The Good News isn’t just for Sundays.
Sunday, December 15, 2024, Lessons & Carols
December 15, 2024 - The Biggest Change
The Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves knows from experience how much we resist change in our church routine, which is ironic of course, because the birth of Christ is the biggest change the world has ever known: “God is reaching out to us with a call, an invitation to get to know Him.”
Sunday, December 15, 2024, 10am
December 15, 2024 - Everything Changes
On this Sunday in Advent we hear John the Baptist railing at the “brood of vipers”, but as seen through the eyes of a little girl, the Rev. Abby VanderBrug shows us how in the simple act of baptism everything changes: “Nothing was different, and yet nothing was the same.”
Sunday, December 8, 2024
December 8, 2024 - Into the Wilderness
Amidst the flurry of Christmassy activity, the Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves takes us into the wilderness with John the Baptist, asking us to stick with the challenge: “Advent is a place to really reckon with how it is with our souls.”
Sunday, December 1, 2024
December 1, 2024 - Another Day Is Coming
While the rest of the world rings with bells of the Christmas season, we commence a new church year with apocalyptic words from Christ. To help us, the Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves gives us some questions to ponder, and invites us to “…wake up this Advent from our materialist slumber. Let's not forget that another day is coming.”
Sunday, November 24, 2024
November 24, 2024 - King of the Jews
Pilate mockingly called Jesus “King of the Jews”, but the Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves points out the ultimate irony that Christ is in fact King of all creation, and that as St. Paul has told us “…we, his subjects will one day wear an imperishable crown in his eternal kingdom.”
Sunday, November 17, 2024
November 17, 2024 - Finding God
The Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves finishes his sermon series on the Book of Job at the point where God finally answers Job. But putting a finger on God isn’t so easy: “God is somewhere over there beyond our understanding, but we know He's there.”
Sunday, November 10, 2024
November 10, 2024 - A Life of Faith
On this Sunday when we celebrate both Remembrance Day and Veterans Day, the Rev. Abby VanderBrug uses Job’s tribulations to shine a light on our veterans wartime combat service and how they manage to come through those trials:
“…a life of faith doesn't mean that doubt makes us weak or that we have to be strong or brave at every possible minute.”
Sunday, November 3, 2024 (10am)
November 3, 2024 - Saints on Disply
St. James youth step forward to conduct our worship service, describing and depicting six key saints that are depicted in our clerestory stained glass windows.
Sunday, November 3, 2024 (8am)
November 3, 2024 - Past, Present, Future
On this All Saints' Sunday the Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves discusses the past, present, and future aspect of All Saints Day and how “We're all called to allow God's light to shine through us.”
Sunday, October 27, 2024
October 27, 2024 - Seeing Jesus
The disciples who were fully sighted somehow couldn’t see Jesus for who he was. But Bartimaeus, who was blind, had no trouble. The Rev. Abby VanderBrug assures us that Jesus sees us fully, and as Bartimaeus might say: "Don't worry, a king is on the way, and trust me, He'll see you."
Sunday, October 20, 2024
October 20, 2024 - God at Center
As we kick off the 2025 stewardship season the Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves asks us to examine what can happen when we put God at the center of our lives. “It's not about what you do, it's about what you allow God to do with you and inside you.”
Sunday, October 13, 2024
October 13, 2024 - Silence and God
The Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves continues his series on the Book of Job by reflecting on three types of silence Job either wishes for, chafes against, or effects within himself when he observes "How small a whisper do we hear of God!"
Sunday, October 6, 2024
October 6, 2024 - Joinimg the Birds
In this celebration of St. Francis, the Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves asks us to “…begin our day by joining with the birds in praise of the God who created the world. That's St. Francis's vision, that all creation together praises the wonder and the glory of the creator.”
Sunday, September 29, 2024
September 29, 2024 - Come Close
Continuing our examination of the Book of Job, the Rev. Abby VanderBrug offers us “A lesson in being a friend to those who suffer”.
Sunday, September 22, 2024
September 22, 2024 - Job as Drama
The Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves launches a multi week sermon series on the book of Job, examining it as a piece of dramatic literature. Today he laid the scene and introduced us to the cast of characters. We’re also encouraged to attend the supporting Sunday 9am education series in the Parish Hall, resuming the week after next, Oct. 13.
