Author: the Rev. Andrew Rutledge

I speak to you in the name of one God: Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. Amen.  While preparing this sermon, it became apparent that no matter how much or how long I try, nothing I say can convey just how much this community means to me: how much I love you and how much you […]Read more “Keep Saying “Yes””

As many of you know, I recently went to Cancun, Mexico for a beach vacation. For many reasons, the beach has been, and will always be my preferred spot for vacation. The beach, to me, is the perfect place to relax and let the sun and waves literally and metaphorically wash over me—cleansing my body, […]Read more “Baptism of Our Lord”

Sermon Preached at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Chicago, Proper 29, Christ the King, Year B: 2 Samuel 23:1-7; Psalm 132:1-13; Revelation 1:4b-8; John 18:33-37 For our Revelation passage this morning, “To him who loves us…made us to be a kingdom, priests serving our God…be all glory and dominion…” I speak to you in the name […]Read more ““When Did You Know?””

Ruth says, “Do not press me to leave you…” When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. I speak to you in the name of one God: Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. Amen. She saw that she was determined…Determination, according to the Google, “is a positive […]Read more “Determination that Redeems”

“And he took them up in his arms, laid his hand on them, and blessed them.” I speak to you in the name of one God: Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. Amen. “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” […]Read more “Transforming Hard Hearts into Soft Hearts”

I speak to you in the name of one God, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. Amen + The way forward requires remembering the wisdom of the past…the way forward requires remembering the wisdom of the past. This summer, I was gifted a journaling companion entitled “The Next Right Thing,” by author Emily P. Freeman. It […]Read more “The Way Forward Requires Remembering the Wisdom of the Past”

“And he was amazed at their unbelief.” I speak to you in the name of one God, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. Amen + This morning, we hear about Jesus returning home after some time away—and not just any normal time, but time in which he has been transformed into more of who God made […]Read more “Turning Unbelief Into Belief”

Sermon Preached at All Saints’ Chicago (virtually and in person) on Sunday, June 13, 2021. 3rd Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 6): Mark 4:26-34 I speak to you in the name of one God, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. Amen + I’ve recently started watching a new PBS series called “Human: The World Within.” It is […]Read more “Exercising the Muscle of Faith”

I speak to you in the name of one God, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. Amen + “All are welcome, because all belong…All are welcome, because all belong” For decades, the Episcopal Church has used the slogan “The Episcopal Church Welcomes You.” You can find this slogan on almost every Episcopal church street sign with […]Read more “All are Welcome, because All Belong”

I speak to you in the name of one God, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. Amen + From today’s Gospel, “While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering.” People experience surprises in different ways. Some people love surprises…they love the anticipation of knowing something is about to happen but not exactly what that […]Read more “The God of Surprises”

I speak to you in the name of one God, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. Amen + Alleluia, Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!  It is so right that we proclaim and shout this message from the mountain tops this morning, because friends, we need Easter more this year than ever before…I […]Read more “Transformation Begins in the Darkness”

I speak to you in the name of one God, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. Amen + We often think of Lent as a time of giving things up. This year, I’ve heard a number of people giving up alcohol, or chocolate, or meat. The hope is that in giving something up we push things […]Read more “Give in to God”

I speak to you in the name of one God, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. Amen + From our Genesis passage this morning, “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, “No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham. As for Sarai your […]Read more “Continue to Covenant- The Story is far from Over”

My friends and fellow classmates from seminary have an ongoing text chain titled, “things they didn’t teach us in seminary.” During the pandemic, the number of entries, as you can imagine, has drastically increased with things like “becoming a Zoom expert, videographer, and sound editor,” but it was today’s gospel lesson, where we hear of […]Read more “Asking for the Holy Spirit’s Help”

From the Epiphany Hymn: “Star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright; westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light!” I speak to you in the name of One God, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. Amen + I remember what I was doing when I first heard about the Christmas […]Read more “The Perfect Light is Always Here”

I speak to you in the name of One God, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. Amen When was the last time you trusted someone with something you consider to be priceless? Something or someone that you love and means more to you than anything else in the world? Since COVID has basically cancelled all plans […]Read more “Don’t Bury Your Gifts…Use Them!”

And he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Today is All Saints’ Day. For this community, it is our namesake; it is our patronal feast day. It is a day of celebration, where we would normally walk through the front doors […]Read more “Pause & Pivot”