Sermon: The first Passover of the second Exodus
The Prophets were expecting another redemption and a time when Torah would be written on hearts rather than stone
Two Resurrection songs
After the Good Friday sermon meditating on death, it is time to meditate on Resurrection Life and the victory won by Jesus Messiah. Here are two songs rattling around in my head. The Exsultet is sung on the evening of Holy Saturday, the first celebratory song of the Easter season as mourning is turned to joy. It is the privilege of the deacon to sing this song, and I have happily sung and said it […]
Sermon: Resurrection makes no sense without death
Jesus is dead! You may be thinking, ‘But Sunday is coming!’ Yes, but let’s slow down. It’s Good Friday. We’re here to sit in the reality of death for a day. If it didn’t matter, we wouldn’t mark it on the calendar.
When you need to see ‘dead Jesus’
The church where I worship – Grace Anglican Church in Edgeworth, PA – has an icon we affectionately call Dead Jesus. When I first started attending the church, it was the only altar icon we had. Who wants to see Dead Jesus? I didn’t when I started going to Grace. But now, I see my best friend.
Sermon: The colorful, enduring symbol of God with us
Our days are not unlike Noah’s. Creation is in ruin, spoiled, and injured. Our world is filled with violence, destruction, iniquity, blood, sickness, malice, oppression – in a word, sin. Like Noah, God is calling us to leave the violence and wickedness of this world and find shelter and mercy in the arms of Jesus the Messiah.