// < ![CDATA[ YAHOO.util.Event.onDOMReady(function() { YAHOO.sunshine.setBtn("20091129_1"); }); // ]]> Listen to Readings and Sermon Advent 1 — Hope The Good News Written Jeremiah 33.14-16 (The Inclusive Bible, Priests for Equality) “The days are surely coming, says [the Eternal], when I will bestow on Israel and Judah all the blessings I promised them. In those days [...]
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Advent 1 — Hope
The Good News Written
Jeremiah 33.14-16 (The Inclusive Bible, Priests for Equality)
“The days are surely coming, says [the Eternal], when I will bestow on Israel and Judah all the blessings I promised them. In those days and at that time I will raise up a righteous branch from the line of David, who will bring justice and integrity to the land. In those days Judah will be safe and Jerusalem will be secure. They will call the land, ‘[The Great I AM] is our Justice.’”
Jan Richardson
“The season of Advent means there is something on the horizon the likes of which we have never seen before. It is not possible to keep it from coming, because it will. That’s just how Advent works.”
Luke 21.25-28 (The Inclusive Bible, Priests for Equality)
“Signs will appear in the sun, the moon, and the stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish, distraught at the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the earth. The powers in the heavens will be shaken. After that, people will see the Chosen One coming on a cloud with great power and glory. When these things begin to happen, stand up straight and raise your heads, because your ransom is near at hand.”
The Good News Proclaimed
Preached by the Reverend Doctor Durrell Watkins at the Sunshine Cathedral on Sunday, November 29, 2009.
Today is the first Sunday in Advent, which is the first Season of the Christian Year. Advent means “coming” and is the liturgical preparation for the story of the coming of Jesus, which we will celebrate at Christmas. But Advent is more than remembering, it’s also an expression of hope for what still can be. We continue to wait and to work for the coming of the Christ Consciousness to be fully expressed through each of us so that we can have a world where no one is untouchable, no one is unlovable, and no one left in the margins. We await not only the coming of a little baby in story and in ritual, but also for the coming of the kin-dom of God where all that the baby represents will finally be made fully manifest in our world.
We’ve been waiting a long time. Jeremiah was waiting. Jeremiah was waiting for the day when everyone would know that God is, among other things, the desire for justice, equality, and opportunity for all people. Jeremiah longed for a day when everyone would say, “The Great I AM is our Justice.” The I AM in each of us still hopes for and calls us to work for justice and equality.
And Luke’s community, likewise, is waiting. Continue reading »
Listen to Reading and Sermon 7Look! [Jesus] is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Audio reading and sermon (http://sunshinecathedral.org/sermons/audio/20091122_6.mp3)
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7Look! [Jesus] is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be.
Audio reading and sermon (http://sunshinecathedral.org/sermons/audio/20091122_6.mp3)
// < ![CDATA[ YAHOO.util.Event.onDOMReady(function() { YAHOO.sunshine.setBtn("20091122_1"); }); // ]]> Listen to Readings and Sermon The Good News Written Revelation 1.8 (The Inclusive Bible, Priests for Equality) “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says your God, ‘who is, who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’” Louise Hay, The Power Is Within You “If [...]
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The Good News Written
Revelation 1.8 (The Inclusive Bible, Priests for Equality)
“‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says your God, ‘who is, who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’”
Louise Hay, The Power Is Within You
“If our lives are unhappy, or if we are feeling unfulfilled, it’s very easy to blame our parents, or them, and say it’s all their fault. However, if we do, we stay stuck in our conditions, our problems, and our frustrations. Words of blame will not bring us freedom. Remember, there is power in our words… Our power comes from taking responsibility for our lives… if we want to be responsible for our lives, we’ve got to be responsible for our mouths. The words and phrases we say are extensions of our thoughts.”
Mark 15.1-5 (The Inclusive Bible, Priests for Equality)
“As soon as it was daybreak the chief priests, the elders and religious scholars and the whole Sanhedrin reached a decision. They bound Jesus and led him away, and handed him over to Pilate who interrogated him. ‘Are you the King of the Jews?” he asked.
“Jesus responded, ‘You are the one who is saying it.’
“The chief priests then brought many accusations against him. Pilate interrogated Jesus again: ‘Surely you have some answer? See how many accusations they are leveling against you!’ But to Pilate’s astonishment, Jesus made no further response.”
The Good News Proclaimed
Preached by the Reverend Doctor Mona West at the Sunshine Cathedral on Sunday, November 22, 2009.
