Sermons from the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer

"We, if we're going to follow Jesus, we need to get behind

him and see where he's going, and that matters for us. Because we keep thinking

we have to make it and earn it and do it right here. The right kind of world

and the right kind of life on our terms, and then the clouds will split, and

God will come down with a big old thumbs up and say "That's what I was talking

about..."

Mark 8:31-38

"And I think if we just look at that model of Peter and

Jesus - that model of truth telling, that model of accepting, forgiving, and that

model of allowing space, even in difficult times. Even if we find ourselves

going different ways, allowing that space for love, as Christ has taught us,

love to prevail."

Mark 8:31-38

"Lent, this season we're beginning, it's a time when we're

taking stock of our relationships. That's what it's about. It's about taking

stock of where we fall short. It's about taking stock of how we'd like to live

more fully into this relationship with God, into this relationship with our

community - with our loved ones, into the truth of who we are, and part of that

work is the work of remembering."

Genesis 9:8-17

"What would it be like to watch the 'other' news and to tell

oneself - it might need to be a mantra over and over again - 'This person is

created in the image of God. This person is created in the image of God.' To

engage, to wrestle with the forces... the forces that make us angry, that make us

judge. To rumble with the wild beasts."

Mark 1:9-15

"If we can remember that Lent is a time to see ourselves the way God sees us, in all of the honesty and truth that God sees us, we won't walk out of here today thinking, 'Oh, wow, we're all such horrible sinners,' or 'Oh man, whew. That was a rough one.' If we can remember the psalmist's words we will walk out of here today, and everyday in Lent, and say, 'God loves me. God loves me in my sinfulness and my brokenness. I don't have to hide afraid or ashamed. God loves me as a child.'"

Psalm 51

"Change is inevitable. But, if like Jesus, we are attentive

to our past and stay connected to those essentials of our shared life and

identity every change we make will help us know God and grow in love."

Mark 9:2-9

"Change is inevitable. But, if like Jesus, we are attentive

to our past and stay connected to those essentials of our shared life and

identity every change we make will help us know God and grow in love."

Mark 9:2-9

"Jesus has come to save us from the power of sin that leaves

our world broken and hurting, and he takes us by the hand and he lifts us up

from that. I, for one, want to serve the one who saved me from death. Not because God has twisted my arm and forced me into service like a slave. I want to serve

this God who has saved me from death like a deacon... like one who willingly

gives of himself out of appreciation for all God has done."

Mark 1:29-39

"The barriers for us in connecting are not usually language,

although it can be [...]. Sometimes they're more political thoughts. Sometimes

they're more education, life circumstances. Sometimes they're faith issues.

There are so many ways we can kind of create division between us and someone

else. There are ways we can say 'Oh, that's too full... too broad. I can't cover

that. Let them talk to someone else.' And yet, following Jesus's model,

following Paul's model, that's exactly what we're encouraged to do. To connect

with, to serve, to fully get to know and love the people who are sent our way."

1 Corinthians 9:16-23

Mark 1:29-39

"There is so much information out there, and much of it is so

good, and can be so good for us. But, sometimes even Christianity, in its years

of being institutionalized and part of the culture, can be too much information.

We can find ourselves caught in cute stories - some of them are transformative

- but other ones simply have us gathering more and more information."

Mark 1:21-28