Sunday Sermons

Rev. Kristen Hawley preaches at St. David’s Episcopal Church on the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, reflecting on how people chase “Rachels”—idealized loves, jobs, achievements, or leaders—believing they will make life perfect, only to wake up to disappointment: “and in the morning, behold, it was Leah.” Using Jacob’s story of working seven years for Rachel but being given Leah, she argues the problem is not Leah but the idolatry that turns good gifts into ultimate things that cannot bear the weight of the soul. Leah represents the unchosen realities of life—diagnosis, struggle, brokenness—yet God specializes in working through what the world rejects. She notes that through Leah’s son Judah comes King David and ultimately Jesus, showing salvation comes through Leah’s line, and urges congregants to accept reality as the soil where God offers redemption and grace.

00:00 Welcome and Setup

00:08 Family Anthem Lesson

02:07 Chasing What We Want

03:08 Jacob and Rachel

04:24 Behold It Was Leah

06:45 Idols That Collapse

09:39 Modern Leah Moments

11:51 Redemption Through Leah

14:00 What We Need Not Want

15:11 Closing Behold Leah

This is a recording from the sermon preached at St. David's Episcopal Church on Sunday, July 21st, on the Eighth Sunday in Pentecost. In this sermon, Rev. Jim Quigley reflects on the Genesis story of Jacob at Bethel alongside the Gospel image of wheat and tares, focusing especially on Jacob’s fear and his dream of a staircase with angels ascending and descending. Rev. Quigley suggests Jacob uses a “sling stone” for protection at night, revealing a lifelong pattern of fear, and contrasts that with God’s message that “everything’s going to be okay.” He describes Jacob turning the stone from a weapon into a pillar and altar, making a vow to live differently, and connects this to God’s love—“I love you anyway”—and the call for the congregation to be in the forgiveness and amends-making business at their sacred place, “Macomb.”00:00 Opening Prayer and Nerves01:28 Today’s Scripture Focus01:58 Jacob the Supplanter03:18 The Stone Pillow Clue06:10 Fear Then and Now07:14 Stairway Dream and Message09:08 From Slingshot to Altar10:33 Makom the Sacred Place11:48 Welcome to Forgiveness12:30 Closing Blessing

Rev. Kristen Hawley preaches at St. David’s Episcopal Church on the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, inviting congregants to reflect on what “soil” they are today in the parable of the sower and then turning to Genesis and the story of Jacob and Esau. She describes preparing a homily about staying together in family messiness, then personally wanting to “hand in her ticket” and cut off difficult relatives, which becomes a reminder of why the church gathers to hear stories that mirror their own conflicts. Noting America’s tendency to sever relationships, she uses Louise Penny’s “long house” image and Jacob’s 20-year flight before reconciliation, along with kintsugi and the idea that healed breaks can be stronger, to challenge parishioners to stay, apologize, and do the hard work of mending fractured relationships with God present in that place.00:00 Welcome And Greeting01:11 Soil Check In02:15 Homily Changes Midweek06:11 Genesis Family Mess07:08 Jacob And Esau Details08:37 Our Story In The Stew10:11 Longhouse Metaphor12:51 Running Never Works15:14 Kintsugi Stronger Broken16:42 Invitation To Stay17:51 Commitment And Amen

This is a recording from the sermon preached at St. David's Episcopal Church on Sunday, July 5th, on the Sixth Sunday in Pentecost. Rev. Jim Quigley notes that Independence Day is a red-letter feast day in the Episcopal Church and uses it to reflect on loving God, country, and one another. Drawing on the day’s readings from Genesis, Romans, and Matthew, he recounts a family Fourth of July story of his father lighting Black Cat firecrackers and a deputy sheriff letting it pass, which Rev. Quigley frames as “earning the right” to act in certain ways. He then shares an image of his father teaching him to dance by placing his feet on his father’s, connecting this to Jesus teaching believers how to live. He also discusses Thomas Jefferson’s complexities, including slavery and Sally Hemings, and urges the congregation to meet grace halfway by earning the right to say Christian commitments and learning the steps of discipleship.00:00 Holiday Greeting00:17 Independence Day Feast01:37 Readings And Themes04:08 Firecrackers Story09:42 Earning Christian Words11:05 Dancing On Fathers Feet13:02 Monticello And Jefferson15:51 Grace And The Caveat17:24 Final Call To Dance

This is a recording from the sermon preached at St. David's Episcopal Church on Sunday, June 28th, on the Fifth Sunday in Pentecost. In this sermon, Rev. Kristen Hawley invites the congregation to name where the story of Abraham and Isaac meets them emotionally, emphasizing that discomfort, anger, or confusion are all valid responses to this “dangerous text.” She notes the story’s foundational role across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and argues against airbrushing or cutting out troubling scripture, urging parishioners instead to say “Hineni” (“Here I am”) and wrestle with it. Using two Rembrandt depictions made 20 years apart, she shows how interpretation changes over a lifetime and encourages theological reflection through art and reading—highlighting The Action Bible as a tool that helps people locate themselves in God’s larger story.00:00 Welcome and Setup00:13 Where You Are in Story02:40 Why This Text Matters04:42 Dangerous Text Trigger Warning07:51 Rembrandt as Guide09:03 Two Paintings Two Readings13:09 Wrestling Not Instructions14:33 Summer Reading Reflection16:02 Action Bible Story19:28 Personal Shifts Over Time21:14 Closing Invitation to Wrestle

