Sunday, September 17, 2023 – Pentecost 16
Genesis 50:15-21; Psalm 103:8-13; Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 18:21-35 The Rev. Drew Brislin “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but […]
Sunday, September 10, 2023 – Pentecost 15
Ezekiel 33:7-11; Psalm 119:33-40; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 18:15-20 The Rev. Candice B. Frazer For years I have lamented the billboard on I-65 North, “Go to church or the Devil will get you” as a sign of our backward, judgment-oriented relationship to God. It seems more threatening than inviting, making a claim that we should be more scared […]
Sunday, September 3, 2023 – Pentecost 14
Jeremiah 15:15-21; Psalm 26:1-8; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28 Mr. Chris Paul, Seminarian Get Behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me! How many of us go about our days thinking we are on solid ground? Everything is going great, and we are on a firm foundation that will hold us on our journey. And then, without […]
Sunday, August 27, 2023 – Pentecost 13
Isaiah 51:1-6; Psalm 138; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20 The Rev. Candice B. Frazer Petunia, one of our basset hounds, has more nicknames than any dog we have ever had. As a puppy, all she did was tinkle and toot—so we called her “P-Toot”. We’ve read that dogs learn their names faster if they end in a “y” sound, […]
Sunday, August 20, 2023 – Pentecost 12
Isaiah 56:1,6-8; Psalm 67 Romans 11:1-2a,29-32; Matthew 15:21-28 The Rev. Drew Brislin I have mentioned before that one of mine and Allison’s favorite things to do here in Montgomery is to support our local neighborhood theater The Capri. Having run into some of you there, I know we are not alone in our affinity for […]
Sunday, August 13, 2023 – Pentecost 11
I Kings 19:9-18; Psalm 85:8-13; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33 The Rev. Candice B. Frazer In the name of the One Holy and Undivided Trinity. Amen Jesus and Moses head out to fish. They are about to rent a canoe when Moses says: “Jesus, can’t you still walk on water? Why not just walk out there?” So Jesus takes […]
Sunday, August 6, 2023 – Transfiguration Sunday
Exodus 34:29-35; Psalm 99:5-9 2 Peter 1:13-21; Luke 9:28-36 Mr. Chris Paul, Seminarian We would usually be celebrating the 10th Sunday after Pentecost today, but today we get a break in our “ordinary time” routine that we have been in for the past several weeks. Today is Transfiguration Sunday. A feast day that celebrates Jesus’ radical change […]
Sunday, July 30, 2023 – Pentecost 9
1 Kings 3:5-12; Psalm 119:129-136 Romans 8:26-39; Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 The Rev. Drew Brislin July can often be an especially taxing month for me emotionally. My father’s birthday is July 21st and so he would have turned seventy-five this year and then just a few days later, on July 27th I remember him on the anniversary of […]
Sunday, July 23, 2023 – Pentecost 8
Isaiah 44:6-8; Psalm 86:11-17; Romans 8:12-25; Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 The Rev. Candice B. Frazer Storytelling has always been a significant part of every culture. It is how we share our traditions, how we learn, and it is how we shape society. Jesus understood the power of stories in helping people to reframe their context. His parables were not meant […]
Sunday, July 16, 2023 – Pentecost 7
Isaiah 55:10-13; Psalm 65:9-14; Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9,18-23 Mr. Chris Paul, Seminarian When I read the readings for today, I was immediately taken back to growing up as a child on the great plains of Western Nebraska in a very small country town of around 1200 people. The livelihood of this town was of course, farming. Everyone […]