Sermon 27 September 2020 (Proper 21)

It’s how you finish that matters by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  You must own – take responsibility for – your sin; you can’t blame anyone else. To own your sin, you must recognize it as sin, which requires that you know God and His ways. To know God, to receive the Gospel – the “good news” – you must acknowledge the bad news: you need a Saviour.
But receiving the Gospel is not a one-time event. Jesus shows us that saying “yes” once may have no meaning whatsoever. It’s not about how you start, but how you finish your life!

Lectionary: Ezekiel 18:1-4,25-32; Psalm 25:1-22; Philippians 2:1-4; Matthew 21:23-32

Referenced Scriptures: John 9:1-3; John 5:14; Matthew 6:33; Matthew 16:25-26; Romans 12:2

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRqAXxK9zvfBqU_N1z?e=Z4BrCq

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRqAT53NRZt8a-_TMi?e=XuuwWE

Sermon 13 September 2020 (Proper 19)

Your responsibility to respond by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Today’s Scriptures are consistent in message: don’t hold a grudge, don’t treat others as their sins deserve, don’t judge your brother or sister, do forgive them. God is preparing the roots of His Church for amazing ministry, and time is short. If we do not respond to God’s call He will allow us to walk away; if we do respond and obey, He will provide all we need in abundance!

Lectionary: Genesis 50:15-21; Psalm 103:1-13; Romans 14:9-12; Matthew 18:21-35

Referenced Scriptures: Romans 8:28-29; Matthew 5:7; Luke 6:37-38; Romans 14:1; James 2:13; Luke 6:31; Luke 13:6-9; John 6:63-64,66; Matthew 21:29; Matthew 4:18-20; John 1:43-51; Matthew 8:19-20; Matthew 8:21-22; Luke 18:22-23; 2 Corinthians 9:7-8

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRp3jiVVA0QzjQOU3u?e=OCwbva

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRp3cmumxmHr7Y_J-A?e=7dPkp8

Sermon 06 September 2020 (Proper 18)

Turn! by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  The watchman tells it like it is: something is not right in God’s people. Ezekiel is working with believers, not heathens, not the lost. “Our sins are killing us – we can’t save ourselves!” What is the solution? “Turn!” Or, as Paul speaks to the Romans, “Wake up from your slumber”. And a second point: reconciling with a brother or sister who has sinned is one way of living out Jesus’ parable of the shepherd seeking a sheep who is lost.

Lectionary: Ezekiel 33:7-11; Psalm 119:33-40; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 18:12-20

Referenced Scriptures: Galatians 3:23-25; Hebrews 5:12-14; Matthew 16:19

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRp1s92E1VEXoqUFqq?e=sRpXyj

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRp1yBCdVIJrQtp78A?e=GCxqe9

Sermon 30 August 2020 (Proper 17)

Stand with Jesus by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  The scribes and Pharisees came to Jesus with a cause, intent on forcing Jesus to take up one side or the other. They were armed with facts. But Jesus stooped to write in the dust … then stood with God above the fray. If you stand with Jesus, you will never stand alone.

Lectionary: Jeremiah 15:15-21; Psalm 26:1-12; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-27

Referenced Scriptures: John 8:1-20; James 3:1; Exodus 20:14

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpll1k1Grt2_PC1tX?e=mRTnPb

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRplp3-TurqRsxXj6u?e=mtzqlI

Sermon 23 August 2020 (Proper 16)

If you are not transformed, you will conform by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Are you capable of hearing the Lord’s voice rather than someone else’s? It begins with humility, with being teachable. It continues with sacrifice. It ends with being transformed.

Lectionary: Isaiah 51:1-6; Psalm 138:1-8; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20

Referenced Scriptures: 2 Timothy 4:2-5; 1 Peter 2:5; James 3:1; 1 John 4:1; Matthew 7:22-23; 1 Peter 5:5; Galatians 5:22; Luke 13:6-9

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpldOfg3IEjgG-VzT?e=kLzGwM

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRplZ6-Ptx9HSULoba?e=asTQdF

Sermon 16 August 2020 (Proper 15)

Gather together as the Church by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  You’ve heard it said that the Church is not a building, but the people of God. So if a building is not required, then perhaps meeting together in one place is not necessary either. NOT!

Lectionary: Isaiah 56:1-7; Psalm 67:1-7; Romans 11:25-32; Matthew 14:22-33 (sermon not from lectionary)

Referenced Scriptures: Ephesians 4:1-6,11-16; Galatians 6:2; Proverbs 27:17; Hebrews 10:19-25

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpkDqhqj6wOj9mjCs?e=jsZvJy

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpj_c8GsuQCbtpvHu?e=kf0Z42

Sermon 09 August 2020 (Proper 14)

The sad, sad story of Jonah by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Today’s first reading is a glorious testimony to God: to His attentiveness, His faithfulness, His power, and His love.  Unfortunately for Jonah personally, this was the high point of his relationship with God, as far as we know. Rather than measure his success by God’s scale, Jonah used his own standard: he put a higher priority on his own reputation than he did on God’s purposes.  Jonah valued his own image over the lives and souls of those to whom God was sending him.

Lectionary: Jonah 2:1-9; Psalm 29:1-11; Romans 10:6-11; Matthew 14:22-33

Referenced Scriptures: Jonah 1-4

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpjuTa9s3iiXECSJZ?e=gYXBqa

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpjoaXWIBahH8WJHY?e=6xv5Pm

Sermon 02 August 2020 (Proper 13)

Are you living in the “end times”? by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Jesus spoke to the disciples directly about the end times. “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.” “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Hmmm, there seems to be a pattern here….

Lectionary: Isaiah 55:1-5; Psalm 145:8-21; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:13-21 (sermon not from lectionary)

Referenced Scriptures: Matthew 23-24; Acts 1:9-11; Ephesians 5:18-21; Ephesians 5:25

Recording – Sermon:  

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpjeYAFR0dRiU9khg?e=LzQHya

Notes – Sermon:  

https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpjgCUU9cK3sFfSgf?e=bLVtUn

Sermon 02 August 2020 (Proper 13)

You have more than you realize by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Upon hearing of John the Baptist’s beheading Jesus needed some time with His Father and His disciples, but the people needed Him even more. The disciples were concerned for the people’s hunger, but had next to nothing … or so they thought.

Lectionary: Isaiah 55:1-5; Psalm 145:8-21; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:13-21

Referenced Scriptures: Romans 8:29; Matthew 25:14-30; 1 Kings 17:8-16; Matthew 6:8

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpjaXi7T3avXsHw0T?e=rTFBnN

Notes – Sermon:  

https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpjl9PY5JsDvwIsWx?e=oeVL89

Sermon 26 July 2020 (Proper 12)

Your final destination by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Salvation is a gift; it is also a covenant requiring us to make choices. The parable of the treasure hidden in a field illustrates this: the treasure was a gift included in the price of the field, but the one who found it had to choose to buy it … and then to sell all he had.

God says your final destination is to be conformed to the image of Christ. Every day you and I make choices that bring us either closer to that destination, or take us further from it.

Lectionary: 1 Kings 3:5-12; Psalm 119:121-136; Romans 8:26-30; Matthew 13:44-52

Referenced Scriptures: Romans 8:13; Matthew 6:33; Matthew 6:24; Matthew 25:14-30; Psalm 34:8; 1 Peter 5:8; Matthew 13:18-19

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpjN5XWWYI1dON8x-?e=yfdBbi

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpjJBbDTPfx6yZy8E?e=EWgdfY