Sermon The Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ-January 6, 2019 William Bradbury Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72:1-7,10-14, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12 Because of Christmas pageants across the years, most of us have melded together Luke’s and Matthew’s story of the birth of Jesus. Fortunately our Church calendar pulls them apart, so that we read...

Sermon Christmas 1–December 30, 2018 William Bradbury Isaiah 61:10-62:3, Psalm 147 or 147:13-21, Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7, John 1:1-18 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. How we see God, how we imagine God, will determine how we understand the meaning and the force...

Sermon Christmas Eve 2018 William Bradbury Isaiah 9:2-7, Psalm 96, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-14(15-20) On my way to Mass General Wednesday afternoon to visit All Saints’ sick toddler Molly and her mother, Cassy, my travel app had me on Blossom Street, when the traffic slowed and I saw something amazing: Santa and Mrs....

Sermon Advent 2—Year C–December 9, 2018 William Bradbury Baruch 5:1-9, Canticle 4 or 16, Philippians 1:3-11, Luke 3:1-6 There have been times when I believed the gospel, the Good News, was  a series of theological assertions strung together like Christmas tree lights. Other times I’ve believed the good news was like platitudes on...

Sermon Advent 1—Year C–December 2 December 2, 2018 William Bradbury Jeremiah 33:14-16, Psalm 25:1-9, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, Luke 21:25-36 What do you do when the world is falling apart? Pulitzer Prize winning Journalist Tom Friedman, quoting the International Rescue Committee in a recent Op-Ed in the New York Times, says today there are 70...

Sermon: Last Sunday after Pentecost Year-B–Christ the King–November 25, 2018 William Bradbury Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, Psalm 93, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 18:33-37 I am occasionally asked why I go to the movies as much as I do. Partly it’s just a lazy way to spend a day off, an escape from being...

Sermon 26 Pentecost—Proper 28-B/November 18, 2018 William Bradbury Daniel 12:1-3, Psalm 16, Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25, Mark 13:1-8 A few days before his crucifixion Jesus says, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.” He is speaking about the destruction of the...

Sermon 25 Pentecost—Proper 27-B/November 11, 2018 William Bradbury 1 Kings 17:8-16, Psalm 146, Hebrews 9:24-28, Mark 12:38-44 At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 World War One came to an end. Wikipedia says that “An estimated nine million combatants and seven million civilians died as a direct result of...

Sermon All Saints’ Sunday–November 4, 2018 William Bradbury Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9, Psalm 24, Revelation 21:1-6a, John 11:32-44 I’ve always felt All Saints Day services are a strange mixture of sadness and celebration, for as we remember those who have died—our grandparents, parents, children, family, and friends—we can’t help but re-experience the sadness...

Sermon 23 Pentecost—Proper 25-B/October 28, 2018 William Bradbury Jeremiah 31:7-9, Psalm 126, Hebrews 7:23-28, Mark 10:46-52 Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, cries: “Jesus, Son of David, (which means Messiah) have mercy on me!” Many sternly order him to be quiet. Have you noticed, in yourself and others, the strong don’t like it very much when the...