Another Sermon on Trees

Readings for the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany – Year C Jeremiah 17:5-10 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 Luke 6:17-26 Psalm 1 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka on Sunday February 16, 2025. According to Jeremiah and the first Psalm, whose who trust in the Lord and those who delight in the Torah are like a tree […]

Pray for our Prophets

Readings for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany – Year C Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a Luke 4:14-21 Psalm 19 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka on Sunday January 26, 2025. So, a preacher delivered a sermon that was rooted in Scripture, emphasizing God’s love and care for the poor, the oppressed, the […]

We Are All Just Walking Each Other Home

Readings for the Feast of the Epiphany Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:1-12 Matthew 2:1-12 Psalm 72:1-7,10-14 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka on Sunday January 5, 2025. Our Scriptures so often fill me with wonder and bewilderment; and I must say that, apart from Jesus himself, very few characters in the Scriptures fill me […]

Wise Men Still Seek Him: Magi as Descendants of Daniel

This article was written for the January 2025 Chronicle newsletter for Christ Church Eureka. Wise Men Still Seek Him: The Magi as Descendants of My Namesake A couple years ago, parishioner Marty Vega gave me a sweatshirt that her late husband, Daniel, used to wear during this time of year, near Epiphany, when we celebrate the visit […]

Abide in Abba (honoring John Cobb and St. John)

Readings for the First Sunday after Christmas Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 John 1:1-18 Psalm 147 or 147:13-21 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka on Sunday December 29, 2024. Three days ago, on December 26th, the Eve of the Feast Day of St. John the Theologian, we lost another theologian named John: John Boswell […]

Dies Irae

Readings for the Second Sunday of Advent (Year C) Jeremiah 33:14-16 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 Luke 21:25-36 Psalm 25:1-9 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on Sunday December 8, 2024. This week, I was reading and reflecting on today’s Gospel, especially Luke’s words from the prophet Isaiah who says, “Every valley shall be […]

“Look at all the Trees”

Readings for the First Sunday of Advent (Year C) Jeremiah 33:14-16 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 Luke 21:25-36 Psalm 25:1-9 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on Sunday December 1, 2024. Today marks the beginning of a new liturgical year and the first day of the Advent season when we eagerly await and silently […]

the Reign of the Divine voice of Love and Gratitude

Readings for Thanksgiving Day Joel 2:21-27Psalm 1261 Timothy 2:1-7Matthew 6:25-33 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on Thanksgiving Eve on November 27, 2024. Today’s Gospel passage is my favorite biblical passage of all; and I’m grateful that the liturgical “powers that be” have assigned this passage for the Feast of […]

Gustavo Gutiérrez and the Book of Job

Readings for the Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost (Year B – Track 1 – Proper 25) Job 42:1-6, 10-17Psalm 34:1-8, (19-22)Hebrews 7:23-28Mark 10:46-52 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on Sunday October 27, 2024. May the words of my mouth and music of all our hearts be pleasing to you, O Lord, our […]

“Married to Amazement”

Readings for the Wedding of Joanna Lyn Walling and David Michael Odorisio “from what are you running, my brother?” poem by Jonathan Montaldo “Love and Need” by Thomas Merton “Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone – we find it with another. We do not discover the […]