Sermons – St. Brendan's Anglican Church

All Saints Day

All Saints Day 2020Rev. Doug FloydRevelation 7:9–17, Psalm 149, Ephesians 1:11–23, Matthew 5:1-12 Jesus talks briefly with the woman at the well and she is pierced to the heart. Suddenly, she runs to tell her village and leads a parade of people to encounter him. Jesus eats a meal with Zacchaeus. At the end of…

Growing Up Into Love

Pentecost +21 2020Growing Up Into LoveRev. Doug FloydExodus 22:21-27, Psalm 1, 1 Thessalonians 2:1–8, Mathew 22:34-46 “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2, ESV) Today our texts invite us to meditate upon the law or upon Torah. The…

The Feast of St. Luke

Feast of St. Luke 28 October 2020St. Luke – Physician of the SoulRev. Isaac Bradshaw The diaries of Parson Woodforde are a glimpse into the life and times of a 18th century Anglican parish. The Parson of Weston Longforde in Oxford, Rev. James Woodeforde, was one of those fellows who, despite everything else going on, would take time at night to note,…

The Wedding Feast and the Fire of Mercy

Pentecost +19The Wedding Feast and the Fire of MercyRev. Doug FloydIsaiah 25:1-9, Psalm 23, Philippians 4:4-13, Matthew 22:1-14 I always get teary-eyed at weddings, and this can be a challenge when I’m conducting a marriage ceremony. Years ago, when I officiated at my brother’s wedding, I was choked up and my brother was choked up. He couldn’t look at me for fear…

The Vineyard of the Lord

Pentecost +18 2020Rev. Doug FloydIsaiah 5:1–7, Psalm 80, Philippians 3:7-21, Matthew 21:33-44 The Gospel tells the story of the faithfulness of God in Christ coming to His unfaithful people to redeem them and restore them to the communion of His love. Even as He restores His people, He is restoring the nations to Himself. He…

The Feast of the Kingdom

Pentecost +17Rt. Rev. Dr. Frank LyonsEzekiel 18:1–4, 25–32, Psalm 25, Philippians 2:1–13, Matthew 21:28–32 Praise the Lord. It’s good to be with you today. Our Old Testament lesson speaks of judgment. Jesus is saying here today, put in context. It’s just after he’s come into Jerusalem. Remember Palm Sunday? So this teaching is just after…

Living Out Extravagant Grace

Pentecost +16Living Out Extravagant GraceKatie WhitmireJonah 3:10–4:11, Psalm 145, Philippians 1:21-28a, Matthew 20:1-16 What a picture of the extravagant grace, unbound love, and mercy of God our readings today offer us, and how these characteristics mark the kingdom of heaven. How God imparts this generosity on a communal and corporate level as well as to…

Forgive Me

Pentecost +15 2020Forgive MeRev. Doug FloydSirach 27:30–28:7, Psalm 103, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35 In our lessons today, we are encouraged to show mercy to one another, to refrain from judging each other’s faith, and to practice forgiveness. We continue to rehearse a pattern of loving one another in community even as we continue to cry…

Confrontation and Communion

Pentecost +14 2020Rev. Doug FloydEzekiel 33:1–11, Psalm 119:33-48, Romans 12:9–21, Matthew 18:15–20 As we reflect on our lessons this week, it might help to think about these in light of family. Ezekiel is warned by the Lord to deliver the words of judgment to the people, so that Ezekiel won’t be held liable. Who is Ezekiel addressing? His people. His covenantal family,…

Take Up Your Cross

Pentecost +13 2020Take Up Your CrossRev. Doug FloydJeremiah 15:15–21, Psalm 26, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:21–27 Jesus tells his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) Earlier in Matthew 10, he says a similar thing, “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of…

Rehearsing Hope in Christ

In this moment when I live, I do not strain for a past that is long gone or stretch toward a future that may never be. Rather, in this moment, I trust that the Lord is absolutely faithful, evening as I walk in the midst of trouble. He is the one who preserves my life, defeats my enemies, delivers and fulfills His purposes in me. I trust in the steadfast love of the Lord. I know that he will not forsake me, and he will lead me step by step, day by day, moment by moment into the fullness of His...

Welcoming the Eunuch and the Foreigner

We have been welcomed into the community of the beloved. As we grow up into the love of God, we love and welcome the outsider, the wounded, the marginalized, those scarred by life, those burned out by the engines of church production.

