amcaudill27

God’s Harvest in God’s Timing

Matthew 13:24-30,36-43 This past early spring, when we were still waking up to frost on the ground and the rains had not come, I started sowing seeds. In tiny starter pots, I planted tomatoes, and bell peppers, basil and dill and chamomile and zinnias and sunflowers. In each little pot, I planted more seeds thanContinue reading “God’s Harvest in God’s Timing”

God Loves an Underdog

Genesis 25:19-34 One of the great gifts of studying the patriarchs and matriarchs of Israel is the lesson that nothing is ever what it seems on the surface. The covenant between God and Abraham is not simply a supposed morally upright man being rewarded for good behavior. The relationship between Isaac and Rebekah is notContinue reading “God Loves an Underdog”

Telling Rebekah’s Story

Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 Today in our lessons we take a pause from tests of loyalty and the divisiveness that the way of the cross brings. We have this momentary breath of fresh air, a part of the Hebrew Bible we often breeze right by because it is not particularly contentious or gory or scandalous.Continue reading “Telling Rebekah’s Story”

Look Up

Genesis 22:1-14 I am indebted to a large list of resources for this sermon- Dr. Ellen Davis’s sermon at Duke Chapel, the Rev. Ben Madison’s article for Mockingbird (CW: foster care), My Jewish Learning’s article The Binding of Isaac, My Jewish Learning’s article Seeing the Ram, this week’s Pulpit Fiction podcast episode, and conversations withContinue reading “Look Up”

Sent

The data referenced here can be found in more detail from Church Pension Group sources referenced by this ENS article, this Pew Research article, this PRRI article, this Pew Trust Magazine article, this ENS article, the 2020 Clergy Compensation Report, and this CPG Trends in Ministry presentation. Matthew 9:35-10:8(9-23) “The harvest is plentiful but theContinue reading “Sent”

Our Holy Conversation Partner

Acts 2:1-21 My first conscious experience of Pentecost happened at a Diocesan youth retreat when I was fifteen years old. It wasn’t the feast of Pentecost, and the reading from Acts was not read. But all the same, it was my first moment of being so filled with the Holy Spirit that I felt likeContinue reading “Our Holy Conversation Partner”

Hope That Is In You

1 Peter 3:13-22 Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. The 1st letter of Peter, like many of the pastoral letters and Pauline epistles, is written to a community that faces state sponsoredContinue reading “Hope That Is In You”

Burning

Luke 24:13-35 Why did they not recognize him? A member of our St Mark’s family asked me this on Tuesday morning at the coffee shop, and I don’t think he realized he was about to get a sneak preview of the Sunday sermon. Why, when the resurrected Jesus appeared to some of the disciples, didContinue reading “Burning”

Easter on the Way

Matthew 28:1-10 Mary and Mary Magdalene were not fools. Or rather, they were fools, but the kind that we all become when we love fiercely and completely. These two women were disciples, students of Jesus who had followed him on his journey from town to town. They had witnessed his healings and miracles, they hadContinue reading “Easter on the Way”

Good Friday is for Grievers

John 18:1-19:42 & the Good Friday liturgy, found on page 276 of the Book of Common Prayer The Maundy Thursday sermon at St Mark’s & Grace was given this year by our ministry intern, Kathy Maddox, a Candidate for Ordination to the Sacred Order of Deacons. If you missed worship this year, and you wouldContinue reading “Good Friday is for Grievers”