Tag: baptism

2011 Sermons

Lent 2 March 20, 2011

Post author By vicar
Post date March 20, 2011

Genesis 12:1-4aÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

John 3:1-17Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Yesterday I was back in Illinois to preach at the funeral of a lady named Elizabeth Carpenter, who died at the age of 98. Liz was the last of the founding members of St. Charlesâ€™ Episcopal Church. That I be the preacher for her funeral was one of the things she requested. It was a significant request, because Liz Carpenter had a difficult time accepting me as her new rector. You see, I came on the heels of the beloved Fr. Ludtke, founding rector of the St. Charlesâ€™ parish, who had served it for 33 years and then retired. There was one interim Sunday and then I arrived: my first parish. I was the new guy, full of seminary learnings, and I liked to make changes. Fr. Ludtke was the old guy, who had liked things to stay the same.

But Liz was a serious Christian. She believed in that Benedictine vow of stability which we talked about last week in the adult forum. This was her church and she was going nowhere. So sheâ€™d come to my office, sit herself down, produce a list from her purse, and weâ€™d go through it item by item: why did I change this, why did I change that? And what happened was that Liz Carpenter learned to accept change, indeed to change herself. The present rector of St. Charlesâ€™ told me a story. A few weeks before she died, Liz was in church, sitting in her wheelchair at coffee hour. She was looking around at the coffee hour crowd and she said to Fr. Nesbit, â€œI donâ€™t know all these people any more.â€ And then, after a pause, she added, â€œBut I guess thatâ€™s a good thing.â€ A good thing for her church to grow and change.

Tags baptism, born again, change, Nicodemus

2011 Sermons

Lent 1 March 13, 2011

Post author By vicar
Post date March 13, 2011

Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Romans 5:12-19Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Matthew 4:1-11

Iâ€™ve told the story before, but itâ€™s worth repeating. A rich man came to see me in the church I served back in St. Charles, Illinois, about a wedding for his daughter. They were nominal members of the more fashionable parish in the next town down the river, but they never attended church so the priest there had refused to do the wedding. Would I? The father would â€œmake it worth my while.â€ What did my church need?

Well, I thought to myself: think boldly here, John. So, looking out the window of my study to the vacant expanse of lawn we owned, I said, â€œWell, we very much need to expand our education wing.â€ My visitor made a choking sound, so I quickly laughed said that I was only kidding; weâ€™d be glad to do his daughterâ€™s wedding and he could make whatever contribution he felt called to out of gratitude.

Needless to say, my relations with that man were never very good. He got my back up; I got his. We were operating, you see, out of completely different paradigms. He came from a successful corporate career, the world of commerce and power, where I offer something to you if you will do something in return. I will build you a ship (this had been this rich manâ€™s most recent business) if you pay me so many hundreds of millions of dollars. The Church, however, operates (or is supposed to operate!) differently. For example, each Sunday we offer you a wonderful breakfast, a beautiful worship service, a helpful (we hope) message for your week, and the Body and Blood of Christ. And itâ€™s entirely up to you what you do in response â€“ moneywise or anything-wise. Itâ€™s all free gift.

Tags baptism, gift, grace, Romans, temptation in the wilderness

2011 Sermons

Baptism of Our Lord January 9, 2011

Post author By vicar
Post date January 9, 2011
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Isaiah 41:1-9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Acts 10:34-43Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Matthew 3:13-17

Â If youâ€™ve driven down 114 in the past few weeks, you may have noticed the message on the sign board at Christ Community Church: Christmas is not a day; Christmas is God with us. We might expand on that thought: Christianity is not a religion; Christianity is God with us.

Thatâ€™s an almost impossible idea for us human beings to get our minds around, and it must be said that in two thousand years weâ€™ve never really succeeded. We want a religion. We want a God who is comfortable, understandable; a God who fits nicely into our lives, a system that suits us, that works for us; a church that meets our needs, that comforts us with certainties and never challenges us or confronts us with the awesome mystery of the living God.

Tags baptism, baptism of Christ, religion

2010 Sermons

Holy Cross Day September 12, 2010

Post author By vicar
Post date September 12, 2010
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1 Corinthians 1:18-24Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

John 3:13-17Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

In the hall across from the office here at church you may have noticed, on your way to the restroom, a wall calendar. Itâ€™s sent every year from the Church Pension Group, a multi-billion dollar enterprise which handles pensions, insurance, health benefits and more for the Episcopal Church. Each month on the calendar thereâ€™s a clever cartoon, drawn I believe by a priest in New York City. This monthâ€™s cartoon features an update of whatâ€™s called the Great Commission.

The Great Commission comes at the end of St. Matthewâ€™s gospel, where after the Resurrection Jesus bids his disciples to â€œgo therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.â€ (Weâ€™re carrying out the Great Commission this morning, as we baptize Annabelle Nicole Charette.) But the cartoon, which is captioned â€œThe Great Commission Revisited,â€ up-dates this by having Jesus say, â€œGo therefore and make disciples of all nations, developing task forces and strategic plans, and surveying the congregation in order to craft a succinct and memorable mission statement easily communicated on bumper stickers, website home pages, t-shirts and coffee mugs.â€ A wry and telling comment on the state of the Church (and the world) today.

