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Sermons 2020
Here are links to all the recent recordings of sermons at the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, the most recent first.
1/12/2020 – THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY: sermon by the Rev. Emily Gibson. The early Christians were surprised to find that God gave his Spirit to everyone, not just the Jews. We see this in the Wise Men, who were neither natives nor Jewish. God is still up to something new. The Holy Spirit awaits us to follow. A new day has been prepared for us. God is present here and now. Stop! Look! Listen! We turn to God again and again. We bear witness. Let us go forth to love extravagantly and serve the Lord faithfully.
1/5/2020 – THE EPIPHANY: sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. We have seen His star, shining in the darkness. The old order of the universe has been disturbed. A child has been born. The wise pay homage. The powerful are threatened. Prisoners testify to the light. The faithful speak in the time of fear. Away from home, at the worst time of the year, even then the light is with us through birth and death.
Sermons 2019
12/24/2019 – CHRISTMAS EVE: sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. The people have seen a great light. Christmas can be a wonderful time and a trying time, and sometimes both at once. Even those in prison raise their voices in song. Pray for us, Mary, full of grace. Pour your grace into our hearts, Lord. Awe and wonder are renewed. We hear the good news. The light seen this night cannot be taken away.
12/22/2019 – THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT: sermon by the Rev. Canon Lloyd S. Casson. God is with us! The candle of peace has been lit. We have prepared a place in our hearts for the one who brings peace. The Word is with us. Like an unexpected pregnancy, our lives are changed. We listen for the speech of angels and look for a sign. We trust what we hear and see. It is going to be alright. The ancient promise is fulfilled. Our lights are shining; our hearts, open. We are loved.
12/15/2019 – THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT: sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. Proclaim the greatness of the Lord! Hope is not a cruel joke. Without hope, despair seems to be a reasonable choice. Our deepest longings point to what will be fulfilled. Hope is stronger than any disappointment, any loss. With God’s grace, we can rejoice in all circumstances. There is light in the wilderness, in the land of desolation. Water springs up in the desert. Everlasting joy shall be ours, is ours in hope. We hear the good news. Praise be to God!
12/8/2019 – THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT: sermon by the Rev. Emily Gibson. The first thing God created was light. Look for the light. As you read the Bible, look for the light of new insights and deeper understanding. Our journey is not finished. What might God want us to do? Is there something we can change about ourselves as individuals? Is there something we can change about ourselves as a society? Let us open our eyes to the light and our ears to the good news.
12/1/2019 – THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT: sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. The next four weeks is a time to repent, a time to prepare for God’s Kingdom. Advent is a season of wonder and reflection, of increased awareness of our relationship to God, a time to better know ourselves. It can be a season of sadness. (1) Wake up! Open your senses! (2) Put aside certainty and control and rely on God instead. (3) Let Jesus in. Allow him to rob you of what you hold precious so that you might be humble and free.
11/24/2019 – SEASON OF CREATION, SEVENTH SUNDAY: sermon by Mary Parmer, Guest Preacher. Each of us has the gift of creativity, essential to every ministry. Imagination is so important as we invite others to join us, as we practice hospitality, and as we connect to one another. Imagination is essential when circumstances challenge us to recreate our shattered lives. We seek and find the extraordinary in the ordinary. Fantasy is our friend. We dream. We have a dream. We are agents of imagination.
11/17/2019 – SEASON OF CREATION, SIXTH SUNDAY: sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. Breathe. Remember times of tranquility. Look forward to reconciliation and redemption. Lay your false self aside. Let your soul rest on the eternal. Be encouraged even in the face of pain and conflict, in the face of arrest and persecution. Testify to God’s promise. Trust one another and let other’s trust you. As a church, let us look beyond buildings and budgets. May we live each day with more love, grateful for each moment.
11/10/2019 – SEASON OF CREATION, FIFTH SUNDAY: sermon by the Right Reverend Carol Gallagher, PhD, Preacher. We should strive to respect everyone. Every person is God’s creation. Even when we are disrespected, mocked, or made fun of, our response should be worthy, respectful to God, the God who made you and who made the person disrespecting you. You are not small! Let your response be big hearted! Even if it is difficult to see grace and goodness in another person, search for it. Do not let the arrogance of others make you vengeful. If they puff themselves up, do not be eager to pop their bubbles, but be eager to understand, waiting for God to give you the grace to be respectful. God is with us!
