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.

This sermon uses the lighthearted, fresh perspectives of international travelers experiencing American staples like Waffle House to illustrate how we can easily become blinded by our own familiar routines and comforts. By connecting this cultural openness to Jesus’ challenging teachings in the Gospel of Matthew, the preacher calls on the congregation to reorder their relationships and see their own lives, families, and communities through transformed, kingdom-oriented eyes.

In a season of commencement and commissioning, Jesus calls us not only to the Great Commission of Matthew 28 but also to a more localized, relational mission to those closest to us — including those who share our faith but differ in doctrine or practice. The most challenging harvest field is often not the radically different stranger, but the familiar neighbor, the fellow believer, the one with whom it is most tempting to simply agree to disagree.

The Many Identities We Carry explores how our faith is lived through the many personal, cultural, historical, and communal identities that shape who we are. Through stories of complex histories, biblical encounters, and the church’s own journey, the sermon invites us to embrace both the gifts and challenges of our identities while remaining rooted in God’s redeeming and transforming kingdom.

The sermon looks at the Trinity not as a brain-teaser we need to solve, but as a "known unknown" that shows us God’s heart is all about community and connection. It moves away from the idea of "forcing" faith on others and instead invites us to find our own "why" in a God who’s already out there, showing up in our relationships and our shared humanity.

“Faith, Mystery, and the Fire of Pentecost” explores how both science and faith require humility before realities we cannot fully understand, comparing humanity’s reliance on unproven mathematical truths to trust in the work of the Holy Spirit. The sermon calls Christians to discern the Spirit not through rigid certainty or fear, but through openness, compassion, community, and the life-giving fruits of faithful action.

This sermon uses a humorous travel story about “holy dirt” to explore the deeper Christian idea that humans are both humble dust and sacred, made in God’s image. It invites listeners to embrace humility, let go of control, and find joy and meaning by recognizing their place within God’s larger creation.

"Invisible Labor, Visible Grace” explores how God is present in the unseen and unrecognized work that sustains our lives and communities. This sermon invites listeners to both trust that they are fully seen by God and to become people who name, honor, and uplift the invisible grace at work around them.