Sunday, September 15, 2024
September 15, 2024 - Gather, Transfer, Send
With inspiration from Bishop Susan, the Rev’d Dr. Mark Hargreaves and the vestry have decided to use “Gather, Transform, Send” as inspiration for our mission action plan going forward. See how this Sunday’s gospel reading shows Jesus doing the same with his disciples.
Sunday, September 8, 2024
September 8, 2024 - Breaking Down Barriers
Jesus spent much of his ministry breaking down barriers. The Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves examines what might be thought of as Jesus’ rude behavior, and shows how it really serves as a lesson to help us “…see people as God sees them and treat people as Jesus treated people he met.”
Sunday, September 1, 2024
September 1, 2024 - Following Jesus
Like the Pharisees, the Rev. Abby VanderBrug is a great one for to-do lists. She’s got them for everything, except for how to follow Jesus. For that, she looks to her favorite part of the liturgy, when we all turn and face the gospel. In so doing, we say yet again, “yes Lord, we will follow. Show us the way.”
Sunday, August 25, 2024
August 25, 2024 - Stand. Walk. Sit.
No, it’s not dog training, it’s how the Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves parses St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, which he sees as a blueprint for dealing with evil in this world, and which “in many ways sum up much of what's important about the Christian life.”
Sunday, August 18, 2024
August 18, 2024 - Full Up?
Jesus usually went somewhere quiet by himself to make room for the Holy Spirit. Referring to our reading from the Book of Hebrews, the Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves notes that in order to be able to be filled with the Holy Spirit, we must first make room in our hearts: “…may the empty hands with which we come to communion be a sign of our desire to be filled with God's Spirit.
Sunday, August 11, 2024
August 11, 2024 - Loving Others
The Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves continues to examine St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, this time regarding Christ’s command to us to love one another. Rev. Mark elaborates on three specific ways to do this: controlling your anger, practicing forgiveness, and being kind. Give it a try!
Sunday, August 4, 2024
August 4, 2024 - Eyes and Hearts to See
Our reading from Exodus tells of the Israelites whining in the desert, pining for their days with Pharoah, and not seeing the manna provided right in front of them. On a baptism Sunday, and in her first sermon at St. James, newly arrived Minister for Congregational Life, the Rev. Abby VanderBrug, asks we cultivate eyes and hearts to see with gratitude what we have, for as the Rolling Stones sang, “You might just find, you get what you need”.
Sunday, July 28, 2024
July 28, 2024 - God's Boundless Love
St. Paul speaks at length to the church in Ephesus regarding God’s boundless love and how it is manifested. On this St. James Day, the Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves elaborates on that theme, noting “We don't earn God's love. We're simply called to receive it and build our life upon it.”
Sunday, July 21, 2024
July 21, 2024 - Othering
In his letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul wasn’t liking the “othering” that was going on in Ephesus any more than we like it in the here and now. The Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves emphasizes we as Christians are meant to be reconcilers, just as we have been reconciled in Christ.
“As people of faith, we have grounds for hope that dividing walls can be taken down, that peace and unity can prevail.”
Sunday, July 14, 2024
July 14, 2024 - God In Us
On her final Sunday at St. James the Rev. Christina Miller reflected with gratitude on her two years of ministry: “May we celebrate that God will continue to be present in us and through us just as the glory of God is mirrored back to us in every person that we encounter.”
Sunday, July 7, 2024
July 7, 2024 - Power in Weakness?
The Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves picks up on the many references to power in our readings for the day in order to make sense of St. Paul’s teachings on there being power in weakness: “I learned like St. Paul that God's grace is sufficient and that His power is made perfect in our weakness.”
Sunday, June 30, 2024
June 30, 2024 - God's Kingdom in You
The Rev. Christina Miller shows us how God’s kingdom resides in each one of us, and how, through faith, we can both heal and be healed: “…may your faith make you well, knowing that no matter what you are suffering, the wholeness of God is within you.”
