Sunday After Epiphany 2023Baptism of Our LordRev. Doug FloydIsaiah 42:1-9, Psalm 89, Acts 10:34-38, Matthew 3:13-17 In the book, “How to Read Literature Like a Professor,” Thomas C. Foster teaches readers clues to look for when reading a novel. I often assign this to High School students first learning to interpret literature. He says that great literature often alludes to other great…

Feast of the Holy NameChristmas 2Rev. Doug FloydExodus 34:1-9, Psalm 8, Romans 1:1-7, Luke 2:15-21 Today the church celebrates the eighth day after the birth of Jesus. On this day, Mary and Joseph took the baby to the Temple for circumcision and to officially name Him Jesus. We pause and reflect on the sacred name of Jesus. We read and sing the…

Rev. Doug Floyd Christmas Sermon 2022Rev. Doug FloydJohn 1:1-18 We gather today to celebrate the wondrous birth of Jesus. With all our Christmas music, Christmas parties, and Christmas movies, it might be easy to overlook the true Christmas miracle: the birth of Jesus. In his birth, we behold the true and final King of Israel. At the same time, we behold the…

Rev. Doug Floyd Christmas Eve 2022Rev. Doug FloydLuke 2:1-38 Caesar Augustus decrees that all the world should be registered.  “All the world” As “all the world travels” to their own towns, Joseph and Mary arrive in Bethlehem, and she gives birth to a son and wraps him in swaddling cloths and lays him in a manger. This little baby in a tiny…

We must be open to God’s powerful, unexpected work all around us, in the voice and words of a child, in a handshake, smile, or hug, in a random act of kindness, in a phone call, in the sending of a card or note, and the list goes on and on.

Advent 2Rev. Doug FloydIsaiah 11:1-11, Romans 15:1-13, Matthew 3:1-12 In the story of Robin Hood, King Richard the Lionheart is away. In his absence, Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham are usurping his kingdom. Robin Hood and his Merry Men rob the rich to give to the poor. They are seeking justice for the weakest in the land due to the…

Christ the KingRichard FaganColossians 1:11-20 Today we come to the end of the liturgical year: Christ the King Sunday. This ends the liturgical calendar and leads into advent in the coming weeks. It’s interesting to note that this was a late addition to the liturgical calendar in 1925. In fact, the intent of this feast was to contrast the kingship of Jesus…

Pentecost +23Rev. Doug FloydMalachi 3:13-4:6 In name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Every so often, some former Christian singer or writer or even a mega-pastor will announce that they’re leaving the faith. They’ll say they cannot live a lie any longer. Their announcement in the press is often treated as courageous, that finally people are standing up…

22nd Sunday After Pentecost – November 6, 2022Fr. Rob Goebel Luke 20:27-38 Let’s Pray. Heavenly Father, you gave your apostles grace truly to believe and to preach your word: Grant that we might love what they believed and preach whey taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  Imagine with me for a minute a dark planet. Cold and forbidding. A place where everyone…

All Saints SundayRev. Michelle Floyd One of my favorite artworks around All Saints Day is Fra Angelico’s piece entitled “The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs,” which Father Doug used on the front of the bulletin today. I love that the saints in the paintings have personality, carry items that identify them, and are focused on something beyond the perspective of…