The core of the faith upon which we build our Christian community—Jesus as Christ and Son of God

Collect Proper 16

Grant, O merciful God, that your church, being gathered to gather in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all people,  to the glory of your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  Amen

Exodus 1:8-2:10 . . . The Egyptian Pharaoh begins his campaign of forced labor and genocide on the Hebrew slaves.

Psalm 124 . . .  “Blessed be God, no longer are we fodder for our foes.

Romans 12:1-8 . . . Paul’s teaching about God’s great plan of salvation invites a radical transformation of mind and body in conformity with God’s will.

Matthew 16:13-20 . . . Peter finally recognizes Jesus’ true identity: “the Messiah, Son of the living God.”

The Rev. Dr. Amy Butler, Senior Minister of the Riverside Church in New York City, preaches a sermon from Matthew 16:13-20 called, “The Real Question.” She asks, “Have you ever wondered: who is Jesus? That’s really the question we Christians are all trying to answer—to the world, to each other, to ourselves—isn’t it?” and then she says, “I used to know the answer . . . when I was 5.” Find out how much Amy has learned since then by pushing the play button.

God’s all-inclusive mercy

Collect: Proper 15

Almighty God, who hast given thy only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin and also an example of godly life: Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also endeavor ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Genesis 45:1-15 . . . Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers.

Psalm 133 . . . The treasure of unity

Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 . . . The hopelessness of our disobedience lets God have mercy on us all.

Matthew 15:(10-20)21-28 . . .  A bold Canaanite woman earns Jesus’ approval by clinging to his mercy.

“The Chemistry Of The Crumbs“,  by Bishop T.D. Jakes  (a five-part  sermon).

Note: I would have titled this sermon “I’ve Got a Devil to Fight.”  We all don’t have to be moms to be in the picture.  The Chemistry of the crumbs works for all who have a devil to fight, all who have something or someone who, from time to time,  insist on blocking the way of the God’s presence.  We are all entitled to God’s mercy.

How God responds to our need for help.

Collect: Proper 14[I]

Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28  . . . Joseph is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers.

Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b . . . Song of Remembrance — how committed  God always was to the original promise

Romans 10:5-15 . . . Paul declares that salvation comes to those who call on Jesus as Lord

Matthew 14:22-33 . . . Peter’s faith falters as he walks toward Jesus over the waves, but Jesus holds him.

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

Genesis 32:22-31 . . .  Jacob, on the night before his confrontation with his brother Esau, wrestles all night with a man he comes to recognize as God.

Psalm 17: 1-7, 15 . . .  A plea for justice and protection by one who followed God’s ways.

Romans 9:1-5 . . . Paul expresses his anguish and sorrow that so many of the children of Israel, the people especially favored by God, have not found the Lord’s promise.

Matthew 14: 13-21 . . . the story of Jesus feeding over 5,000 people.

Sermon for the Week

God’s presence and how we are to respond to it.

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, now and forever.

Genesis 29;15-28  — Jacob meets his match in his future father and law, the deceptive Laban.

Psalm 105: 1-11, 45b — Celebrating God’s forming of a people through the generations.

Psalm 128 — The one who reverses the Lord will  be blessed with many children, a long life, and the prosperity of Jerusalem

Romans 8:26- 39 — PAUL  expresses his confidence that God is for us, making love known to humankind through the sacrifice of the Son and the help of the Spirit.

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-5 — Five of Jesus’ short parables; the mustard seed, the leaven, the hidden treasure, the priceless pearl, and the net.

A Sermon from God to the right brain

A sermon for the left Brain

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; through 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

Genesis 28: 10-19

Wisdom of Solomon 12: 13. 16-19

¹³ For neither is there any god besides you, whose care is for all people,  to whom you should prove that you have not judged unjustly; . . .  verses  16-19

Romans 8: 12-25

Mathew 13:24-30, 36-43

Sermon Father Michael Renninger, Pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Richmond, Virginia, and one of our most popular preachers, takes on the parable of the Wheat and the Weeds from Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

The surety with which God’s salvation will come

Collect: Proper 10[i]

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they 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

Genesis 25:19-34 . . . Rebekah gives birth to Esau and Jacob

Psalm 119:105-112 . . . A pledge to remain faithful to God’s teachings so as to reap the rewards of faithful living.

Romans 8:1-11 . . . God’s Spirit is alive and at work in us

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 . . . Jesus describes his ministry through the parable of the seeds and their various responses.

Carla Pratt Keyes, Pastor of Ginter Park Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Virginia, preaches the parable of the Sower from Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 in a sermon called “All Ground Is Holy.” She asks, “What if we were to trust that God has made holy all the ground – that even in this time and this place, God knows what God is doing, God’s Word is powerful, and God’s harvest is abundant?” How would that increase the harvest?

Hope that our sorrows and burdens will be lifted through God’s saving power

Collect: Proper 9

O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor:  Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 – – Isaac finds his wife Rebekah and marries her so that God’s promises might continue to be fulfilled.

Psalm 45:11-18 — The psalmist sings of God’s glorious kingdom of power and compassion.

Romans 7:15–25 — Paul proclaims that we are freed from our moral weakness and inclination to sin by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 —  Jesus offers rest to all who long for relief from their burdens.

Father Michael Renninger, Pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Richmond, Virginia, preaches a sermon from Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 called, “Pulling Together with Jesus.” “My yoke is easy and my burden is light,” Jesus said, but it’s even easier and lighter when you don’t have to pull it alone.

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

Genesis 21:8-21 — Sarah’s jealousy as she fears that Ishmael may supplant her son Isaac in her husband Abraham’s affections.

Psalm 86: 1-10, 16-17 — A prayer to the gracious and loving Lord for mercy and guidance

Romans 6:1-11 — Christian disciples  have been joined with Christ in his death through baptism, so they are to know a resurrection like his.

Matthews 10:24-39 — Jesus warns his disciples of troubles to come, but offers them the assurance of the Father’s care and his own readiness to support them before God when they speak up for him.

Rachel May, Pastor of Boulevard United Methodist Church in Richmond, Virginia, takes on that difficult saying of Jesus, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me” (Matthew 10:42-44), and especially the idea that those who welcome his disciples will be “rewarded.” What? Does Jesus have a rewards program? And is that what it takes to get people to do ministry?

God’s strength will always help us as we witness to our faith

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 the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  Amen.

Genesis 21: 8-21 . . .  Abraham banishes his maidservant Hagar and the child Ishmael.

Psalm 86: 1-10, 16-17

Romans 6: 1b-11 . . .  Paul reminds the Roman community that God’s great gift of salvation overflows freely

Mathew 10: 10:24-39 . . .  Jesus reassures his disciples of their great worth to God.

The Rev. Dr. Amy K. Butler, Senior Minister of the Riverside Church in New York City and a popular preacher, speaker, and writer, preaches a sermon called “Nobody Goes It Alone,” based on Matthew 10:24-39. Butler insists that even though the church of Jesus Christ is deeply flawed, we need it. We need each other. As Maya Angelou once said, “Nobody, but nobody, can make it out there alone.”