Sermons

+In the Name of God: who was, and is, and is to come.  Amen. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.  Isaiah 61:4 Good morning! I don’t know if you have ever noticed this, but things don’t […]Read more “What Does True Restoration Look Like?”

When the kingdom is coming, the sky will darken, the stars will fall, the earth will shake. When the kingdom is coming, it will be like leaves growing on a fig tree? Leaves growing. Our gospel reading today talks about the end times, the signs that the Kingdom of God is drawing near. We get […]Read more “The Buds of God’s Kingdom are All Around”

In the past few weeks I have found myself reflecting on two seemingly disparate statements intended, I think, to rally the troops as we once again ramp up the fight against this pandemic.  The first of the two  appeared last spring very early in our journey with COVID, simply “# in this together.”  I remember, […]Read more “What Will It Take?”

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!”

I come to you in the name of the One on whom all our hope is founded, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN BREATHE. What a week it’s been. What a year it’s been since we last began this season of Advent. Waking up early Wednesday morning, after a long day working the polls, and […]Read more “Why Wait?”

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”

In the Name of God: who was, and is, and is to come. Amen. One of [the Pharisees], a lawyer, asked [Jesus] a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your […]Read more “Vote… Faithfully”

For a dozen years, All Saints’ has enjoyed a unique relationship with congregations in Mexico led by Padre Bayron Chanchavac. Parishioners have visited the churches where Padre Bayron has served as the priest, and he has visited All Saints’. You can read about the extent of our relationship here. Because of the pandemic, Padre Bayron’s visit to […]Read more “Mexico Outreach Sunday”

In the Name of God: who was, and is, and is to come. Amen. When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Come make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us […]Read more “God is Guiding Us Through the Wilderness”

“Do not worry about your life,” says Jesus in today’s reading from Matthew.  Clearly Jesus did not know about 2020 – the number that while still meaning visual acuity is now more frequently used with a sigh – #2020 – yet another disappointment, tragedy, natural disaster, or other unexpected event. “Don’t worry” – are you […]Read more “Pet Blessing Sermon”

From our Exodus passage today, “Is the Lord among us or not?” I speak to you in the name of one God, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. Amen. “Things are bleak. As I look around, all I see is pain, suffering, and hardship. I can’t remember a time when life was this difficult. My life […]Read more “Is God Among Us…or Not?”

Good morning, everyone. For those of you who do not know me, I am Will Nifong. As the husband of your Music Director, I am sometimes a gently coerced member of the choir on special occasions and an always-happy celebrant at the Pet Blessing and other special moments at All Saints. Most recently, I enjoyed […]Read more “Quaecumque Sunt Veram”

In the Name of God: who was, and is, and is to come. Amen. Then Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.’  Matthew 18:21-22 […]Read more “The Math of Forgiveness”

I speak to you in the name of one God, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. Amen. The last nursing job I had before going to seminary was as a nurse manager of a recovery room. When I started my job, I had no clue how to “manage” people but thankfully, my hospital sent me to […]Read more “We are ALL a Good “Fit””

In the Name of God: who was, and is, and is to come.  Amen. Then the Lord said, ‘I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them. . .’ […]Read more “A Way to New Life”

“But the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live.” The midwives’ names were Shiphrah and Puah. Remember the names of the midwives. I speak to you in the name of one God, Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit. Amen. + As many of you […]Read more “Remember the Names of the Midwives”

“But [the Canaanite woman] came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ He answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Matthew 15:25-27 + In the Name of God: […]Read more “Hope that We Can Change, Too”

I speak to you in the name of one God, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. + Amen. The Gospel story of Jesus walking on water is one of the best-known lessons in the New Testament. We know this story well because we hear it often. Jesus’ account of walking on water is in three of […]Read more “When in Doubt, Get Out of the Boat”

(Sermon recorded in the Parish Hall among thousands of paper bags used on Tuesday’s RCS pantry) Here, in this all too familiar space, best known to me as the place where I regularly meet the nine o’clock choir members to warm up and rehearse for service, the place where we catch up and connect during […]Read more “Pass it, Share it, Give it Away”

I come to you in the name of the God who creates, redeems, and sustains us. AMEN Good morning!  We’ve spent the last few weeks hearing parables from the Gospel of Matthew –  parables about ordinary things – seeds, mustard seeds, pearls, and yeast. Today’s verses include five parables – all worthy of a sermon in […]Read more “Sourdough Starter, John Lewis and the Reign of God”