Sermons by Sherry Deets (Page 5)

5 Easter – May 7, 2023 John 14:1-14          Our gospel reading this morning is one that is often read at funerals, and for good reason. It is comforting in the face of the death of a loved one. But this piece of scripture is not only about life after death, it is a text that has everything to do with our lives here and now. The setting is Jesus’ farewell address at his last supper with his disciples. Jesus…

4 Easter – April 30, 2023 John 10:1-10          This morning John’s gospel gives us ten verses of packed metaphor; we are given sheep, a sheepfold, a shepherd, a gate, a gatekeeper, a pasture, a sneaky band of thieves and bandits, and an even more sinister group of smooth-tongued “strangers.”  This passage though, at it’s heart, speaks to us about life. About God’s abundant life. About our relationship with God. Jesus says that he is the gate. “I am the…

3 Easter – April 23, 2023 Luke 24:13-35          Today, Luke’s gospel has us walking on the road to Emmaus. This scene is set on the same day as the women’s discovery of the empty tomb from Easter. The scripture tells us that this was about a seven-mile walk. Not really that far in those days when people were used to walking. But, there are some walks that are longer than others — not because of the miles or even…

2 Easter – April 16, 2023 John 20:19-31          We’re hearing about two resurrection stories this morning. Jesus appearing one week after the first, coming through locked and closed doors, saying “peace be with you” for the second time. It is the juxtaposition of fear and peace. And so, today, one week after we shout, “Alleluia!” and sing, “Christ the Lord is Risen Today!” John invites us to face our doubts, speak our fears, and yearn for more — more intimacy, more…

Easter – April 9, 2023 Matthew 28:1-10          Happy Easter!   Matthew presents us with one of the most dramatic readings of the resurrection.  There was a great earthquake and an angel of the Lord descended, his appearance like lightening.   In other words, light has split a crack in the universe and everything we thought we knew has changed.  To meet Jesus is for the ground to move beneath you, nothing remains as it was. Now in the early morning, the…

5 Lent Year A – March 26, 2023 John 11:1-45          We have two very powerful stories presented to us today…the story of the dry bones and the story of Lazarus. Two big and powerful stories.  Both remind us of the physical realities of our experience of death. In Ezekiel the prophet is dropped in the middle of a valley of dry bones. In John, Jesus weeps in response to the lamentations of Martha and Mary and the others. And…

4 Lent – March 19, 2023 John 9:1-41          I’ve asked Betty to hand out a picture for you to look at. What do you see — one vase or two faces? That is the optical illusion made famous by the Danish psychologist Edgar Rubin (1886–1951), who specialized in “figure-ground perception.” When shown a simple picture of his Rubin Vase, as it’s known, some people see a black vase on a white background. Other people see two white faces on a…

3 Lent – March 12, 2023 John 4:5-42          This morning we hear the story of the woman at the well. It is one of my favorite stories, and that is partly because it is a complex story, it is so much more than a simple conversion story. I’ll start off by sharing some important things to be aware of: This is the longest conversation Jesus has with anyone in the New Testament and it is with a woman from…

2 Lent – March 5, 2023 John 3:1-17          Our gospel story from John this morning invites us to eavesdrop on the visit that Nicodemus pays to Jesus shortly after Jesus clears out the temple. The fact that Jesus and Nicodemus have their conversation at night seems fitting not just because the darkness offers a measure of protection and secrecy for Nicodemus, away from the eyes of his fellow Pharisees, but because Jesus speaks here of a mystery. In response…

1 Lent – February 26, 2023 Matthew 4:1-11 So, we began the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday…remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return….we hear these words as we are marked with ashes on our foreheads. It is done to remind us of our Creator God. It is done to remind us whose we are. And today we hear the story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. Just before this happens is Jesus’ baptism, where we heard…

Last Sunday of Epiphany – February 19, 2023 Matthew 17:1-9          Today we hear about Jesus’ transfiguration. The Transfiguration story is always the Last Sunday in the church season of Epiphany, transitioning us into the season of Lent and Easter. And it is a fitting story to transition us because it insists that we keep what was and what can be in tension. Think about it. Up until now, until the Transfiguration happens, Peter and his fellow disciples experience Jesus…

Absalom Jones – February 12, 2023 John 15:12-15 Today we are celebrating the Feast of Absalom Jones in this Black History month, or as I am noticing and liking, for many people it is Black History Every Day. Blessed Absalom was born into slavery, taught himself to read by using the Bible as one of his resources, was permitted to attend a quaker school and he became America’s first black Priest. Ordained by Bishop White in our very own Diocese.…