11/3/2019 – SEASON OF CREATION, FOURTH SUNDAY: sermon by the Rev. Canon Lloyd S. Casson. How did creation happen? Surely it is more than we can describe in equations or poetry. Yet, in joy, we praise God and God’s amazing creation, including humans, including our neighbors, including ourselves. We are manifest in God. We are star dust. We are co-creators with God. Love is at the center. Let there be reconciliation and peace. Let the lost sheep listen for the shepherd’s call.
10/27/2019 – SEASON OF CREATION, THIRD SUNDAY: There was no sermon this Sunday to allow time for a “Migrant Way of the Cross” ceremony to celebrate our common humanity with those uprooted from their homes and seeking new ones. Click the link to see the Migrant Way of the Cross text.
10/20/2019 – SEASON OF CREATION, SECOND SUNDAY, sermon by speaker Brighton Kaoma, Co-Founder and Partner at Agents of Change Foundation, Zambia. We share one planet. Let us wash our faces in streams of life-giving water and turn our faces to the rising sun. Our planet is here to be loved and cared for. Here is a sense of communion, of caring for the earth and all that is in it, including our neighbors. All of us, each of us, can do something, not only individually but together. It is our responsibility to act, yes, but also a deep pleasure.
10/13/2019 – SEASON OF CREATION, FIRST SUNDAY, sermon by the Rabbi Douglas Krantz. Let us not forget Jerusalem, the Sabbath, the exodus from slavery in Egypt, right from wrong, decency, informed decision making, respect for those with whom we disagree, affirmation that we are all God’s children, that we are stewards of creation, that the world is our garden, that we who are white are privileged and often blind, that automation will affect some races more than others, that we have work to do, that everyone should have equal opportunities, that we are lights in the darkness.
10/6/2019 – THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, sermon by the Right Reverend Kevin Brown, Bishop of the Diocese of Delaware. I was glad when they said, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” We are in this together, not to fill up the pews but because here in church we are fed. We find truth, hope, and strength. Our faith increases. A speck, a drop, a seed is all we need. Seeds of faith are what we spread. I tell you, evangelize and spread the good news. Invite the Holy Spirit in and breathe out grace. Show and tell why we are Christians, not to grow the church but to share the love of God. Use words!
09/29/2019 – THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. Every Sunday here at SsAM, we read and reflect on lessons from the Bible. Christians have been doing this for thousands of years and our Jewish forebears for thousands of years before that. At our best, we listen to what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. Alas if we are at ease and unaffected by the suffering around us! The time is now to do good, to bridge the chasm between us and our neighbors. Dear God, disturb our complacency!
9/22/2019 THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. Every day, let us take time to renew our relationship to God. Let us pray, reflect, read, and listen for God’s word. Put self aside. Give thanks! Live a peaceable and quiet life. Look for Christ in others. Be faithful in little things. Give what we can and not envy those who give more. Be satisfied with today, this hour, this moment.
9/15/2019 THE FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. Repentance is a response to regret, a way to reconnect with the upward bubbling source of life, of renewing the flow of grace into our soul. God rejoices when we return. Let our church be a place where people willingly return, where they find welcome when they enter our doors. Let our church be a place where young people can ask questions as they mature. Let us meet them at the door delighted and laughing. Let us welcome strangers. Let our church be a guest house.
9/8/2019 THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. Hold onto the love of God! Hold onto what is good! Heart, mind, and soul — choose life! Good as they are, let us not let love of family, love of treasured things, or even love of life itself eclipse the light shining down on us from heaven. Get out from under the shadow. Do not miss out on what is best.
9/1/2019 – THE TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. Each one of us has the divine spark of divinity within us. Humility is the means by which we put ourselves aside so that the divine spark might blaze. At our best, we do not put ourselves first, but God. Then we are open to new ideas and experiences, to whatever God puts before us. Then we have faith and are eager to discover each new day. Whatever is to be given to us is welcomed.