In our gospel lesson today we come to the end of Mark and the end of Jesus’ life. It might seem odd to talk about Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion just as we are about to enter into the Advent season which celebrates Jesus’ birth. This is the last Sunday in the Christian Liturgical calendar. In many traditions this Sunday is called Christ the King or the Reign of Christ. It was originally associated with the Ascension of Jesus and celebrated in the month of October. In 1969 Pope Paul VI moved it to the last Sunday of November as a transitional Sunday leading to Advent. (I guess that is one of the perks of being the Pope… you get to move religious holidays around.) The traditional theme for this Sunday is the sovereignty of Christ over all creation. On this New Year’s Eve of the church, Christians are called to take a look back at the significance of Christ in the world and their lives and to look ahead anticipating how the coming of this Christ once more into the history of the world challenges and gives hope for the future.
Pilate asked Jesus if he was the King of the Jews. Jesus’ life and teaching indicated over and over again that he came to redefine the world’s definitions of kingship and power. The disciples as well as Pilate were always missing it. They continually argued over who would be the first in the kingdom. Who would sit at Jesus’ right and who would sit at Jesus’ left? And Jesus was always correcting them. Telling them things like: “the first will be last and the last will be first,” “my kingdom is not of this world,” “the kingdom of heaven is like a great banquet that the rich and powerful refused but the poor and outcast attend,” “it is like getting paid for a full day’s work only when you have worked an hour,” “the kingdom… is within you!” Continue reading »
Listen to Readings and Sermon 1Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge. 2I say to the [Eternal], “You are my [Law]; I have no good apart from you.” 5The [Eternal] is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. 6The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I [...]
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1Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2I say to the [Eternal], “You are my [Law]; I have no good apart from you.”
5The [Eternal] is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
6The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.
7I bless the [Eternal] who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
8I keep the [eternal] always before me; because [the Infinite One] is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.
Audio readings and sermon (http://sunshinecathedral.org/sermons/audio/20091115_6.mp3)
// < ![CDATA[ YAHOO.util.Event.onDOMReady(function() { YAHOO.sunshine.setBtn("20091115_1"); }); // ]]> Listen to Readings and Sermon The Good News Written Daniel 12.3 (The Inclusive Bible, Priests for Equality) “The wise will shine like the bright heavens, and leaders of justice like the stars forever more.” The Bhagavad Gita “Abandon all hope of gain from this world and [...]
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The Good News Written
Daniel 12.3 (The Inclusive Bible, Priests for Equality)
“The wise will shine like the bright heavens, and leaders of justice like the stars forever more.”
The Bhagavad Gita
“Abandon all hope of gain from this world and take refuge in me alone; I will wash away your every [error] and free you from every evil. Never again will you grieve.
Fix your mind on me, think of yourself as me; worship me, sacrifice to me, honor me as your own Self, and you will surely come to me. This I promise you, for you are dear to me…”
Mark 13.1-8 (The Inclusive Bible, Priests for Equality)
“As Jesus was leaving the Temple, one of the disciples commented in passing, ‘Look, Teacher! What huge stones these are! What wonderful buildings!’
“Jesus replied, ‘See these great buildings? Not a single stone will be left on another. Everything will be torn down.’
“As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives facing the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, ‘Tell us, when will all this happen? What will be the sign that all this is about to take place?’
“Jesus began by saying, ‘Be on your guard that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name saying, ‘I am the One,’ and they will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of war, do not be alarmed. Things like this must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation and empire against empire; there will be earthquakes throughout the world and famines — yet this is only the beginning of the labor pains.’”
The Good News Proclaimed
Preached by the Reverend Doctor Durrell Watkins at the Sunshine Cathedral on Sunday, November 15, 2009.
Video: “I’m Still Here”
My Great-Aunt Gladys enjoyed arguing with her idiot brother-in-law, Jesse. One day at Sunday dinner, moronic Uncle Jesse was outraged by some gay-rights thing he had heard on the news. He insisted that the Good Book, as he liked to call the bible, made no room for such reprobates. If we tolerated such naughty people in the world, God would surely punish us all… I suppose Uncle Jesse didn’t have a favorable view of the divine, certainly not a flattering one.
Well, Aunt Gladys, who was by no means a fundamentalist, launched her counter-offensive. She said, “Jesse, where in the Good Book does it say that gay people can’t demand equal rights?” Uncle Jesse said, “Why, Leviticus, of course.” Continue reading »
Listen to Readings and Sermon 28So Christ… will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for [Christ’s return]. Audio readings and sermon (http://sunshinecathedral.org/sermons/audio/20091108_6.mp3)
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28So Christ… will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for [Christ’s return].
Audio readings and sermon (http://sunshinecathedral.org/sermons/audio/20091108_6.mp3)
// < ![CDATA[ YAHOO.util.Event.onDOMReady(function() { YAHOO.sunshine.setBtn("20091108_1"); }); // ]]> Listen to Readings and Sermon The Good News Written From Eric Butterworth’s Spiritual Economics: The Principles and Process of True Prosperity “Remember, your money is an extension of you. It is a symbol of limitation or of limitlessness according to how you think while you use [...]
