Getting Lost in the Woods

  Today’s teaching sermon will focus on the liturgies of Holy Week and Easter.  In Daily Prayer for All Seasons  the authors write:  “The rites of Holy Week are at the very heart of the Christian year, indeed of our Christian faith. And for many of us they are, year after year, the most meaningful and life-changing services of the church.” While this is an information heavy sermon, I hope it will enhance your experience of journeying through Holy Week. Palm Sunday   3 / 4 The earliest recorded observance of Palm Sunday comes from the writing of a 4th century female pilgrim named Egeria  (Ege·​ria) .  She describes how Christians gathered near the Mount of Olives and would read the story of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.   The pilgrims would then form a procession and make their way across the hillside into Jerusalem, all while waving palm or olive branches.  They sang psalms, and shouted,  ‘Blessed is he who comes in the nam...

Last month, Molly offered the first of two teaching sermons on the Christian Bible.  She focused on the  Hebrew Scriptures , and began by talking about the labels we use when referring to these sacred texts.  The Hebrew Scriptures are better known in Christian circles as the Old Testament , and are sometimes referred to as the  First Covenant .  Like Molly, I don't use the label Old Testament   because of its negative connotations.  Instead, like many others, we refer to these sacred texts as the Hebrew Scriptures .   For me, this label is a helpful reminder that Jesus of Nazareth, in birth and death, was a practicing Jew; and that these sacred texts were the ones he learned, inwardly digested, and informed his teachings of God’s love and grace. Today, I’ll offer the second teaching sermon on the Christian Bible, focusing on the Christian Scriptures.  These sacred texts are better known in Christian circles as the New Testament , and are...

Have you ever wondered how many sacraments we have in the Episcopal Church?  If so, this is your lucky day.  Our tradition affirms there are two  sacraments  and five  sacramental rites .  They have two key distinctions.  First, sacraments were  given by Christ  to the Church, whereas sacramental rites were  instituted by the Church  through the guidance of the Holy Spirit . (1/ 2)  Second, sacraments are understood as  essential for all   Christians, while sacramental rites are not. ( 1)   In other words, some people will be called to partake in one or more of these rites, but it’s not imperative for  all  Christians.  Having covered the two sacraments in previous sermons, we’ll spend the next few teaching sermons getting better acquainted with the five sacramental rites.  These are: confirmation; marriage; ordination; reconciliation of a penitent - a form of personal confession; and unc...