Tags baptism, cross, faithfulness, Holy Cross

2010 Sermons

Baptism of Our Lord January 10, 2010

Post author By vicar
Post date January 10, 2010

Isaiah 43:1-7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Acts 8:14-17Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

A friend writes to say he has â€œlost his faith.â€ This can mean different things for different people, but for him, he explains, he â€œcan no longer believe in the doctrines of Christianity.â€ What doctrines? He doesnâ€™t say. The Incarnation, the Trinity, the Virgin Birth, the Resurrection? I donâ€™t want to put him on the spot by asking, nor do I want to put myself in the position of doctrinal expositor.

But it does seem odd to me. Doctrines, I think, really come last rather than first in faith. First comes a sense of wonder, the asking of questions about the meaning of life, if life has meaning. And a close second comes some sort of personal contact, experience of a person of faith that makes one want to have what they have. I suppose itâ€™s not coincidental that this friend of mine grew up as an only child, has never married, never had children, and has led a life sheltered from the ordinary interactions with other people â€“ the daily ups and downs â€“ that most of us enjoy (or suffer through).

Tags baptism, baptism of Christ, chrismation, Holy Spirit, Jesus, sacrament

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Holy Cross Day September 14, 2009

Post author By vicar
Post date September 13, 2009

Numbers 21:4b-9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

1 Corinthians 1:18-24Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

John 3:13-17

I want us to reflect together this morning on two things: desire and commitment. We will find, I think, that our reflections lead us to a deeper understanding both of baptism and of the cross.

This last Friday I drove up to Tilton to meet a friend for lunch. It was also an opportunity for me to pick up some socks and undershorts at the outlet mall. There, parked next to me, was one of those huge excursion buses â€“ from New Jersey, no less â€“ which had driven all that way with a load of people to shop. A few of the shoppers were straggling back to the bus, bags of purchases in hand, looking exhausted. Looking lonely, too. Malls are full of people, but they are not communities.

Tags baptism, commitment, cross, desire, Holy Cross, surrender

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Pentecost 6 July 12, 2009

Post author By vicar
Post date July 10, 2009
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Amos 7:7-15Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Mark 6:14-29Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Childrenâ€™s literature is full of stories in which someone discovers a magic doorway â€“ the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland, the back wall of a clothes closet in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe â€“ through which they pass into a world where everything is different. The sacrament of Holy Baptism, symbolized by the baptismal font that stands by the entrance to our worship space, is such a magic doorway into the world of Christ.

Tags baptism, community, kingdom of God, participation

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Pentecost 3 June 21, 2009

Post author By vicar
Post date June 21, 2009

Job 38:1-11Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Mark 4:35-41Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

The Hebrew people, who wrote the Bibleâ€”both the Old Testament and the Newâ€”were a desert people. Water for them had a double, paradoxical meaning. It represented chaos, threat and danger. On the other hand, it represented life and new birth. Weâ€™ll get to that other hand in a minute, but letâ€™s start with the chaos, threat and danger side of water.

Tags atheism, baptism, chaos, creation, faith, trust, water

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Day of Pentecost May 31, 2009

Post author By vicar
Post date May 31, 2009

Acts 2:1-21Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Romans 8:22-27Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15

Letâ€™s call him Adam. He was one of the unhappiest people Iâ€™ve ever known. Nothing and nobody could please him. Everything was always against himâ€”and against him personally. If there was a new policy at work, it was a terrible idea and instituted by his boss for the express purpose of making Adamâ€™s life miserable. If his daughter was having trouble at school, she was having trouble just so as to reflect badly on her father. And churchâ€”well, every change, every experiment, every new hymn tune, every sermon, was a direct insult to Adam. I had a special file folder labeled â€œAdam lettersâ€ telling me so.

I was on my guard big time therefore when Adam made an appointment to come and talk to me. I dressed carefully, so there would be nothing for Adam to criticize in that department, one of his favorites. I went over in my mind all the things in the last month or two that he might find fault with, preparing my defenses. And still I dreaded our meeting; my heart rate rose as I watched Adam pull into the church parking lot and get out of his car and I felt my breathing constricted.

So I was surprised when, once weâ€™d settled into our chairs in my study, Adam pulled out a small white card and handed it to me. â€œMy therapist said I was to work on these things. And he said if I had trouble, to come and talk to you.â€ This was news to me: that Adam would seek help in therapy! But there was more. On the card was written: â€œPractice praying before the Altar in church. Put yourself in the presence of God. Let God show you how much he loves you. Be with God in the light of love.â€

â€œIâ€™m having trouble with this,â€ Adam said. â€œI canâ€™t do it. I canâ€™t even begin. I donâ€™t know what heâ€™s talking about.â€

Tags Advocate, baptism, Holy Spirit, love, Pentecost, Satan

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Easter 5 May 10, 2009

Post author By vicar
Post date May 10, 2009

Acts 8:26-40Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

John 15:1-8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

(Members of the youth group presented a dramatization of the story of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. The congregation renewed their baptismal vows, sprinkled with water from the Font by the children.)

Our lives are shaped by little coincidences that arenâ€™t coincidents at all, but the workings of Godâ€™s Holy Spirit. We can plan our lives, our childrenâ€™s lives, so carefully. We can work so hard at fulfilling dreams. But in the end, the power of the Spirit working largely unseen trumps whatever we try to do. Would I be here this morning, would I be an Episcopalian, let alone a priest, if a college friend had not invited me to come with him early one Sunday morning to the S.S.J.E monastery in Cambridge? I doubt it. The working of the Spirit.

So this drama weâ€™ve just witnessed, about the baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch, is about the working of the Holy Spirit.

Tags Acts of the Apostles, baptism, Communion, Good News, Holy Spirit, mission