster, Alabama.

"The cross is not just about forgiveness of our personal sins, though that is part of it. The cross is not about sorting out who is sufficiently righteous and faithful to be a Christian because that is none of us. The cross is a stumbling block only if we make it anything less than the awesome victory of God and the salvation of the world."

I have been MIA for a few weeks. If you want to hear my sermons from earlier in Lent, you can find them on this YouTube Playlist.

A sermon for the Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday, April 2, 2023, offered at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Alabaster, Alabama.

"The cross is not just about forgiveness of our personal sins, though that is part of it. The cross is not about sorting out who is sufficiently righteous and faithful to be a Christian because that is none of us. The cross is a stumbling block only if we make it anything less than the awesome victory of God and the salvation of the world."

I have been MIA for a few weeks. If you want to hear my sermons from earlier in Lent, you can find them on this YouTube Playlist.