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

Jesus and his disciples have come into Jerusalem for the Passover Festival, and the disciples are in awe of the Temple Structure and Complex.  As they are looking around, Jesus gives a prediction and prophecy concerning the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem.  In the life of Saint Christopher's Parish, we are living on the other side of a traumatic event that occurred 35 years ago.  How can we take hope, and how can we be stewards, and how can we express gratitude to God and the Lamb as we live on this side of our own Temple Destruction.  Father Blackburn is the preacher and the text is Mark 13:1-8.

One of the Spiritual Disciplines that Christians practice is Stewardship.  Stewardship is not as much about raising money for the Parish or the Church, but instead is one of the ways in which we offer thanks to God for all the blessings of this life.  Many times, what we regard stewardship as the dreaded season of the church when we talk--perhaps guilt people--about giving back to God.  The story of the Scribes and the Widow is a perfect example of what we should be looking at, and also what we should be looking for.  Father Blackburn is the preacher, and the passage is Mark 12:38-44.

All Souls' Day is when the Church gathers to remember those who have died in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, but in a more personal way.  This is when we remember our parents, our spouses, our children and our friends.  It is also when we remember the people of our local churches who have impacted us.  This is the sermon from All Souls' Day on November 2nd, 2021.  Fr. Blackburn is the preacher.

Who or what are the Saints of the Church?  Are they super heroes with super power?  Are they the devoutly religious?  Are the special people or just common ordinary Christians.  In this sermon preached on All Saints' Day in 2021, Fr. Blackburn answers some of these questions that have been asked for hundreds of years about.  Who is a saint?  Can I be a saint?  And, what makes a saint a Saint (notice the Capital "S" verses the lower case "s")?

In our passage from the Gospel according to Saint Mark, Jesus is asked what the most important of the commandments in the Jewish Law is.  He responds with the "Sh'ma", a traditional part of the Jewish prayer life as well as one other commandment, in essence taking two points of Law and transforming them into one.  In today's Sermon, Fr. Blackburn explores what it means to love God, to love our neighbors, but also how we should love ourselves.  This passage is found in the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 12, beginning in verse 28.

Blind Bartimaeus is sitting by the roadside while Jesus is traveling from Jericho to Jerusalem.  He calls out to Jesus, who restores his sight.  How can the Church implore our Blessed Lord to help us see again, see with renewed sight.  Father Blackburn's sermon speaks about being Spiritually Blind, and what we are to do once our vision is given to us.  The Scripture Passage is found in Mark 10:46-52.

Father Blackburn examines Mark 10:35-45 and the request of the Sons of Zebedee, who ask that they sit on the right hand and the left hand of Jesus in glory.  How often do we ask God for things that are in reality really not good for us?

One of the painful things to talk about in Church is divorce.  Divorce is always tragic and destroys relationships and families.  Jesus teaches about divorce and how wrong it is, but he does this through his view of what Marriage is meant to be.  Listen as Father Blackburn discusses what our Gospel passage means and how the view of the Jesus and his Church points ultimately to God's loving purposes for Creation.

Saint Christopher's Church gathered on Saturday, 2 October 2021, for their annual Blessing of the Animals, which is always a fun and lively event.  We celebrate it in commemoration of Saint Francis of Assisi, who was known for his love of all of God's Creation.  However, we sometimes forget a few things about Francis, and how he ministered to the poor, began an order of monks, and also his preaching.  Fr. Blackburn's homily looks at the life of Saint Francis and teaches us how we can all be a little more like him.

Prayer, spending time with God, is essential for us to grow and develop as Christians.  It is how we grow in relationship with God, and how we also learn more about God and our place within God's kingdom.  Prayer should become for us a way of life, and state of being.  Father Blackburn explores many aspects of prayer in today's sermon, which is taken from James 5:13-20.

N.B.:  In editing the recording, the very last word of the sermon was clipped off; if you find this to be the case and are curious, please know that the final word is "practice".