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

Today's Gospel passage is from Mark 1:14-20.  In it, Jesus is calling his first disciples.  One word that stands out in this passage is the word, "Immediately".  Do we answer God's call in our own lives immediately?  Or are we slow to respond because of fear?  Father John asks those questions and a few others in this podcast.

Father John tells the story of a boy who is sent on a great adventure, who is promised treasures and riches, but also to see great and wondrous things.  Using the medium of a Short Story, Father John conveys the idea of evangelism as something we do with others, and not to others.  Based on John 1:43-51, this story gives the illusion of the Christian life as a journey.

Baptism is our entrance into the Household of God.  But when we are baptized, we (or our parents and godparents) make vows as to how we will live our life.  And these vows are among the most important we make.  In this sermon, Father John answers questions about beginning our new life, and in our dark and troubling world, how we living into the promises we have made.

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany, the day we celebrate the coming of the Magi, who offered gifts to the Christ Child.  Why do we celebrate this day?  Father Blackburn explores what Epiphany and Manifestation looks like in our daily lives.

Today's Gospel passage includes the Slaughter of the Innocents that Herod order in Bethlehem.  The fear of losing power is a motivating factor for Herod.  In the sermon, Father John explores what power looks like when it is corrupted over and against what power looks like in the hands of God.  

On the Feast of the Holy Name, Father Blackburn explores what it means to hold power in the Name of Jesus.  What does a name mean, and why is it important that God has given us his name, and the Name of Jesus?  

What does it mean to be adopted into a family?  Or, more importantly, what does it look like to be adopted into the Family of God.  Father John explores the meaning of adoption, tradition, grace and inheritance and how we live into the fullness of God's love.

The Gospel of Saint John beginnings with some of the most memorable, yet puzzling words about The Word.  Who is this Word, and what does he bring.  As Saint John unfolds the mystery of the incarnation in terms of Word, Light and Life, we all gain a greater understand of just who Jesus is.  Father Blackburn's sermon on Christmas Day helps us see how Word and Life and Light all intersect in the person of Jesus.

We all know the Christmas story, but this year, perhaps we need to listen to it with fresh ears.  Father Blackburn describes how the coming of the Son of God breaks into the ordinariness of our life, and brings Love with him as he does.  This sermon is from our Christmas Eve Service in 2020.

One of the great delights from the Ordination service held at Saint Christopher's was the sermon by Father Blackburn's good friend, The Rev'd Brian Tarver.  The two had worked together at Saint Philip's Church in Beeville, and Father Tarver is now the Rector of Saint David's Church in San Antonio.