Pentecost +9 – Musted Seed KingdomRev. Doug Floyd1 Kings 3:3-14, Matthew 13:31-33, 44-50 I was sitting in a church service during the offering daydreaming. Walking across a desert, I felt overcome with heat and was so thirsty! I told the Lord I needed something to drink and a canteen came down from the sky. I’m really thirsty Lord. Please help. Then suddenly…

Pentecost +8 – United with ChristRev. Doug FloydRomans 8 In the summer before my Junior year in High School, I got a job working in construction for a friend of the family. He required a physical for the job, so I went to my doctor. My blood pressure was so high that they admitted me to the hospital that day. For the…

Pentecost +7Rev. Doug FloydIsaiah 55 Our house is being rebuilt after the fire last year. The cement block is complete, and they’ve put the plumbing in the basement. We are anxiously waiting and watching for each step. We printed out Scriptures that friends and family sent us and prayed them over the build, and then dropped the into the cement block. As…

Pentecost +6Rev. Dr. Les MartinZechariah 9:9–12, Psalm 145:1-13, Romans 7:21-8:6, Matthew 11:25-30 “I have resolved to know nothing among you except Christ Jesus and Him crucified.” In the name of the living God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon…

Pentecost +5 – Disciples of ChristRev. Doug FloydMatthew 10:34-42 Ever since we celebrated Pentecost, our readings have been stirring us to reflect on the nature of discipleship or calling. We are called as a covenant community, but we also walk out our specific vocations in day-to-day life. We heard Fr. Les’s beautiful baptismal sermon to Isaiah. In it, we, were all challenged…

Pentecost +4 2023Melody FaganJeremiah 20:7-13, Psalm 69, Romans 5:15-19, Matthew 10:16-33 At first listen, it could be difficult to find hope, to take the courage needed to bear witness to the truth as Jeremiah and the disciples were explicitly charged to do and to spread the good news without fear. For myself, it is easier to focus on that bad news, even…

Pentecost + 3 – The Call of GodRev. Doug FloydExodus 19:1-8, Psalm 100, Romans 5:1-11, Matthew 9:35-10:15 What does it mean to be called of God? I grew up around stories of being called by God. These were usually dramatic stories. In fact, I remember people saying, “He’s running from the call” about someone they knew was called of God. When I…

Baptism of Isaiah Leslie MartinRev. Dr. Les MartinEzekiel 36:24–28, Psalm 27, Romans 6:3–5, John 3:1-6 Dear Isaiah. Today is the day of your baptism. This letter was the sermon for the day, which means that it was read in the church, and this is as it should be because although in one sense your baptism today is for and about you, in…

TrinityRev. Doug FloydGenesis 1:1-2:3, Psalm 150, 2 Corinthians 13:5-14, Matthew 28:16-20 I was sitting in a Theology of Communication class in the early 90s, waiting to give my statement of faith. The professors had asked each of us to prepare our statement of faith and present it in class. We had two professors: one was an Episcopalian and the other was a…

Pentecost 2023Rev. Doug FloydActs 2:1-11 Right before He ascends, Jesus tells the disciples, “Behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49). Power. We live in a world that trades in power, competes for power, goes to war for power. More than once I’ve…