Sermons from St. John’s Episcopal Church

Afraid of the light. Fr. David Houk. March 2, 2025.

Exodus 34:29-35, Luke 9:28-36. The glory of God that shown on Moses and Jesus leaves us all a bit trembling. But Christ invites us on a journey from fear to love.

Blessing and Woes. Fr. Oliver Butler. February 16. 2025.

Fr. Butler preaches on Jeremiah 17:5-10, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, and Luke 6:17-26, connecting the Scriptures to the high and low points of our lives.
 

Called and sent. Fr. David Houk. February 9, 2025.

Isaiah 6:1-8, [9-13] and Luke 5:1-11. Our Scriptures recount the call stories of Isaiah and St. Peter. What’s your story?

The Stranger Simeon. Fr. Louis Harris. February 2, 2025.

In the propers this week, we are invited to reflect on the Feast of the Presentation and Purification, where an ordinary ritual becomes a moment of revelation. Simeon’s prophecy shifts the focus from celebration to transformation—Jesus will be opposed, Mary will suffer, and hearts will be laid bare. This marks our turn from Christmas to Lent: not just beholding God’s work, but responding to it. True transformation begins with honest self-presentation and a desire for deep purification. Through confession, repentance, and the Eucharist, God offers Himself so that we, too, might be changed.

One body, many members. Fr. David Houk. January 26, 2025.

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a  Paul’s reminder to the Corinthian church that they are one is a timely word about unity and diversity.

A Third Mystery. Fr. Louis Harris. January 19, 2025.

From the propers this week, Fr. Louis unpacks the third mystery of Epiphany: the Wedding at Cana. Why did Jesus choose to begin his ministry by turning water into wine at a simple wedding feast? What does this miracle reveal about God’s nature, love, and the transformation of the ordinary into the extraordinary? This first sign points to the joy, intimacy, and divine love at the heart of our faith—and what it means for the way we live today.

Who you really are (Fr. David Houk)

January 5, 2025. Luke 2:41-52. Just like Jesus, we need to grow into our true identity.

Christmas and the Darkness. Fr Louis Harris. December 29, 2024.

In this week’s propers, we heard the profound truth that “The Word became Flesh,” calling us to embrace the light in a world nearly overshadowed by darkness. Fr. Harris reminds us of our sacred calling to become children of God and reflections of His truth and love in the world. As our attention to the Christmas season fades, we are invited to carry the light into our homes, work, and relationships, bearing the hope and responsibility of living as the Body of Christ in the world.

Little Christmas. Fr. David Houk. Christmas Eve: December 24, 2024

Luke 2:1-20. Luke’s account of Jesus’s birth invites us to have a merry, little Christmas.

Good news for losers. Fr. David Houk. Advent 3: December 15, 2024

Luke 3:7-18. John the Baptist talks about a Great Reversal that is coming with the long-awaited Messiah. Luke says this is Good News.