Author: Michael K. Marsh
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Keeping Our Appointment With Life – A Sermon On Luke 2:22-40
“Shut up. Suit up. Show up.” Those six words are the daily mantra of a psychologist named James Hollis. He says them to himself as he rides the elevator down to his car each morning. (Hollis, Living Between Worlds, 132) With the first he’s telling himself “to stop whining and complaining” (Ibid.). It’s his recognition Read more
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It’s A Question Of Consistency – A Sermon On Luke 4:14-21
One of the things I’ve always tried to be with you is consistent. I want who you get on Sunday to be who you get on Monday, Tuesday, the day after, and the one after that. I want what you see in and hear from me to be consistent with the gospel week after week. Read more
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What’s Your Water To Wine Story? – A Sermon On John 2:1-11
So what do you make of today’s gospel (John 2:1-11)? Did Jesus really turn water into wine? If so, how did he do that? And what do we have to do to get a refill? I think those are the kind of questions we often bring to stories like this. But I wonder if they Read more
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Becoming All Flame – A Sermon On Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Today is the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus. But I’m more interested in your baptism. If you don’t remember it, that’s okay. You can still tell a story about your baptism. And if you haven’t yet been baptized in the Church, that’s okay too. You can still tell a story about your baptism. I’m Read more
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All They Could Do Was Follow The Star – An Epiphany Sermon On Matthew 2:1-12
I’m going to begin by telling you about some epiphanies I’ve had. I offer them not so much to tell you about myself but as an invitation for you to connect to the epiphanies in your life. They may be a little different from what you are used to when you think of an epiphany. Read more
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Spoiler Alert: Christmas Happens In The Real World – A Sermon On Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
I think today’s gospel (Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23) should have come with a spoiler alert. So here it is. Are you ready? Spoiler Alert: Christmas happens in the real world; not in the candlelight of a silent night, and not away in a manger. Here’s why I say that: Today’s gospel spoils whatever sentimental or romantic Read more
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God’s First Sacrament – A Christmas Sermon On John 1:1-18
“And the Word became flesh and lived among us.” That’s the Christmas story St. John tells in today’s gospel (John 1:1-18) and it’s very different from the one we heard from St. Luke on Christmas Eve (Luke 2:1-20). One is not better than the other. They’re just different and we need both. Luke tells us Read more
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There’s Something About This Day – A Christmas Day Sermon On Luke 2:8-20
“The shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place.’” There’s something about this day like no other day. I’ve told you this before but I’ll say it again. Christmas Day is one of my most favorite days in the church year. It is simple, Read more
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Our Original Blessing – A Christmas Eve Sermon On Luke 2:1-20
“To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:1-20) That is the angel’s “good news of great joy for all the people.” It is the summation of Christmas. It is the heart of the Christmas story. What more needs to be said? What Read more
Interrupting the Silence 