Easter 4 C 2022Rev. Doug FloydActs 13:14b–16, 26–39, Psalm 100, Revelation 7:9–17, John 10:22–30 I was sitting in one of my last college classes, studying famous thinkers who left the faith. For the last several weeks, God’s presence seemed to wane in my life, and I felt a threatening darkness. This class only added fuel…
Rev. Doug Floyd Easter 2022 (Updated from Easter Vigil 2016)Rev, Doug Floyd Back before. Before bombings in Ukraine. Back before 82 million refugees wandering the earth. Back before 24 hour news cycles. Back before never-ending political ranker. Back before Facebook and emails. Back before business lunches and late night study sessions. Back before grandchildren, children.…
Our Identity in the Father’s BlessingLast Sunday of EpiphanyRev. Chase WhitmireExodus 34:29–35, Psalm 99, I Corinthians 12:27–13:13, Luke 9:28–36 I must confess with you all that I recently went down the proverbial YouTube rabbit hole. Who here remembers the interview Oprah had with Michael Jackson back in 1993 at Michael’s home at Neverland? I remember…
Pentecost +4B 2021Rev. Doug FloydJob 38:1–18, Psalm 107, 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, Mark 4:35-41 The following quote is sketched onto the wall at the Mauthausen Concentration Camp in Austria: “If there is a god, he will have to beg for my forgiveness.” It speaks to the heart of the cry for justice in a world where…
Pentecost +3BRev. Doug FloydEzekiel 31:1-18, Psalm 92, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, Mark 4:26-34 In our reading from Ezekiel today, we hear a story of an enormous tree. When I think of large trees, I think of Sequoias, Redwoods, and Cedars of Lebanon.Several years ago, Kelly and I drove up the California coast to the Redwood Forest.…
Restoring Communion in ChristPentecost +2BRev. Doug FloydGenesis 3:1-21, Psalm 130, 2 Corinthians 4:13–18, Mark 3:20-35 In our Gospel reading today, the Pharisees accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the prince of demons. Our text says that Jesus answered them in parables saying, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against…
The Burning BushTrinity Sunday 2021Rev. Doug FloydExodus 3:1-6, Psalm 93, Romans 8:12-17, John 3:1-16 Today we celebrate the revelation of God in the person of Jesus Christ. In and through Christ, we behold the mystery of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: one God, three persons. Throughout Eastertide, our Gospel readings focused upon the communion of…
Rev. Doug Floyd Christ Calls Us to the FutureEaster 5 2021Acts 8:26–40, Psalm 66, 1 John 3:11-24, John 14:15-21 In the German film, The Wall, a women goes to visit a cabin for the weekend but ends up being stuck behind some kind of invisible barrier that encloses the cabin, the surrounding farm, and the forest beyond. Suddenly she must adapt to a…
Beholding People in Light of ChristEaster 3B 2021Rev. Doug FloydActs 4:5-14, Psalm 98, 1 John 1:1-2:2, Luke 24:36-49 “The early Christians realized that in order to become the temple of the Holy Spirit they must ascend to heaven where Christ has ascended,” writes Alexander Schmemann. He is not talking about some secret spiritual method, but…
Rev. Doug Floyd Remembering the LordEaster 2B 2021Acts 3:12–26, Psalm 111, 1 John 5:1–5, John 20:19–31 In today’s Gospel reading, we encounter St. Thomas encountering the risen Lord. Upon beholding the hands and side of Jesus, Thomas declares, “My God and My Lord.” This is the clearest confession of faith in the Gospels. After Thomas’s grand confession of faith, Jesus says, “Have…