September 10, 2017 - Rally Day Sermon

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At the start of an exciting year of ministry at St. James, Pastor Walt preaches about the need for the Christian community to be a place of reconciliation and forgiveness.  Based on Matthew 18: 15-20 - which is the designated RCL Lectionary text for the day (Pastor admits that it wouldn't be his first choice for a Rally Day sermon), this sermon looks at Jesus call to work out differences and conflicts among disciples so that there might be mutual understanding and a healing of the brokenness.   Where this doesn't work, those who won't listen to the wisdom and counsel of the community need to leave.  That said, those who leave are to remain as persons for the church's mission, just like tax collectors and other outcasts.   Reconciliation, welcome, forgiveness - good things to have on our minds as we start a year of ministry.

 

This sermon is dedicated to the loving memory of The Rev. Dr. Murdoch MacPherson - Pastor Walt's mentor, friend, and colleague for 12 years in New Jersey.   

September 3, 2017 Sermon

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This sermon, based on Matthew 16:21-28, holds up connections.  Just before these verses, Peter puts the pieces together related to Jesus' identity as the Son of the Living God.  However, he fails to connect that identity with suffering and crucifixion.  Jesus invites followers to get behind him - to move in the direction of service.  Jesus calls his disciples to go into the margins of society in order to serve and share fellowship with those who live on the outside.  

Through the Open Gate of Love - Fourth Sunday of Easter - May 7

This sermon, based on John 10:1-10, considers access or gateways to God.  Two conflicting images are presented – the way of the Pharisees and the way of Jesus.  Pharisees rigidly define and defend the gate and access points to God according to a narrow interpretation of the Law.  Only those who are pure are worthy to enter the holy places.  In contrast, Jesus redefines the Law in terms of Agape (Divine Love).  Love becomes the guiding principle that leads in an open and graceful way to abundant life with God and neighbor.   Images from Chaco National Cultural Park in New Mexico are used in this sermon. 

Third Sunday of Easter Sermon - April 30

This sermon, based on Luke 24:13-28, examines the despair of two of Jesus' disciples as they walked back home on Easter evening.  Their expectations of who God was and how God was going to deliver them were not met.  Disheartened, they meet a stranger.  The stranger turns out to be Jesus and hope is rekindled.  Dirty Boots and Unexpected Trails is about our journey as an Easter people and the company that we keep along the way.   

The Hard Work of Loving Enemies - February 19, 2017

The Hard Work of Loving Enemies - February 19, 2017

In this sermon, based on Matthew 5:38-48, I explore Jesus' hard teaching of loving our enemies.  February 19 is the 75th anniversary of President FDR's executive order 9066, which set the groundwork for the imprisonment of American citizens of Japanese ancestry.   This was done without due process or any formal charges - a breakdown of American democracy.  In the Sermon on the Mount, which we have been reading through during this Epiphany season, Jesus invites his hearers to define 'neighbors' and those who we should love in broad terms.  The reason?  God loves with agape (divine, redemptive love).  Followers are called to imitate this agape and 'be perfect'.  For a definition of 'perfect' you'll have to listen.  

Pondering the Light - Christmas Eve Sermon, Dec. 24th, 2016

In this Christmas sermon, based on Luke 2: 1-20, I reflect upon the darkness of the hate inspired vandalism of two churches following the 2016 presidential election.   The good news proclaimed by the angels is that Christ was born for all people.  Both Mary and the Shepherds are involved as participants in God's work of radical reversal and hospitality.  Treasuring and pondering are faithful responses into which the gospel invites us.  These responses move in the direction of love and ultimately triumph over hate.  

What Do We Do Now? (Sermon: November 13, 2016)

In this post-election sermon, based on Luke 21: 5-19, I look at Jesus' table values and the invitation to endure/persevere/abide in them.  The narrow definitions of holiness - that are perpetrated by the religious establishment associated with the Temple - come into conflict with Jesus' own open understanding of God's hospitality that is enacted through Jesus' table fellowship with outsiders and sinners.   Jesus uses apocalyptic imagery to assert that God is ultimately in charge of all creation.  Even in divisive and tumultuous times - like we are experiencing post-election - Christians are to hope in God above all things.  Hope and continue in the table fellowship/values of Jesus.    

All Saints Sunday

In this sermon, based on Luke 6: 20-31, I look at Jesus' unusual 'dance step' of holy living. To a crowd that contains both insiders and outsiders, Jesus proclaims blessedness - wholeness/connection to God - to those who were labeled 'unworthy' and thought at the time to be outside of God's good graces.  In addition, Jesus warns those who 'dance the dance of the Pharisees' and narrowly define holiness.   I remember a sabbatical visit to St. Gregory of Nyssa in San Francisco, where I learn how to dance during worship and received the wisdom of a six year old saint.  

October 30, 2016: Reformation Sunday sermon

In this Reformation Day sermon, based on John 8:31-36, I look at Jesus' encouragement to remain/dwell/live in God's Word.   Jesus addresses two groups of people who we encounters in the Temple - those who believe/trust in God's Word and those who do not.    The later group narrowly defines faithfulness in terms of traditions and practices.   They lack the capacity to allow the Word to take place in them.   Although the text clearly draws distinctions between these groups, reality is a little more gray.   We can find ourselves in both groups. Reformation invites repentance of those areas/practices in our life and in the church that are disconnected from the life/words of Jesus.  Where we lack compassion, forgiveness, gentleness, openness and grace we are in need of renewal, restoration, and resurrection.   Thankfully, God's Spirit is on the move and Reformation is God's ongoing work.

Sermon: October 16, 2016: Long Wait Time for Splash Mountain

In this sermon, based on Luke 18:1-8, I look at Jesus' encouragement to pray always and not lose heart as we wait for the fullness of God's Kingdom to be realized.   It can seem like the wait for the peace and justice of the kingdom will never end.  However, the wisdom of Christ is able to equip us for faithful waiting.  We are invited to ride the waters of our baptism in lives of faithful response.   

Sermon October 2, 2016

In this sermon, I take a look at being faithful and carrying on midst our struggles and challenges of life.  In our lectionary text from Luke 17, The disciples cry out to Jesus, "increase our faith!"  Jesus responds by encouraging them to live in the faith that God has already given them using a reference to the image of the mustard seed.  Be, live, honor, celebrate, and claim the faith God has already given.  They are then invited to 'carry on' and live lives of service. 

Sermon 9/25/2016: The Neighbor At Our Gate

In this sermon, I address recent troubling events in St. Cloud, New York, New Jersey, Tulsa, Burlington, and Lonsdale (where a local business owner posted the sign "Muslims Get Out" on a family restaurant).  How does Jesus invite us to respond to the evil and hatred that seems to be at our gate?  The sermon text (Luke 16: 19-31) is the story of the rich man and Lazarus.  It is a story that Jesus tells to the religious insiders of his day to invite them to repent and to open their ears to God's wisdom and open their hearts to God's love.  We are invited to do the same.