This is the sermon the Rev. Allison Sandlin Liles preached at the First Sunday after the Epiphany, the Baptism of our Lord, January 10, 2021. ——- January 10, 2020 Diocese of FW Baptism of our Lord, Mark 1:4-11 This week we observed the last few days of Christmas, then welcomed in the season after the Epiphany. Epiphany is the day we remember the coming of Magi following the star to visit the Christ child. The word Epiphany means to manifest…
This is the sermon the Rev. Allison Sandlin Liles preached at the diocesan worship service for the Feast of Epiphany, January 3, 2021. ————– The Rev. Allison Sandlin Liles Feast of the Epiphany 2021 Matthew 2: 1-12 The season of Epiphany begins Wednesday, January 6. “Epiphany” comes from a Greek word meaning appearance, revelation or manifestation. Like the appearance of a divine being or the revelation of some essential truth. We use the word “epiphany” when something is suddenly made…
This is the sermon the Rev. Canon Linda Taylor preached at the diocesan worship service for the First Sunday after Christmas, December 27, 2020. ————— Christmas 1 – December 27, 2020 Isaiah 61.10-62.3; Psalm 147; Galatians 3.23-25; 4.4-7; John 1.1-18 Homily preached by the Rev. Canon Linda S. Taylor In past years, most of us began our celebration of Christmas on Christmas Eve—frequently beginning with an afternoon children’s pageant. We would have heard a version of the story of Mary…
This is the sermon Bishop Scott Mayer preached at the diocesan worship service on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2020. ——————— Christmas Eve 2020 I remember a brief, but for me unforgettable, conversation several years ago on Christmas Eve at the Church of the Heavenly Rest in Abilene (where I served). Right before the procession into the nave, the choir was lined up, the acolytes with crosses and torches and banners were taking their places in the procession, our organist was…
This is the sermon the Rev. Karen Calafat preached at the online worship service for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 20, 2020. ———— Advent 4B December 20, 2020 A dad sat down with his 4-year-old, hoping to teach the true meaning of Christmas. They began the project of assembling a cardboard cutout nativity scene: stable, manger, baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph, sheep, and shepherds. “Fold on the dotted line,” the directions said, “Place tab A in slot B,” and…
This is the sermon preached by the Rev. Canon Linda Taylor on the Third Sunday of Advent, December 13, 2020. ———— 3 Advent—December 13, 2020 Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28 This is the second week in a row that we’ve heard the story of John the messenger. Last week, we heard Mark’s gospel naming John as the messenger referred to by the prophet Isaiah—the messenger who will go ahead of the Lord, preparing a…
This is the sermon the Rev. Karen Calafat preached at the diocesan worship service for the Second Sunday of Advent, December 6, 2020. ———————– Advent 2B.2020 “Prepare the way of the Lord. In the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord.” These are the prophetic words from Isaiah that are echoed in the Gospel of Mark. “Prepare the way of the Lord.” And just how do we do that? On this Second Sunday of Advent, when we find…
This is the sermon the Rev. Allison Sandlin Liles preached at the diocesan worship service for the First Sunday of Advent, November 29, 2020. —————————- The Rev. Allison Sandlin Liles Advent 1B 2020 One of the most important reasons we observe the seasons of a liturgical year in the Episcopal Church is that they ask us to consider our faith and the living of our lives outside of ourselves. Each season brings with it new colors and a new focus.…
This is the sermon Bishop Scott Mayer preached at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Keller, on Sunday, April 29, 2018. St Martin in the Fields, Keller 2018 5 Easter – Year B April 29 The celebration of Confirmation tends to be a day on which we celebrate what is good, and true, and beautiful about our tradition. So, if you’re a visitor you may need to endure that – fair warning. Henri Nouwen says that a celebration is more than a party. To…
This is the sermon Bishop Scott Mayer preached at St. Christopher, Fort Worth, on March 18, 2018. Listen to a podcast of the sermon. Read the sermon. St Christopher’s FW 2018 5 Lent – Year B March 18 Every time we celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation – as we do this morning – everyone gathered says together the Baptismal Covenant, reminding ourselves that we are called into the Body of Christ as living members of the Body, and that we…
This is Bishop Scott Mayer’s sermon at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Fort Worth, on the Last Sunday After the Epiphany, February 11, 2018. Read the sermon: All Saints Fort Worth 2018 Last Epiphany – Year B February 11 Today is one of the pivotal days in the Church Year. This is the last Sunday after the Epiphany, and the first Sunday before Ash Wednesday (the beginning of Lent). So it’s a day when the hinge swings from the Epiphany to…