Sunday, June 23, 2024
June 23, 2024 - One Smooth Stone
David slew Goliath because he had expert talents and had God on his side. What are your talents? The Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves offers that…“God has a plan and a task for each of us, and to complete that task, we must be ourselves and use the tools and the gifts with which we've been given.”
Sunday, June 16, 2024
June 16, 2024 - The Core of Your Being
The Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves examines St. Paul's travelling ministry, why Corinth's "super apostles" dissed him so much, and how he gets through it. That inner strength, that confidence, purpose, and love at the core of his being can be yours too, and can get you through your life as well.
Sunday, June 9, 2024
June 9, 2024 - God's Light
Guest preacher and artist Rory Browne speaks to us about God’s light, how he sees it, and how it inspires his work and walk through life’s journey. He assures us “God knows, God cares, and He wants to be with you as you go through that journey.”
Sunday, June 2, 2024
June 2, 2024 - Treasure Within
St. Paul refers to us as clay jars with treasure within. This is one of Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves’ favorite passages on which to preach. He offers that “Our woundedness, our flaws, are part of our uniqueness and can be put to use for God's glory…Don't get caught up with the outside, the surface of life. You're a clay jar…treasure the treasure within.”
Sunday, May 26, 2024
May 27, 2024 - Empowering Yourself
The Rev. Christina Miller uses the oneness of the Holy Trinity to help us understand the complexity of St. Paul’s teachings on the body and the Spirit. She invites us to “Empower yourself to make your own Spirit-led decision that shows kindness and compassion towards every body, including your own.”
Sunday, May 19, 2024
May 19, 2024 - Breathing with the Holy Spirit
On this Pentecost Sunday the Rev. Christina Miller invites us to learn how to breathe with the Holy Spirit “as a way of receiving fullness of life as your breath reconciles you to the life force that is in you.” She also gives us specific practical instructions on how to do that.
Sunday, May 12, 2024
May 12, 2024 - Letting go
At the Ascension the disciples didn’t want to let Jesus to go. But he couldn’t be held back, he had to be shared with the world. Now, as the Rev. Canon Gwynn Lynch points out, “…instead of looking toward heaven, we can look around ourselves to see all the places and people with whom we can share the love of God.”
Sunday, May 5, 2024
May 5, 2024 - Rest and Receive
The Rev. Christina Miller ask us to examine the busyness of our lives, and offers that when we learn to let go of that busyness “we can reclaim our lives as holy, and reimagine what it means to be God's chosen friends…and…experience the joy that is available to each and every one of us, of living into Christ's resurrection.”
Sunday, April 28, 2024
April 28, 2024 - Abide in Me
The Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves examines John’s gospel reading’s use of the word “abide” which, in the Greek, means so much more than our English usage: “He doesn't use the word Trinity, but that's where he's going. He's opening up that idea of God in three and God as one.”
Sunday, April 21, 2024
April 21, 2024 - Looking and Seeing
Just looking at something doesn’t necessarily mean you’re seeing it, or even understanding it. The Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves takes us to Jesus’ empty tomb for a look in. What do you see?
Sunday, April 14, 2024
April 14, 2024 - A World in Peace
With inspiration from her recent visit to the Navajo nation, the Rt. Rev. Susan Brown Snook challenges us to envision a world in peace: “That means it's up to us in the church to help people have a true experience of the risen Jesus…to offer his peace to the world. That is the mission of the church.”
Sunday, April 7, 2024
April 7, 2024 - A New Age
Thomas was just one of many eyewitnesses to the risen Christ. The Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves describes this new age that has been ushered in by the historical fact of Jesus’ resurrection. “Our resurrection hope is that God is at work now by His spirit, restoring His creation to how it was meant to be.”
Easter Day, March 31, 2024
March 31, 2024 - Christ the Cornerstone
This Easter the Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves urges us to heed St. Peter, and build our lives around Christ as the cornerstone: “We can be living stones. That which is dead and lifeless can be given new life because of what happened that first Easter morn.”
Good Friday, March 29, 2024
March 29, 2024 - Loss and Betrayal
On his last day Jesus experienced heartbreaking loss and betrayal, yet used that experience to pour out love. Taking Jesus’ example the Rev. Christina Miller urges “…we each let what pierces our hearts enable love to pour through us.”
