Sermon for the St. George’s annual meeting December 9, 2018. The Rev. Joseph H. Hensley, Jr.
sermon
All Saints’ Sunday
Sermon from the Rev. Joseph H. Hensley, Jr., Rector, St. George’s Episcopal Church Fredericksburg, VA | All Saints’ Sunday Year B: November 4, 2018 Today we celebrate All Saints Sunday. It is one of the major feasts of the church year, right up there with Christmas and Easter. In some places the celebration begins on the […]
We Are Free
Today’s reading from Paul’s letter to the Galatians has echoes of this. Paul writes these famous words, “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ, there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” The words of the hymn say it so wonderfully, “In Christ there is no East or West, in Him no South or North, but one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth.” We’re going to sing that one at the end of the service. As today is June 19, we remember the delayed freedom of the slaves in Texas, 151 years later, we remember that freedom is still delayed for many in our nation, many in our world.
Jesus, St. George, a Dragon, and Love
It is a little strange that our Gospel reading today, the fifth Sunday in Easter, comes from the night before Jesus dies. Why have we gone backwards in the story to the last supper? Perhaps it is because now that we have witnessed Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can understand Jesus’ command to love more deeply. Jesus says he gives a “new” commandment, but there’s nothing new about love.
The Joy of Being Wrong
From the Rev. Joe Hensley, Rector, St. George’s Episcopal Church Fredericksburg, VA | Easter Sunday Year C March 27, 2016 Welcome happy morning! Happy Easter! Today we celebrate the resurrection of our savior Jesus Christ from the dead. It is the principal of principal feasts in our Christian calendar. It has been said that without Jesus […]
We Are God’s Beloved
Samaria accepted the word of God. And they received the Holy Spirit. Peace and wholeness and an end to centuries of division is possible, says the scripture. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased.”
Joy, Laughter, and Delight
From the Rev. Deacon Carey Chirico, Director of Outreach, St. George’s Episcopal Church Fredericksburg, VA | Advent 4 Year C, Dec. 20, 2015. Arms thrown wide in welcome. Joy shining from her face, welcome in every fiber of her being. This is how I picture Elizabeth on that Judean morning. Mary, face flushed from the […]
Peace! All Shall Be Well!
As we prepare to begin another year together, we renew our hope in Jesus’ leadership. We face our fears that the world is falling apart and dare to hope that in Christ there can be an end to captivity and division. We dare to hope to be freed and brought together. We dare to hope for the new creation about which prophets and visionaries have testified. We dare to hope for the truth to finally prevail. As we face the terrors and troubles of our times, we dare to hope for a revelation that in Christ, all things will be well.