Sermon 23 January 2022 (Epiphany 3)

What does true Christian faith look like? by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Nehemiah shows us what true faith looked like even under the Law, the old covenant: faithfulness driven by love and gratitude. But what about the new covenant? At the Last Supper Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Not only does this tell us that Jesus is the way; it reveals the destination of that way: an intimate relationship with the Father.

Lectionary:  Nehemiah 8:1-10 ; Psalm 19:1-14; 1 Corinthians 12:12-20; Luke 4:14-21

Referenced Scriptures: John 14:1-9; Galatians 4:19

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrgUk9YO2DvEXWDrF?e=RVU6X7

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrgSLATLMi6Mn13n3?e=VfOS6q

Sermon 16 January 2022 (Feast of our Lord and Giver of Life)

Unless you change you will never enter the kingdom of heaven by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Our Lord the Giver of Life – where does this phrase come from? Growth and change are the evidence of life. The world has changed a great deal just during our lifetime, but not necessarily for the better. God is shaking the world and He is shaking His Church; the only way we will survive is if we are securely connected to Christ. We can know we are connected if He is changing us through His Word and His Holy Spirit.

Lectionary:  Jeremiah 31:10-17; Psalm 10; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26; Matthew 18:1-5

Referenced Scriptures: Genesis 2:7; Job 33:4; 2 Corinthians 3:5-6; Hebrews 13:8; John 15:13; Hebrews 12:27; John 15:1-6; John 17:22-23; Isaiah 55:10-11; John 16:13

Word during worship:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrX0Fsjt7eAw11Q-z?e=GXeoz4

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrX5iFduJHtBBlOOM?e=5Yanpb

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrXy3qcu-7TUOAT8w?e=33rKnS

Sermon 09 January 2022 (1^st Sunday of Epiphany)

What is your destination? by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  After a review of today’s Scriptures, questions arise: What is the purpose of all this? Why this mercy and grace? Why this patience and determination? Why a new covenant? Why the opening of eyes and releasing of captives? Why God’s powerful voice speaking? Why reward Cornelius’ limited faith? Why the sacraments of baptism and Eucharist? What is the purpose? What is the goal? What is the destination? Is it merely a rescue from hell? Is that all salvation is?

Lectionary:  Isaiah 42:1-7; Psalm 29:1-11; Acts 10:34-38; Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

Referenced Scriptures: Matthew 11:29; Acts 10:1-2; Matthew 3:14-15; Matthew 26:26-28; John 14:8-9; John 17:20-21; John 17:11-12; Luke 15:11-24; Romans 8:28-29

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrXMz0Bahz1jM2R-e?e=GMcaJP

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrXS3ahJ_HM1AS4B0?e=e2ixbv

Sermon 02 January 2022 (2^nd Sunday of Christmas)

Come home! by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Jesus There is a common thread running through all the Scripture readings for today. In a that message is a central aspect of the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. It’s all about coming home – home to the Lord. We learn from the perspectives of four people on being at home with the Lord: the Father, the psalmist, Paul, and Jesus. It leads us to a few questions: “Why do we leave home?”; “Why does God call us home?”; and “Why do we return home?”

Lectionary:  Jeremiah 31:7-10; Psalm 84:1-12; Ephesians 1:3-6; Luke 2:41-52

Referenced Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 5:1-2; Luke 16:10-12; Matthew 25:14-30; John 6:44-45

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrWiKqVp0b3oR9NQv?e=LDshoD

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrWnCkDnHfLK0BNxA?e=wlTunC

Music:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0Q36khoAQ8

Sermon 26 December 2021 (1^st Sunday of Christmas)

For your sake He became poor by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Jesus announced the initiation of His ministry on the earth by quoting Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor“. This was only made possible by the event which we celebrate today: His birth. By His incarnation the Creator of the universe became poor for our sakes; yet in our day it is considered a curse and a horror to be poor.

