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

Today is the Feast of Pentecost, when we recount the Coming of the Holy Spirit on the Disciples.  Some refer to this as the birthday of the Church.  But, what does the coming of the Holy Spirit look like today, in 2021?  As many churches begin to fully emerge from our isolation and lock-down, what can we learn about how to be the Church now, today?  Father John explores these questions with answers taken from the account in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles as to what the disciples did.

Also, we apologize for the quality of the recording:  Father John has a rather scratchy and deep voice--different from his usual tenor.  It is allergy season in South Texas, and the pollen had "attacked" him during the weekend.  

Just prior to his betrayal, arrest, and subsequent crucifixion, Jesus prays for his disciples in their coming hour as he prepares to depart from them.  But, what we sometimes forget is that Jesus is also praying for us, and for all Christians and believers in every age.  Jesus, as we celebrated on Thursday, has ascended into heaven, is now seated on the right hand of God in power and glory, and is our Intercessor.

Our sermon today is based on the final portion of Acts 10, and the astonishment of the Jews who were with Simon Peter that Gentiles had received the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Fr. John's sermon today expresses our need to not be astonished, but rather to work actively where we are to proclaim the Gospel.

In the First Epistle of Saint John, we have this passage that explains that God is love, that the very nature of God is love, and it is our nature as well.  But, what does this love look like, and what does it mean to love like God loves.  Fr. John breaks down what agape love (the word used in this passage repeatedly) look like in our common life as Christians today.  If you wish to read the passage, it is 1 John 4:7-21

In the Gospel of John, Jesus calls himself the "Good Shepherd".  Today, not many of us know what all a shepherd does, and what sheep require.  As we consider what makes a shepherd good, we also much think about what makes good sheep.  Fr. John explores these thoughts in today's sermon, given on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, sometimes known as "Good Shepherd Sunday".

Each of us use two primary sources of knowledge or knowing in our everyday life.  There is the rational and reasoned knowing; the knowing that comes when we figure things out.  Then there is also knowledge that we have from gaining experience, memorizing tables for math, and reading.  How do these two interact when it comes to our faith and our knowledge of who Jesus is.  Fr. John preaches on the Gospel of Luke's account of the Disciples first interaction with Jesus following the resurrection.  The passages used in today's sermon are Luke 24:36-48 and 1 John 3:1-7.

What do we need to come to faith?  That is at the heart of the Gospel when we read about Thomas and others who need something, some message from Jesus to become believing.  Today, we look and exam Saint Thomas and what was so convincing to him that Jesus truly was his Lord and God.

We are an Easter People, and our joy cannot be contained on Easter Day.  Join us as Father John talks about what Easter is, and what Resurrection means for us.  The Gospel reading for this morning is John 20:1-18.  Let Easter Music Swell!!!  May all of you who listen have a joyful, holy and blessed Eastertide.

This evening’s sermon was written quite a long time ago, around the year 400 AD to be only semi-exact. Yet, by the year 400, this very act of keeping Vigil as we have been and are doing now was already an old custom, and in many ways seemed ancient to those believers as well. But yet, on this most Holy of all Nights, we watch, and we remember just as Saint John Chrysostom did all those many years ago.

It has become a tradition in the Orthodox Church and in many Anglican and Episcopal Churches to read this sermon of Saint John Chrysostom on this night. It is a welcoming sermon, a sermon inviting all to come and enjoy the heavenly feast.

Saint John was given the title “Chrysostom”, which means “Golden-mouthed”, because of his eloquent speaking and highly charged sermons. When he preached this sermon, John Chrysostom was the Archbishop of Constantinople, present day Istanbul in Turkey. Much could be said about him and his life, but that will have to wait for another time. Instead, travel back to the year 400 on a dark night just like now, and you have seen and heard everything we have just said and done, and now, you hear these word of Saint John Chrysostom: