Category Archives: What We Do

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Sermon–June 17, 2018

Sermon

4 Pentecost—Proper 6-B, June 17, 2018

William Bradbury

Ezekiel 17:22-24, Psalm 92:1-4,11-14, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10,[11-13],14-17, Mark 4:26-34

In 1996, eleven years after moving to Eastern North Carolina on the Pamlico River, I experienced my first big hurricane. The coast had avoided hurricanes for a number of years so mostly folks were not too worried as Hurricane Bertha headed our way. They did what they needed to do—like what folks do up here—bring in lawn furniture, get their boats out of the water, and move their cars to higher ground. We’d done all that so we joined our neighbors in a hurricane party the night of the storm. It was great fun—lots of libations and laughter, until the river started rising and water came flooding into the basement. Continue reading →

Sermon–June 10, 2018

Sermon

3 Pentecost–June 10, 2018

William Bradbury

Genesis 3:8-15, Psalm 130, 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1, Mark 3:20-35

One day when I was ten, my parents told me not to ride my bike to an near-by neighborhood where some of my friends lived. But, of course, that’s exactly what I did and once I got back I heard my parents searching for me, surely to punish me for my transgression, so I slide under my bed determined to hide until this thing blows over. Continue reading →

Sermon- June 3, 2018 – 2nd Sunday after Pentecost

Sermon- June 3, 2018 – 2nd Sunday after Pentecost

Rev.  Bruce Nickerson, Deacon

Shabbat shalom.

So today we will chat about Sunday, the Christian equivalent of what our Jewish brothers and sisters call Sabbath. I will be using these terms interchangeably- Sunday, Sabbath, Shabbos, and Shabbat. Continue reading →

Sermon–May 27, 2018 Trinity Sunday

Sermon

Trinity Sunday-May 27, 2018

William Bradbury

Isaiah 6:1-8, Psalm 29, Romans 8:12-17, John 3:1-17

If you’re are new to the Episcopal Church our opening hymn may seem like a ponderous thing. If you’ve been in the church for decades you may find it a familiar friend. Growing up in the church and hearing it sung at numerous ordinations, including my own 40 years ago, it makes me cry. It is a trip through a thousand memories—not least through the memory of the story of Christ. Continue reading →

Sermon–May 20, 2018 Day of Pentecost

Sermon

Day of Pentecost–May 20, 2018

William Bradbury

Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:22-27, Psalm 104:25-35, 37, John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

As Anglicans and Episcopalians we focus on Jesus, the Jew from Nazareth, who as Willimon says, “lived briefly, died violent, and rose unexpectedly”. He is the center of our faith—that is, our faith is in his faithfulness for us and with us. He is the Word made flesh, the image of the invisible God, the Beloved Son…on and on we could go using Biblical images. And nothing I say today will seek to diminish one bit this focus on Jesus. But because we are often a one trick pony we can be blind to the other dimensions of the Jesus story. Partly because we only see what we’re looking for and partly because to focus elsewhere can scare us. Continue reading →

Sermon–May 13, 2018

Sermon

Ascension Day (Transferred to Sunday)

May 13, 2018

William Bradbury

Acts 1:1-11, Psalm 47 or Psalm 93, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53

When I was a kid my mother took us to the parking lot of our local A&P to watch a guy wearing a jet pack lift off the ground and go up about 20 feet, hover, then come back to earth. It made a high pitched noise but was very cool. This is what I think of when I read the story of the ascension with my skeptical, rationalistic eyes. I think, “Of course Jesus didn’t float off into space, therefore this is just another meaningless story that no educated person would ever consider to reveal truth, much less celebrate.” But Luke is not concerned with describing what the ascension looked like, but what the mystery of Jesus’ resurrection and ascension meant to the the church. Continue reading →

Sermon–April 22, 2018

Sermon

Easter 4—B–April 22, 2018

William Bradbury

Acts 4:5-12, Psalm 23, 1 John 3:16-24, John 10:11-18

I’ve talked several times before about an ole boy in my parish in North Carolina who fell into a deep depression after his wife of 60 years died. His will to live ebbed away and we thought we were going to lose him, too, but six months later he was his old self again. I asked him to what he attributed his new health and he said he took what the doctor prescribed, but he believed the real key was the fact that several times every day he would pray slowly and deeply the 23rd Psalm and that transformed how he thought about his life and his future. His thoughts of despair and loneliness changed into thoughts of hope and healing with the Risen Christ gently leading him day by day. Continue reading →