Sermons from July 2012

By The Rev. Sherry Deets 9 Pentecost, Proper 12 – July 29, 2012 John 6:1-21 I don’t suppose anyone here ever does this, but there is a game some people play that’s called Disqualification. Let me explain how it works. People disqualify themselves because of who they are. They consider themselves not old enough, not young enough, not smart enough, not wealthy enough, not something-or-other enough to give a gift. Individuals can play this game Disqualification. It can also be…

By The Rev. Sherry Deets 7 Pentecost Proper 10 – July 15, 2012 Mark 6:14-29 So, our gospel text this morning has been referred to as a “text of terror.” It is a difficult passage to hear or read – the beheading of John the Baptist. But Mark tells this story, and there must be a reason why – so what is hidden in plain sight? What is the stream of grace that flows within the deep recesses of this…

By The Rev. Sherry Deets 6 Pentecost – July 8, 2012 Mark 6:1-13 Today we are going to talk about the Sacrament of Failure. I love it – the Sacrament of Failure– and I am indebted to Mickey Anders for that concept and his homily on the topic. In 1961, the Swedish warship Vasa broke the surface of the water after 333 years on the bottom of the sea. Divers had discovered the ancient wooden vessel just a few years…

By The Rev. Sherry Deets 5 Pentecost – July 1, 2012 Mark 5:21-43 Mark has a fondness for enclosing one story inside of another—in this case the story of the woman with a hemorrhage inside the story of Jairus’ daughter. In the paired stories, Jesus works two highly significant miracles. The stories belong together and Mark creates dramatic tension by telling the two stories together. Each finds enhanced interest and power through its juxtaposition with the other. The stories show…