Sermons by The Very Rev. Kathleen Murray (Page 15)
The Seeds of Faith Know No Bounds: Pentecost 6
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost: July 12, 2020 Year A, Proper 10: Psalm 119:105-112; Genesis 25:19-34; Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 CLICK HERE to view the video recording on Facebook. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The kingdom of God is like… The kingdom of God is like…what? We don’t hear that phrase in this particular gospel passage, but it is the fundamental question that will confront and challenge us over the next few Sundays. Over these coming weeks, our Gospel readings are drawn from what…
We Are Missionary People Who Welcome Others: Pentecost 4
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost: June 28, 2020 Year A, Proper 8: Psalm 13; Genesis 22:1-14; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:40-42 CLICK HERE to view the video recording on Facebook. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I was tempted to preach on our lesson from Genesis – it’s a reading fraught with tension and full of action, a rather chilling story that I suspect grips most of us with fear, maybe even a little anger. How could a parent ever consider what Abraham considered – killing his…
We Can’t Check Our Values At The Door: Pentecost 3
Third Sunday after Pentecost: June 21, 2020 Year A, Proper 7: Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17; Genesis 21:8-21; Romans 6:1b-11; Matthew 10:24-29 CLICK HERE to view the video recording on Facebook. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ We’re in a season right now where so many commencement speeches that were to be delivered were never delivered – probably to the relief of many a parent and graduate because anyone who has sat through a commencement speech know that speeches can drag on interminably. I’d say that what…
Come, Holy Spirit, Come: Day of Pentecost
Day of Pentecost: May 31, 2020 Year A, Whitsunday: Psalm 104:25-35, 37; Acts 2:1-21; • 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13; • John 20:19-23 CLICK HERE to view the video recording on Facebook. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.” Peace be with you. It’s a message that is sorely needed in the world. How do we find that peace? It’s certainly missing right now. Much of the country is coming out of the lockdown of the last several months.…
The Greatest Legacy of All: Love – Easter 6
Sixth Sunday of Easter: May 17, 2020 Year A, Easter 6: Psalm 66:7-18, 15-16; Acts 17:22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21 CLICK HERE to view the video recording on Facebook. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ We’re in the season that we would normally have lots of celebration. Normally, we’d be attending a lot off graduation parties, even weddings. I went to a college and a seminary where there were a lot of traditions, especially when you attend a seminary that is now more than…
Our Spiritual House Stands Firm: Easter 5
The fifth sunday of Easter: May 10, 2020 Year A: Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16, Acts 7:55-60, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14 CLICK HERE to view the video recording on Facebook. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ It all feels so up in the air. I suspect you are asking yourself, as I have been, when have so many people, everywhere, felt so uncertain, had so many unanswered and unanswerable questions all at the same time? When have so many plans been upended, suspended? When have so…
Come Out and Live: Lent 5
The Fifth Sunday in Lent: March 29, 2020 Year A: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45 At the time of this posting, there was no audio recording of this sermon. Today we hear about death and new life, about the end of some things, and, perhaps, the beginning of others. Death is always a topic close to home, one that seems to get closer every year. With what’s happening in the world around us, and on the eve…
Live as Children of the Light: Lent 4
The Fourth Sunday in Lent: March 22, 2020 Year A: 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 At the time of this posting, there was no audio recording of this sermon. I want to welcome you all to this celebration of Morning Prayer. I welcome all of Beckford Parish, Emmanuel and St. Andrew’s who are able to gather with us virtually, and to all our friends who may be joining us. This is a different way of worshiping…
Seek A Right Relationship With God: Lent 1
Seek a Right Relationship With God: March 1, 2020 Year A: Genesis: 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11 At the time of this posting, there was no audio recording of this sermon. Every year on the first Sunday in Lent we hear one of the gospel stories of the temptations faced by Jesus Christ. In the Gospel story, Jesus is engaging the powers of the world – the powers of this world are characterized by domination and violence,…
Lent’s Invitation: Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday: February 26, 2020 Year A: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; Psalm 103; 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 At the time of this posting, there was no audio recording of this sermon. If you’re looking for a truly ironic twist for Ash Wednesday, you only need to think about our Gospel reading appointed for today. “Beware of practicing piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your father in heaven…when you…
Listen To Him: Last Sunday after the Epiphany
Last Sunday After The Epiphany: February 23, 2020 Feast of the Transfiguration Year A: Exodus 24:12-18, Psalm 2, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Matthew 17:1-9 At the time of this posting, there was no audio recording of this sermon. “Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves.”[1] If you look at the Gospel of Matthew, a lot of things happened in the days that immediately precede this…
Forgiveness And Love Are The Only Way: Epiphany 6
Sixth Sunday After Epiphany: February 16, 2020 Year A: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 119:1-8; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Matthew 5:21-37 CLICK HERE to listen to an audio recording of this sermon. This Sunday’s gospel is brutal. We’re still hearing Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. You can try and unpack its meaning time and again, but it’s tough stuff. And it’s tough because Jesus seriously meant it to be that way. There’s no getting out of it, even the scholars who are most skeptical…