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The Good News Written
From Eric Butterworth’s Spiritual Economics: The Principles and Process of True Prosperity
“Remember, your money is an extension of you. It is a symbol of limitation or of limitlessness according to how you think while you use it. When you receive or spend money, ‘think green’, and as you handle it, ‘keep the green side up’ (speaking figuratively, of course). In other words, keep your identity with money as a symbol of limitless God-substance.”
Mark 12.38-44 (The Inclusive Bible, Priests for Equality)
“In his teaching, Jesus said, ‘Beware of the religious scholars who like to walk about in long robes, be greeted obsequiously in the market squares, and take the front seats in the [houses of worship] and the places of honor at banquets. These are the ones who swallow the property of widows and offer lengthy prayers for the sake of appearance. They will be judged more severely.’
“Jesus sat down opposite the collection box and watched the people putting money in it, and many of the rich put in a great deal. A poor widow came and put in two small coins, the equivalent of a penny. Then Jesus called out to the disciples and said to them, ‘The truth is, this woman has put in more than all who have contributed… [because] she has put in everything she possessed…’”
The Good News Proclaimed
Preached by the Reverend Robert L. Griffin at the Sunshine Cathedral on Sunday, November 8, 2009.
In previous verses prior to our gospel reading this morning, we find Jesus debating with the religious leaders of that day who are trying to trap Jesus. The religious leaders engage Jesus in discussion and arguments about paying taxes to Caesar, the emperor, and Jesus simply says, “Bring me a denarius and let me see it”, and Jesus asked the would-be entrappers, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “the emperor’s” and Jesus says, well, “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s and to God the things that are God’s.” So that settles that argument about who gets what.
Now the next form of questioning has a little humor in it to me, and if there is humor in the world, especially this week in light of the vote in Maine, here it is, and I want you to follow me closely on this. The next form of entrapment came when they begin to question Jesus on the resurrection through questions about marriage. The question set up is quoting Moses saying, if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man’s brother shall marry the widow and father children on behalf of his brother, in order to carry on the brothers’ name and lineage. In the story used on Jesus, seven brothers marry the same woman and all seven die, none of them leaving children behind, and lastly the woman herself dies. And the entrapment part comes where they ask Jesus, “after the resurrection, in heaven, whose wife will she be?” (I think they made a movie from this story.) Continue reading »
Listen to Readings and Sermon 1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her [...]
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1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. [God] will dwell with them as their God; they will be [God’s] peoples, and God… will be with them; 4[God] will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” 5And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new…”
Audio readings and sermon (http://sunshinecathedral.org/sermons/audio/20091101_6.mp3)
YAHOO.util.Event.onDOMReady(function() { YAHOO.sunshine.setBtn(“20091101_1″); }); Listen to Readings and Sermon The Good News Written Wisdom 3.1-3 (The Inclusive Bible, Priests for Equality) “But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no affliction will ever touch them. To the eyes of fools, they seem to be dead; their departure will be interpreted [...]
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The Good News Written
Wisdom 3.1-3 (The Inclusive Bible, Priests for Equality)
“But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no affliction will ever touch them. To the eyes of fools, they seem to be dead; their departure will be interpreted as a defeat and their going away will be considered a disaster — but they have found peace!”
Irwin Gregg
“Christianity is practical, and life is eternal. There is that in us which the scriptures call the ‘firstborn of every creature… which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.’ Knowing this is a matter of revelation and discovery. The secret lies in letting the Life of the vine work through its branch, or letting the one Presence work in and through each individual center of life — that is, through you and me.”
John 11.33-44 (The Inclusive Bible, Priests for Equality)
“When Jesus saw [Mary] weeping, and the other mourners as well, he was troubled in spirit, moved by the deepest emotions. ‘Where have you laid [Lazarus]?’ Jesus asked.
“‘Come and see,’ [Mary and Martha] said. And Jesus wept.
“The people in the crowd began to remark, ‘See how much he loved him!’ Others said, ‘He made the blind person see; why couldn’t he have done something to prevent Lazarus’ death?’
“Jesus was again deeply moved. They approached the tomb, which was a cave with a stone in front of it. ‘Take away the stone!’ Jesus directed.
“Martha said, ‘Rabbi, it has been four days now. By this time there will be a stench.’ Jesus replied, ‘Didn’t I assure you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?’ So they took the stone away.
“Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, ‘Abba, thank you for having heard me. I know that you always hear me…’ Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ And Lazarus came out of the tomb, still bound hand and foot with linen strips, his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus told the crowd, ‘Untie him and let him go free.’”
The Good News Proclaimed
Preached by the Very Reverend Doctor Katherine H. Ragsdale at the Sunshine Cathedral on Sunday, November 1, 2009.
Sermon text is not available.
Audio readings and sermon (http://sunshinecathedral.org/sermons/audio/20091101_1.mp3)
Video readings and sermon (http://sunshinecathedral.org/sermons/video/20091101_1.wmv)
