Sermon by the Rev. Jarrett Kerbel for Sunday, July 12, the sixth Sunday after the Pentecost, Proper 10.

The Rev. Jarrett Kerbel makes a note that this week's Gospel is an invitation to fully understand the gift of God's self to us. The parable shows God throwing seed everywhere - even on what seem to be the worst places for growth - a tactic no rational farmer would use. But that isn't the point - God's gift of Godself to us is full. "There is no partial gift of God. God extends God's whole self to us. Our part is to receive and not to earn. It is our part to be open and inviting and not to achieve." Hear how he then interprets the second half of today's Gospel through the lens of grace.

Readings may be found on LectionaryPage.net for Proper 10, Year A.

Recorded live in Zoom.us.

Sermon by the Rev. Anne Thatcher for Sunday, July 5, the fifth Sunday after the Pentecost, Proper 9.

The Rev. Anne Thatcher discusses the difference between a legalistic view of religion and civil society and the invitation to answer the call to obey that comes from God in Jesus Christ. The latter is done willingly and with a full heart. She reminds us that "we can't be disciples without grace and repentance, for the two walk hand in hand. That's when we're transformed."

Readings may be found on LectionaryPage.net for Proper 9, Year A.

Recorded live in Zoom.us

Sermon by by the Rev. Jarrett Kerbel for Sunday, June 28, the fourth Sunday after the Pentecost, Proper 8.

The Rev. Jarrett Kerbel begins by talking about the spiritual refreshment offered by receiving a freely-given gift from another. He reminds us that this is the way that Christ asked his followers to give, and that it is learned from our God of generosity. During the current pandemic, we are sacrificing much, but we sacrifice in the hope of something greater. "These sacrifices that we endure are inspired and in the spirit of the one who gave his life for us, whose life is a gift for us... We must share our story of loving sacrifice for the other as a counter example that will save the most vulnerable during this painful time. ...This is our core life as followers of the teaching of Jesus Christ - to endure and accept sacrifice, to testify to a life bigger than our own. In the name of Christ."

Readings may be found on LectionaryPage.net for Proper 8, Year A.

Recorded live in Zoom.us

Opening bell chiming by the Philadelphia Guild of Change Ringers. Used with permission

Photographs and graphics by the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields.

Sermon by the Rev. Barbara Ballenger for Sunday, June 21, the third Sunday after the Pentecost, Proper 7.

In this morning's sermon, the Rev. Barbara Ballenger looks at this week's readings and points to how they do not sugar-coat the reality of being a disciple of Christ. She names the request made of us - to lay down our old lives in order to create a new life - and how that might look. The Rev. Ballenger describes a recent interaction with fellow clergy on the subject of anti-racism and what white clergy are really willing to give up. Reflecting on our sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Holy Eucharist, she leaves us with hope, saying that she wants to tell us, "how the followers of Jesus are particularly equipped for these times, and what we can do not only to endure them, but to embrace them as part of our Great Commission."

Sermon by the Rev. Jarrett Kerbel for the Sunday, June 14, the second Sunday after the Pentecost, Proper 6.

In this morning's sermon, the Rev. Jarrett Kerbel talks about Jesus's compassion for the sheep in this stories of the day, and how he is calling the disciples to care for the sheep by going out in vulnerability among them. He relates this to how many are feeling today, "harassed and helpless, scattered, lost without a shepherd", and asks us to consider our place dealing with the pandemics we face. "I've heard many speakers at the marches I've been on talk about the pandemic in this country, and what they mean by 'the pandemic' is the pandemic of racism." He insists that the Kingdom of God, a time of full rights and just society is near saying, "It is near, but it is not here. And we've got work to do until it is here."

June 7, 2020

For Trinity Sunday, the Rev. Anne Thatcher talks about how the Trinity can guide us into the difficult but Gospel-necessary work of dismantling white supremacy. Readings from Trinity, Year A.

Sermon by by the Rev. Carol Duncan for Sunday, May 31, the Day of Pentecost.

The Rev. Carol Duncan talks about her connection to the Spirit of God on this day when we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. She reflects on the gifts that the Holy Spirit brings to us, and the ways she sees the Spirit working and speaking among us - through Women Connecting and Bible study, through our coming transition to Morning Prayer, and through the acts of generosity we've been witnessing and taking part in throughout the pandemic.

Readings may be found on LectionaryPage.net for the Day of Pentecost, Year A.

Opening bell chiming by the Philadelphia Guild of Change Ringers. Used with permission

Photographs and graphics by the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields.

Sermon by the Rev. Jarrett Kerbel for Sunday, May 24, the Seventh Sunday of Easter, Year A.

The Rev. Jarrett Kerbel loves to garden, especially pulling weeds. One of his favorite plants in his garden is the ostrich fern, a plant that grows profusely, loves a shady spot, and catches the light in a way that makes them glow. He holds this image as he prays, trying to shine with God's light, glow with God's glory, the way the ferns do. It's important to realize that in the scriptures, the glory of God is where we see God most fully revealed. In John's Gospel that is on the cross. God transforms the cross - thought to be a place of shame and dishonor - into God's glory, the humble glory of self-sacrifice for others. In this time of being stripped away from work, school, church, and community, where can we seek the glory of God instead of the glory of man?

Acts 1:6-14 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 John 17:1-11 Psalm 68:1-10, 33-36Readings may be found on LectionaryPage.net for Easter 7, Year A.

Sermon by Sophia Robinson for Youth Sunday, May 17, Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year A.

Sophia talks about being a teen, full of social pressure, and trying to understand the full meaning of Paul's words when he says, "For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God's will, than to suffer for doing evil." She discusses the need for each of us to zoom out a bit from our lives and realize how our choices impact others.

Acts 17:22-31 1 Peter 3:13-22 John 14:15-21 Psalm 66:7-18Readings may be found on LectionaryPage.net for Easter 6, Year A.

Sermon by the Rev. Barbara Ballenger for Sunday, May 10, the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year A.

The Rev. Barbara Ballenger talks about how she'd always imagined the Kingdom of God, the one described in today's readings, "In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" But how does this apply to us today, when we think of how God's places - the churches, mosques, synagogues - are empty of gathered worshippers due to COVID-19? Perhaps, Jesus' dwelling place is not where we had first imagined it, nor is it inaccessible until some future date. It is here, now.

Acts 7:55-60 1 Peter 2:2-10 John 14:1-14 Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16Readings may be found on LectionaryPage.net for Easter 5, Year A.