Pentecost 2020Rev. Doug FloydActs 2:1–11, Psalm 104:25-37, 1 Corinthians 12:4-13, John 20:19-23 In the Eastern Orthodox icon of Pentecost, there are twelve disciples seated in a semi-circle. They are waiting in the upper room for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Upon closer inspection, we might notice that the two disciples at the top of…
Easter 7 2020Rev. Doug FloydActs 1:1–14, Psalm 47, 1 Peter 4:12-19, John 17:1-11 Last year during Eastertide, the second lesson each week was from the book of Revelation. Revelation tells the church that the risen Christ is standing right there in the midst. The churches are in all different situations. Some are having internal conflicts; some are being persecuted; some are tempted…
Easter 6 2020Acts 17:22-34, Psalm 148, 1 Peter 3:8–18, John 15:1-11 In today’s lessons, we heard Paul’s sermon at Athens. He promises to reveal the unknown god who they have already been worshipping and proceeds to use their own writers to point to Jesus as the fulfillment of their longing. For instance, he quotes, “In…
Rev. Doug Floyd Easter 5 2020St. Brendan’s Anglican ChurchActs 17:1-15; Psalm 68; 1 Peter 2:1–12; John 14:1–14 When my nephew was young, he told his mother that he asked God to leave His heart. He said, “Jesus can stay but God has to go. He scares me.” In his childlike way, he was expressing a…
Easter 4 2020Chase WhitmireActs 6:1–9, 7:2a, 51–60, Psalm 23, 1 Peter 2:13–25, John 10:1–10 May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you my Lord and King. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. This past February I did something a little different. I…
Easter 2 2020Rev. Doug FloydActs 2:14a, 22–32, Psalm 111, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19–31 Throughout this season we are meditating upon the Resurrection. One thing I like about the church year is the rhythm of pausing over certain themes of about our Lord and the life of faith. During Eastertide, we are pausing and waiting…
Grieving for the World Lent 5 2020Rev. Doug FloydEzekiel 37:1–14, Psalm 130, Romans 6:15-23, John 11:1-44 Today’s readings focus on life out of death. Suffering and death is held together in tension with hope and life. Ezekiel prophesies life over a field of bones. Jesus calls Lazarus from the tomb back to life. Paul tells…
Lent 3 2020 Rev. Doug Floyd Exodus 17:1–7, Psalm 95, Romans 1:16–32, John 4:5–42 Today as we worship and pray and pay attention to the Word of God, we cannot help but carry the awareness of our world in crisis. Our lessons today speak directly to the human struggle under impending threat. Even as the…
Lent 2 2020 Katie Whitmire Genesis 12:1–9, Psalm 33:12-21, Romans 4:1–17, John 3:1–16 After an intense season of rain, we finally had the first break a few weekends ago. It was a beautiful day, cold, but we still felt compelled to get outside and soak up some much needed sun. So we wondered through the…
Epiphany 2 2020Rev. Doug FloydIsaiah 49:1–7, Psalm 40, 1 Corinthians 1:1–9, John 1:29–42 Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John the Baptist speaks of the coming of Jesus almost like a cataclysm. The word cataclysm is rooted in the image of a deluge of water coming down, of…