Sermons

Sunday sermons may generally be found on our YouTube channel. 

Here is a tutorial on how to subscribe to a channel. here: The most recent sermons are listed below.

Recent Sermons

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Remembrance of 9-11 by Gage McKinney, LLP

September 12, 2021 Proper 19

Where were you during the events of 9-11? For those old enough, we know where we were. This is because of the scale of 9-11. In the Gospel of Mark, we see that when Jesus moves out of Galilee to the Gentile regions, the scale of the gospel message grows bigger. Yet, in the midst of the growing scale of the movement, Jesus brings it back to the personal, when he asks, “Who do you say that I am?” So, also, in the huge scale of tragedy of 9-11, God’s love comes to each person. God, who made the galaxies, is also God in each human heart. Life in God is lived across various levels.

Gage McKinney, LLP

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Ephphatha at the Borders by the Rev. Salying Wong

September 5, 2021 Proper 18

In Mark 7, Jesus leaves Galilee and goes to Tyre. He moves from Jewish territory to Phoenician territory and from agricultural and poor territory to urban and wealthy territory. But, he still has borders to cross. The Syro-phoenican woman teaches him that the borders of the Kingdom are opened (Ephphatha). When he accepts the transformation at this border crossing, he, too, gives liberation to the woman’s daughter–and ultimately to the deaf-mute man of the Decapolis. The liberation of the kingdom is contagious and crosses boundaries.

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Hey Jesus, Did You Sanitize? by the Rev. Salying Wong

August 29, 2021 Proper 17

Purification rituals help us remember that God is holy and that life with the holy God really matters. But, sometimes, we go sideways, thinking that the rituals themselves makes us holy–and then judge those who don’t do things our way as not as holy. When we go too far, we end up projecting the things we don’t like about ourselves onto others. But examination of the heart, which Jesus is discussing in the Gospel reading from Mark, enables us to use that which we would rather cast away as the very means to a pure heart–which is really a whole heart. When we can gain compassion for ourselves, it will be natural to be compassionate to our neighbor.

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

End Where We Began by the Rev. Salying Wong

August 22, 2021 Proper 16

This fifth installment on the Bread of Life discourse considers the ultimate place Jesus has taken the crowd and his disciples–a place where they have nothing to offer for the boundless love they are being given. It is a place of utter vulnerability. Some will find this too scandalizing; but, for those who remain, they will be freed from the will of the flesh and be born again/from above–they will have power to become children of God.

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

More to Chew On by the Rev. Salying Wong

August 15, 2021 Proper 15

This fourth installment in the bread of life discourse explores the levels of meaning in the phrases “living bread” and “eat my flesh”. Some the allusions are to the Good Shepherd/Psalm 23 and to the eucharist. The invitation is throughout: the offering of life and life abundant.

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

The Multiplication Goes On by the Rev. Salying Wong

August 8, 2021 Proper 14

Continuing in the Bread of Life discourse in John 6, this Sunday we (and the crowd) contemplate Jesus’ origins from the beginning as the Bread of Heaven which gives life to the world. Jesus’ coming as intimate presence helps those who trust him erase the sense of separation from God, which is part of the human condition. When we feed on Jesus, the True Bread, we will multiply the work of trust–and so the miracle (of loaves and fishes) goes on and on.

(This is the third installment of the 5 week series on the Bread of Life Discourse set for the lectionary.)

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

Do you believe? by the Rev. Salying Wong

August 1, 2021 Proper 13

Miracles leave us hungry again. But, a sign leads to eternal life, where we feast on the Bread of Life. To believe, in the Gospel of John, means to say yes to an intimate relationship with Jesus, who is God’s presence among us. The performance of the sign of multiplication, when understood merely as a miracle, treats the exchange with God as a transaction. But, when understood truly, leads to connection–leads to a relationship that is born of God, born from above. This is the invitation in the sign of loaves and fishes.

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Jesus Feeds Us with his Own Hand by the Rev. Salying Wong

July 25, 2021 Proper 12

This is the first installment of a 5-week series on John 6.  This sermon interprets the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes using the Prologue of John, as a sign of God come near through Jesus, to show abundant love and to call all into relationship–to give grace upon grace. No video is available, but you may read the manuscript here.

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

Get Your Groove On by the Rev. Salying Wong

July 18, 2021 Proper 11

This is the rewrite of the Psalm 23 from today.

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. When traveling, he puts my wheels in a righteous groove for a smooth ride, for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Only goodness and mercy shall pursue me all the days of my life, and I shall return again and again to God’s presence my whole life long.

Here’s the sermon, “Get Your Groove On” on the psalm by Pastor Salying.

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

The Light Yoke by the Rev. Salying Wong

July 11, 2021 Proper 10

The story of the murder of John the Baptist is a harbinger of harder things to come. Today, Jesus teaches his disciples how to bear hardships.

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

July 4, 2021 Proper 9 Persevering Faith by the Rev. Salying Wong

Sometimes the work of the Gospel means rejection and change of tactic. In such times, we must be nimble, adapt, and have persevering faith.

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

June 27, 2021 Proper 8 No Shortage of Grace by the Rev. Salying Wong

This sermon has no video – meanwhile, here’s audio recording of the sermon on Mark 5,  No Shortage of Grace:  A sick poor woman; a sick rich girl: each receive healing, showing that in the Kingdom of God, there is no shortage of grace.

The Rev. Salying Wong

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

June 20, 2021 Proper 7 Emmanuel in the Boat by the Rt. Rev. Lucinda Ashby

In this sermon, Bishop Lucinda shows how Jesus is Emmanuel in the boat and in all places, in the tempest and also in fair weather.

Third Sunday after Pentecost

June 13, 2021 Proper 6

Seeing the Harvest by Lou Poulain, LLP

This sermon by Lou Poulain considers how to see the harvest, when the process of growth is so mysterious in the Parable of the Sower.

A video of this sermon maybe found here.