St. James‘ Church

Sermon: The Rev. Brenda Husson on Mark 12:38-44

Mark 12:38-44

As Jesus taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

The Eucharist: Why & How

The Rev. Ryan Fleenor concludes our 5-week series on the Eucharist with an exploration of “Why” and “How.” Why, ultimately, do we participate in the Eucharist, and how is God at work in our lives through it?

Since the earliest days of the church, Christians have gathered on Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist. Following Jesus’ command ("Do this in remembrance of me") it is the most basic action of Christian discipleship. Sometimes it is so familiar that we do it without engaging deeply with what's really going on. And yet we know that the Eucharist has a unique power to shape our spiritual lives. Research shows that participating in the Eucharist is a key catalyst for spiritual growth for Episcopalians. The more we engage with the Eucharist and seek a deeper understanding of it, the further we move along the continuum of spiritual growth toward a life centered in Christ.

Sermon: The Rev. Brenda Husson on Mark 12:38-44

Mark 12:38-44

As Jesus taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Sermon: The Rev. Ryan Fleenor on John 11:32-44

John 11:32-44

When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, "Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

The Eucharist: Where

The Rev. Eva Suarez continues our 5-week series on the Eucharist with part 4, “Where.” Come explore the idea of sacred space, both in the biblical tradition and in our own lives.

Since the earliest days of the church, Christians have gathered on Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist. Following Jesus’ command ("Do this in remembrance of me") it is the most basic action of Christian discipleship. Sometimes it is so familiar that we do it without engaging deeply with what's really going on. And yet we know that the Eucharist has a unique power to shape our spiritual lives. Research shows that participating in the Eucharist is a key catalyst for spiritual growth for Episcopalians. The more we engage with the Eucharist and seek a deeper understanding of it, the further we move along the continuum of spiritual growth toward a life centered in Christ.

Sermon: The Rev. Zack Thompson on John 11:32-44

John 11:32-44

When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, "Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

Sermon: The Rev. Zack Thompson on Mark 10:46-52

Mark 10:46-52

Jesus and his disciples came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

The Eucharist: When

The Rev. Brenda Husson continues our 5-week series on the Eucharist with part 3, “When.” Come explore how we might benefit from a recommitment to the spiritual practice of sabbath keeping.

Since the earliest days of the church, Christians have gathered on Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist. Following Jesus’ command ("Do this in remembrance of me") it is the most basic action of Christian discipleship. Sometimes it is so familiar that we do it without engaging deeply with what's really going on. And yet we know that the Eucharist has a unique power to shape our spiritual lives. Research shows that participating in the Eucharist is a key catalyst for spiritual growth for Episcopalians. The more we engage with the Eucharist and seek a deeper understanding of it, the further we move along the continuum of spiritual growth toward a life centered in Christ.

Sermon: The Rev. Brenda Husson on Mark 10:46-52

Mark 10:46-52

Jesus and his disciples came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

The Eucharist: Who & What, Part 2

The Rev. Zack Thompson continues our 5-week series on the Eucharist with a dive into what our 1979 Prayer Book teaches about the Eucharist: what it is, who’s involved, and why it matters.

Since the earliest days of the church, Christians have gathered on Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist. Following Jesus’ command ("Do this in remembrance of me") it is the most basic action of Christian discipleship. Sometimes it is so familiar that we do it without engaging deeply with what's really going on. And yet we know that the Eucharist has a unique power to shape our spiritual lives. Research shows that participating in the Eucharist is a key catalyst for spiritual growth for Episcopalians. The more we engage with the Eucharist and seek a deeper understanding of it, the further we move along the continuum of spiritual growth toward a life centered in Christ.

Sermon: The Rev. Brenda Husson on Mark 10:17-31

Mark 10:17-31

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’” He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”

Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

The Eucharist: Who & What, Part 1

The Revs. Ryan Fleenor and Eva Suarez kick off our 5-week series on the Eucharist with an in-depth look at the meal that started it all: Jesus’ last supper with his disciples, and the command to “do this in remembrance of me.”

Since the earliest days of the church, Christians have gathered on Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist. Following Jesus’ command ("Do this in remembrance of me") it is the most basic action of Christian discipleship. Sometimes it is so familiar that we do it without engaging deeply with what's really going on. And yet we know that the Eucharist has a unique power to shape our spiritual lives. Research shows that participating in the Eucharist is a key catalyst for spiritual growth for Episcopalians. The more we engage with the Eucharist and seek a deeper understanding of it, the further we move along the continuum of spiritual growth toward a life centered in Christ.

Sermon: The Rev. Eva Suarez on Mark 10:17-31

Mark 10:17-31

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’” He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”

Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

Sermon: The Rev. Craig Townsend on Mark 10:2-16

Mark 10:2-16

Some Pharisees came, and to test Jesus they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

Sermon: The Rev. Brenda Husson on John 12:31-36

John 12:31-36

"Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.”

After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.

Sermon: The Rev. Ryan Fleenor on John 12:31-36

John 12:31-36

"Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.”

After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.