Past Sermons

Perilous times remind us of all that we have lost, but it also inspires us to be grateful for what we have. This is the time of year to pause and to give deep thanks to all that sustains us.

When many touchpoints of living are postponed or absent, finding a path ahead is a challenge. As external markers dissolve, it is interior intuition which perceives a way forward. The heart may lead when the mind is flummoxed. How can prophetic imagination inspire us to make the road as we travel?

Our Vespers worship service is modeled after the traditional Taizé worship service, which uses silence, scripture, prayer, and repetitive singing of short chants and rounds to quiet the mind and promote deep meditation. The Taizé Community promotes peace and justice through prayer and meditation. Our Vespers service mirrors Taizé-style attention to silence, holy words, prayer, and singing, but has also evolved to include other meditative traditions such as yogic singing and Buddhist chanting. Followed by a time for community gathering. Every second Wednesday of the month (now virtual, through Zoom).

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Dial in: 301.715.8592; meeting ID: 997 7201 2495; passcode: 927624

We hope and expect that by now we will know the results of the 2020 election. Regardless of who is the new President, we – the people – will have a lot of work to do to build the world we dream about. The theme for the month of November is “prophetic imagination.” We will all need to bring our imagination, creativity and prophetic voice to the days ahead.

This All Souls tradition will remember those who have died since our last All Souls service; but will include a new element – the dedication of children. We’ll remember that All Souls extends beyond the walls of the physical building while honoring all those who helped make it the church it is today.

“Once to every soul and nation comes the moment to decide” wrote 19th century James Russell Lowell. On Tuesday, November 3rd, the nation will make a historic decision; one that will determine the course of our lives for the next four years and far beyond. It is our task and duty to make decisions that will benefit the least among us. How we do that; and what kind of influence we wield in this significant election, will be the focus of this sermon.

We live in a world of finite resources, or so we are taught. Money, power, privilege, status—these are the limited currencies that we are told yield happiness, self-esteem, and value. Join us this week as we reflect on the spiritual paradox that suggests that in order to save our lives, we must give them up.

Our Vespers worship service is modeled after the traditional Taizé worship service, which uses silence, scripture, prayer, and repetitive singing of short chants and rounds to quiet the mind and promote deep meditation. The Taizé Community promotes peace and justice through prayer and meditation. Our Vespers service mirrors Taizé-style attention to silence, holy words, prayer, and singing, but has also evolved to include other meditative traditions such as yogic singing and Buddhist chanting. Followed by a time for community gathering. Every second Wednesday of the month (now virtual, through Zoom).

Click here to log in to Zoom.
Dial in: 301.715.8592; meeting ID: 997 7201 2495; passcode: 927624

We live in a constant state of tension between defending our own beliefs and those who have a different set of values. As we struggle to see the other side, how can we be faithful to our principles while being open to change?

The phrase “My country, right or wrong” is attributed to war hero Stephan Decatur in 1816 as an expression of patriotism. In a well-received 1871 speech, US Senator Carl Schurz modified the phrase to add an important condition: “My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right.” Here in 2020, on the eve of one of the most important elections of our lifetime, how do we feel about this country of ours? And who’s included in “ours” anyway?

To live is to be in relationship; to be in relationship means that, at some point, we will harm one another. The Jewish High Holy Days of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur provide us with an opportunity to reflect on important themes of reckoning, remorse, and repair. “The Story of Your Forgiveness” is also the story of how we turn towards one another, beginning again and again, in love. Sunday’s worship associate will be Michael Koehler, and music will be provided by members of the Jubilee Singers, directed by Lenard Starks.

We are all living a different life in virtual worlds, with broad new challenges. The political world is roiling, racial reckoning is urgent, and economic pressures abound. Navigating life is a marathon of change.  Leonard Cohen’s song Anthem has wisdom for the times: Ring the bells that still can ring, forget your perfect offering. How might we live with more intentional letting go, practice surrendering the perfect, and embracing what is?