8/25/2019 – THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. 400 years ago, the first of many slave ships arrived in the United States. The lingering effects of slavery are with us even today. What blinds us to mercy and reconciliation? Is it fear of judgement, of God’s cleansing fire? Sin bends us downward. Our eyes cannot see in front of us or look upwards. Pray that God will heal us, straighten our backs and soften our hearts. Demand justice of others, but demand it of yourself as well. Ask God to forgive you, but only as you forgive others.
8/18/2019 – THE TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. I have been reading Grace and Grit by Ken Wilber. His words go well with today’s reading, where Jesus seems so angry. His words encourage us to go outside our comfort zone. God is at once far away and near at hand, transcendent and immanent. God’s word is like fire that burns away impurities. God’s word is like a hammer that breaks apart our defenses. God’s word is our healing. Nearness to God is our hope.
8/11/2019 – THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Faith often arises in the context of sorrow and loss. Go forth not knowing what awaits you, whether you will succeed or not, but going where God leads you. Do not expect to see the fruit of your labors, but let heaven rejoice. Do not be afraid. Be alert! God’s kingdom is at hand! Let your longing increase. Choose the better way.
8/4/2019 – THE EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. We are neither our bodies, our thoughts, nor our feelings. We are spiritual beings with physical, mental, and emotional experiences. By grace, we are rich toward God. By grace, we have more than enough. We do not need to store up possessions. We do not need to store up things, thoughts, or feelings, to try to hold on to them. Individually and as a church, we do not need to fret about finances, what we have or might not have, and whether what we have will be enough. By the grace of God, we have more than enough.
7/28/2019 – THE SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, sermon by the Rev. Beverly Van Horne. Jesus taught us to invite people right into our lives. Jesus taught us to invite God right into our lives. God always wants us to be in relationship to our neighbors and to the Spirit, to be hospitable, to be welcoming and loving. If we love, others will see God active in our lives, in our church. Hope, pray, and act! God is shaping us into a community of grace, a community of forgiveness, a community that is socially active, God’s will done on earth as in heaven.
7/21/2019 – THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, sermon by the Rev. Canon Martha Kirkpatrick. Let us not be envious of others. If we are called to be hospitable, let us not envy those called to other roles, perhaps who sit meditating while we work making things ready. Let us catch ourselves in the act of envy before it sours our hospitality. Let us listen and watch ourselves to find how God is working in our lives, and in the lives of all those around us. Let us engage our imaginations. What might God be doing? What is Jesus saying to us? Let us be transformed, both as individuals and as a community.
7/14/2019 – THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, sermon by the Rev. Beverly Van Horn. Our common humanity calls us to give aid to those in need if it is in our power to do so. We pray to God for merciful hearts. We pray that we might be compassionate. Those who follow Jesus care for their neighbors, all of them. Let the Holy Spirit show us the way.
7/7/2019 – THE FORTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, sermon by the Rev. Edward E. Godden. We, the baptized, are missionaries. At our best, we take the kingdom of God, so near to us, to others, to offer a cure to the world’s ills, relying not on ourselves but on the Spirit. God’s Spirit leads us to every town and place, to every race and nation. We, God’s children, go together, encouraging one another, motivated by love. At our best, by grace, we have it abundantly, love for God and for our neighbor. Where love is, there is God.
THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews. What has to die in us in order that we might proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, that we might be free? The denial of death is the denial of God. With grace, we can die to ourselves so that our selfishness no longer rules us. A new freedom emerges. We are revived when we give up what separates us from God, when we give up what controls us. Let us seek to take our place in God’s redemption, thriving in God’s love, dying to self.
THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, sermon by the Rev. Beverly Van Horn. We are called to be faithful, not comfortable. Even so, another name for the Holy Spirit is “The Comforter”. The Holy Spirit transforms us. We are now children of God, family, in spite of our failings. As children, we follow a person. God no longer expects his followers to obey religious laws to obtain purity but to follow his voice to find redemption. God cares infinitely more about our hopes for the future than he does about our past mistakes.
THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – Trinity Sunday, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews. You do not have to believe much to be an Episcopalian, just what Christians have believed for centuries. Suffering is redeemed. It gives us endurance, character, and hope. We use our holy imaginations. We ask what is possible. We are all evangelists. We proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ. We study. We pray. We worship. We praise. We love God and one another.
