Sermon
Palm Sunday–April 14, 2019
William Bradbury
Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31:9-16, Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 22:14-23:56
Remember that picture from psychology class that at first glance is a vase; but then with some prodding from others, our vision shifts and the vase turns into a picture of two people facing each other? I want to suggest that Jesus on the cross provides a similar dual picture. Continue reading
Sermon
Lent 5—C, April 7, 2019
William Bradbury
Isaiah 43:16-21, Psalm 126, Philippians 3:4b-14, John 12:1-8
So I finally made the decision to attend my 50th high school reunion in Atlanta the weekend after Easter. I attended Westminster School for Boys, the Girls school was up the hill at that time, and we had about 75 guys in the graduating class. My older brother Bob didn’t go to his 50th reunion there, because one of his friends who went to the 40th reunion said everyone just talked about all the money they had made. Bob taught Latin for 30 years in an Episcopal school in Fort Worth so he wasn’t going to be part of that conversation. I certainly wouldn’t last long in such a conversation either, so if that starts to happen I’ll go back to my sister’s. Continue reading
(NOTE: Due to technical problems, we were unable to record this sermon)
Sermon
Lent 4-Year C–March 31, 2019
William Bradbury
Joshua 5:9-12, Psalm 32, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
“There was a man who had two sons.” Through the centuries we’ve disregarded this opening line by naming the parable after only one son, the Prodigal Son. As if the older brother and the father only play supporting roles. Continue reading
Sermon
Lent 3—Year C–March 24, 2019
William Bradbury
Exodus 3:1-15, Psalm 63:1-8, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9
Interesting sentence Paul gives us today: “Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.” Paul is quoting Exodus 32 verse 6 which describes the scene in which the children of Israel, panicking over Moses’ delay on Mt Sinai with a god they can’t see, get Aaron to make a golden calf from their jewelry so they can worship themselves and party—think Mardi Gras in New Orleans! Continue reading
Sermon
2 Lent—Year C/ March 17, 2019
William Bradbury
Genesis 15:1-12,17-18, Psalm 27, Philippians 3:17-4:1, Luke 13:31-35
Today we overhear Paul speaking to the church in Philippi, which is in Northern Greece. About hundred years before Paul writes his letter, in 42 BC, after the death of Julius Caesar, there is a Roman civil war in which generals Mark Antony and Octavian, later to be Augustus Caesar, win a decisive battle in Philippi. After the great victory there is no more fighting to be done so the soldiers are let off from their service, but there’s a problem. If they all return to Rome they will overwhelm the city, so Philippi is made into a Roman colony and the soldiers are given land in and around it. Continue reading
Sermon
Lent 1–March 10, 2019
William Bradbury
Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16, Romans 10:8b-13, Luke 4:1-13
“Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” We heard these words pronounced over us as a cross of ash was put on our foreheads. “Remember that you are dust”: This bears some thinking about. I remember years ago wondering why we had so much dust in our house in North Carolina and I learned that some of that dust I’m wiping off the furniture is from my skin. We’re so full of dust we’re constantly shedding the stuff. Continue reading
Sermon
Last Epiphany–March 3, 2019
William Bradbury
Exodus 34:29-35, Psalm 99, 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2, Luke 9:28-36, [37-43a]
Growing up in Atlanta we occasionally had snow, and every few years we’d have a big snow, but it was not until my late 20s that I experienced a whiteout. We were driving in the mountains of Colorado at the end of December and the storm came up and everything disappeared: the mountains in the distance, the blue sky, and the spruce and aspen vanished, and worst of all, all signs ON the road and then all signs OF the road disappeared. You all know what this is like. We were flooded by a sea of white light into which all distinctions and differences disappeared. Continue reading
Sermon
7 Epiphany—Year C/February 24, 2019
William Bradbury
Genesis 45:3-11, 15, Psalm 37:1-12, 41-42, 1 Corinthians 15:35-38,42-50, Luke 6:27-38
Through the years I’ve heard many reasons why a person goes to church. Things like: I go for the kids, so they’ll learn right from wrong; I go for the music; Only time all week I get 45 minutes without a kid in my lap; My father makes me…my wife makes me; If you’d asked me when I was attending Westminster Boys High in Atlanta, I’d have told you I go to church because of the cute girls. If you ask me now maybe I’d say because it’s my job—and a wonderful job it is to get to hang out with all you wonderful people. Continue reading
Sermon
6 Epiphany—Year C–February 17, 2019
William Bradbury
Jeremiah 17:5-10, Psalm 1, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, Luke 6:17-26
I go back to the day as a kid in Atlanta when I listened to my music on AM radio. That’s where I heard for the first time the early Beatles songs like “I want to hold your hand” and “She loves you”. Then, in high school, I bought my first FM Tuner to listen to my music without all noisy talk and the commercials. That’s where I first heard one of my all-time favorite songs: “Beginnings” by Chicago Transit Authority, soon to be known simply as Chicago. Continue reading
Sermon
5 Epiphany—Year C, February 10, 2019
William Bradbury
Isaiah 6:1-8, [9-13], Psalm 138, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 5:1-11
Isaiah cries out: The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! I am lost!”
As a kid I enjoyed sitting on the floor building things: building a house of cards that would become this sprawling thing with two floors. Beautiful! Then the dog would get too close, wag his tail and down it came. Continue reading