Bursting Bubbles of Darkness
March 11, 2018
Church of the Servant, Wilmington, NC
4th Sunday in Lent
Numbers 21:4-9, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 3:14-21
Listen here:
Gospel Text:
Jesus said, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”
A link to the video op ed mentioned in the sermon: Video Op Ed
Footnotes/Sources:
Anthony Smith, “Brittany Packnett: This is how we talk about the black victims of gun violence in America” March 6, 2018 https://mic.com/articles/188318/brittany-packnett-this-is-how-we-talk-about-the-black-victims-of-gun-violence-in-america#.i7rj3LMlK
“Episcopal House of Bishops meeting in retreat accepts statement on gun violence,”
The Episcopal Church, March 7, 2018. https://www.episcopalchurch.org/posts/publicaffairs/episcopal-house-bishops-meeting-retreat-accepts-statement-gun-violence
“Do you live in a bubble? A quiz,” PBS News Hour, Economy, Mar 24, 2016 https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/do-you-live-in-a-bubble-a-quiz-2
Entrusted
February 4, 2018
Church of the Servant, Wilmington, NC
5th Sunday after Epiphany
Isaiah 40:21-31; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-39
Listen here:
Gospel Text:
Mark 1:29-39
After Jesus and his disciples left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Open to All
January 14, 2018
Church of the Servant, Wilmington, NC
2nd Sunday after Epiphany
1 Samuel 3:1-10; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; John 1:43-51
Listen here:
Gospel Text:
Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
Revealing the Son’s Light
January 7, 2018
Church of the Servant, Wilmington, NC
1st Sunday after Epiphany
Genesis 1:1-5; Acts 19:1-7; Mark 1:4-11
Listen here:
Gospel Text:
Mark 1:4-11
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
jodygreenwood 