Sermons

Who gets to be Mary?

Sermon for December 21, 2014 (Fourth Sunday in Advent)
Rev. Amy Welin (4 Advent): Who gets to be Mary? In some parishes, that question generates a great deal of competition. Little girls and their mothers posture for the honor of being asked to play the Virgin Mary in the annual Christmas pageant. Everyone wants to be Mary because it is considered an honor to portray the Mother of God. But in the scripture, it seems that even Miriam of Nazareth (that is probably her real name - it is changed in the Greek of the gospels) is not so sure that she wants to be Mary. Read More Read more • Leer más → “Who gets to be Mary?”
Sermons

Sermon: Third Sunday in Advent

Sermon for December 14, 2014 (Third Sunday in Advent)
Rev. Amy Welin: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances . . . Today is the third Sunday in Advent. In the early church, today was called Gaudete Sunday – (Anglicans call it Rejoicing Sunday because we don’t use a lot of Latin). We are more than half way through the season of Advent, when we remember that God came into the world (advent means to “come into”). This Sunday is set apart for special rejoicing, because we know that the Lord is near. And so we light rose colored candles on Advent wreaths, and some priests put on rose colored vestments, as a visible sign of an invisible reality. Read More Read more • Leer más → “Sermon: Third Sunday in Advent”
Sermons

Advent reminds us that we need to reorganize our lives and re-think what is most important to us

Sermon for December 7, 2014 (Second Sunday in Advent)
Rev. Amy Welin:
Advent reminds us that we need to reorganize our lives and re-think what is most important to us. We are going to celebrate the birth of the Messiah. The Christ. The one who took away the sins of the world and the one who has given us eternal life. Life is often difficult and the headlines are usually depressing. And we have every good reason to be hopeful. Not optimistic. Hopeful. How shall we show the world where we put our hope? Read More Read more • Leer más → “Advent reminds us that we need to reorganize our lives and re-think what is most important to us”
Sermons

Give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light

Sermon for November 30, 2014 (First Sunday in Advent)
Rev. Amy Welin:
Today we begin Advent, the first season of the church year, which is dedicated to our spiritual preparation for the coming of God. We wait – and we wait actively, not passively. We are supposed to cast away the works of darkness and use the armor of light to transform ourselves and the world. It is difficult for me to consider new beginnings without also considering what we need to leave behind. And there is a lot that we need to leave behind, because our lives depend on it! We live in times when the fragile light of our shared humanity seems to be disappearing in works of darkness. Read More Read more • Leer más → “Give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light”
Sermons

Stewardship Ingathering

Sermon for November 16, 2014 (23rd Sunday After Pentecost)
Rev. Amy Welin:
All of the blessings of our lives – our families and friends, our work, every good thing – and all the blessings of this parish – the worship, the outreach and educational programs, the staff, the beautiful building – are gifts from God. Sharing in the blessing demands a commitment to financial generosity for the sake of God. We can all whine about the bills, the cost of maintenance, and the diocesan requirements. Yet the real bottom line is this: stewardship is not about the budget. It is about getting ourselves into the right sort of relationship of thanksgiving to God. Read More Read more • Leer más → “Stewardship Ingathering”
Sermons

Personal Views on Stewardship

Sermon for October 26, 2014 (20th Sunday after Pentecost)
Mr. Jay Anthony:
This church, this home of ours is a tapestry of 280 plus years of Stewards, people like you who have reached out to the community and have helped them and made their lives better. Individuals and families who carefully, responsibly and prayerfully managed St. John’s Episcopal Church on the Green. It’s you and you and you and me. Even without knowing, you have probably helped put someone in need on the right path to help themselves. There are even groups who will not realize until later, St. John’s has done them much good and put them on a better path. Read More Read more • Leer más → “Personal Views on Stewardship”