Pollen Sunday
March 18, 2018
Church of the Servant, Wilmington, NC
5th Sunday in Lent
Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 5:5-10, John 12:20-33
Listen here:
Gospel Text:
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.
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
Living the Cross
February 25, 2018
Church of the Servant, Wilmington, NC
2nd Sunday in Lent
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Romans 4:13-25; Mark 8:31-38
Listen here:
For those interested, here’s a link to Kenny Chesney’s “Noise” – enter at your own risk:
Gospel Text:
Jesus began to teach his disciples that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Source: The Rev. John S. Bunting, The Secret of a Quiet Mind: The Building of the Life Within, Fleming H. Revell Company, 1929: New York, Kessinger Legacy Reprints.
Baby Steps through the Wilderness
February 18, 2018
Church of the Servant, Wilmington, NC
1st Sunday in Lent
Genesis 9:8-17; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:9-15
Listen here:
Some asked me to share here the specific suggestions I offered in my sermon. This is far from an exhaustive list. Be creative. Do what you can. Baby Steps still move us forward. Moving together with others makes the journey richer. God’s speed…
BABY STEP 1: Be an educated VOTER in 2018 and beyond
Next: Call your elected officials, even if you know they don’t agree with you, and ask them to:
- Designate funds to CDC for gun violence research.
- Reinstate the regulation that makes it harder for people with mental illness to purchase a gun.
- Create gun licensing similar to that for cars – competency tests, clear title transfers, insurance, etc.
- Limit or Ban the purchase of assault style weapons and magazines by civilians.
If you need motivation:
Aaron Feis, 37, Assistant Football Coach and Security Guard;
He died while using his body to shield students from bullets as the gunman opened fire.
Scott Beigel, 35, Geography Teacher and Cross Country Coach;
He was shot and killed when he unlocked his classroom to allow students to take refuge from the gunman.
Christopher Hixon, 49, Athletic Director, Wrestling Coach & Security Specialist
Hixon came from a military family and served in the U.S. Navy. He was killed while patrolling the school’s campus.
Students:
Alyssa Alhadeff, 14
She wanted to become a lawyer and professional soccer player, and played on the Parkland Soccer Club
Martin Anguiano, 14
His older brother described him as “a very funny kid, outgoing and sometimes really quiet.”
Nicholas Dworet, 17
He was a swimmer, committed to the University of Indianapolis. He dreamed of making the Olympic Swim team.
Jaime Guttenberg, 14
She was a dancer who was described by her father as the “life of the party.”
Luke Hoyer, 15
He was described by his grandparents as a “good kid” who “never got in trouble.”
Cara Loughran, 14
She was a beach-lover and dancer.
Gina Montalto, 14
She was a member of the winter guard and the school’s state-champion marching band. “A kind spirit with a keen sense of humor.”
Joaquin Oliver, 17
He was a hip hop and sports lover who became a naturalized American citizen in January 2017, after moving from Venezuela at the age of 3.
Alaina Petty, 14
She was described as “a vibrant and determined young woman, loved by all who knew her. Alaina loved to serve.”
Meadow Pollack, 18
She was the youngest in her family and enjoyed spending time with them. She had planned on attending Lynn University in Boca Raton.
Helena Ramsay, 17
She was described as “a smart, kind hearted, and thoughtful person… with a relentless motivation towards her academic studies…”
Alexander Schachter, 14
He played the trombone and baritone in the Douglas’ marching band. Described as “A sweetheart of a kid!”
Carmen Schentrup, 16
She was named one of the National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists in the county. She was also a gifted piano student.
Peter Wang, 15
He was a member of the JROTC. He was last seen wearing his uniform and holding the door open so that people could escape. He had planned on celebrating the Chinese New Year with his family.
Gospel Text:
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.”
And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
Sources:
Sean Rossman, ‘We’re children. You guys are the adults’: Shooting survivor, 17, calls out lawmakers, USA Today Network, USA TODAY Published 1:05 p.m. ET Feb. 15, 2018. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/02/15/were-children-you-guys-adults-shooting-survivor-17-calls-out-lawmakers/341002002/
Walter Morris, “Students call for change, stricter gun laws in wake of Parkland shooting,” WSVN-TVSunbeam Television Corp, February 16, 2018 https://wsvn.com/news/local/students-call-for-change-stricter-gun-laws-in-wake-of-parkland-shooting/
Jonathan Sperling, “Florida school shooting: These are the 17 victims,” NBC News Website, Feb 17 2018, 9:59 am ET. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/florida-school-shooting-these-are-17-victims-n848706
