Category: Liturgical Feasts and Fasts
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Not 7 Essential Facts Everyone Should Know About Angels – A Sermon on Genesis 28:10-17 for the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels
Something is happening between heaven and earth, between God and us. And it’s happening all the time. The angels of God are ascending and descending. There is traffic, movement, and activity between heaven and earth. What looks to Jacob like empty space, just a good place to spend the night, is actually filled with presence… Read more
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A Litany of the Angels
The following litany was prepared for the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, September 29. It is based on adaptations from several resources but primarily St. Augustine’s Prayer Book. God the Father, Creator of the Angels, Have mercy on us. God the Son, Lord of the Angels, Have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit,… Read more
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Stop Thinking About God – A Sermon for the Feast of the Holy Trinity
What I am about to tell you may sound a bit strange. It might even sound as if I am being unfaithful and inappropriate, especially today, the Feast of the Holy Trinity. I think it’s important, however, even necessary. Ready? Stop thinking about God. You probably didn’t come here today expecting to be told to… Read more
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Living Under the Influence – A Sermon on Acts 2:1-21 for the Feast of Pentecost
“But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’” They sure looked drunk. They sounded drunk. They acted drunk. But Peter denied it. “We’re not drunk,” he said, “it’s only nine o’clock in the morning.” So which is it? Were they sober as Peter said or were they filled with new wine? (Acts… Read more
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Lamentations for Holy and Great Saturday
In a grave they laid Thee, O my life and my Christ; and the armies of the Angels were sore amazed, as they sang the praise of Thy submissive love. How, O Life, canst Thou die? Or abide in a grave? For Thou dost destroy the kingdom of death, O Lord, and Thou raisest up… Read more
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On the Feast of the Annunciation, Speaking the Creator into the World
“In the days of creation of the world, when God was uttering his living and mighty “Let there be,” the word of the Creator brought creatures into the world. But on that day, unprecedented in the history of the world, when Mary uttered her brief and obedient, “So be it,” I hardly dare say what… Read more
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Oscar Romero – In Life and Death his Blood was “a Seed of Freedom.”
“A bishop will die, but the Church which is the people will never perish.” Those words of Archbishop Oscar Romero proved prophetic. He was shot to death on March 24, 1980 while celebrating Mass at a chapel near his cathedral. The previous day he had preached a sermon calling on soldiers to disobey orders that violated… Read more
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Taking Ourselves More Seriously than God – An Ash Wednesday Sermon, Mt. 6:1-6, 16-21
“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them, for then you have no reward from your father in heaven.” (Mt. 6:1-6, 16-21; Ash Wednesday) Don’t sound the trumpet when you give alms. Don’t pray standing on the street corner attracting attention to yourself. Don’t show off by your fasting.… Read more
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Arvo Pärt’s Nunc dimittis
Nunc dimittis, the Song of Simeon, from the Feast of the Presentation: Lord, you now have set your servant free to go in peace as you have promised; For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, whom you have prepared for all the world to see: A Light to enlighten the nations, and the… Read more
Interrupting the Silence 