All Saints Day 2019Rev. Doug FloydRevelation 7:9-17, Psalm 149, Ephesians 1:15–23, Luke 6:20–36 Paul writes a letter of encouragement to a group of disciples meeting in Ephesus. In the larger culture of the city, this little group that gathers for prayer and fellowship in a home seems rather insignificant. Acts 19 tells the story of…
Pentecost +20 2019Rev. Doug FloydJeremiah 14:7–10, 19–22, Psalm 84, 2 Timothy 4:6–18, Luke 18:9–14 In many of the stories of the Old Testament, one of the consistent problems you’ll see is the failure in handing the faith from one generation to the next. Consider Gideon. He faithfully serves the Lord and rescues his people, but after his death one of his sons…
Pentecost +19 2019Rev. Doug FloydGenesis 32:3–8, 22–30, Psalm 121, 2 Timothy 3:14–4:5, Luke 18:1–8 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6) When I was in college, I was concerned about what would happen to…
Pentecost +18 2019Rev. Doug Floyd Ruth 1:1-19a, Psalm 113, 2 Timothy 2:1–15, Luke 17:11–19 O God, our refuge and strength, true source of all godliness: Graciously hear the devout prayers of your Church, and grant that those things which we ask faithfully, we may obtain effectually; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns…
St. Francis Day October 6, 2019 Rev. Isaac Bradshaw Jeremiah 22:13–16, Psalm 148:7-14, Galatians 6:14–18, Matthew 11:25–30 Collect – Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant your people grace to renounce gladly the vanities of this world; that, following the way of blessed Francis, we may for love of you delight in your whole creation with…
Pentecost +16Rev. Doug FloydAmos 6:1-7, Psalm 146, 1 Timothy 6:11-19, Luke 16:19-31 Last week we saw how Jesus consistently welcomes people that seem unclean, unlikeable, and unrespectable. Jesus walks from town to town, proclaiming and enacting, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” The kingdom looks like welcoming the weak and weary to a wedding feast. The kingdom looks like a shepherd…
Pentecost +15Rev. Doug Floyd Amos 8:4-12, Psalm 138, 1 Timothy 2:1–7, Luke 16:1-13 Imagine if UT were throwing a big event to celebrate the Vols football program and they announced a list of honored guests of folks such as Nick Saban, Lane Kiffin, and of course Steve Spurrier. Reading the Gospel sometimes feels like Jesus is honoring all the wrong people: a…
Pentecost +14 2019 A Priest in the Temple of the LordRev. Doug Floyd Exodus 32:1, 7-14, Psalm 51, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10 Today we prayed a prayer for mercy in Psalm 51. We hear the story of God’s mercy in the conversion of Paul from persecutor to proclaimer of God’s love in Christ. We watched Jesus model the great mercy of…
+13 Pentecost September 8, 2019 Rev. Isaac Bradshaw Philemon and Luke 14:25-34 What if?. In the world of science fiction, alternative histories have a long and distinguished career. As early as 1937, authors as diverse as Philip Roth, Katherine Burdekin and Harry Turtledove have imagined a history of humanity that took a slightly different turn. From potboilers and pulp fiction to works…
Pentecost +12Rev. Doug FloydSirach 10:7–18, Psalm 112, Hebrews 13:1–8, Luke 14:1-24 Yesterday was the Feast of St. Aidan, the Apostle to England. A few weeks back, I mentioned how King Oswald asked the monks of Iona to send help as he sought to bring the Gospel to the region of Northumbria. Aidan heeded the call…