Sermons from St. Matthew's Episcopal Church

Advent is a season of waiting and of preparation. And our texts are trying to show us something special about how we prepare for Christmas. So, on this first Sunday of Advent, Marissa explores the idea of time and how we experience the passing of time. How does that figure into our preparing in this season?

On the 21st Sunday after Pentecost, Marissa tells a few stories about trees. She shares that the story of Zacchaeus is one of her favorites - and asks who the hero really is. Climb up into the tree and see the view, then help us spread our branches.

The Rev. Deacon Don Burr talks about how top pray without ceasing. Act in the interest of justice and the preservation and restoration of dignity for all.

What do Groot and Jesus have in common? How does that have anything to do with baptism? Rev. Marissa explores the meaning of baptism, the heroism of Groot, and the love of Jesus.

In this sermon, Meg Stapleton Smith invites us to consider the ways in which our fear of vulnerability keeps us from Lazarus. We can use money to create shields and attempt to create a chasm between us and Lazarus. Or we can consider that our salvation, and Lazarus’ salvation are one in the same.

On St. Matthew's Day, Rev. Marissa explores the calling of St. Matthew. What must it have been like for him to get up from the tax booth and follow Jesus? Why would he do that? And what is it like to be seen by Jesus?

With three tough readings, Rev. Marissa tries to explain some images, context, and what Paul is really saying to Philemon. If God is the potter and we are the clay, what is God trying to make out of us? And what do we do with Jesus' words in the Gospel?

In the Gospel, Jesus is at a dinner party with the Pharisees. He criticizes them and the way they order their table. What table does he see? And why is his vision so much different than ours? Can we learn to see what he sees?

On the tenth Sunday after Pentecost, Rev. Marissa explores the image of God's vineyard as reminiscent of the Peace God intended for all of us in the Garden. What do we make of sour grapes, good wine, and paradise lost?"

On the 6th Sunday after Pentecost, Rev. Marissa admits that she doesn't love the story from Luke's Gospel about Martha & Mary. She explores Amos' image of a famine of hunger for the words of the Lord and wonders about the living Word(s) of God.

This week in Luke's Gospel, Jesus tells us the parable of the Good Samaritan. It's a famous parable, and it's more complicated than first meets the eye. Rev. Marissa explores the tensions behind the story along with God's promise to Amos to put a plumb line in the midst of the people.

This sermon focuses on the phrase, “peace to this house,” and establishes it as key to understand Jesus’ sending out of the 72. In our Gospel passage, Christ is encouraging his disciples to bring a new form of peace to those places that have suffered from the Pax Romana’s false promise of peace. Jesus is extending an exciting invitation to all of us as missionary disciples to bring the peace of Christ to the margins.

Rev. Marissa reflects on the difficult words from Jesus in the Gospel and in St. Paul's letter to the Galatians. What are Jesus and Paul looking for from us - and what do we do with words that make us uncomfortable?

What do we do with stories in scripture that are so different from our own context? How do we wrap our minds around stories of angels and demons? In the Gospel today, Jesus casts many demons out of one man. Rev. Marissa explores what that story could be trying to say to us today and what we have in common with the man who lives among the tombs.

On the Feast of Pentecost, as we celebrate 23 newly Confirmed members of the Church, Rev. Marissa talks about the power of the Spirit and what Confirmation means.

On the last Sunday of Easter, Rev. Marissa explores a story about Paul & Silas in prison. The sermon begins with pirates and ends with love.