Sermons

Rev. Jo-Ann Murphy “Who sinned, Rabbi, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” We humans are prone to fix blame, aren’t we? This has to be someone’s fault. The U.S. president blames China; China expels foreign journalists. Find someone to blame. But Jesus...

Thank you for inviting me here to St Stephen’s and thank you to my friend and colleague Reverend Willie. Although we only met a few years ago, it feels as if we have known each other for many more. St Stephens is so lucky to have such a kind, thoughtful, committed...

Annual Parish Meeting Address January 26, 2020   Exiled 20th century Russian theologian, Gregorii Florovsky once wrote:  “From the very beginning Christianity was not primarily a ‘doctrine,’ but exactly a ‘community.’  There was not only a ‘Message’ to be...

I’ve often thought that being a “John the Baptist” wouldn’t be such a bad thing.  Oh, not the living in the wilderness and eating wild locusts part, but John‘s vocation is very appealing to me.  John says clearly and loudly “after me comes one who ranks ahead of me.” ...

   Are you having a nice Christmas?  Despite the Valentine’s Day cards in the stores and the St. Patrick’s Day decorations available, for Christians today is the 12th day of Christmas.  Christmas tells us that God has done a new thing - - coming into the world as an...

     The magical story of the wondrous star in the eastern sky and the journey of the magi or kings from far away lands to the humble manger in Bethlehem is the centerpiece of the Feast of the Epiphany which we celebrate on January 6.  It seems to be scripture’s...

Sermon for World AIDS Day 2019 Matthew 24:36-44 It wasn’t a typo or a mistake in the bulletin! At least one person saw my name and thought How did that happen? Well, I’m really the preacher today! Because as most of you know, I co-chair the AIDS Ministry, today is...

Each of the Gospels report that Jesus was not crucified alone, but only Luke reports the conversation that took place as the three men died.  Luke does not name the two criminals who were executed with Jesus, but the apocryphal gospel of Nicodemus does.  According to...

This is the fifth and final week we will hear the wild and extraordinary tales of Elijah, the 8th century Hebrew prophet who fiercely defended Yahweh against worship of the Canaanite Baals, fertility gods.  We hear of Elijah, the man of God, the miracle worker, Elijah...