Joseph Peters-Mathews

When we be, the church people will look at us and know we are Christians by our love and our work. Christians are the church. If people look at us and we are not exemplifying Christ, they have a valid reason for not wanting to join us. I am sure we have all heard several varied reasons why people avoid church. This aversion to the church is understandable when we in the church do not live by example.

“See, The home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples and Godself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away… Behold, I am making all things new.”

Psalm 23, comfort, hope, and resurrection

Valerie Kelley delivered the sermon for Sunday, May 3. This sermon was written by the Rev. Kathleen Walker, the missioner for Black ministries in the Diocese of North Carolina. This sermon was made available from Sermons that Work. A manuscript is available here.

Susy Hessel is a lay preacher at St. Hilda St. Patrick and is a mental health counselor. The manuscript on which her sermon was based is below. Peace!!!!. Peace I give to you….. Peace I ask of you…And Jesus said Peace be with you. Bravery, doubting, risk-taking, believing and questioning. We all do these things

When Paul is writing to the church at Corinth in today’s epistle lesson, he’s not offering platitudes. Paul’s not talking about everything working out in the end or one door closing and a window opening. Paul is writing to the church at Corinth to remind them of the best news there is, the good news of the gospel: Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and to those in the tombs bestowing life.

Mercy and grace, however are the goodness of the Cross. No matter how good we try to be no matter what kind of behaviors we undertake looking for our own exoneration through our own saving our selves actions there’s no ethical consumption under capitalism. We fall short.

As we’re joined together in this new covenant, living life to life in bread and wine divided among ourselves, we move from fragmentation to togetherness. As we share this meal together, wash one another’s feet, and then share Jesus’ body and blood, we are unified in the Spirit just as we’ve been unified to Jesus’ resurrection in our baptisms. Jesus says that people will know we are his disciples by our love, but yard signs and the Beatles and Lin-Manuel Miranda aren’t changing humanity or bringing us to unity in love. In telling the disciples to love one another, Jesus lays out the mission of the church.

Two parades, two processions. One calling “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” One in silence at a distance, watching what’s going on.

Sam Magill is a coach and poet. He has served on the Bishop’s Committee at St. Hilda St. Patrick and has chaired the stewardship committee. This sermon was preached as a response to the texts for the Fifth Sunday in Lent based on the manuscript below. Last week, Joseph shared a spectacular summary of the