God as our ultimate provider and sustainer of both our physical and spiritual lives

Collect: Proper 13

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

2 Samuel 11:26—12:13 . . .  Nathan calls David to account for his sin

Psalm 51:1-13 . . . Sin identifies whatever disordered relationships

or

Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15 with Psalm 78:23-29 . . .  God feeds the people of Israel with quail and manna.

Ephesians 4:1-16 . . .  Paul reminds his community that they must put away their old way of life and be renewed in Christ

John 6:24-35 . . .  In anticipation of his eucharistic gift of himself, Jesus declares that he is the bread of life.

The Rev. Jason Micheli,  of Annandale United Methodist Church in Annandale, Virginia,   looks at the miracle of manna in the wilderness and thinks maybe the Hebrews had a legitimate complaint when they asked Moses: “Have you brought us out here to kill us?”

The Bread of life

Collect: Proper 12

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

2 Samuel 11:1-15. . .  David abuses his royal power to commit adultery and murder.

Psalm 14 . . . We humans, by nature, tend to become lost in ourselves and our little pursuits and therefore estranged from God

or

2 Kings 4:42-44 and Psalm 145:10-19. . . Multiplication of food given to Elisha demonstrates God’s power to provide abundantly.

Ephesians 3:14-21. . . Paul exhorts the Ephesians to use their spiritual gifts to build up the Body of Christ.

John 6:1-21 . . . Jesus multiplies five loaves and two fish to feed the hungry crowd.

Dr. Jim Somerville, Pastor of Richmond’s First Baptist Church and Co-Founder of A Sermon for Every Sunday, preaches a sermon on this week’s Gospel lesson from John 6:1-21 called “Was It Stone Soup?”  “This miracle that occurred on a hillside in Galilee,” he says, “this feeding of the multitude, was a mathematical miracle.  But was it a miracle of multiplication, addition, or division?”

On Saturday, May 5, 2018 Episcopalians from all around Austin gathered at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd to hear Presiding Bishop Michael Curry speak on the topic of Discipleship. With this message, Bishop Curry intended to start an ongoing conversation about Discipleship around the city and beyond. We invite you to listen here!

The care that God constantly exerts on our behalf

Collect: Proper 11

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; though the worthiness of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

2 Samuel 7:1-14a . . . God overwhelms David with the promise of an eternal kingdom to David’s heir.

Psalm 89:20-37  . . . a recapitulation of the covenant between God and David’s descendants  and a lament praying for deliverance from enemies

or the alternative 1st readings . . .

Jeremiah 23:1-6 and Psalm 23 . . . the image of God as a shepherd to describe how God will gather the people

Ephesians 2:11-22 . . . the reconciling work of Christ, who is the peace between Gentiles and Jews

Mark 6:30-44, 53-56. . . Jesus has compassion on the crowds of people, who remind him of sheep without a shepherd

Sermon by Andrew Foster Connors, Pastor of Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, Maryland, preaches a sermon on this week’s Gospel lesson: Mark 6:30-34, 53-56,  “For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat,”

Reflecting on our participation in Christ’s mission and ministry today

COLLECT: Proper 10

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that we may know and understand what things we ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 . . . David brings the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem with song and dancing

Psalm 24 . . . A Song to the Radiant One

— or —

Amos 7:7-15 and Psalm 85:8-13; . . . Amos  defends his prophetic calling in the face of opposition from Israel’s rulers.

Ephesians 1:3-14; . . . God has chosen us from the beginning to share in the redemptive work of Christ.

Mark 6:14-29 . . . Jesus instructs and sends out twelve disciples to share in his ministry.

Sermon: Praying for Reign.

The cost that always accompanies the call to a prophetic mission

Collect: Proper 9

O God, who hast taught us to keep all thy commandments by loving thee and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to thee with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, one Good, forever and ever.  Amen

2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 . . .  the Israelites acknowledge God’s choice and anoint David as their king.

Psalm 48 . . . A Hymn to Jerusalem

Ezekiel 2:1-5 . . . the alternative  first reading (with Psalm 123), God commissions Ezekiel as a prophet to the exiled and rebellious kingdom of Judah.

2 Corinthians 12:2-10 . . .  revelations and thorns in the flesh

Mark 6:1-13 . . . Jesus is rejected by his own townspeople.

The Most Rev. Michael Curry preaches at The Washington National Cathedral during his Installation as the XXVII Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church.

Remember God’s Goodness and Act Toward Others with the Same Unflinching Generosity and Compassion

Collect: Proper 8 Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone:  Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  Amen

2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27. . . David sings a eulogy for the slain Saul and Jonathan

Psalm 130 . . . The call for healing

2 Corinthians 8:7-15 . . .  Paul encourages the Corinthians to offer their surplus of wealth to other communities who are in need

Mark 5:21-43 . . . Jesus brings the daughter of Jairus, a synagogue official, back to life in anticipation of his own resurrection.

Sermon:  Who Needs the Cure,  by the Rev. Lisa Cressman, Episcopal priest and Founder of Back-story Preaching.

