Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Lessons:

Exodus 33:12-23

Psalm 99

I Thessalonians 1:1-10

Matthew 22:15-22

Lessons:

Exodus 32:1-14

Psalm 106:1-6,19-23

Philippians 4:1-9

Matthew 22:1-14

The Ten Commandments in the Hebrew Bible are usually remembered most for all the "Thou Shall Nots" they contain. But what if the Decalogue given by God to Moses in the Book of Exodus was never meant to be as restrictive as it was meant to be affirming for how God's people can grow in a deeper relationship with God and our neighbor? That certainly seems to be how Jesus read the Decalogue when he condensed all of the laws of Moses into the Two Great Commandments in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, & Luke. Hear how Fr. Donavan understands this important, meaningful relationship between Jesus, Moses, and all of us today! (Proper 22; 10/4/20).

Lessons:

Exodus 20:1-4,7-9,12-20

Psalm 80:7-14

Philippians 3:4b-14

Matthew 21:33-46

This past Sunday, Fr. Donavan got hooked on the very first sentence of the reading from the Book of Exodus in the first reading from the Hebrew Bible: “From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded.” Have a listen to his sermon now to find out how he connects this one sentence with the struggles we as Christians continue to face in the world and in our life of faith today! (Proper 21; 9/27/20).

Lessons:

Exodus 17:1-7

Psalm 78:1-4,12-16

Philippians 2:1-13

Matthew 21:23-32

For this Sunday, Fr. Donavan takes on Jesus' tough parable of the laborers in the vineyard. What is God doing when God chooses that the last will be first and the first will be last? How does Jesus use this teaching to turn the world's approach to fairness upside down and open up everyone to God's amazing grace and generosity?(Proper 20; 9/20/20).

Lessons:

Exodus 16:2-15

Psalm 105:1-6,37-4

Philippians 1:21-30

Matthew 20:1-16

For the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Fr. Donavan dives into the power and force of water, in ancient times and right now! God's movement over the water, in the story from the Book of Exodus of Moses and the parting of the Red Sea, as well as in the great sacrament of Baptism, shows us the great hope God promises for all of us who trust him and who give ourselves fully to Jesus. (Proper 19; 9/13/20).

Lessons:

Exodus 14:19-31

Psalm 114

Romans 14:1-12

Matthew 18:21-35

The hardest thing to do in our world today is to truly forgive and reconcile with someone we disagree with or who has offended us. In this past Sunday's Gospel, Jesus is very practical and straight forward in telling his disciples how they/we should reconcile with those who hurt and offend us, especially in the church. Fr. Donavan wades into this hard teaching in his sermon, and combining it with the passages from Romans and a good Jewish Folktale, tries to clarify and make it easier for us to see just how important Jesus' way truly is for a struggling, offended world and for the church! (Proper 18; 9/6/20).

Lessons:

Exodus 12:1-14

Psalm 149

Romans 13:8-14

Matthew 18:15-20

In his letter to the Romans, Paul describes how Christians act differently. Mtr. Lisa, in her last sermon at All Saints, talks about why it is important that we try to do these actions, and she says goodbye to the parish. (Proper 17; 8/30/20).

Lessons:

Exodus 3:1-15

Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c

Romans 12:9-21

Matthew 16:21-28

Opportunity cost. It's all around us. But what does modern day economic thought have to do with Paul's ancient letter to the Romans? Mtr. Lisa explores this connection and discusses what Paul means by demanding we make ourselves a living sacrifice. (Proper 16, Year A; 8/23/20).

Lessons:

Exodus 1:8-2:10

Psalm 124

Romans 12:1-8

Matthew 16:13-20

How many times have we been reminded by our parents, teachers, &, maybe, our spouse and our family members that simply saying the right words is meaningless if we don't follow those words up with action? In this divisive election year, Fr. Donavan turns to a particularly tough Gospel reading for this past Sunday to try and connect words said with lives truly changed and transformed. (Proper 15, 8/20/2020).

Lessons:

Genesis 45:1-15

Psalm 133

Romans 11:1-2a,29-32

Matthew 15:10-28