Simply the Sermon for December 21, 2025: Fourth Sunday of Advent

Our texts for Sunday, December 21, the 4th Sunday of Advent are: Isaiah 7:10-16;  Romans 1:1-7; and Matthew 1:18-25.

Today Isaiah prophesies that a young woman will bear a son and name him Emmanuel. Today's gospel reading is Matthew’s account of the annunciation (how Joseph was told the back story of Mary's surprising and completely faithful pregnancy) and birth of the one named Emmanuel, God-with-us. During these final days of Advent we pray, “O come, O come, Emmanuel,” a beloved hymn based on the O Antiphons, ancient prayers appointed for the seven days preceding Christmas. On this final Sunday of Advent we prepare to celebrate the birth of the one born to save us from the power of sin and death.

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Simply the Sermon for December 14, 2025: Third Sunday of Advent

Our texts for Sunday, December 14 are: Isaiah 35:1-10; 
Psalmody - Luke 1:46b-55; James 5:7-10; and Matthew 11:2-11. 

A note of joyful expectation marks today’s worship. Isaiah announces that the desert shall rejoice and blossom, Mary's Magnificat prophecies a societal upending, and Jesus points to the unexpected and transforming signs of God’s reign. We wait with patience for the coming of the Lord, even as we rejoice at his presence among us this day: in word and holy supper, in church and in our homes, in silent reflection and in works of justice and love. We pray that God would open our eyes and ears to the wonders of Christ’s advent among us even as we contemplate what kind of Savior we are expecting.

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Simply the Sermon for December 7, 2025: Second Sunday of Advent

Our Bible texts for Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025 are: Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13; and Matthew 3:1-12. The focus for this liturgical year is on the gospel of Matthew, interspersed with the occasional reading from John. Reading through the gospel of Matthew in particular might be a great way to start off the season of Advent and our new year.

At the heart of our Advent preparation stands John the Baptist, who calls us to repent and make a new beginning. As the darkness increases we turn toward the approaching light of Christ. For Christians he is the root of Jesse, the righteous judge who welcomes all, especially the poor and oppressed of the earth. We wait with hope for that day when the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and there will be no more hurt or destruction. From the Lord’s table we are sent in the spirit of John the Baptist to proclaim that in Christ the kingdom of God has come near. Through his nearness we are able to burst forth from the hard shell of ego and self-protection so that the tender, vulnerable grain of humanity can be freed to nourish the world.

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Simply the Sermon for November 30, 2025: First Sunday of Advent

This beautiful Advent season calls us to not only fill our stockings and homes with presents, or to only busy our lives with activities and events...but to prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ.  Actually, two "comings".  To ponder once again at the wonder of the Word made flesh.  The Christ of the manger.  AND the second coming of Christ...which may seem a little more mysterious and obscure.  When will that be, we ask?  Many have tried to figure that out.  Perhaps we should be asking instead, "what are we to be doing in the meantime?"  Pastor Russ gladly filled in for Pastor Diana on this first Sunday of Advent and shares his thoughts.

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Simply the Sermon for November 23, 2025: Christ the King Sunday

Our worship for Sunday, November 23 was a bit out of the ordinary. We still had three readings: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14; Revelation 1:4-8; and John 18:33-37 but beyond that, things were a little all over the place. As this is the last Sunday of the Church year it was a little like New Year's Eve so we walked our way through a standard church year, both so that we could remember the year gone by and look forward to the rhythm of the year to come. But since the church year doesn't quite flow like a standard church service things felt a little out of sorts. The gospel came before the second reading, communion came before the offering, there was NO SERMON, and we sang more hymns than we would sing on a month of Sundays, but it was all for a good reason: it helped us keep our eyes on the story of God. 

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Simply the Sermon for November 16, 2025: Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost

Our readings for Sunday, November 16 are: Malachi 4:1-2a; Psalm 98; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13; Luke 21:5-19.

