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An Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas |
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This Week's Sermon This page is offered for those unable to attend the service or who would like more time to study the message. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20 |
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Proper 16 – C August 22, 2010 Allan Conkling School starts tomorrow. And although it has been years now since my kids have grown I still remember the electricity surrounding this day. My previous two parishes before coming to San Angelo both had a day school attached to them. The first day of chapel students took their places in the pews. I would ask the children to stand, and then I would say, "My, look how you have grown!" I would talk about how, with God, we grow both on the outside, but also on the inside. I would say that sometimes growth just happens, but there is another type of growth that takes place all year long. We call this the learning process, and though we are not always aware of it, growth is taking place. At some point we realize that we are different from when we first began. Like finding that the shoes you wore last year no longer fit, a third grader is different from a second grader, who is different from a sophomore in high school. Start out in Kindergarten and you will be different when you graduate from college. Guaranteed. Learning requires us to extend beyond our "comfort zone". Growing pains, not unlike painful the painful ones children experience, await us. In adults however the pain takes place at the level of emotions or the psyche, which can be even more stressful. We all want to resist such change when it comes, yet to make any kind of difference at all we must be open and flexible and ultimately embrace it: Rocks and boards don't make good sails with which to catch the wind of the Spirit! The call to openness and growth is at the heart of the readings for this morning. Out of compassion Jesus heals a woman bent with spiritual and physical weakness, in an act which was completely unsolicited. God’s grace is miraculous. It is given to us freely and undeservedly by a Creator who loves and cares for each of us without exception. On the other hand, there is a part of growth which is effortful. It is here that we see Jesus responding to the challenges of the religious official, who was by the way was actually correct in his understanding of the law of Moses: God said nothing is to be done on the Sabbath, for it is holy. It is a day of rest and worship. Over and over again, Jesus taught his followers that God's way is not our way. God's way is grace-filled, yes, but a relationship requires growth and understanding. Just as praying requires practice; just as discipleship requires determination, to truly grow in grace one must learn to listen to the will of God: "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Almost out of frustration Jesus calls the temple leaders "hypocrites", a very strong, offensive, almost slanderous word in Jesus day. The point being, that if it is permissible to show mercy to an animal on the Sabbath, how much more is it appropriate to show mercy to a human being. Throughout our life and in our churches we must constantly do battle with the forces of certainty. Certainty has been called the greatest heresy. When religion, any religion, becomes the end and not the means through which we experience and extend the love of God, problems arise. The greatest enemy of a living faith are the words, "We’ve never done it that way before." Once you settle into certainty...once you stop seeking God's will...once you know everything, then all growth and learning effectively stop. By contrast, it has been said that the path to true enlightenment involves three parts, summarized by three verbs: To Know. To Grow. To Show. To know means that one must acquire information, concepts, like learning the ABC's. It also means we must realize our limitations. St. Paul, one of the greatest teachers of our Christian faith says in Philippians, chapter 3: "Whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus as my Lord." Second, To Grow, means we must continually remain open and teachable. Sure, sometimes growth just happens, but most of the time it is effortful. The writer of Proverbs puts it this way: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart. (3:5). Lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." (9:6) Finally, To Show means that all learning, and acquisition of knowledge if it doesn’t involve sharing, is simply an “ego-trip”: "By their fruits you shall know them." writes James (2:16) And again St. Paul: "We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works." (Ephesians 2:10) You and I come to church this morning to take our place in "a kingdom that cannot be shaken" and to give thanks. Says the writer of Hebrews, we "offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe" we find ourselves present at "the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem" in festal, joyful gathering worshiping Christ, "the mediator of the new covenant". This is a process of growth extending all throughout our life. It is grace-filled and it is effort-full. It never stops and requires us to always be open to change. But someday, I envision God saying to us the words I used to say as I spoke to the students on their first day of chapel: "My, look how you have grown."