Maundy Thursday, March 28, 2024
March 28, 2024 - Humility and Service
At that last supper Jesus modeled actions to follow demonstrating humility and service, or as the Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves offered “our faith is worked out in the midst of life as we serve one another.”
Sunday, March 24, 2024
March 24, 2024 - Even Stones Would Shout
As we enter Jerusalem with Jesus, we learn that even stones would shout God’s praise. As the Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves points out “it's not just humanity that praises God, the whole of creation joins in praise of the creator.”
Sunday, March 17, 2024
March 17, 2024 - Transformational Journey
On a baptism Sunday, The Rev. Christina Miller ask us to consider where each of us are on our transformational journey in Christ, allowing that “Wherever you are is exactly where you need to be and exactly where God is meeting you.”
Sunday, March 10, 2024
March 10, 2024 - First Principles
The Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves examines our readings for the day, describing how they bring out “first principles” of our faith, those of both loving and giving. “We worship a God who loves us, who gave Himself for us and calls us to walk with Him so that we might be raised up with Him.”
Sunday, March 3, 2024
March 3, 2024 - Jesus as Disruptor
The Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves speaks to Jesus overturning tables in the temple and the given wisdom of the world. Giving us concrete suggestions, he offers that “We need to overturn our thinking and embrace God's knowledge, God's wisdom, God's perspective, God's power.”
Sunday, February 25, 2024
February 25, 2024 - Never Too Late
Abram and Sarai chose to accept God’s call to them. As we contemplate our Lenten journeys, the Rev. Christina Miller allows as how “Abraham and Sarah’s story reminds us that we can always set out on the next iteration of our spiritual journeys…leading deeper into the very heart of God.”
Sunday, February 18, 2024
February 18, 2024 - The Choices We Make
Looking at St. Mark’s gospel account of Jesus in the wilderness, the Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves examines the choices Jesus both had and didn’t have, asking us “Maybe there are areas of our life in which we feel we don't have a choice, and maybe that's not the case?”
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
February 14, 2024 - The Paradoxes of Ash Wednesday
The Rev. Christina Miller notes the myriad of paradoxes that confront us as we honor Ash Wednesday on St. Valentine’s Day are but “…a reminder that we are deeply, irrevocably interconnected to all of creation and to one another.”
Sunday, February 11, 2024
February 11, 2024 - Praise and Glory
In his final sermon before Lent the Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves encourages us, starting with Psalm 145, to use the psalms over the next weeks to learn praise and glory, in preparation for the “…one day we will see God truly in all his glory face to face.” He refers us to today’s bulletin for six other psalms to study over Lent’s 40 days (they are psalms 8,19,33, 66,96, and 103).
Sunday, February 4, 2024
February 4, 2024 - On Eagle Wings
The Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves speaks to the prophet Isaiah’s words of encouragement to those who may grow weary that God comes in the person of Jesus to lift us on eagle wings: “May all of us who feel weary, find the rest that Jesus offers.”
Sunday, January 28, 2024
January 28, 2024 - Finding Our Way To One Another
The Rev. Christina Miller uses Jesus’ encounter in the synagogue with a man consumed by demons to demonstrate how each of us can find our way to one another so we can both heal and be healed.
Sunday, January 21, 2024
January 21, 2024 - Follow Me
The Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves talks about how Jesus’ command to his disciples to “follow me” was a “Kairos” moment for them, a moment when time stood still and the rest of their lives hinged on their decision. Rev. Mark says “Follow me is both the invitation to and a promise of new life ... What do we need to leave behind that we might follow Jesus?”
Sunday, January 14, 2024
January 14, 2024 -
The Rev. Mark speaks on "seeing"; how we tend to "look" but not see with spiritual insight as God sees.
Sunday, January 7, 2024
January 7, 2024 -
The Rev. Mark speaks on the lessons learned for the new year from the story of the Magi seeking Jesus.
Sunday, December 31, 2023
December 31, 2023 - Christmas 1
The Rev. Christina Miller speaks about the transition into the new year using the Prayer of Examen from St. Ignatius.