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

First Sunday in Advent

Chronos, Kairos, Advent by the Rev. Salying Wong

November 28, 2021

Advent is time that wells up to fulfillment; it does not run out. It is the time to look for the signs of new life, not destruction. It requires silence to perceive.

Last Sunday after Pentecost: Christ the King

In Celebration of the 110th Anniversary of our Parish: Interviews with long-time members

November 21, 2021

Pastor Salying Wong spoke at some length with long-time members Norma Medlin and Jane Doman. The video with Norma may be found here.

Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Birthpangs by the Rev. Salying Wong

November 14, 2021 Proper 28

The Gospel of Mark offers no soft consolation. Jesus tells his disciples that they cannot bypass suffering. Some will try to jump over the labor of suffering–announcing that all is accomplished before it is accomplished, pretending that Jesus has already come to save the day in his second coming. But, Jesus says not to believe it. In fact, the suffering is the birthpangs to new life–one must labor in order to create the end of the story. This is the good news.

All Saints Sunday

Risen Life, Present Tense by the Rev. Salying Wong

November 7, 2021

The sign of Lazarus’ raising points to the reality that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Jesus declares this before he raises Lazarus, before he himself is crucified, died, risen and ascended. Jesus declares this not as a causal reality, but as a present reality. Jesus came in the midst of our human condition–loss, pain, death–to show us that these things do not have the last word. In Jesus, the Word made flesh, the last word is resurrection and life.

Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost

Stewardship Sunday

A Very Perfect Gift by Lou Poulain, LLP

October 31, 2021 Proper 26

Our identity as Christians is built on worship, gospel, community and service. As we answer the call to be steward of these things, it is an answer to extend ourselves in care for one another in the midst of our most local expression of church.

Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost

On the Way: Insight from the Margins by the Rev. Salying Wong

October 24, 2021 Proper 25

Bartimaeus sits by the roadside, sits along the way, sits on the margins. And though he is blind, he has insight to who Jesus is. He cries out, “Jesus, Son of David!” He declares the messiah on his way from Jericho to Jerusalem. The way that Jesus walks is cruciform. Bartimaeus proclaims salvation by giving the insight we need to have a new perspective. This new perspective (literally repentance) is the insight/sight we need to see the Kingdom of God.

Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

Is the Vice President Seat Open? by the Rev. Salying Wong

October 17, 2021 Proper 24

You need repentance to see the Kingdom of God. That is, you need a new mind, a new perspective (metanoia). It isn’t like other kinds of kingdoms, where the head positions give you power and glory. In Jesus’ Kingdom, the seats to his left are right are the cross. Suffering is part of this kingdom. All who follow this way will serve as one who has to contend with suffering. It is in the midst of suffering that our servanthood is purified–as not about having power and honor, but even eschewing hatred and bitterness in the worst of it. That’s how you walk into God’s kingdom.

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Who Is Good? by the Rev. Salying Wong

October 10, 2021 Proper 23

The story of the rich man who was told to sell everything and the response of Peter and the disciples together reveal the essential nature of the Kingdom of God. It is not entered in by human goodness, which is tainted by our egos. Rather, it is a pure gift from God, whose goodness is purely from the place of mercy and love. Jesus looked at the rich man and loved him; Jesus looks at us and loves us. When we consent to the gaze of God and one our eye with God’s eye, the camel threads the eye of the needle. What is impossible with mortals is possible with God.

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Good News for the Divorced by the Rev. Salying Wong

October 3, 2021 Proper 22

Divorce has touched almost everyone’s lives, either directly or indirectly. The pain can close up the heart. This sermon contemplates Mark 10 and Jesus’ teaching on divorce. Setting his words in context, we can hold his words not as a prescription, but as eschatological hope. In the Kingdom of God, the hope is the hope of the vulnerable, the disempowered, and the shamed. It is welcome for the broken hearted.

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Stumbling Blocks by Lou Poulain, LLP

September 26, 2021 Proper 21

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

The Greatest Path by the Rev. Bertram Nagarajah

September 19, 2021 Proper 20

We can be too concerned about our own greatness, comparing and competing with one another. But, Jesus, before he goes to the cross, teaches them what is the path of greatness. That path is to love one another–especially in the here and now.

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.