Sermon Archive (Page 32)

By The Rev. Sherry Crompton July 31, 2011 Genesis 32:22-31 Last week we heard about Jacob falling in love with Rachel and working 7 years to be able to marry her – if you didn’t know the whole story, you might think Laban was the only scoundrel in the story. Up until today’s story from Genesis’ chapter 32, Jacob has pretty much been an unrelenting scoundrel — swindling his brother, Esau, for his birthright and then cheating him of his…

By The Rev. Sherry Crompton July 24, 2011 Matthew 13:31-33,44-52 In a series of parables in this morning’s gospel, Jesus tells those committed to him about the kingdom of heaven. With vivid word pictures, he shows them, and us, that the kingdom of heaven is indeed “at hand” or among us. He shows them that the kingdom is there for them, and us, to seek. He shows them, and us, that the kingdom is seeking us. A well-known approach to…

By The Rev. Sherry Crompton July 17, 2011 Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 In the parable today, Jesus tells the disciples two things; first, that in the Kingdom of Heaven, people should probably not be judging one another. And secondly, in the kingdom of Heaven, God’s fair and just judgment will come about in the end. You and I live in a world where judgment and criticism are a way of life. A day never passes when we do not make a…

By The Rev. Sherry Crompton July 10, 2011 Matthew 13:1-9,18-23 In Jesus’ parable of the sower, a man scattered seed over all his property, but how the seeds grew depended more on the condition of the soil in various locations than on the diligence of the sower. The seeds that fell on the path were snatched up by birds before they had a chance to germinate. The seeds that landed on rocky soil sprang up rather quickly, but soon withered…

By The Rev. Sherry Crompton 3 Pentecost – July 3, 2011 Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 Jesus challenges us, this Independence Day weekend, to wonder about how free we are. Despite the national freedoms that we celebrate, he reminds us that we are often bound by commitments and dysfunctions that keep us from responding to him, to Jesus. Do we have the freedom and daring to reach for the good yoke that he holds out to us?I remember being told once that…

By The Rev. Sherry Crompton Trinity Sunday – June 19, 2011 Genesis 1:1-2:4 Have you ever experienced a trauma? Like the death of a spouse—or a child—or a best friend? Like coming home to an empty house and finding a note that reads, “I’ve left you.” Like living with an alcoholic. Like having the doctor say, “Cancer!” Like giving in to your boyfriend only to have him dump you. Think about a time when you suffered such an experience. Get…

By The Rev. Sherry Crompton Pentecost – June 12, 2011 Acts 2:1-21 Have you ever received a gift you were not sure you knew what to do with? I suspect we all have. Garish ties that you would not be caught dead in…rank perfumes or colognes that you would not wear for fear of dropping everyone in the room into a faint…horrible pictures from some rich, ugly old relative that are suitable only for the attic. There are some gifts…

By The Rev. Sherry Crompton June 5, 2011 Acts 1:6-14 Eleven men and maybe a few fellow travelers stood on a Palestinian hillside and watched in amazement as their teacher, their mentor, their leader disappeared into the clouds. One would think that by now they might have grown beyond amazement at the course their life had taken since they had met Jesus in Galilee. Perhaps it is true that wonders never cease. “I’ve lost control!” Have you ever said that?…

By The Rev. Sherry Crompton May 29, 2011 John 14:15-21 The word “in” is a tiny word. It seems as if it should not matter all that much. But today we hear Jesus promising to be “in” the people who keep his commandments and promising that the disciples will be “in” him too. So, is Jesus actually “in” us? And how would we know? The key may be that Advocate, that Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, who Jesus has promised…

By The Rev. Sherry Crompton May 22, 2011 John 14:1-14 Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life”. He says this in response to Thomas’ honest questioning – “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” How can we know the way? If we’re honest with ourselves, we have the same question. How can we know the way?” Jesus is speaking of a way of life – in Jewish…

By The Rev. Sherry Crompton May 15, 2011 John What would you ask if granted one wish? A million dollars? A billion dollars? A beautiful woman? A handsome man? Would you ask to be president of a large company? President of the United States? Another Bill Gates? Or would you ask for a life of leisure–fun in the sun? Or renewed health? What would you ask if granted one wish? Your answer would reveal a great deal. It would tell…

By The Rev. Sherry Crompton May 8, 2011 Luke 24:13-35 Earlier this week we heard the news of Osama bin Laden’s death. It marks the end of a chapter. As someone who was in Manhattan at the time of 9/11 and helped out with the rescue efforts, I found myself having very mixed emotions about the news. Later, I read a reflection of Barbara Crafton’s that sums up some of my own ‘hard to label feelings’ and I share it…