Shepherds

Let it Be

Not the Light

The Beginning

First Sunday of Advent

Christ the King Sunday

You are Children of Light

All Saints Sunday

Bishop Andrew Dietsche's Confirmation Sermon at Zion

The Denarius

Gnashing Teeth in the Outer Darkness

Crisis in Leadership

Authority

 

Generous

Resentments

Conflict Management Accoding to Jesus

Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows

Our Diocesan Bishop, the Right Rev. Andrew Dietsche, will be coming to Zion on October 26th to confirm, receive, and reaffirm the baptismal vows of anyone who desires this renewed commitment to Christ in our community.  I encourage all of us to consider what this step means.  According to our Book of Common Prayer,
* Confirmation is the rite in which we express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop. In addition,
* It is required of those to be confirmed that they have been baptized, are sufficiently instructed in the Christian Faith, are penitent for their sins, and are ready to affirm their confession of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
    Theoretically, we are all “sufficiently instructed” and are penitent and ready, at a moment’s notice, to receive the Bishop’s Confirmation blessing.  However, I enjoy teaching Confirmation Class so much that I am asking all interested parishioners to come to a 6-week class, on Wednesday evenings from 7pm to 8:15pm beginning on September 17th in the Rectory Conference room.
    So, what is Reception and who is eligible?  Anyone who has come to Zion from a different Christian denomination (like Lutheran, Baptist, or Methodist) or from the Catholic or Orthodox Church (the latter two groups do not consider themselves to be a “denomination” at all, but each considers itself the original, or True Church). 
    And, what is Reaffirmation?  This is just what it sounds like - any of us who have already been baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal Church, but would like to reaffirm that commitment in a public and meaningful way should take the class and receive the laying on of hands.
    Why is this an important step? Most of us were baptized and confirmed at a young age and have forgotten, or never knew, the reasons why Episcopalians do the strange things that we do.  If you ever wondered why our service is similar to the Roman Catholic service; or why some of us cross ourselves and some don’t; or why we say the Creeds; or what the word, “Episcopalian” really means; or what the seven types of prayer are and why we use them every week in our Holy Eucharist, etc, etc, then you would benefit from taking this class.  You would also find consolation, encouragement and joy from kneeling at the rail and receiving the Bishop’s hands on your head, as he says, “May the Holy Spirit, who has begun a good work in you, direct and uphold you in the service of Christ and his kingdom. Amen.”  And, of course, there will be celebrating and congratulations and cake.

The Ministry of Baptism

One of the reasons we celebrate the Baptism liturgy during our main Sunday morning worship service is so we can welcome the entire baptismal family into the inclusive and ever-loving Church of Christ.  Private baptisms (as I was baptized in Beverly Hills, CA) didn’t allow the parish to welcome me as the most important Christian in the room.  It may seem that we are showing the family what a healthy church looks like, but it’s really the other way around.

We, as habitual Episcopalians, run the risk of forgetting who we really are, and what is vitally important to us as Christians.  As we honor the child or adult being baptized we are required to say aloud the things we believe, and why we believe them.  Will we do all in our power to support these persons in their life in Christ?  We will, with God’s help.

Note what we don’t say: we don’t ask if they will go up to communion.  We don’t make them promise to join our congregation.  We don’t require that they stay in touch with us.  We do, however, offer them cake and camaraderie after the service.  We want to thank them for giving us the opportunity to renew our own baptismal vows.  We pray that they will remain faithful Christians, in whatever community they choose.  The ministry of baptism is the core of our faith.  That is why we keep an open and water-filled font in the church as we worship.  We must never forget our own baptism.  We were washed clean of our sins, born again, and marked as Christ’s own forever.  That is our deepest and most magnificent gift. 

Jesus and Peter

Sermon from Sunday, August 31, 2014 about Jesus and Peter, rebukes, challenges, and metanoia:

Peter the Rock

Sermon from Sunday, August 17 about talking back to Jesus and testing your faith; from Matthew 15:21-28.

Walking on Water

 Sermon for August 10, 2014:

Jesus and the Feast

Sermon about Jesus feeding five thousand people:

Kingdom Parables

Sermon about the Kingdom of Heaven parables in Matthew, baptism, women's ordination, and the unruly Holy Spirit:

Evil

Sermon about sorting the bad from the good in the Kingdom of Heaven, from Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43.

The Sower

Sermon on Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 on the Parable of the Sower:

My Yoke is Easy

Sermon on Matthew 11:16-16, 25-30 about giving up the illusion of control over others lives.

Abraham, Isaac, and the Sacrifice

Sermon for Sunday, June 29:

Abraham and Hagar

Sermon on Gen 21:8-21 about Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar

What our Episcopalian youth are doing in Rome

This last Sunday we didn't get a film of the sermon (don't ask) but I found this one today which is very inspiring.  Since I was just in Rome last month, I was fascinated to see what I missed.  And I was so close!

See what you think:  http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2014/06/19/video-one-young-adultand-a-roman-refugee-center/

Pentecost Spirit

Sermon for Pentecost on Acts 2:1-21 and John 14:8-17

Ascension Sunday

Sermon on Acts 1:6-14 and John 17:1-11

I Am the Gate

Sermon on John 10:1-10 about God as our Shepherd and Jesus as our Gate

Inviting Jesus to Supper

Sermon on Luke 24:13-35 about the walk to Emmaus:

The Locked Room

Easter 2 Sermon on John 20:19-31 about believing in the risen Christ:

Easter Morning

Someone has taken away my Lord!

Sermon on John 20:1-18 about the empty tomb and what to believe:

Hosanna!

 Sermon for Palm Sunday about Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and putting Holy Week in perspective.

Lazarus Come Out!

Sermon on John 11:1-45 about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead:

The Blind Man

Sermon on John 9:1-41 about Jesus, the blind man, and becoming One Who Sees:

The Woman at the Well

Sermon on John 4:5-42 about Jesus encountering a woman from Samaria at Jacob's Well.

Nicodemus the Teacher

Sermon on John 3:1-17 about Nicodemus

Testing in the Wilderness

Sermon for Sunday, Lent 1, on Matthew 4:1-11 about Jesus in the Wilderness.

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Dust and Ashes

Sermon for Ash Wednesday on Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Jesus, Moses, and Elijah

Sermon for the Last Sunday of Epiphany (the Transfiguration) on Matthew 17:1-9

Be Perfect

Sermon for February 23 on Matthew 5:38-48 about turning the other cheek, running the extra mile, and being perfect.

Heart Language

Sermon on Matthew 5:21-37 about anger, reconciliation, fidelity, and keeping promises.

Simeon and Anna

Sermon for the Presentation of Our Lord, Luke 2:22-40

Fishing Nets

A sermon for January 26, 3 Epiphany, on Matthew 4:12-23 about Jesus gathering fishermen for his first disciples, and about Matthew's use of prophecy in his Gospel.

Rabbi, Where are you staying?

Sermon on John 1:29-42 about following Jesus to his abode, where he dwells with the Father and his Father in him.

The Baptism of Christ

Sermon for Sunday, Jan 12, on Matthew 3:13-17

Traveling With the Holy Family

Sermon for the 2nd Sunday after Christmas on Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 about the flight to Egypt and back to Nazareth in Galilee.