God’s Spiritual Spotter, Amos 8:4–7, Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 20), September 22, 2019 ************************************************************ A new engineering graduate from Michigan State University had the opportunity to do some work for General Motors at their assembly plant. They have to make changes to their assembly lines every year because of the new model changes. At the […]
Jesus is Your Good Shepherd, Ezekiel 34:11–24, Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 19), September 15, 2019 ************************************************************ In our Old Testament Reading, the Lord God says that He shall seek out sheep that have been scattered over the mountains and ravines of Israel. He shall shepherd the flock with justice and not allow the fat and […]
Humbly Exalted, Proverbs 25:2–10; (Luke 14:1–14), Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 17), September 1, 2019 ************************************************************ Today is the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost, meaning that we are halfway through our long journey through the Pentecost season. Our Old Testament reading comes from the book of Proverbs. Only three times in our Lectionary Series, do we get […]
Everyone to the Lord, Isaiah 66:18-23, Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 16), August 25, 2019 ************************************************************ No other Old Testament prophet is quoted as often in the New Testament as the prophet Isaiah. This is probably due to the breadth of topics he covered, and to his frequent descriptions of the coming Messiah and His kingdom, […]
False Prophets Among Us, Jeremiah 23:16-29, Tenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 15), August 18, 2019 ************************************************************ The Old Testament Reading from the book of Jeremiah is a stern warning to false prophets who speak a fashionable message, while their hearers are walking in the stubbornness of their hearts. Even in the Gospel lesson from Saint Luke […]
Fear vs Faith, Genesis 15:1–6, Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 14), August 11, 2019 *********************************************************** Faith seems to be the key word to describe the theme for this Sunday. In our Old Testament lesson, Abram believes God’s promise that he would have an heir. In our Epistle lesson, the nature of abiding faith is defined as […]
A Pity Party of Pessimism, Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:18–26, Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 13), August 4, 2019 ************************************************************ This Sunday has the potential to be a real downer, let’s call it a pity party of pessimism. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity (1). Ecclesiastes brings us down to earth in […]
Prayer, Luke 11:1–13, Seventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 12), July 28, 2019 ************************************************************************* Everybody thinks prayer is a good idea, I have never heard anyone, when told I would pray for them say “please don’t” or “I wish you wouldn’t”. Everyone welcomes prayers on their behalf, or on the behalf of a friend or family member. […]
The Good Samaritan, (Delivered by Mr. Paul Smith), Luke 10:25-37, Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 10), July 14, 2019 ************************************************************ Once there was a wealthy business man who worked in Biloxi. Each day, on his lunch hour, he would walk down the street to eat lunch at Morrison’s Cafeteria, this was before they closed. One day, […]
A Feast Greater than Pignic, Philippians 4:4-13, Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Confirmation, Outdoor Service), July 7, 2019 ************************************************************ 156 years ago this past week, from July 1, 1863 – July 3, 1863, the nation was convulsed in the most divisive time in our history. During those three days of the Civil War, over 50,000 men were […]