Sermons from St. John’s Episcopal Church

The propers for this week drew our attention to the tendency in each of us to strategize for comfort and control our lives. Yet, Jesus’ rebuked Peter for focusing on human interests instead of God’s. Jesus’ teaching—“Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it”—urges us to surrender our self-centered ways. We’re called to repent, let go of shallow habits, and let God guide us toward true wisdom. The challenge is clear: will we cling to our own plans, or risk everything to discover what God has in store?

It's Rally Day at St. John's, the beginning of the program year. Fr. Houk reports on the parish's goals for the year, connecting with an appeal to Philippians 3:7-14 about the role of faith.

Fr. Butler preaches on Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23, making it clear that in God who have something better than a coach.

John 6:56-69  Fr. Houk answers questions about the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood.

John 6:51-58. Zombies, C.S. Lewis, and Jesus help us to see that there are different ways of being alive.

In the propers for this week, we consider a weaving together of many stories, all of which point us to our spiritual nature, and need for nourishment. Father Harris considers the meaning of Christ's mysterious teaching: "the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." What could this mean, and how might it pertain to everlasting life?

2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a. King David is confronted by the prophet Nathan.

In 2 Samuel 7:1-14, King David noticed that the Ark of the Covenant was living in a tent while he was living in a beautifully adorned abode of a king. His instinct was to correct this discrepancy, but what happened next was very puzzling. What is God's plan for us? How will He restore this fallen creation and what part do we play in that process? Fr. Harris meditates upon these questions and more.

In Mark 6:14-29, the evangelist recalls the beheading of St John the Baptist, and the pitiable character of Herod as he is tangled in a web of his own foolish choices. Father Harris reflects on the meaning of this story for Christians, and how it reveals a greater sense of our life's purpose.

In 2 Samuel 1, David laments the death of Saul and Jonathan. Fr. Houk makes the point that the Bible is more than a source of famous phrases; it is an invitation into a larger world.