Life Out of Death

Pentecost +10St. Brendan’s Anglican ChurchRev. Doug FloydJonah 2:1–10, Psalm 29, Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:22-33 The Bible is a book full of stories within stories within stories, and the stories are always interacting with each other. We read and hear songs and prayers and proverbs, and different styles of writing, but, in fact, they all operate…

Following Our Lord in His Love

Pentecost +9 2020St. Brendan’s Anglican ChurchRev. Doug FloydNehemiah 9:16–21, Psalm 78, Romans 8:35–39, Matthew 14:13–21 We live in the middle of our lives; that is, we live in the middle of all the confusion, all the joys, and sorrows, all the questions that usually don’t have clear answers. We may try to make decisions using…

Eyes to See the Kingdom of God

Pentecost +8Rev. Doug FloydSt. Brendan’s Anglican Church1 Kings 3:3–14, Psalm 119:121-136, Romans 8:26-34, Matthew 13:31–33, 44–50 The ancient Greeks valued big things, big people, big statues, glorious big architecture. In some sense, everything was larger than life. Their love of bigness is similar to the American love of big things, big buildings, big houses, big vehicles, and even big churches. When I…

Longing for the Kingdom Come

Pentecost +7 – Longing for the Kingdom ComeRev. Doug FloydWisdom of Solomon 12:13, 16–19, Psalm 86, Romans 8:18-25, Matthew 13:24-30, 34-43 This week is the seventh Sunday after Pentecost, and fir several weeks we’ve been meditating on Romans 8 and Matthew 13. The Romans 8 passage emphasizes our adoption into the family of God, and…

Seeds of the Kingdom

Pentecost +6 2020Rev. Doug FloydIsaiah 55, Psalm 65, Romans 8:7-17, Matthew 13:1-9;18-23 For as the rain and the snow come down from heavenand do not return there but water the earth,making it bring forth and sprout,giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;it shall not return to me empty,but it…

The Rest of Christ

Pentecost +5 2020Rev. Doug FloydZechariah 9:9–12, Psalm 145, Romans 7:21–8:6, Matthew 11:25–30 Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) This is good news. Exceedingly good news. Think of the Hebrew slaves under the burdens of Egyptian rule. Pharaoh ordering Hebrews babies to be killed. The people groaning under the…

Love’s Congruence

Pentecost +4 2020Rev. Doug FloydIsaiah 2:10–17, Psalm 89:1-18, Romans 6:1-14, Matthew 10:34–42 Back in 2009, I led a series of discussions of Torah and the Workplace with a group of businessmen I knew. It gave me a chance to think through some ideas about how worship shapes practices even in the marketplace and how Baalism…

One Man’s Obedience

Pentecost +3Rev. Doug FloydJeremiah 20:7-13, Psalm 69:1-18, Romans 5:12-21, Matthew 10;16-33 Our lessons this week carry the weight of threat and even anguish. Jeremiah cries out to God after the priest Pashhur has him beaten and put in stocks for speaking the Word of the Lord the people. He has been warning the people of…

It Is He That Made Us

Pentecost +2 2020 – It Is He That Made UsRev. Doug FloydExodus 19:1-8, Psalm 100, Romans 5:1-11, Matthew 9:35-10:15 At times, we are so aware of all the pain and anger in our world that we forget the world is a song of praise to our God. Our Psalm today captures this explosive, joyful praise.…

Pentecost 2020

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…

Eastertide – Communion of Love

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…

Eastertide – Abide in Christ

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…

Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled

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…

Eastertide – Following the Good Shepherd

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…

The Neverending Story

Easter 3 2020Rev. Isaac BradshawLuke 24:13-35 If your time spent in social isolation these last few weeks is anything like mine, you’re getting very close to reaching a crisis point. Things look dim, and even with something like a light at the end of the tunnel, there is a real sense of terror, because, if…

Beholding Our Resurrected Lord

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…

Easter Joy and Human Struggle

Easter 2020Rev. Doug FloydActs 10:34-43, Psalm 118:14-24, Colossians 3:1-4, Matthew 28:1-10 This morning I had thought to simply read the sermon of Chrysostom because it’s the best Easter sermon there is. I will send it out. I think many of you are familiar with it, but then as I was thinking, I guess some events…

Lent 5 – Lament and Life

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 4 – The Light in Our Darkness