THE DAY OF PENTECOST – WHITSUNDAY, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews. Our world views color our perceptions, making us question our access to the truth. Is it any wonder then that people, when they hear us talk about our faith, think we might be a bit drunk in a way? That our world view has made us see things that really are not there? That is what people thought about the disciples of Jesus when the Holy Spirit descended on them and got them praising God. Let us, like the disciples, praise God, even to those whose world views do not allow for such things, and let us do our best to understand the world views of others, not just to broaden our own world view, but so the Good News might be declared in new ways.
THE SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews. In jail, sing hymns and praises to God. It is easy if you are filled with the Holy Spirit. Like the jailer of Paul and Silas, invite God into your heart. Be saved! Become a servant of the Most High and so become liberated from disbelief. Salvation is not about getting to heaven. Salvation is about here and now, secure in the midst of the earthquake, flood, and fire. Do what you must do to be saved. Walk as a child of the light.
THE SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews. The work of faith is an inside job. The details of our days call for our immediate attention and we forget that we have a companion. Instead, we react to the demands of the moment. Rest, prayer, reading, and study elude us. Where is God? Everywhere and at all times! Look for God in your daily tasks, if you can remember to do so, if you can remember to invite God into the task at hand. The Holy Spirit is there and willing, comfort close at hand.
THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews. Our timelines spiral upwards and downwards. This is true for each of us individually and for the communities to which we belong: our church, our city, our state, our country. Three forces motivate us: affirmation, denial, and reconciliation. Who are we to hinder God? As Cynthia Bourgneault says, “inescapably revealed through this weaving [of affirming, denying, and reconciling], is the Kingdom of Heaven, visibly manifest in the very midst of all the human cruelty and brokenness.”
THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, sermon by the Rev. Canon Lloyd S. Casson. We, the sheep of God, recognize our shepherd’s voice and follow. We shall not want. We shall fear no evil, even through the valley of death. We shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. He leads us to springs of living water. The glory of the Lord surrounds us. We are they who are loved. We are named. No one can snatch us away. We are given life and have it abundantly.
THE THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews. Watch as the waves come to the shore. Wade into the water. Follow Jesus, the risen one. Seek and you shall find. Do not let your nakedness and shame stop you. God calls us, the imperfect, to follow and be redeemed. Cast your net and pull in the catch. Eat and be satisfied.
THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER, sermon by the Rev. Emily Gibson. We doubt the news we find on social media, radio, and TV. Too often those producing it simply want to inflame our passions. The apostle Thomas doubted the news of Jesus’s resurrection. Doubt is part of faith. We are to seek the truth, not accept that everything we hear is true. Here is the truth: Be ready to give up your life so you may find it. Pick up your cross and follow where faith leads. We belong to something larger than ourselves.
THE SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION – EASTER DAY, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews. We are the sheep of your own fold, lambs of your own flock, sinners of your own redeeming. First was Mary Magdelene to see you risen from the dead. We, too, have seen you — in the work of the Spirit that infuses our minds, bodies, and sould. We see you in our families, friends, and neighbors. We see you in all of creation! We who were dead now live. We who were disappointed now are glad!
THE SUNDAY OF THE PASSION – PALM SUNDAY, homily by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. Martin Buber’s story, The Angel and the World’s Dominion, tells of restless souls with little understanding; confused speechlessness; of a heaven that grows bright, shining, merciful, and abundant; too deep, too dreadful. Let us join in the great work of the two processions of Palm Sunday and Good Friday; celebration and suffering pain. Look inward and look to God.
FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT, sermon by the Rev. Canon Lloyd S. Casson. Our spirits experience full times and times of want, times of work and times of rest, times of longing and times of joy, times when we understand and times we are dumbfounded. At all times, love is poured forth lavishly upon us, upon the world and upon our lives. Let us find and embrace that love.
FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT, sermon by the Rev. Emily Gibson. We are new creations in Christ. By grace, we do not hold ourselves higher than those around us. Redeemed, we count ourselves blessed, not better. Thank God and ask God. Picture the parable of the prodigal son. Imagine yourself as that wastrel. Imagine yourself also as the older son, who always did right. Then picture yourself as the father, who loves both his sons. Reflect on what you pictured.
THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. Bear fruit. Rest. Welcome others and let others welcome you. Worship. Pray. Read. Walk. Meditate. Let your reading of scriptures raise questions for you, challenge you. Recognize the patterns of sin, broken promises, lament, reconciliation, love, loss, incarnation, resistance, passion, crucifixion, resurrection, and salvation in the daily news and in your life. Connect to the living Christ. Live into love.
SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. Dear God, let us not be silent. Let us, the citizens of heaven, testify that body and spirit are one, different as they are. Let us, the friends of the cross, endure our suffering by grace, and look for redemption, our bodies and souls resurrected, restored and whole. We, the citizens of heaven, have been formed in baptism. Let us write a new story. Let us accept the strength God offers our faith into practice.
FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. Lent is a time for simplicity, for cutting back to the essentials. We make time in our lives to study the Bible. We set aside time to pray. We humbly acknowledge our weakness. We rely more strongly on God to deliver us. We bind ourselves closer to our constant companion, the Holy Spirit. We endure temptation. Our restless souls are calm.
LAST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY – CARNIVAL SUNDAY, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. After talking with God, the face of Moses glowed, frightening the Israelites so much that Moses started wearing a veil, so as not to alarm them. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, we shine. We are not to hide our love of God. Let us dare to remove our masks and veils, even if the sight of us alarms people. We will not escape persecution and suffering if we glimmer instead of shine, if we murmur instead of sing. Let us set aside our fears. Are we not God’s own?
Link to a video of Fr. David’s first Sunday at SsAM in 2010.
SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY, sermon by the Rev. Emily Gibson. Yes, we live in a world of wounds, a wounded world, but God is with us. Let us embrace the lives we have been given. Let us trust in God’s goodness. We can be instruments of peace and healing. We can be healed. Let us search our souls. Let us live extravagantly! Let us seek peace, union, faith, hope, light, joy, understanding, and forgiveness.
SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. You are challenged to answer two questions. (1) What are the major pressures, demands, and expectations in your life? (2) How does your practice of Christian faith help or hinder you in maintaining your equilibrium in the face of these expectations, demands, and pressures in your emotional and physical renewal, and in your spiritual renewal? Try to answer these in the coming week, especially looking for ways in which your time at church can be more refreshing.
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. Experience has prepared us to accompany others in their moments of sorrow. Grief needs company and empathy, especially from those with experience. Good, beauty, truth — let us look for these. Let us turn toward the light and, if we can, if it is within our means, let us point others toward the light, not forgetting to let them point us toward the light. It is, after all, a matter of moving together.
FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. Let us treat others as fellow subjects, not as inert objects; as partners, not obstacles; people worthy of our love, not things to disdain. Let us make our home in God’s love. We are not trinkets in God’s collection, nor exhibits in God’s zoo, but sisters and brothers in God’s family. We eat and drink the bread and wine. We receive the gift of Christ. Here we are, Lord, send us forth!
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY, sermon by the Rev. Emily Gibson. The earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it. We humans are not separate from God’s creatures but share a planet with them. As Thomas Berry said, the universe is a communion, not a collection, a communion remembered in the ritual we celebrate every Sunday here at SsAM. Each of us has a part to play but we are one in Christ. Let us renew our commitment. Let us stop, look, and listen.
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. The work of freedom goes on, so that each of us may have equal justice under the law and, more than that, so we treat each other fairly, even lovingly. We cannot turn back. We cannot be satisfied with progress and not success. We have a dream. Let us live and act to make that dream real.
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. Our God lives! If you listen to the words said every Sunday, even though many of those words are the same as previous Sundays, you will hear something new. Listen with curiosity. Listen in wonder, questioning the meaning of what you hear. What stands out? What is God trying to tell you? Listen and you will be refreshed!
THE EPIPHANY, sermon by the Rev. David T. Andrews, Jr. Attending a worship service at SsAM is like joining a caravan. People join together and make their way to an oasis of refreshing spiritual waters. We say prayers together. We listen to ancient readings and a contemporary sermon. We confess our sins and pray for the world. Then, having shared the bread and wine of communion, we move on, rejuvenated. Thanks be to God!
