Sermons from Saint Christopher's By-the-Sea, Portland Texas

The sermon from a Requiem Mass held at Saint Christopher's by-the-sea on Wednesday, 25 May at 5:30 p.m.

Today, the Church celebrates and prays for the land, the produce of farms and livestock, and all things that give us sustenance.  But, how does that relate to understanding of Creation now and the age to come.  Father Blackburn reflects on New Creation, Stewardship of Creation, and all the things that give us blessings in this life.

Acts 11:1-18 records Saint Peter retelling a story about what he had experienced with a group of Gentiles who had come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  During the time together, Peter witnessed the Holy Spirit at work in their lives, but he needed to give an explanation to the Church in Jerusalem as they questioned his wisdom and judgement.  Father Blackburn explores the assumptions made by both Peter and the Jewish Christians and how we sometimes find ourselves in the same mind as they are.

We apologize that this sermon appears later than usual; there were a few technical difficulties with the recording equipment, and Father Blackburn had to record it after the Sunday Liturgy.

Jesus is not only the Good Shepherd, but he is also the True Paschal Lamb.  Our reading is from the 7th Chapter of the Book of Revelation.

The final chapter of Saint John's Gospel has Jesus asking Simon Peter how much peter love him.  And the answer is less that satisfying.  How do we move away from being fond of Jesus to truly loving Jesus.  The Sermon today is preached by the Rev'd. John Blackbuurn.

The Story of Doubting Thomas goes to us during Eastertide on the Second Sunday of Easter, as today, this evening in fact, is when Jesus reveals himself to Thomas.  But, how often are we "Thomases"?  How often do we need just a nudge to come to belief and faith.  Father Blackburn explores some of these questions during his sermon this morning.  The Gospel passage, from which this sermon is based, is from John 20. 

Our Gospel Lesson from Evening Prayer on Easter Day comes from the Gospel according to Saint Luke.  In this passage, two disciples encounter the Risen Jesus while on the road to Emmaus, and they do not recognize him.  Father Blackburn ask questions that many of us might be asking as we think and ponder on this reading.  The Scripture this Sermon is based on is Luke 24:13-35.

Today is Easter Day!  We celebrate the Resurrection of our Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ.

For Centuries, the Christian Church has gather on this night to wait in vigil for Easter Morning, the morning of the Resurrection. Some of these Vigils lasted all night with readings—far more than we read this evening—and some even recited the entire book of Psalm into the night and early morning hours until the first rays of daylight shone through windows or broke on the horizon until they celebrated the Easter Eucharist.

Sometimes, sermons, and multiple sermons at that, were preached after each reading, but the Principal sermon, the one that everyone held their breath for was the Sermon after the Gospel reading recounting the Resurrection account. Among those who preached sermons on Easter that we have recorded is Saint John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople. Saint John, whose nick-name Chrysostom means, “Golden-mouthed” has been known for these sixteen hundred years as one of the finest preachers to stand in the pulpit. It was become customary at the Great Vigil of Easter to read a portion of this sermon he preached around 400 AD. In it, you will hear Saint Chrysostom reference people who come at different hours, which is an illusion to a parable of Jesus about the workers who come at different hours during the day to labor in the fields.

This is the sermon from our Liturgy for Good Friday, 2022.  Father Blackburn is the preacher.