Sermon–William Bradbury

Easter4—Year C–May 12, 2019

Acts 9:36-43, Psalm 23, Revelation 7:9-17, John 10:22-30

168 years before Christ, Antiochus IV, King of the Seleucid Dynasty in Syria, massacres Jews in Jerusalem, shuts down the temple worship, and the following year erects an altar to Zeus in the Temple where he orders pigs to be sacrificed.  The Jews revolt and liberate the temple two years later under the leadership of Judas, nicknamed “Maccabeus” which means “the Hammer”. Judas the Hammer, with his brothers and a rebel army kick out the enemy, remove the altar to Zeus and rededicate their Temple to the One True God. A great victory! Ever since then in December Jews celebrate Hanukkah, which means “dedication”, as an 8 day festival remembering the rededication of the Temple. Continue reading →

Sermon

Easter 3—Year C–May 5, 2019

William Bradbury

Acts 9:1-6, (7-20), Psalm 30, Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19

The Prophet Ezekiel, most famous for his vision of the valley of dry bones coming back to life, describes in his first chapter a wild vision that is called the Throne-Chariot Vision: He sees angelic beings, then a heavenly chariot with spinning wheels and lights and on top of the chariot… Continue reading →

Sermon–William Bradbury

Easter Sunday–April 21, 2019

Acts 10:34-43, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, John 20:1-18

When I was 5 my mother bought me a small yellow chick on Good Friday, but early on Easter morning, I remember walking into my parents room crying, as I carried the shoe box in which my chick was dead. My parents made some efforts to revive it, but the chick stayed dead. And that’s the problem with death: you stay dead.  Continue reading →

Sermon

Good Friday–April 19, 2019

William Bradbury

Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Psalm 22, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1-19:42

Some people don’t have a clue about this day we call Good. I think of a couple in London I heard about years ago that was looking at some jewelry when the man pointed and said to his girlfriend, “Look at that cross with a tiny man on it.” Continue reading →

Sermon

Maundy Thursday–April 18, 2019

William Bradbury

Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14, Psalm 116:1, 10-17, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Things are not going well at the church in Corinth, not well at all! As Paul says right before the reading tonight:  ^“So when you get together in one place [for your communion service]….One person goes hungry while another is drunk.” I Corinthians 11 CEB  Continue reading →