Lectionary:  Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Psalm 148; Galatians 4:1-7; Luke 2:22-32

Referenced Scriptures: Luke 4:16-21; Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 6:20; Mark 12:43-44; Luke 14:13; 2 Corinthians 8:9; James 2:5; Matthew 19:16-22; Philippians 2:5-8; Leviticus 5:5-7; Hebrews 12:25-29

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrWM8MGHiaCtwM2TX?e=nBOvHr

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrWQEGswy5dXRJYjP?e=Xg4bA0

Sermon 24 December 2021 (Eve of the Nativity)

Come to Bethlehem and see by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Not everyone in Bethlehem and the surrounding regions heard the angels sing, nor came to see the infant born to save the world from sin….

Lectionary:  Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96:1-13; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14

Referenced Scriptures: [none]

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrV114xsaz2Cam1YA?e=PvUXnO

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrV7CPV9x38GNDHf7?e=IzBXnc

Sermon 19 December 2021 (Advent 4)

The domino effect of obedience by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  What happens when the Lord gives you a word you do not expect? Most often His word requires you to change your plans, and sometimes change your life. Do you reject the word? Do you suggest God find someone else? If you embrace His word for you and commit yourself to it, you may find the dominos start to fall….

Lectionary:  Micah 5:1-5; Psalm 80:1-19; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-55

Referenced Scriptures: Matthew 5:45; Matthew 12:33; Luke 1:13-18; Luke 1:30-38; Exodus 4:13; Ezekiel 36:25-27

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrVZyAMQzu6_Mf8ke?e=dgvmUT

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrVcnffDbXhtoQDv1?e=i7aLDb

Sermon 12 December 2021 (Advent 3)

Rejoicing amid the shaking by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Today we celebrate the 3rd Sunday of Advent by lighting the candle of Joy. Last week was the candle of Peace. Joy and peace are related, as our New Testament reading tells us: “Rejoice in the Lord always … The Lord is near … And the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” But what is that peace for?

Lectionary:  Zephaniah 3:14-20; Psalm 85:1-13; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18

Referenced Scriptures: Psalm 12:7-8; Romans 10:8; John 15:1-8; Hebrews 12:26-27; Ephesians 6:10-18; Matthew 22:21; Romans 8:31

Word during open worship:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrVCPjuUvxQ4T-Gtb?e=UFNdKC

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrVEkPpYnmGko0gC3?e=xhrvBG

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrVJ8DhxEOZPMl7cm?e=cFq4li

Sermon 05 December 2021 (Advent 2)

Whose peace? Which peace? by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Today we celebrate the 2nd Sunday of Advent by lighting the candle of peace. But which peace? Whose peace? Is it looking backward to “peace on earth, goodwill toward men”? Yes, but it is also looking forward … to what?

Lectionary:  Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 12:1-8; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 21:25-36

Referenced Scriptures: Luke 2:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; John 13:34; John 14:1; John 14:16-17; John 14:26-27; John 15:1-4; John 16:20; John 17:20-21; Philippians 4:7

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrTMkH4kvTY0Ylpak?e=Vtr1sO

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrTSwaQPJGaUe-h6j?e=EQxbqX

Testimony during Mass:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrTLwE1RH0hYS9Bvu?e=jy9vP1

Sermon 28 November 2021 (Advent 1)

Escaping your eros prison by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  The cry of every Christian shepherd’s heart is to “see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith“. We are called to “labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you“. Salvation is a journey, not an experience; it has a direction and a destination. But we can’t get there on our own. (With grateful thanks to Bob Mumford for concepts from The Agape Road, Lifechangers Publishing, 2006)

Lectionary:  Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36

Referenced Scriptures: Matthew 7:14; Matthew 18:12; Galatians 4:19; John 17:20-21; Exodus 34:6-7; John 15:5-8; 1 John 4:8; Matthew 4:4; Romans 5:5

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrErARX4mVGyeddFO?e=510wAo

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrEkiBS-jpEJWAu82?e=PpCUmf