Lent 4 2020Rev. Doug Floyd1 Samuel 16:1–13, Psalm 23, Ephesians 5:1–14, John 9:1–41 As we worship today, all of us feel the stress of our current cultural crisis. We hear daily reports about the danger, the spread, and the unpredictability of this present virus. We watch the stock market tumble and wonder if all our…

Lent 3 – Faithful Love of God

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 – Paschal Mystery

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…

Lent 1 – The Generosity of God

Lent 1 2020 – Generosity of GodRev. Doug FloydGenesis 2:4–3:7, Psalm 51, Romans 5:12–21, Matthew 4:1-11 On Monday nights, we’ve been discussing Rowan Williams’ book Being Human. There is one quote from that book that has lingered in my mind over the last several months. In fact, I may have already mentioned it here before. Williams writes, “What is the ‘human face’…

Ash Wednesday

Rev. Isaac Bradshaw Ash WednesdayJoel 2:1-2, 12-17, Psalm 103, 2 Cor 5:20-6:10, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 You Are Not Alone Way back, years ago, Alanis Morrisette sang a song; it was probably the one that first brought her to serious public attention. Anyone remember what it was? Ironic! Yes a song about some things going wrong when they feel like they should be…

Pilgrimage of Transfiguring Glory

Last Sunday of Epiphany 2020Rev. Doug FloydExodus 24:12–18, Psalm 99, Philippians 3:7-14, Matthew 17:1–9 Just before our Gospel reading today, Jesus challenges his disciples by saying, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24). Then in Matthew 17, he leads them up a mountain where his glory is unveiled in…

World Mission Sunday

World Mission Sunday 2020Rev. Doug FloydIsaiah 49:1–7, Psalm 67, Acts 1:1–8, Matthew 9:35–38 “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” – Matthew 9:37-38 When I hear today’s Gospel reading, my mind often drifts back to my youth…

Salt and Light in the Earth

Epiphany 5 2020Rev. Connor Searle2 Kings 22:8–20, Psalm 27, 1 Corinthians 2:1-16, Matthew 5:13-20 Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  When I first found out I was going be a father, I panicked a little bit and I went running to my counselor at the…

The Presentation of Our Lord

Candlemas 2020The Presentation of the Lord Jesus Christ in the TempleRev. Doug FloydMalachi 3:1–4, Psalm 84, Hebrews 2:14–18, Luke 2:22–40 For the Lord God is a sun and shield. – Psalm 84:11a The sun in the heavens enlightens the whole world, energizing all things and revealing all things in glory. The glory is all consuming.…

The Light of the World Has Dawned

Epiphany 3 2020Rev. Doug FloydAmos 3:1–11, Psalm 139, I Corinthians 1:10-17, Matthew 4:12-22 The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned. (Mt 4:16) Think for a moment of your favorite place to watch a sunrise: maybe…

Behold the Lamb of God

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…

God in Christ

Epiphany 1 – Baptism of the LordRev. Doug Floyd Isaiah 42:1–9, Psalm 89:1–29, Acts 10:34–38, Matthew 3:13–17 The events of this past week caused a bit of a scare. It looked like our nation was on the verge of war. This specific conflict at hand is just one of the many conflicts and struggles that ripple through our world, prompting many to…

Behold, Your God Will Come

Advent 3A 2019Rev. Doug FloydIsaiah 35:1-10, Psalm 146, James, 5:7-20, Matthew 11:2-19 Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you. – Isaiah 35:4 John the Baptist stands at the edge of our ordered world and cries out, “Behold!” Turn away from busy preoccupations and “Behold!”…

Hope in the Darkness

Advent 2 2019Katie Whitmire Isaiah 11:1-10, Psalm 72, Romans 15:1-13, Matthew 3:1-12 You guys may be seated. It’s me that Isaac was talking about, the surprise guest speaker, but I’m excited to be here and get to share with you guys from today’s readings. In this Advent season, we will come face to face with darkness. In an opinion piece for the…

Advent – The Coming of the Lord

Advent 1 2019Rev. Doug FloydIsaiah 2:1–5, Psalm 122, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 24:29-44 Stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. As we begin the season of Advent, we are looking for the coming…

Facing the Modern Malaise

Handing On The Faith

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…

Formed in the Struggle

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…

Ruth and the Kindness of the Lord

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

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…