It All Begins With Hope Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins Advent 1, Year B 2011 Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is the first season of the Christian Year. And here we are, once again, at a new beginning: the first Sunday of the first season of a new Christian year. And the first [...]

The Reign of Christ Durrell Watkins Sunshine Cathedral Reign of Christ Sunday 2011 I remember in Hot Springs, AR in the 80s there was a fabulous entertainer known as the Grand Empress of Arkansas. But there was no Grand Empress of Arkansas pageant. The holder of this title didn’t win it, he just sort of [...]

The Future Has Infinite Possibilities! Rev. Durrell Watkins Sunshine Cathedral, Nov. 13, 2011 1 Thess. 5.1-9, 11; Matt. 25.14-30 The Fabulous Carol Burnett! When I was a child, that sort of performance thrilled me! I’m five years old dancing around the house singing, “I saw her at the Seashore with a great big pan, there [...]

We Remember Revelation 7.9-17 Rev. Dr. Robert Griffin Sunshine Cathedral MCC ~ Sunday, November 06, 2011 On this Sunday of the church’s cycle we recognize All Saints and All Souls Day. All Saints Day is a consolation and a reminder that we have not nor will we make this earthly journey alone. When we take [...]

Hallowing Halloween Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins Oct. 30, 2011 Full moons and witches’ hats, spider webs and flying bats, goblins, ghouls, and fairy wings, now’s the time we see these things. Did you know Halloween is one of the world’s oldest holidays? We think it began as an ancient Celtic celebration called Samhain (sow-in). The [...]

Every Time We Touch Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins Dt. 34.5, 7; Ps. 90.1-2, 17; Mt. 22.34-40 That doesn’t seem like any library I’ve ever been to; but it does remind me an awful lot of church…well, our church anyway! Isn’t it amazing how good romance and good worship share so much in common! The gathering [...]

Always More Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins, Sunshine Cathedral October 16, 2011 The gospel lesson this morning is very familiar and really doesn’t need a lot of commentary. In the simplest reading of the text, Jesus seems to be saying that paying both tithes and taxes is good. Of course his opponents are trying to trap [...]

So Many Guests, So Many Meanings Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins, Sunshine Cathedral Philippians 4.4-9; Matthew 22.1-14 (Oct. 9, 2011) Oscar Wilde once said, “Some people cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.” And while it may not be obvious at first, I think happiness, or at least joy, is what our readings this [...]

Now What? Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins Sunshine Cathedral, Oct. 2, 2011 Gypsy Rose Lee famously said, “God is love; but get it in writing!” Spirituality that a faith community is meant to foster, is the guarantee written on our lives that God is love, and that loving presence has a home and that heavenly dwelling [...]

The Divine Mind Meld Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins, Sunshine Cathedral (9/25/11) Philippians 2.1-2, 5; Matthew 21.23-27, 31b-32 I grew up watching Star Trek, the television series. Then there was the Saturday morning animated Star Trek series. Then there were the Star Trek films. Then there were new Star Trek series: Star Trek – the Next [...]