Thankful Memorial, ChattanoogaMarch 20, 2022Year C, Lent 3 Exodus 3:1-15Psalm 63:1-81 Corinthians 10:1-13Luke 13:1-9 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. It’s been hard for a while now. But the proverbial straw for me was the image of the dead Ukrainian family along an evacuation route. …
Success: a sermon
Thankful Memorial, ChattanoogaFebruary 6, 2022Year C, Epiphany 5 Isaiah 6:1-13Psalm 1381 Corinthians 15:1-11Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Since the first season of the podcast was released last month, some folks have contacted me because of my involvement in the Small Churches,…
The Surprising Pull of Grief
This morning, I had to pause unexpectedly in the rush to get myself and my kids out the door to work and school. Right in the middle of the chaos of it all, as I reached out for my toothbrush, I was overcome by my grief and longing for my dead father and I spent…
A Thankful Dozen
On this day in 2010 (that’s twelve years ago for the math-challenged), I began my tenure as Rector of Thankful Memorial Episcopal Church by celebrating Sunday morning Eucharist in our beautiful stone sanctuary. I had no clue where to sit or stand in the small space by the altar. Having been ordained a priest only…
Receivers: a sermon
Thankful Memorial, ChattanoogaJanuary 9, 2022Year C, Epiphany 1 Isaiah 43:1-7Acts 8:14-17Psalm 29Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Today, we celebrate the first Sunday after the Epiphany. The Church recognizes the feast of the Epiphany – when the Magi approached the baby Jesus…
The Good News in Tense Times: a sermon
Thankful Memorial Episcopal Church, Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2021 Isaiah 9:2-7Psalm 96Titus 2:11-14Luke 2:1-20 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. I know I sound like a grade-school teacher when I say it, but the scriptures that we hear tonight have some grammatical problems. The writers…
Repent & Rejoice: A sermon
Thankful Memorial Episcopal Church, ChattanoogaYear C, Advent 3 Zephaniah 3:14-20Canticle 9 (Isaiah 12:2-6)Philippians 4:4-7Luke 3:7-18 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The third Sunday of Advent is known as “Rejoice” Sunday. And you can see why: “Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice…
A Future with Hope: a sermon
Thankful Memorial Episcopal Church, Chattanooga, TennesseeYear B, 19 Pentecost, Proper 22October 3, 2021 Job 1:1; 2:1-10Psalm 26Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12Mark 10:2-16 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. I want to start my reflections with a text that we didn’t read this morning. These verses come from…
Finding Hope Amid the Headlines: a sermon
Thankful Memorial, ChattanoogaSeptember 5, 2021Year B, 15 Pentecost, Proper 18 Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23Psalm 125James 2:1-17Mark 7:24-37 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. In the portion of Mark we read this morning, we see the humanity of our Lord Jesus. We see in his responses…
Bread for Souls and Bodies: a sermon
Thankful Memorial, ChattanoogaAugust 15, 2021Year B, 12 Pentecost, Proper 15 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14Psalm 111Ephesians 5:15-20John 6:51-58 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. “Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is…
The Thankful Priest 