This is a recording from the sermon preached at St. David's Episcopal Church on Sunday, June 21st, on the Fourth Sunday in Pentecost. Rev. Jordan Rippy begins by acknowledging Father’s Day as both joyful and difficult, then turns to the challenging Genesis story of Hagar and Ishmael, emphasizing how Abraham and Sarah use, discard, and endanger them. Rev. Rippy asks why this “side story” remains in Scripture and draws on a Reform Jewish insight: that God sees and cares for the foreigner, stranger, and outsider, and calls God’s people to do likewise. The sermon argues that Christianity is not merely self-improvement but should change how the congregation lives, urging parishioners to enlarge their imaginations—like reading fiction as a “mental flight simulator”—to grow empathy and reflect God’s love in their choices.00:00 Father’s Day Welcome00:37 Hagar’s Harsh Story01:47 Genesis Context Recap03:27 Surrogacy and Jealousy04:32 Cast Out in Desert05:25 Why This Story Matters06:10 God Sees the Outsider07:08 Faith Changes Behavior07:54 Imagining Other Lives09:53 Hagar Remembered10:14 Closing Amen

Rev. Daniel Bentley preaches his final Sunday at St. David’s Episcopal Church, thanking parishioners and expressing love while reflecting on the biblical pattern of God calling people and sending them, from Abram, Moses, and Isaiah’s “Hineni” (“Here I am”) to Mary and Jesus sending the disciples early in his ministry because “the harvest is plentiful.” He argues that calling and sending is the rhythm of Christian life and even reflects God’s own movement in the Trinity and in the Father sending the Son and the Spirit. He shares how he was called from a parish in New York to Virginia Seminary and then to St. David’s, and hopes to carry what he learned of welcome and beloved community to the wider church. He notes worship gathers, feeds, and deliberately sends congregants into the world to love and serve, discerning where God is sending them through prayer, need, and joy.00:00 Final Sunday Thanks00:24 Called and Sent Theme01:37 Isaiah Here I Am02:54 Jesus Sends Disciples04:14 Trinity in Motion05:04 Personal Call Story06:50 Worship Then Mission08:07 Where Are We Sent09:01 Hineni Send Me

This is a recording from the Children’s Sermon preached by Rev. Kristen Hawley at St. David’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, June 7th, on the Third Sunday in Pentecost, the First Sunday and last of the program year. Rev. Hawley teaches the congregation about God’s mercy, describing it as God’s help that enables people not only to think about what is right but to do what is right. Reflecting on the Gospel story of Jesus calling Matthew the tax collector to share a meal, she emphasizes that Jesus chooses to include someone widely disliked, not to condemn him but to show kindness that can change a heart. Using a ribbon “circle of mercy” and a pretend picnic, she demonstrates how exclusion and “earning” belonging are unmerciful, and she encourages parishioners to leave space to welcome others rather than exclude them.00:00 Welcome and Setup00:10 What Mercy Means02:06 Matthew the Tax Collector03:46 Why Jesus Invites Outsiders04:46 Ribbon Circle Activity06:00 Who Gets In07:49 Opening the Circle09:28 Mercy for Everyone11:27 Build Your Own Circle12:18 Wrap Up and Creed

Rev. Kristen Hawley preaches for Trinity Sunday at St. David’s Episcopal Church, noting the Church’s long, often confusing attempts to explain the Trinity (including the Athanasian Creed) and emphasizing that people come to understanding in different ways. She connects the Trinity to delight, inspiration, and praise, referencing a staff Easter project in which each person wrote about what helps them notice and engage God (from biscuits and words to trains, shoes, gardening, dance, and music). Describing the Trinity as a never-ending relational “dance” and current, she urges congregants to find their way into it through what moves them. She offers the musical key change as an image of Trinity and creation, using Beyoncé’s “Love on Top” and the repetitive, building pattern of Genesis—God said, saw, created, blessed, and it was good—as examples of “home” and surprise. She encourages parishioners to listen for life’s key changes that draw them into deeper connectivity and remind them “it is good.”00:22 Trinity Sunday Explained00:58 Athanasius Creed Deep Dive01:58 Is Trinitarian Language Helpful01:18 Different Paths to Truth03:10 Praise and What Moves Us03:20 Easter Staff Reflections04:01 Delightful Examples and Takeaway05:00 Entering the Trinity Current05:44 Delight as Spiritual Compass00:05 Trinity as Key Change06:30 How Key Changes Work07:29 Beyoncé Demo Love on Top09:35 Genesis as Refrain and Shift11:18 Finding Your Holy Spirit Stride12:43 Music Memories and Everyday Modulations14:26 Listen for the Key Change

On Pentecost Sunday at the Celtic Service at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., Rev. Kristen Hawley reflects on why people come to church by comparing church identity to honest branding and slogans. She recounts teaching the Pentecost story in children’s chapel, where a child defines church as “whenever two or three are gathered” with God, and connects this to the Pentecost reading in which the Holy Spirit breaks down barriers of language and division. Drawing on Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, she emphasizes that many different gifts come from one Spirit and are meant to complete, not compete with, one another. She points to congregants stepping in when staff were absent as evidence of Spirit-filled community marked by love, shared burdens, welcome, and joy, and offers a simple slogan: “St. David’s, not perfect, working on it together.”00:00 Welcome and Pentecost00:33 Church Branding Ideas02:09 Kids Chapel Definition04:22 Pentecost Story and Unity05:39 Corinth and Many Gifts07:40 Spirit in Action Today10:35 Love Across Divisions12:09 Our Slogan and Sending