A Faith Cultivation Message: reminding and a reaffirming us of God’s complete command over all creation

Collect: Proper 7[I]

O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and t he Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

1 Samuel 17: (1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 . . . David can conquer Goliath only by relying on his faith in God

Psalm 9:9-20 . . . Great, Good News

Job 38:1-11;  . . . the majesty of God as the Creator and Ruler of the world

Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32 . . . The Mystery of God’s Limitless Mercy

2 Corinthians 6:1-13 . . . Paul commends the ministry of reconciliation to all Christians

Mark 4:35-41 . . . Jesus stills a storm at sea, revealing that he shares God’s power over creation.

Popular speaker, author, and retreat leader, Mary Ann McKibben Dana, preaches a sermon called “Other Boats Were with Him,” from Mark 4:35-41. “We are all out there navigating the stormy waters together. Local churches, each in a particular place, with a particular personality and mission and identity, but together a little fleet of sea vessels. What that means is that we aren’t really strangers. We are connected to one another through Christ.”

And one of Michell Curry’s talk on Evangelism  

Not a sermon, just a talk.  I’ll post his sermon on the subject next week, or you can find it yourself.

Behold the seed (the word), the harvest (the 2nd coming) and hope (faith cultivation); how are we doing with that ?

Collect: Proper 6

 Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love,  that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion: for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 . . . Samuel sees beyond outward appearances to choose the least likely son of Jesse to anoint as king

Psalm 20; . . . Prayer on the day of triumph

or

 Ezekiel 17:22-24 . . . Ezekiel  gives the Israelites hope that one day God will restore their strength.

Psalm 92:1-4, 11-14 . . . Wisdom’s vision

2 Corinthians 5:6-10, (11-13), 14-17; . . . Paul reminds his Corinthian communities that our eternal dwelling is not found here on earth but is with the Lord

Mark 4:26-34 . . . Jesus uses two parables to describe how God’s dynamic presence—the kingdom—grows in our lives.

Dr. Jim Somerville, Pastor of Richmond’s First Baptist Church and Co-Founder of A Sermon for Every Sunday, preaches a sermon from Mark 4:26-34 called, “The Mysterious Growth of the Mustard Seed Kingdom.”  “Jesus says the Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed and then takes a nap,” Somerville says.  “I think he means the growth of the Kingdom is a mystery.  Like the farmer there is nothing we can do to make it grow and like the farmer we might as well admit that we don’t know how it works.  I wish some of the so-called church growth experts would read this parable.”

 An 18-minute interview with the Episcopal News Service, Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry speaks about his priorities for leadership and administration, the role of the church in engaging God’s mission in the world, the state of race relations in the U.S., the importance of Anglican Communion partnerships, and his commitment to what he calls the Jesus Movement, to go out into the world “to bear witness to the good news of Jesus.”

Exploring the pervading influence of sinfulness that makes humans stand in resistance and opposition to God

Collect: Proper 5

O God, from good all things proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

1 Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15) . . .  we begin a series of readings describing the development of kingship in Israel

Psalm 138  . . . An Invocation of the Divine Presence

Genesis 3:8-15 . . . we learn the meaning of human sinfulness from the story of Adam and Eve’s disobedience.

Psalm 130   . . . The call For Healing

2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 . . .  Paul encourages the Corinthian Christians to trust in the eternal power of God.

Mark 3:20-35 . . . when his opponents declare that Jesus is possessed by Beelzebul, Jesus warns them of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

 Sin and Forgiveness, by Joshua Gyson, Pastor at All Saints Lutheran Church, Lutz, Florida

The Rt. Rev. Michael B. Curry ’78 M.Div., Presiding Bishop-Elect of the Episcopal Church, delivers the sermon for morning worship at Yale Divinity School’s Convocation & Reunions 2015: “Love:”   . . .  

“There is a balm in Gilead to make the sin sick whole” version ?

The centrality of God in our lives

Proper 4[i]

O God, your never-failing providence sets in order all things both in heaven and earth: Put away from us, we entreat you, all hurtful things, and give us those things which are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

1 Samuel 3:1-10(11-20) . . .  As a child, Samuel  hears the call of God.

Psalm 139:1-5,12-17 . . . The psalmist reminds God’s people of God’s saving acts in history.

2 Corinthians 4:5-12 . . . Paul describes his ministry as God’s gift, manifested through Paul’s sufferings.

Mark 2:23-3:6 , , , Jesus asserts himself as Lord even of God’s sabbath.

Father Michael Renninger, Pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Richmond, Virginia,  sermon is  based on the readings from Psalm 139; 1 Samuel 3:1-10: and Mark 2:23-3:6 and begins with the words, “Jimmy, I love you.”

And a bonus: The second day of the Annual Convention of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut (ECCT) was a Sunday morning celebration of the Holy Eucharist with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry delivering the sermon. It was held Nov. 20 at the Hartford Convention Center with more than 1600 attending: “Look to the Rock”