This is a recording from the sermon preached at St. David’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, 11/23, Christ the King Sunday. In this sermon, Rev. Kristen Hawley reflects on the significance of Christ the King Sunday and Thanksgiving, highlighting the importance of gratitude, humility, and community. Through the story of her shared birthday experience with her brother and historical insights, Hawley underscores how both holidays remind us that we are not the sole authors of our lives. She encourages the congregation to recognize their dependence on God, value their relationships, and adopt a stance of humility and thankfulness. The sermon connects personal anecdotes with broader spiritual lessons, emphasizing the need for a shift away from entitlement towards a kingdom of love and humility.00:00 Introduction and Christ the King Sunday00:33 Dorothy Day’s Reflection on Life01:44 A Memorable Birthday Story04:24 The Significance of Thanksgiving05:38 Christ the King and Thanksgiving: A Shared Message07:22 The Origins and Purpose of Thanksgiving09:57 The Feast of Christ the King: A Historical Perspective11:54 Personal Reflections on Entitlement and Humility16:30 The Call to Serve in Christ’s Kingdom17:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Rev. Jim Quigley delivers a poignant sermon at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. on November 16th, the twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost. Amidst reflections on Christian eschatology and its complexities, he shares a personal story about his father’s bravery during World War II and contrasts it with a moment of panic. Through these anecdotes, Rev. Quigley examines the importance of discerning the right reactions in challenging times, concluding with lessons from Viktor Frankl’s ‘Man’s Search For Meaning’ and the Serenity Prayer.00:00 Opening Invocation00:05 Struggles with Eschatology01:34 The Holy Spirit’s Persistent Message03:25 A Story About My Father07:32 Lessons from My Father’s Bravery10:54 The Right Reaction at the Right Time13:02 Faith and Bravery in Adversity16:44 The Serenity Prayer and Final Thoughts

This sermon, delivered by Rev. Kristen Hawley at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, November 9th (the twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost), explores the importance and symbolism of signs in our lives. It discusses how we all carry signs that convey who we are, pointing out that Jesus was challenged by the Sadducees in the gospel regarding resurrection and authority. Rev. Hawley emphasizes that our true identity is as children of God, transcending all other labels and roles. The sermon culminates in a baptism, illustrating the profound recognition of this eternal identity.00:00 Introduction and Baptism Announcement00:45 The Significance of Signs03:23 Personal Signs and Daily Interactions05:39 The Sadducees and Their Challenge08:55 Jesus’ Teachings on Resurrection and Authority11:16 Personal Reflection and Baptism Ceremony

This is a recording from the All Souls Requiem Service preached at St. David’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, November 2nd. Rev. Kristen Hawley delivered a sermon reflecting on the significance of All Souls Day, a time dedicated to commemorating all the departed. She speaks about the interconnectedness of life and death and emphasizes that no one is lost in the economy of God. Rev. Hawley encourages the congregation to remember their loved ones and hold them in prayer, stressing the holy and beautiful nature of this day. She likens the experience of this ‘thin space’ to moments of birth and death, where the veil between heaven and earth is most transparent. Through this, she reassures the parishioners of their eternal bond with God and each other.

00:00 Introduction to All Souls Day

00:31 Understanding All Hallows Tide

01:37 The Faithful Departed: Who Are They?

03:24 A Day for Everyone: Remembering All Departed

04:47 Celebrating Lives: Stories and Memories

06:09 The Thin Veil: Life, Death, and the Divine

07:49 The Beauty of Thin Spaces

09:39 Conclusion: Eternal Rest and Song

This sermon, delivered by Rev. Jordan Rippy at St. David’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, October 26th, the nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost, reflects on the significance of the Nobel Prize and its winners as a testament to human perseverance, ingenuity, and the importance of community. Through anecdotes, such as Fred Ramsdale’s unexpected Nobel Prize in Medicine and Wangari Maathai’s influential environmental work in Kenya, Rev. Rippy highlights the indispensable role of collaboration and mutual support in achieving greatness. The sermon draws parallels with the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector from the Bible, emphasizing the modern-day epidemic of loneliness and the intrinsic human need for community. The message underscores that to live a Christ-like life involves striving for humility, loving one’s neighbor, and continuously working towards spiritual growth in unison with others.

