Proclaim by Word and Example

This sermon was preached on May 22, 2016 for Trinity Sunday at Grace Episcopal Church in Medford, MA. The texts for this sermon were:  Isaiah 6:1-8 ,  Revelation 4:1-11 ,  John 16:(5-11)12-15 , and  Psalm 29 . Jesus said to the disciples, "I still have many things to say to you.” A big, red and black banner hung on the side of the United Church of Christ church in downtown Fairfield, CT when I was growing up. I’m not sure if it’s still there but the message remains burned into my brain. “God is still speaking,” declared the banner, and, underneath a giant comma at the end of the quote, “Never place a period where God has placed a comma.” A bold, brash theological statement about the relevancy of God in our lives right now…and the UCC’s 2006 denomination-wide marketing campaign. Today's passage from the Gospel of John plunges us back into Jesus's lengthy farewell address to his followers on the night of his betrayal. Jesus knows he is about to leave his friends to fa...

Dear Grace Church, The following is only a tiny piece of the many lessons you all have been kind and patient enough to teach me through your words and actions. I am deeply indebted to all the generous teachers I have encountered at Grace Church—from the youngest toddler to the oldest member. On Wednesday, I was humbled to get a chance to reflect back to all of you the most important and possibly the most broadly useful of the many, many lessons I've learned about church leadership during my two years here. In addition to my leadership, Grace Church has also nurtured my spiritual growth, my sense of God's call, and my relationship with God through Jesus Christ. So I've also included seven things I learned about the Gospel while at Grace, and the questions they've led me to ask myself each day. Top Ten Lessons I Learned About Church Leadership Grace:  Be God's grace to everyone. Especially when they've let me down. Hospitality:  Always make a full pot of...