Contrasting society's quick-to-condemn social media culture with the teachings of Matthew 18, this sermon calls for a return to patient, one-on-one reconciliation rooted in grace. It reminds us that as incomplete humans, we must embrace the mystery of God and continually learn, rather than clinging to rigid dogmas and drama.

Preaching on human arrogance and the temptation to control outcomes, the rector reminds us that vengeance and judgment belong to God alone, not to us. Drawing on scripture and the legacy of Dolly Parton, the sermon calls Christians to abandon self-righteous control and instead live out lives of humility, compassion, and unconditional love.

This sermon wrestles with the discomfort of one of the Gospels' most troubling encounters, examining how Jesus's harsh interaction with a marginalized woman challenges our own hidden biases and blind spots. Ultimately, it reframes our attention from the unresolved tension of the text toward the powerful witness of faith from the margins, where we are repeatedly surprised by grace.

This sermon reflects on the unpredictable, hardworking life of a modern Chesapeake Bay waterman to explore the very real storms and uncertainties we face in our own lives. Drawing from the story of Jesus walking on the water, it invites us to move past fear, trust His steady presence in the rough waves, and boldly proclaim Him as the Son of God.

Drawing parallels between the struggles in Fiddler on the Roof and the biblical narrative of the feeding of the five thousand, this sermon explores how God consistently provides abundance and sustenance in times of scarcity and desolation. It challenges believers to respond to this divine grace by moving past human rigidity and actively embodying Christ's compassion and mercy in the world.

The Quiet Legacy of Faith explores how our spiritual spaces and communities are built on generations of humble, often unheralded acts of devotion. Drawing on the quiet witness of Saint Anne and Saint Joachim, the sermon calls us to look beyond physical memorials and embrace a lasting legacy defined by quiet fortitude, humble service, and selfless dedication to those who follow.

In a world overwhelmed by systemic brokenness, this sermon explores how tiny, incremental acts of faith possess a concrete power to alter reality. By weaving together Jesus’s forgotten parables with the legacy of Desmond Tutu, it offers a refreshing reminder to stop carrying the anxiety of fixing the entire field and simply trust God with the final harvest.

In "Both Seed and Soil," the speaker challenges a purely individualistic reading of the Parable of the Sower, urging the congregation of St. Anne's to view faith through the lens of community and narrative theology rather than rigid material metrics. By reframing the parable as a cyclical, immediate invitation to grace, the sermon calls listeners to recognize that they are simultaneously the seeds being cultivated by God and the rich soil responsible for helping others flourish.

July 5, 2026

In the sermon Do, Say, Follow: The Fullness of Discipleship, Fr Jon explores what it means to be a true disciple by breaking the concept down into three active pillars: doing what Christ did, speaking His truth, and matching His steps in the present day. Ultimately, the message challenges the congregation to embrace a hyper-local commissioning, living out this holistic faith directly within their immediate communities and neighborhoods.