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| Available Sermons - 2011 |
Available Sermons - 2010 |
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A sermon by Allan Conkling August 8, 2010 - Not Available A sermon by Allan Conkling August 1, 2010 - Not Available A sermon by Bob Hedges A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Susanna Brosseau July 25, 2010 - Not Available A sermon by Bob Hedges July 18, 2010 - Not Available A sermon by Allan Conkling July 11, 2010 - Not Available A sermon by Bob Hedges A sermon by Allan Conkling |
A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling May 16, 2010 - Not Available A sermon by Mary Claire Lewis A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling April 25, 2010 - Not Available A sermon by Allan Conkling April 18, 2010 - Not Available A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling
A sermon by Allan Conkling Given at United Campus Ministries A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling February 14, 2010 - Not available A sermon by Allan Conkling February 7, 2010 - Not available A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling January 17 sermon - Not Available A sermon by Bob Hedges January 10 sermon - Not available A sermon by Allan Conkling January 3, 2010 - Not available A sermon by Allan Conkling |
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| Available Sermons - 2009 | Available Sermons - 2008 | |||
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A sermon by Susanna Brosseau December 25, 2009 Christmas Day A sermon by Gary Sanford December 24, 2009 Christmas Eve A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling November 8, 2009 - Not Available A sermon by Allan Conkling November 1, 2009 - Not Available A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling Blessing of the Animals A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling Given at United Campus Ministries A sermon by Gary Sanford September 27, 2009 - Not Available A sermon by Bishop Mayer September 20, 2009 - Not Available A sermon by Allan Conkling September 13, 2009 - Not Available A sermon by Bob Hedges September 6, 2009 - Not Available A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford July 26, 2009 - Not available A sermon by Bob Hedges A sermon by Allan Conkling July 12, 2009 - Not available A sermon by Bob Hedges A sermon by Allan Conkling |
A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling May 17, 2009 - Not Available A sermon by Susanna Brosseau A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling April 12,2009 - Not Available A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling March 15, 2009 - Not available A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling February 25, 2009 Ash Wednesday A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Susanna Brosseau A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling |
A sermon by Allan Conkling December 25, 2008 Christmas Day A sermon by Gary Sanford December 24, 2008 Christmas Eve A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling December 14, 2008 Youth Sunday A sermon by Christopher Steadman, Drew Theiman & Susanna Brosseau A sermon by Allan Conkling December 7, 2008 - Not available A sermon by Bob Hedges A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Alan Conkling November 16, 2008 - Not available A sermon by Bob Hedges A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling July 20, 2008 - Not available A sermon by Allan Conkling July 13, 2008 - Not available A sermon by Bob Hedges July 6, 2008 - Not available A sermon by Bob Hedges |
A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by William B. Wright A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford March 20, 2008 Maundy Thursday A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling January 20, 2008 - Not Available A sermon by Bob Hedges A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling |
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| Available Sermons - 2007 | Available Sermons - 2006 | |||
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A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Alan Conkling U2 Eucharist November 11, 2007 A sermon by Susanna Brosseau A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Bill Wright |
A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford June 9, 2007 Phil Ray Ordination A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling February 21, 2007 Ash Wednesday A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling |
A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A Sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Kelly Schneider Conkling |
A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by William B. Wright A sermon by Kelly Schneider Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Kelly Schneider Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Kelly Schneider Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Kelly Schneider Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling |
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Available Sermons - 2005 |
Available Sermons - 2004 |
Available Sermons - 2003 |
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A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Kelly Schneider Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A Sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Phil Ray |
A sermon by Kelly Schneider Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Kelly Schneider Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Jill Sethness A sermon by the Alan Conkling A sermon by the Allan Conkling A sermon by the Allan Conkling A sermon by the Allan Conkling A sermon by the Celia Ellery A sermon by the Celia Ellery A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling January 18, 2005—Induction Sermon A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Celia Ellery A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling |
A sermon by Rev Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Celia Ellery A sermon by Gary Sanford A Sermon by Celia Ellery A sermon by Celia Ellery A sermon by Celia Ellery A sermon by Celia Ellery A sermon by Michael Smith |
A sermon by Celia Ellery A sermon by John H. Loving A sermon by Celia Ellery A sermon by John H. Loving A sermon by John H. Loving A sermon by John H. Loving |
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rights reserved.
Revised:
08/23/10
This site was last updated 08/23/10
