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

Today is the First Day of Lent, commonly known as Ash Wednesday  Lent is a season of fasting, penance, prayer, and seeing some of the places where we all fall short of God's will for us, and were we love sin rather than love God.  Father Blackburn preaches this sermon on Ash Wednesday Evening just before we are called to repentance and to have ashes imposed upon us.

Today is the Last Sunday of Epiphany, also known as Quinquagesima, or approximately 50 days before Easter.  With the revision of the Lectionary in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, each year we read the story of the Transfiguration from one of the Gospel accounts.  This year, the reading come from the Gospel of Luke.  But, we are also only a few days removed from the outbreak of War in the Ukraine, and we must always remember to hold in the balance the Bible and the news; Karl Barth said something about preaching with the Bible in one hand and the Newspaper in the other.  Which leads to this sermon in which we look at the Glory of Christ with our eyes open to him, but also to the world around us, both internationally and locally.  This Scripture referenced is from Luke 9, and Father Blackburn is the preacher

This is an audio version of the Sermon from the Burial Services for two sisters, Elizabeth Ann Bradford Taylor Brown and Susan Elaine Bradford.  Both sisters had died over a year ago, but because of the Covid-19 global pandemic, the families did not think it wise to gather family and friends together until now.  The sermon is preached by Father Blackburn, the Priest-in-Charge of Saint Christopher's By-the-Sea.  The readings, not included on this podcast but referenced in the sermon include Wisdom 3:1-5, 9; Romans 8:14-19, 34-35, 37-39, and John 11:21-27.

Saint Luke's Gospel presents us with a version of the Beatitudes that are different from the account we have in Matthew.  Alongside the "blessed are those", Luke records Jesus pronouncing a series of "woes" upon the rich, upon those who are fed.  Father Blackburn's sermon for this, Septuagesima Sunday, calls on the parish, and each of us as individuals, to evaluate if we are truly living into our calling as Christians.

One of the most stupendous episodes in the Hebrew Scriptures is Isaiah's vision of God seated on a throne in the Temple in Jerusalem, which is found in Isaiah 6.  It is the episode that defines Isaiah's life as a prophet.  Each week, we as Christians gather in "temples" all of the globe, and we encounter God each week; but what do we do because of it?  In this Sermon, Father Blackburn asks the question, "Do we sometimes ignore our call because we think we are unworthy?"  

In the Gospel according to Saint John, the Second Chapter opens with Jesus, his mother, and the disciples attending a wedding in Cana.  During the festivities, the wine runs out, and Jesus is pressed to do something by his mother.  What occurs is the first of the Signs that Saint John records Jesus performing while on earth.  But, what does changing water in six stone jars really mean?  Father Blackburn's sermon gives some insight into what Saint John the Evangelist is pointing to, and how we, ourselves, are sometimes empty stone jars.  The Scripture reference is John 2:1-11

Sometimes, we ask ourselves questions that are more existential in nature; questions about who we are and why we are here.  Through the Sacrament of Baptism, we as Christians take on a new identity, and it is that of Christ.  The question then becomes, "How do we live into that identity and purpose?"  Father Blackburn preaches a sermon today, on the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord, using Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 as the primary Scripture Reference.

The only story that we have in the gospels from Jesus' childhood is the story of him in the temple, sitting with the teachers there, while Mary and Joseph look franticly for him.  In that story there are many subtle hints that we can draw about not only who Jesus is, but also who we should be as well.  Fr. Blackburn explores this passage and asks the question of all Christians, "How well do we truly know our Holy Scriptures?"  The passage for today's reading is Luke 2:41-52.

Names, like brands, sometimes define who we are, or at least who we want to be.  But, as Christians, we bear the Name of Jesus out into the world.  On the Feast of the Holy Name, Fr. Blackburn explains, using the image of marketing and branding, what names mean to us.  As we all begin this new year, let us commit to wear the Name of Jesus daily so that we may draw others unto the Lord.