amcaudill27

Memento Mori

This sermon was given on the occasion of Ash Wednesday 2025, and primarily addresses the liturgy of the day as well as several references to the Burial Office, both of which can be found in the Book of Common Prayer! The t-shirt mentioned is a discontinued product of The Little Rose Shop, but a similarContinue reading “Memento Mori”

For Love’s Sake

Luke 9:28-36, [37-43a] For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved one particular prayer in the prayerbook more than any other. It is found in the Compline liturgy, prayers for the close of the day, which was prayed before bedtime every night at my summer camp growing up and at the end of everyContinue reading “For Love’s Sake”

Staying Soft-hearted

Genesis 45:3-11, 15 & Luke 6:27-38 Some authors claim that the teaching to love our enemies is the only entirely original and unique teaching of Jesus. These scholars point out that nearly everything else Jesus teaches can be found in the writings of the Old Testament, and much of the same teachings can be foundContinue reading “Staying Soft-hearted”

The Trust of (Angel) Trees

Jeremiah 17:5-10 Tomorrow is the 6th anniversary of my ordination as a deacon in the Church, and as I’ve been reflecting on the past 6 years something has struck me. I have served nearly my entire ordained ministry in “unprecedented times.” Plague, violence around the world, multiple contentious election cycles, an awakening to a newContinue reading “The Trust of (Angel) Trees”

Show Up

Luke 2:22-40 Today, the 40th day after surviving childbirth, Mary brings her infant firstborn to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord and make an offering in thanksgiving for his birth and Mary’s safe delivery. Mary and Joseph are new, still figuring out the parenting thing and the marriage thing, but this is one thingContinue reading “Show Up”

It All Matters to God

Luke 2:41-52 I’ve always loved this story from Luke. This episode in Jerusalem is the only glimpse we get into what an adventure it must have been to raise God’s son. I’ve never been one for the poetic and artistic depictions of Jesus as a child who never cried, who was quiet and obedient andContinue reading “It All Matters to God”

Joseph’s Chosen Family

Luke 2:(1-7) 8-20 This morning, I’m thinking about Joseph. In a great reversal of the Biblical norm, Joseph is seen and not heard while his wife Mary gets all the great lines. Joseph does not speak a single line of dialogue in scripture. All we know about him from the Biblical witness is that heContinue reading “Joseph’s Chosen Family”

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”