The Spirit’s Outpouring in a Variety of Prayers

Listen to sermon here: The Spirit’s Outpouring Readings for the Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 25 – Year C): Joel 2:23-32 Psalm 65 Luke 18:9-14 This sermon was preached at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in San Rafael CA on October 23, 2016. Thirteen years ago, I visited the Holy Land with a group of […]

An Invitation to Feisty Prayer

Readings for the Twenty Second Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 24 – Year C): Genesis 32:22-31 Luke 18:1-8 This sermon was preached at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in San Rafael CA on October 16, 2016. There is a provocative story in the Jewish Talmud about an argument between Rabbi Eliezer and a group of other […]

The Loving Laughter of the God of Surprises

Readings for the Twenty First Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 23 – Year C): 2 Kings 5:1-15 Luke 17:11-19 This sermon was preached at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in San Rafael CA on October 9, 2016. Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good […]

The Ethics of the Unjust Steward

Listen to sermon here: Ethics of the Unjust Steward Readings for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 20 – Year C): Jeremiah 8:18 – 9:1 Psalm 79:1-9 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Luke 16:1-13 This sermon was preached at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in San Rafael CA on September 18, 2016. For the last three years, I have been […]

Being Formed by the Divine Creative Process

Listen to sermon here: Being Formed by the Divine Creative Process Readings for the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 18 – Year C) Jeremiah 18:1-11 Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17 Philemon 1-21 Luke 14:25-33 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Sausalito CA on September 4, 2016. For the last few years, my wife has been making […]

Holding Together Both the Fire and the Cloud

Readings for the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 15 – Year C) Jeremiah 23:23-29 Psalm 82 Hebrews 11:29 – 12:2 Luke 12:49-56 This sermon was preached at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in San Rafael CA on August 14, 2016. As I have pointed out in the past, this wonderful parish boasts one particular characteristic that I […]

The Bible’s Invitation to Argue with God

Listen to sermon here: The Bible’s Invitation to Argue with God Readings for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 14 – Year C) Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 Psalm 50:1-8, 23-24 Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 Luke 12:32-40 This sermon was preached at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Crockett CA on August 7, 2016. One way that I’ve tried to […]

Gutsy Compassion

Readings for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 10 – Year C) Deuteronomy 30:9-14 Psalm 25:1-9 Colossians 1:1-14 Luke 10:25-37 This sermon was preached at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Danville CA on July 10, 2016. A crowd gathered on the streets, forcing major roads to be shut down. Among the people gathered was an 80-year-old man named Tim, […]

We Plan, God Laughs

Listen to sermon here: We Plan, God Laughs Readings for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 9 – Year C) 2 Kings 5:1-14 Psalm 30 Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Sausalito CA on July 3, 2016. According to the Jewish ‘sage’ Woody Allen, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.” It’s […]

A Son of Thunder Reversed

Listen to sermon here: A Son of Thunder Reversed Readings of the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 8 – Year C) 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20 Galatians 5:1, 13-25 Luke 9:51-62 This sermon was preached at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Crockett CA on June 26, 2016. One of my favorite poets is the seventeenth century Anglican […]