Epiphany – St. John's Episcopal Church, Suffolk, VA https://stjohnsepiscopal-suffolk.org Serving our community since 1642 Sun, 03 Mar 2019 20:46:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.1 https://stjohnsepiscopal-suffolk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/cropped-Door-for-website-55x55.jpgEpiphany – St. John's Episcopal Church, Suffolk, VAhttps://stjohnsepiscopal-suffolk.org 32 32 116451644 Being changed by God but not our nature – reflection and sermon for 3/3/19https://stjohnsepiscopal-suffolk.org/2019/03/03/being-changed-by-god-but-not-our-nature-reflection-and-sermon-for-3-3-19/ https://stjohnsepiscopal-suffolk.org/2019/03/03/being-changed-by-god-but-not-our-nature-reflection-and-sermon-for-3-3-19/#respond Sun, 03 Mar 2019 20:37:34 +0000 http://stjohnsepiscopal-suffolk.org/?p=1301 Grace and peace to you – at least in Chuckatuck March isn’t coming in like a lion, cold but not blustery (yet). We pray that those who hear this aren’t under the weather (so to speak). We know that there are portions of our community and nation that are in trouble with snow, rain, and winds. Yet today, as we bring Epiphany to a close, there is much to rejoice in our midst: newcomers, 9-month olds in Church, and the infectious sound of little children’s laughter. Always a blessing.

Today was the Sunday often named Transfiguration Sunday (not to be confused with the Feast of the Transfiguration – which falls later in the liturgical calendar). We heard stories of Moses’ shining face and his having to hide his reflection of God’s presence in his life behind a veil – because Israel couldn’t handle being in God’s presence all the time (even though they are). We also heard the story of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah on the mountain and the transfiguration of Christ. We should realize that the transfiguration doesn’t change Jesus or his nature – it simply changes how his disciples (and us) perceive Jesus. We change in response to God’s revelation but our nature doesn’t change. May your Lenten journey help us find our true nature.

I invite your comments,
Les+

Readings: Exodus 34:29-35; Psalm 99; 2 Corinthians 3;12-4:2; Luke 9:29-43a

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]]> https://stjohnsepiscopal-suffolk.org/2019/03/03/being-changed-by-god-but-not-our-nature-reflection-and-sermon-for-3-3-19/feed/ 0 1301 The Holy Spirit leads us – reflection, sermon, and video link for January 7, 2018https://stjohnsepiscopal-suffolk.org/2018/01/07/the-holy-spirit-leads-us-reflection-sermon-and-video-link-for-january-7-2018/ https://stjohnsepiscopal-suffolk.org/2018/01/07/the-holy-spirit-leads-us-reflection-sermon-and-video-link-for-january-7-2018/#comments Sun, 07 Jan 2018 20:58:08 +0000 http://stjohnsepiscopal-suffolk.org/?p=748 Good afternoon friends and welcome to 2018 in the midst of the first snow of the year. I hope you have been safe and warm as the Arctic weather has blown through Southside Virginia. The conditions were dicey enough that we felt it more prudent to cancel worship and be safe. The roads were okay to the vicinity of the Church but there was plenty of snowpack preventing access to the property and to the Sanctuary. I tried something new this morning that didn’t work as well as I wanted but it worked – I led Morning Prayer and offered most of the sermon I had planned for this morning via Facebook Live. That’s only helpful if you are on Facebook but I’m still working on bringing alternative worship at St. John’s to the 21st Century.

The readings supported the premise of the Baptism of Jesus – the theme of the first Sunday after the Epiphany. Many of the lessons today were familiar: “In the beginning…” from Genesis and “John baptized Jesus… and the Holy Spirit descended…” in Mark. The familiar lessons can lead us away from part of God’s greater story – in today’s readings the story of the Holy Spirit. We recognize the Holy Spirit is present and has been present from the very beginning. The work we celebrate through the Holy Spirit is the perception of God’s call to move from where we are to a place closer to God. Please listen and think about where God and the Holy Spirit are leading you.

I invite your comments,
Les+

Readings: Genesis 1:1-5; Psalm 29; Acts 19:1-7; Mark 1:4-11

Listen at: https://chirb.it/CHnm4r



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