The end is nearer than it has ever been and the times are scary. There is no doubt about it. The warnings are dire. The tone of today’s texts seems ominous. But the baptized know how to live in the meantime. The baptized are strengthened for the living of these days in word and sacrament and community. The baptized rally around the invitation of the apostle: “Do not be weary in doing what is right.” We live as the people of God, witnessing to the goodness that has been shared with us. 

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Simply the Sermon for November 9, 2025: Twenty Second Sunday after Pentecost

Our readings for Sunday, November 9 are: Job 19:23-27a; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17; Luke 20:27-38. 

Our reading today from the gospel of Luke sounds particularly interesting to our 21st century North American ears and sensibilities, but different cultures had rules and laws that were appropriate to them. Reading about a culture where the concept of eternal life was granted not through God but through male children who would carry on their father's lineage takes a bit of clarifying to understand. The Sadducees were using what they understood as a newfangled understanding of eternal life as a way to trick Jesus into denigrating other factions of Jewish religious hierarchy. But Jesus didn't fall for it. Instead, he revealed to the Sadducees and those around him that the reality of life eternal in God was so much deeper and fulfilling than even our best, most transcendent experiences here on earth! No one owns anyone but instead we live in love, grace, and peace. 

Share the good news!

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Simply the Sermon for November 2, 2025: All Saints Sunday

Our readings for All Saints Sunday, November 2 are: Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18; Ephesians 1:11-23; and Luke 6:20-31. 

In holy baptism God makes saints out of sinners. In holy communion God forgives the sins of all the saints. In worship today we give thanks for all the saints “who from their labors rest.” In the same breath we petition our God for the strength to hear and to heed the admonitions of Jesus in today’s gospel. Sealed by the Spirit and sustained by the Savior’s body and blood, we live with joy as God gives us breath, to the praise of God’s glory.

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Simply the Sermon for October 26, 2025: Reformation Sunday

Our texts for Reformation Sunday, October 26 are Jeremiah 31:31-34; Romans 3:19-28; and John 8:31-36.

Rooted in the past and growing into the future, the church must always be reformed in order to live out the love of Christ in an ever-changing world. We celebrate the good news of God’s grace, that Jesus Christ sets us free every day to do this life-transforming work. Trusting in the freedom given to us in baptism, we pray for the church, that Christians will unite more fully in worship and mission. The grace of God, through Christ, for our neighbor can be our focus.

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Simply the Sermon for October 19, 2025: Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Our Bible texts for Sunday, October 19, 2025 are Genesis 32:22-31; Psalm 121; and Luke 18:1-8.

Pray always. Do not lose heart. This is Christ’s encouragement in the gospel today. Wrestle with the word. Remember your baptism again and again. Come regularly to Christ’s table. Persistence in our every encounter with the divine will be blessed.

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Simply the Sermon for October 12, 2025: Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Our texts to Sunday, October 12, 2025 are 2 Kings 5:1-15c, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, and Luke 17:11-19.

It’s a miracle! Multiple miracles! The waters of holy baptism have healed us. The body and blood of Jesus in holy communion have made us whole. We have died with Christ and been raised with him. For all this we have returned to offer thanks. From this place, wherever we are in our wanderings between the borders and boundaries of life, we are sent on our way rejoicing to share the good news.

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Simply the Sermon for October 5, 2025: Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

Our readings for Sunday, October 5 are Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4; 2 Timothy 1:1-14; Luke 17:5-10.

Our sermon today takes the 2 Timothy reading as a jumping off point for the introduction of our new presiding bishop, Yehiel Curry on the day following his installation. We are nurtured and fed by the faith of Jesus and of those stalwart saints in our own lives. A little faith goes a long way is Jesus’ point in the gospel. A mustard seed’s-worth of faith has miraculous potential. The patience, tenacity, and endurance required for the life of faith are the blessings received in holy baptism, holy communion, and the word read and proclaimed in this assembly. Anticipate them. Receive them with thanksgiving.

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Simply the Sermon for September 28, 2025: Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Our readings for Sunday, September 28 are Amos 6:1a, 4-7; 1 Timothy 6:6-19; and Luke 16:19-31. 

