Sermon 14 June 2020

What manner of person ought you to be? by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Our enemy satan turns every controversy into a war between two blocks: you must be part of one or the other, there is no middle ground. We must not fall into his trap, but we cannot take no action at all, either. So what should we do?

Lectionary: Exodus 19:1-9a; Psalm 50:1-7, 14-23; Romans 5:1-8; Matthew 10:1-8

Referenced Scriptures: Genesis 3:4-5; Matthew 5:13-16; Matthew 5:43-48; Luke 9:23-25; Matthew 5:39-42; Matthew 9:13; 2 Peter 3:9-12

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpWHXWKF2XfH520RD?e=yYQUgs

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

Sermon 07 June 2020  (Trinity Sunday)

Satan divides, God unites by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Jesus gave us a number of signs of His coming again, and we are seeing all of them in our world today. But we were made in the image of God, and are predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ. So how do we respond to the events occurring in our world? (Hint: If you think and speak and act like the world, if there is no difference between you and the world … why would anyone choose to follow the Jesus you follow rather than follow the world?)

Lectionary: Genesis 1:26-2:4; Psalm 8:1-9; 2 Corinthians 13:5-14; Matthew 28:16-20

Referenced Scriptures: Proverbs 10:19; Proverbs 17:27-28; James 1:19-20; Matthew 24:3-14; John 15:26; John 10:30; Genesis 1:27; Romans 8:29; Revelation 12; Matthew 12:25; Luke 12:51-53; 2 Corinthians 6:14-16; Galatians 6:9-10; Matthew 5:43-45

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpDgDtbm0i1AqhU_R?e=TaZFKf

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpDeUruCetzegMtJQ?e=49ViDQ

Sermon 31 May 2020  (Pentecost)

Pentecost is empowerment by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  The Jewish feast of Pentecost celebrated the promise of the Old Covenant, the giving of the law to Moses on Mt. Sinai 50 days after the killing of the Paschal lamb during Passover. In Acts, the promise of the New Covenant came on Pentecost, 50 days after the Resurrection of the Lamb of God. In both cases, God’s descent was primarily for the benefit of those who observed it, not those who experienced it.

Lectionary: Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104:24-35; 1 Corinthians 12:3-13; John 7:37-39

Referenced Scriptures: Exodus 19:18; John 4:35-38; Numbers 11:29; 1 Corinthians 14:5; Acts 1:4-8; Ephesians 6:10-12; John 10:10; John 20:21-22; Joel 2:28-32

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpDZTGX99wkJrGg-U?e=vofTFs

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpDUpalh—6bW-_J?e=fIEhlQ

Sermon 24 May 2020  (Easter 7)

Possess your inheritance! by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Christ is now seated at the Father’s right hand in heavenly places, and we sit together with Him.  As His disciples that is our inheritance: we own it…but we must take possession of it.  WARNING: you will have to fight for it!  (Sermon inspired by writings in the last few days from Abp. Chuck Jones, Archdiocese of the Southeast USA, on his website Aslan Roars.)

Lectionary: Acts 1:1-14; Psalm 68:4-11,18-20,32-35; 1 Peter 4:12-16; John 17:1-11

Referenced Scriptures: Ephesians 1:17-20; Ephesians 2:4-7; Matthew 11:12-13,16-19; Ephesians 1:3

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpDQ0iRzfvHDKTc5S?e=xb5igM

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpDPGE2FOJGiLg0QX?e=mf5dVk

Sermon 17 May 2020  (Easter 6)

From temptation, to testing, to refining, to Jesus by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  God is sufficient.  He does all things for our good, even those things that seem difficult or unfair.  We experience temptations, and sometimes we fail.  But failing the temptation does not have to mean we fail the test.

Lectionary: Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:1-20; 1 Peter 3:18-22; John 14:15-21

Referenced Scriptures: Acts 26:17-18; Matthew 26:24; 1 Peter 2:21-24; Hebrews 5:8-9

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpCsId59GFhFGK8zB?e=M02XaN

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpCreN2FpDTB_Kc5q?e=Vc99H8

Sermon 10 May 2020  (Easter 5)

It starts in the heart by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”  Does Jesus understand how difficult this is, especially in the midst of this virus panic?  Yet if our hearts are seeking the best things, perhaps it is not so difficult after all.

Lectionary: Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 31:1-24; 1 Peter 2:4-10; John 14:1-14

Referenced Scriptures: Acts 6:11; Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews 8:1; 1 Peter 1:3-9; Matthew 5:21-29; Matthew 12:34-35; Proverbs 4:23; Romans 11:29; Jeremiah 17:9; Psalm 51:10

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpCl0ExoYEC4_yxRG?e=dGZWa2

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpCjkb7yjRGal1XKK?e=g3IWQ3

Sermon 03 May 2020  (Easter 4)

Never, ever, back to normal! by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Jesus told the parable of a barren fig tree.  The owner wanted to cut it down, but allowed a period of time during which the gardener would fertilize it and prepare it to bear fruit.  The Church is experiencing a period of fertilization and preparation; if we emerge, only to return to the old “normal” ways, we will die.

Lectionary: Nehemiah 9:6-15; Psalm 23:1-6; 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10

Referenced Scriptures: Luke 13:6-9; Psalm 91; John 15:5; 2 Chronicles 7:12-20; Luke 22:42; Hebrews 2:11

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpCdmONLFpR5YCc8Q?e=5uskBs

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpCbDTTzwPP8sv760?e=T3i1o0

Sermon 26 Apr 2020  (Easter 3)

Fire in your heart by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  These two disciples had doubted Jesus was the Christ because they had seen Him dead.  But on that road to Emmaus, Jesus Himself taught them that He could not have been the Christ if He had not died.  Jesus’ death – the very thing that caused their doubt – was the one thing that, in the end, ignited their faith with Holy Spirit fire!

Lectionary: Acts 2:29-36; Psalm 116:1-19; 1 Peter 1:13-21; Luke 24:13-35

Referenced Scriptures: Philippians 4:19; Deuteronomy 28:13; Matthew 27:42-43

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpBrnbV8VBHwLXro8?e=L9KmAW

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpBk0mp0HM2JY7U_V?e=bvzJzb

Sermon 19 Apr 2020  (Easter 2)

Hope, faith, and action by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Hope is the feeling of expectant desire for something to come to pass.  Christian hope is more, because it is intimately related to faith.  Christian hope is alive and active; Christian faith is the substance of things hoped for; and together they lead us to action that reflects Christ’s sacrifice for us and His presence in us.

Lectionary: Acts 2:22-28; Psalm 16:1-11; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31

Referenced Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:19; Romans 8:24-25; Hebrews 11:1; John 10:10; Luke 22:42-44; Luke 12:33

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpBWixlkj2sjqQcHL?e=Q3623w

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpBRBxdV0qPfKDV2w?e=Z9fLBo

Sermon 12 Apr 2020  (Easter)

Go and be different by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Jesus gave Himself for the life of the world.  People followed Him because He was different (both in what He did and why He did it).  All who love Jesus are called to join Him.

Lectionary: Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118:14-17, 22-24; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-19

Referenced Scriptures: John 19:30; John 6:51; John 6:26-27; John 17:6-21; Mark 10:39; Matthew 9:36; Mark 10:45

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpBNiLxS9UByu8Csy?e=OppbAB

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRpBLYlWz3KeA683fO?e=IZbTdJ