00:00 Introduction and Invocation

00:09 Nobel Prize Winners: Celebrating Human Achievement

01:12 Humorous Nobel Prize Anecdotes

03:02 Inspiring Stories of Nobel Laureates

04:19 The Parable of Humility and Isolation

05:16 The Epidemic of Loneliness

07:48 The Importance of Community in Faith

08:37 The Role of the Church and Community

09:21 The Aspirational Journey of Christianity

10:22 The Greatest Commandments

This is a recording from the sermon preached at St. David’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, October 19th, 2023, the nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost. In this sermon, seminarian Daniel Bentley reflects on the life of Mother Theresa, focusing on her internal spiritual struggles and comparing them to the biblical story of Jacob wrestling with God. Bentley emphasizes that struggles and doubts are a natural part of the faith journey and can lead to blessings and transformation. He connects these themes to the baptism of George, reminding the congregation of the communal support inherent in the Christian faith and encouraging them to share and embrace their own spiritual struggles.

00:00 Opening Invocation

00:11 The Life of Agnes Boue (Mother Theresa)

01:22 Mother Theresa’s Spiritual Struggles

03:16 Jacob’s Struggle with God

04:57 Faith and Struggle

05:48 The Role of Lament in Faith

08:14 The Blessing of Baptism

09:11 Supporting Each Other in Faith

10:34 Conclusion and Final Blessing

This is a recording from the sermon preached by Rev. Jordan Rippy at St. David’s Episcopal Church during a 5 pm Celtic Service on Sunday, October 12, the eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost. In this sermon, Rev. Jordan delves into the difficult topics of death, dying, and the grief that accompanies them. She references the biblical story of Ezekiel in the Valley of Dry Bones, highlighting the themes of hope and resurrection. Through this narrative, Rev. Rippy encourages the congregation to confront these painful subjects with trust in the resurrection promise and the newness of life in Christ. The message emphasizes that even in the most devastated and lifeless situations, God’s breath can bring renewal and hope.

00:00 Introduction: Facing the Hardest Topics

00:54 The Sermon on Death and Dying

01:31 Practical and Emotional Aspects of Death

02:20 Hope in the Face of Death

03:13 Ezekiel’s Vision of Dry Bones

04:35 God’s Conversation with Ezekiel

05:27 The Breath of Life

05:57 Modern Relevance of Ezekiel’s Vision

06:52 The Promise of Resurrection

07:52 Conclusion: The Triumph Over Death

In this sermon delivered by the Rev. Kristen Hawley at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Washington, DC on Sunday, 10/12, the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, the biblical story of the healing of the ten lepers is explored. Traditionally, the focus is on the one leper who returned to thank Jesus, highlighting the importance of gratitude. Rev. Kristen delves deeper by examining the personalities and responses of the other nine lepers, illustrating that all were healed regardless of their reactions. The sermon underscores the distinction between being cured and being healed, emphasizing that true healing involves recognizing and giving thanks for our blessings before engaging with the world.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:02 The Story of the 10 Lepers

00:43 Historical and Cultural Context

02:30 The Samaritan’s Gratitude

03:36 A Different Perspective on the Nine Lepers

04:06 Meet the Nine Lepers

10:54 The Deeper Meaning of Healing

14:21 Invitation to Reflect and Give Thanks

This sermon was preached by Rev. Jim Quigley at St. David’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, October 5th, during the seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Jim reflects on spiritual journeys as described by St. Theresa of Avila, drawing parallels between her teachings and the challenges faced by Jesus’ disciples. He elaborates on the idea of purification, illumination, and union in the spiritual domain before moving to real-life examples of faith from his own high school experiences and the transformative power of narrative. The sermon challenges the congregation to reconsider the rooted narratives in their lives and encourages them to have faith strong enough to envision and enact positive change.

00:00 Introduction and Overview

00:45 Theresa of Avila’s Spiritual Journey

04:48 Personal Anecdote: High School Art Class

08:19 The Power of Narrative and Faith

13:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In his senior sermon delivered on September 29, 2025 at Virginia Theological Seminary, St. David’s seminarian Daniel Bentley explores the concept of Bethel, the dwelling place of God. He begins by discussing the elusive nature of angels, who appear during crises and in sacred spaces where heaven and earth intersect. Referencing Jacob’s dream of angels at Bethel, he connects this imagery to Jesus, suggesting that Jesus is the means by which heaven and earth connect and can be considered Bethel. Daniel emphasizes that Bethel is accessible in various forms of Christian practice, such as meditating on Scripture, gathering in Christ’s name, baptism, and communion. He urges the audience to embody Bethel by bringing Christ into the world through their actions, despite human imperfections, relying on God’s grace and strength. The sermon concludes with a powerful affirmation of the divine presence in everyday life and a call to make it known to the world.