It is easy during the holiday season to get caught up in nostalgia, in the warm memories of family and friends far and near … so in this sermon, Father John invites us to consider some of the theological implications of God becoming a human being. Listen and consider what you actually believe about Christmas – and about God who comes into our lives in order to come close.

Have you ever considered the dilemma that Joseph faced when he found out that Mary, his betrothed, was pregnant? In this sermon, Justin Glessner (Professor of Religious Studies at DePauw University and parishioner at Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church) explores in depth what options Joseph faced in that dark hour – and how he decided to follow the instruction of God and “stay put” in all the mess and complications which the situation created for him and Mary. Listen, and learn some important lessons for how we react when people like Mary come into our lives and require us to make […]

In this sermon, Andy Cullison (Director of the Prindle Institute of Ethics and Vestry member at Saint Andrew’s) offers a perspective on the importance of doubt in our spiritual lives. We often hear that doubt is the opposite of faith, and that it is perhaps a sign of a weak faith. Andy takes a different perspective that makes room for doubt in our lives as followers of Jesus.

In Matthew 6, Jesus is clearly warning his disciples to resist the temptation to use their spirituality to impress others. He then gives instruction about prayer, telling them to find an “inner room,” to go into their “closet,” or to pray in their “most private space.” Father John takes this idea and approaches it from a metaphorical perspective, encouraging us to let God into the most private rooms of our soul. Is there something we feel we cannot talk to God about in our lives? That is likely the precise issue we need to speak with God about. This sermon […]

Often we have been taught to approach prayer as a matter of letting God know what we need, and sharing with God the thoughts and feelings of our hearts – and that is certainly one aspect of our life of prayer. This sermon expands that understanding, by way of exploring the story of Ezekiel’s vision of the “Valley of Dry Bones,” to include listening to God. Father John encourages us to not only speak, but to also listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives as a form of prayer.

Sometimes we run out of words when we pray – for whatever reason. At these times, we can turn to the gift of music to express our hearts to God. In this sermon, Father John talks about the importance of singing to God, or playing an instrument, as a form of prayer. Music is a gift that has the amazing ability to reach into us and free us from “rational gridlock” – as the Holy Spirit moves in our lives to draw us out and up to our Father in Heaven.

This week, as we continue our sermon series on different ways of praying, Father John explores the use of icons. For centuries millions of Christians have worshiped using such visual aids, and this sermon explores the theology behind their use – along with some suggestions for practical ways of interacting with icons that may deepen our prayer life.

Praying with our entire being requires that we use our bodies to express our devotion to God in prayer. It’s an ancient tradition, as Father John explores in this third sermon in our series on various types of prayer. As well as developing a theology for the use of our body in prayer, this sermon offers some exercises that may help us delve deeper into a powerful way of expressing our feelings to God.

The ancient practice of Lectio Divina is a means of using the Scripture as a guide to praying. In this second sermon in our series on prayer, Father John explores how we might approach communicating with God using the Bible as a springboard. Outlined here is a five step process for centering ourselves, Scripture intake, listening to the Holy Spirit, and discerning where God might be wanting to speak a very personal message into your life.

Have you ever found it difficult to connect with God through prayer? Perhaps this is not indicating that something is “wrong” with you – but that you may have not found the right way of praying. Today, Father John begins a new sermon series exploring several different ways of praying to God. He invites all of us to explore prayer week by week using guided experiments. Join us in engaging what is central to our faith: connecting to the living God in real and meaningful ways.