Young Jesus and the Jewish Spirituality of Asking Questions

Readings for the Second Sunday after Christmas Jeremiah 31:7-14 Psalm 84 Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-19a Luke 2:41-52 This sermon was preached at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Novato CA on January 5, 2014 According to Jewish tradition, at a time when Jesus was a young boy, there were two famous rabbis teaching in Jerusalem, Hillel and Shammai. One day, […]

St. Hilda and Maternal Grace

Readings for the Feast Day of Hilda, Abbess of Whitby Proverbs 6:20-23 Psalm 113 Ephesians 4:1-6 Matthew 19:27-29 There is a rich spirituality of motherhood in the English tradition. In his prayers and meditations, Anselm of Canterbury fervently addresses Jesus and even St. Paul as “dear mothers” who hold him and pray for him in the […]

Give Thanks, Get Up and Go!

Readings for the Twentieth First Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 23 Year C) Jeremiah 29:1,4-7 Psalm 66:1-11 2 Timothy 2:8-15 Luke 17:11-19 This sermon was preached at Episcopal Church of the Nativity on October 13, 2013. There are two invitations in the Gospel that I want to share and explore with you this morning. The first […]

Aidan, the Unjust Steward and All That You Can’t Leave Behind

Readings for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 20 Year C) Amos 8:4-7 Psalm 113 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Luke 16:1-13 This sermon was preached at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in San Rafael on September 22, 2013. “Love is not the easy thing, it’s the only baggage you can bring. It’s all that you can’t leave […]

Ember Letter: Pentecost and Bede 2013

Dear Right Reverend J. Jon Bruno, I write to you on the feast day of the Venerable Bede, which is appropriate for several reasons. First, I will be guest preaching on Bede and the Trinity this Sunday at an Episcopal church in the little town of Crockett CA. Second, just a couple days ago, I […]

The Venerable Bede: Dancing with the Trinity

Readings for the First Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday (Year C) Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 Psalm 8 Romans 5:1-5 John 16:12-15 This sermon is to be preached at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Crockett CA on May 26, 2013. One day, Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And his disciples answered […]

Listening Like Lydia

Listen to sermon here: Listening Like Lydia Readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year C) Acts 16:9-15 Psalm 67 Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 John 5:1-9 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Sausalito CA on May 5, 2013. On St. Patrick’s Day, the Marin Episcopal Youth Group played a game called “Driving the Snakes […]

St. Alphege and the Good Shepherds of Boston

Readings for the Feast Day of St. Alphege Today, the Episcopal Church honors St. Alphege, who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury back in the early 11th century. Sometimes called Elphege, Alfege or even Godwin (don’t ask me how Alphege becomes Godwin), this archbishop practiced non-violent resistance against the terrorists of his day: the Vikings. Through […]

The Celtic Way of Embodied Prayer: Mary, Maewyn and MEYG

Listen to Sermon Here: St Patrick Sermon Readings for the Fifth Sunday of Lent (Year C): Isaiah 43:16-21 Psalm 126 Philippians 3:4b-14 John 12:1-8 This sermon was preached at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in San Rafael CA on St. Patrick’s Day 2013. Before England was called England, when it was just an island […]

Ember Letter: Lent 2013

Dear Right Reverend J. Jon Bruno, For Christmas this year, I was given a book called Patches of Godlight, a collection of quotes that inspired the fictional Episcopal priest Father Tim of Jan Karon’s beloved Mitford series. The book prominently displays a quote from one of my favorite poets, the Jewish Buddhist Leonard Cohen. […]