Sermons from St. John’s Episcopal Church

Making Spiritual Eggnog. Fr Louis Harris. December 8, 2024

The propers for this week invite us to reflect on the season of Advent as a time of preparation for the profound reality of God’s arrival in our lives. Amid the noise and distractions of the holiday season, we are reminded of John the Baptist’s call to a baptism of repentance—a purposeful turning toward God, aligning our lives with His will and purposes. This preparation is not about guilt or anxiety but a quiet awareness of our need for God’s grace, helping us to hear His voice in the moments of life and respond with faith. As we anticipate Christmas, Fr Harris invites us to ready our hearts, not just for festivities, but for the transformative presence of God among us

Not the end of the world. Fr. David Houk. Advent 1: December 1, 2024

Jesus’s words in Luke 21:25-36 sound like the end of the world. What if they’re actually about a better world being born?

Growing up. Fr. Casey Shobe. November 17, 2024.

Fr. Casey Shobe, Rector of Church of the Transfiguration, is our guest preacher on Celebration Sunday.

All Saints Die. Fr Louis Harris. November 3, 2024.

In the propers for this week, we confront the nature of holiness and the reality of the Saints, especially amid our struggles with virtue and a broken world. The story of Lazarus invites us to face our doubts about hope and death. Jesus' distinct weeping points beyond despair, revealing that death is not an end but part of God’s plan of restoration.
As we observe All Saints' Day, surrounded by the signs of death in autumn, the Church urges us to see the Saints as present and active in our lives. They teach us that suffering can be transformed into joy and death into life. This reminder calls us to believe that holiness is possible and to join the communion of those who live in hope and faith.

Who are you in the story? Fr. David Houk. October 27, 2024.

Mark 10:46-52  Fr. Houk considers the characters in the story of the healing of blind Bartimaeus.

Overqualified. Fr. David Houk. October 13, 2024

Mark 10:17-31. Jesus’s exchange with the Rich Young Ruler shows us that number one impediment to discipleship is pride.

Up the Mountain. Fr Louis Harris. September 29, 2024

In the propers for this week, we seem to hear Jesus exhort the disciples to cut off their eyes, hands, and feet in order to avoid eternal hellfire. We also heard about the failure of Haman's plan to kill Mordecai and his people. What could it all mean? Fr Harris reflects on the meaning for us during this season of the church year.

Greatness. Fr. David Houk. September 22, 2024

Mark 9:30-37. Fr. Houk imagines the full conversation between Jesus and the disciples who were arguing about who was the greatest.

Spiritual Strategy. Fr Harris. September 15, 2024.

The propers for this week drew our attention to the tendency in each of us to strategize for comfort and control our lives. Yet, Jesus’ rebuked Peter for focusing on human interests instead of God’s. Jesus’ teaching—“Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it”—urges us to surrender our self-centered ways. We’re called to repent, let go of shallow habits, and let God guide us toward true wisdom. The challenge is clear: will we cling to our own plans, or risk everything to discover what God has in store?

Rally Day #goalz. Fr. David Houk. September 8, 2024

It's Rally Day at St. John's, the beginning of the program year. Fr. Houk reports on the parish's goals for the year, connecting with an appeal to Philippians 3:7-14 about the role of faith.