amcaudill27

God Comes Close

Luke 2:1-14(15-20) God looked at the world, the world full of anger and jealousy, the world full of people hurting one another and failing one another and ignoring one another, and chose to come closer. God looked at the oppressed peoples living under violent regimes, looked at the earth he made to shelter us beingContinue reading “God Comes Close”

The First Christian Liturgy

Luke 1:39-45(46-55) What is depicted in our Gospel passage today is the first Christian worship service in history, a gathering of two faithful people celebrating Jesus, Immanuel, the Christ, before he has even come into the world. The presence of the Word incarnate is so powerful that Elizabeth’s unborn son leaps for joy, alerting hisContinue reading “The First Christian Liturgy”

I Just Pray for Peace

I recently had the great privilege to hear in person a song that has carried me through some really hard times. The singer-songwriter Spencer LaJoye is a nonbinary Queer artist with a Masters in Divinity and an incredible gift for telling the beautiful truth. When introducing this song at their concert in Roanoke last week,Continue reading “I Just Pray for Peace”

Winnowing

Luke 3:7-18 There’s nothing like getting called a brood of vipers to really get you in the holiday spirit! The lectionary keeps reminding us that yes, the birth of the Christ Child is just around the corner, but there’s more to the preparations than decorating trees and baking treats. John, the miraculous child of twoContinue reading “Winnowing”

Remembering the Past, Blessing the Future

The Song of Zechariah, Canticle 16, found on page 92 of the Book of Common Prayer or alternatively Luke 1:68-79 You, my child, shall be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.Continue reading “Remembering the Past, Blessing the Future”

The Promised After

Luke 21:25-36 In this sermon, I reference the destruction in Nelson County VA caused by Hurricane Camille in 1969. One of the two parishes I serve is located in Massies Mill, one of the communities most impacted by that storm. Grace Episcopal Church in Massies Mill is one of very few buildings built pre-1969 thatContinue reading “The Promised After”

The Truth Reigns

John 18:33-37 This day is a peculiar one in the church calendar. Depending on who you ask, this day is Proper 29, or the 27th Sunday after Pentecost, or Christ the King, or Reign of Christ Sunday. Technically, Christ the King is not a major feast in the Episcopal Church. It is not listed inContinue reading “The Truth Reigns”

Death Made Beautiful

Luke 24:36b-48 One of my favorite Easter traditions from my childhood was the flowering of the cross. On Easter Sunday, all the children were given flowers in a beautiful rainbow of colors, and at the start of the service we processed with our flowers toward a cross that had been riddled with holes. One byContinue reading “Death Made Beautiful”

Crying in Church

1 Samuel 1:4-20 & 1 Samuel 2:1-10 As you may have noticed, I am not a particularly stoic person. When we sing a particular hymn, or read the words of a particular psalm, or even at times when I am preaching or teaching or sitting with folks going through something hard, tears come to myContinue reading “Crying in Church”

Faith at the Margins

Mark 12:38-44 As a person who walks around wearing long robes and prays long prayers in public on a regular basis, I find myself thinking often of this teaching of Jesus. I do like my long robes most of the time, and I appreciate being greeted with respect, and I do think I have oneContinue reading “Faith at the Margins”