The Water and the Blood

Readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year B) This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on Sunday May 5, 2024. “This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, […]

St. John The Good Shepherd

Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year B) This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on Good Shepherd Sunday April 21, 2024. On this Good Shepherd Sunday, we continue reading through the First Epistle of St. John, who is the traditional author of those beloved and bucolic words attributed to Jesus, “I […]

Death, Be Not Proud

Readings for Easter Sunday (Year B) This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on Easter Sunday March 31, 2024. Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia! Christos anesti! Alithos anesti! Christus surréxit! Surréxit vere! Alleluia! Easter Sunday is the day that gives meaning to all other days. Without Easter, there […]

Good Friday & Beeswax candles

Readings for Good Friday Genesis 22:1-18 Psalm 22 Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 John 19:1-37 This sermon was preached on Good Friday at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on March 29, 2024. We use beeswax candles at out Peace Altar, the altar that we set up two years ago when we began praying for the people of Ukraine. […]

Snake-on-a-Stick Sunday

Readings for the Fourth Sunday in Lent This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka on Sunday March 10, 2024. “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” There’s a Facebook meme that comes around during […]

The Name That Charms Our Fears

Readings for the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka on Sunday January 28, 2024. Six years ago today, I preached on these same readings on my first Sunday here, readings that proclaim the holy and awesome and life-giving power of God’s Name and the Name of Jesus Christ […]

New Year Reflections On the Saint of Rievaulx

This article was written for the January 2024 Chronicle newsletter for Christ Church Eureka. This January, I begin my seventh year at Christ Church (Jan 28), and I also celebrate the 10-year anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood (Jan 11). Since I was ordained on the Eve of the Feast Day of St. Aelred of Rievaulx […]

Metta Force Be With You

This article was written for the January 2024 Chronicle newsletter for Christ Church Eureka. 2023 is a significant year for me as I celebrate my 40th birthday, my 5-year anniversary at Christ Church Eureka, and begin my 10th year as an Episcopal priest. I was ordained to the priesthood in early January on the Eve of the […]

Seabury and the Patriotic Practice of Stewardship

This article was written for the October 2022 Chronicle newsletter for Christ Church Eureka. This March will be the 240th anniversary of the election of the first Episcopal bishop Samuel Seabury, the namesake of one of my Yorkies. The first Anglican worship service held on American soil took place in California in 1579, but Seabury wasn’t […]

Wedding Homily for David & Martha

Readings for the Wedding of David William Harty and Martha Buckle Shear: Tobit 8:5b-8 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Matthew 5:1 – 10 This sermon was preached at the Wedding of David Harty and Martha Shear on June 21, 2014 at Ru’s Farm at Healdsburg Country Gardens in Healdsburg CA. Over the last few months, I have […]