Consideration of and care for those in need (especially those “at our gate,” visible to us, of whom we are aware) is an essential component of good stewardship. It is in the sharing of wealth that we avoid the snare of wealth. It is the one whom death could not hold—who comes to us risen from the dead—who can free us from the death grip of greed. We are not haunted but helped by the love and presence of a God who returned to us from the dead to welcome us into love and forgiveness for the sake of all humanity and creation.

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Simply the Sermon for September 21, 2025: Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Our Bible readings for Sunday, September 21, 2025 are from: Amos 8:4-7;1 Timothy 2:1-7; and Luke 16:1-13.

Our text from the gospel of Luke is considered to be one of the odder sayings of Jesus. It seems to come down to the grace of our Savior who finds us, celebrates us, and welcomes us into a new relationship with God and with each other. Apart from the generosity of God we have nothing. By God's gracious favor we have everything we need and more than enough to share. 

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Simply the Sermon for September 14, 2025: Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Our readings for Sunday, September 14 are: Exodus 32:7-14; Psalm 51:1-10; Luke 15:1-10 

The grumbling of the religious leaders in today’s gospel is actually our holy hope: This Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them. That our God seeks and saves the lost is not only a holy hope, it is our only hope. Thanks be to God.

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Simply the Sermon for September 7, 2025: Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Our texts for Sunday, September 7, 2025 are: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Philemon 1-21; and Luke 14:25-33.

Called to contemplate the cost of discipleship, we might be helped by translating Paul’s request to Philemon into our prayer of the day: Refresh my heart in Christ. Strengthened by the company and forgiveness of Christ in holy communion and recalling God’s grace in remembrance of baptism, we can be strengthened in this hour to “choose life”—to choose life in God as our own. We can also take this opportunity to evaluate the efficacy of our current practices; are they serving the community and the mission of God in this place? How can we release what no longer serves that mission and commence with new avenues of worship and service?

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Simply the Sermon for August 31, 2025: Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Our readings for Sunday, August 31, 2025 are Psalm 112; Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16; and Luke 14:1, 7-14. 

Invited and inviting—that is the nature of God's call to the church. By God’s grace in holy baptism we have a place at Christ’s banquet table. When, by the power of that same Spirit, humility and mutual love continue among us, the church can be more inviting still. In God's kin-dom the rules of the world are turned upside down; like Mary sang out, the proud are scattered in their conceit, the mighty are brought down from their thrones, etc. This is shocking, even angering for some folks, but for those in need (financially, emotionally, spiritually) it is what saves us all.

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Simply the Sermon for August 24, 2025: Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Our texts for Sunday, August 24 are: Isaiah 58:9b-14; Hebrews 12:18-29; and Luke 13:10-21.

Remember the sabbath day. Call the sabbath a delight. This is the Lord’s day, and the Lord will do for us what the Lord does: feed us, forgive us, help and heal us. Rejoice at all the wonderful things God is doing.  These are fabulous reminders to recognize God in all God's blessings . Remember that you are never lost from God and healing comes through both God and community. Even in those days that you are most weary, God sees you and knows you and loves you.

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Simply the Sermon for August 17, 2025: Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

Our readings for Sunday, August 17 are: Jeremiah 23:23-29; Hebrews 11:29—12:2 and Luke 12:49-56. 

The word of God is a refining fire, purifying and preparing us for the work that we are called to do in caring for our neighbor. Jesus is the great divide in human history. He invites our undivided attention and devotion. Today in worship we are surrounded by a great “cloud of witnesses.” In the word and in holy communion we are invited yet again to look to Jesus, “the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”

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Simply the Sermon for August 10, 2025: Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Our readings for Sunday, August 10 are Genesis 15:1-6; Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16; and Luke 12:32-40.

Where is your treasure? What do you use those treasures for? In whom do you trust? Jesus says, I am the thief who sneaks into your house, your heart, when you least expect it. I come to remove the lust for those treasures that do not serve the neighbor so that you may find hope and joy and grace in servanthood.

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