May 19, 2013 - Come Down, Holy Spirit The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Pentecost God is the Spirit who gets our attention, who re-directs, who comforts, who gives anticipation of the outcome of creation. (More...)
May 18, 2013 - Good Gifts of God The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Sylvia Sutherland Funeral So on this occasion when we remember some of the gifts which God granted to Sylvia to use, it is also an occasion for us to think about how many similar gifts have come our way, to offer thanks to God for them, and to discern how best to use them. (More...)
May 14, 2013 - Not Zero! The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin St. Matthias Evangelists are never zeros. (More...)
May 12, 2013 - Glory? The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Seventh Sunday of Easter The glory of the cross is active when we continue to invite, even when the response is not visible to us. (More...)
May 5, 2013 - Finding or being found? The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Sixth Sunday of Easter We're in a mess when we depend upon ourselves, especially when we think that we are so smart. And we're not going to find God, especially on our own terms. (More...)
Apr 28, 2013 - A Heavenly Vision The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Fifth Sunday of Easter Whether people treat each other selfishly and hatefully, or whether we serve one another, depends on which kingdom has claimed our hearts and minds. (More...)
Apr 21, 2013 - Our small acts and Christ's resurrection The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Fourth Sunday of Easter What are we saying and doing that cares for physical needs of the needy, so that people have the energy and the will to hear Good News? (More...)
Apr 14, 2013 - Transformed! The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Third Sunday of Easter Because it is Easter, Christ wipes away the guilt and fear of Peter, the one who thrice denied Christ. Jesus guides him to declarations of thrice-renewed faith, and also charges him three times with responsibility for feeding and guarding the church. (More...)
Apr 7, 2013 - Give God the Glory The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Second Sunday of Easter The Sunday service and the Monday service need to be linked together. Sunday worship alone would be hot air; Monday's work alone is aimless do-goodism. (More...)
Mar 31, 2013 - Refocused Sight The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Easter Sunday Don't be seduced by the siren call of all of those other voices; the center of things, the focus of life is right here and it is summarized in the little refrain that we repeat throughout the Easter season: Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. (More...)
Mar 30, 2013 - Walls The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Easter Vigil Once there was a wall. But when Christ Jesus broke down that wall of death 2,000 years ago, it was shown to be flimsy before his power. (More...)
Mar 29, 2013 - Today, Paradise The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Good Friday evening "Today and Paradise" are pointing not so much to a time and place later, but to a relationship which is entered now. Paradise 1s whenever and wherever we recognize that we are truly with Jesus. (More...)
Mar 29, 2013 - It was Night The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Good Friday afternoon This afternoon that looks like the victory of darkness is Jesus' way of getting inside the darkness of death in order to destroy it fully and completely from the inside. It was night, but that darkness shall not remain. (More...)
Mar 28, 2013 - To Show God's Love The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Maundy Thursday Let no one say “There is nothing I can do.” As long as we are breathing, we can still have a positive effect on someone who also needs to know by our words and actions that God loves them also. (More...)
Mar 24, 2013 - Bridging the Distance The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Palm Sunday Because our ears and mouth, and heart, mind and stomach have all accepted the fact that Jesus has bridged the distance to us. This day we recognize it, and profoundly celebrate it. (More...)
Mar 17, 2013 - The Extravagance of God's Actions The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Fifth Sunday of Lent Our actions are acted-out words, like prophets' words, that are to be surrounding and pointing to the greatest acted-out Word of all: “Father, forgive them....” (More...)
Mar 10, 2013 - Foolish Message or Foolish People? The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Forth Sunday of Lent Who is the foolish one? --the Father for giving good gifts? --Christ Jesus for all the trouble of acting out the Father's generosity. --or the people who ignore it and waste it? (More...)
Mar 3, 2013 - What about you? The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Third Sunday of Lent God's love carries no promises about good or bad except for the promise that God will not allow anything worse to happen to us than happened to his own Son. (More...)
Feb 24, 2013 - Holy Promises The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Second Sunday of Lent In baptism, God promises to hold onto the person baptized, to chase after them when they go astray, to comfort them when distressed, and to use them to reach still others. (More...)
Feb 18, 2013 - God's Word by the Prophet The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Commemoration of Martin Luther The mysteriously wonderful thing about the Word is that "...it shall accomplish that which I purpose," says the Lord through Isaiah. It may be hidden for a time, it may not be obvious to all, but it is at work. (More...)
Feb 17, 2013 - Tempted by whom? The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin First Sunday of Lent Jesus confronted the archenemy and had won the battle. The war, however, was not over. (More...)
Feb 13, 2013 - On a New Basis The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Ash Wednesday The Christian faith is in profound tension with the world around us. The world says: Go, make something of yourselves. Jesus says: Let me make something of you. (More...)
Feb 10, 2013 - On Not Managing God The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Transfiguration Sunday The easiest way to stop trying to manage God is simply to be quiet! And in that space perhaps the Spirit will reveal new directions. (More...)
Feb 3, 2013 - Who, me? The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Fourth Sunday after Epiphany There is the power of the Spirit to equip us for life even in the most difficult circumstances. (More...)
Jan 27, 2013 - Fulfilled in your hearing The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Third Sunday after Epiphany But when Messiah comes, God's Holy Spirit is poured out on all. Young, old, everyone gets opportunity to speak up. Everyone is a preacher in some measure. (More...)
Jan 20, 2013 - Where Jesus Is, the Old becomes New The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Second Sunday after Epiphany Each Sunday is a reminder of the resurrection victory of Jesus, and at the same time an anticipation of our own resurrection yet to be completed. (More...)
Jan 13, 2013 - Called by Name The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Baptism of Jesus There are things that seniors gradually have to give up. But what we don't ever have to give up is this connection with the Lord Jesus and with his body, the Church. (More...)
Jan 6, 2013 - Three antagonists, three places, three gifts The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Epiphany Festival Three antagonists: magi, Herod, and Jesus who operate in three places and who give three gifts: objects and worship, hate and murder, and Jesus himself. God has chosen to use a powerful story to get the Gospel told! (More...)
Jan 4, 2013 - The Teacher The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin William Hill Funeral As we carry the memories and the example of Bill with us. May they inspire us in turn to our teaching tasks yet to be done with succeeding generations. (More...)
Dec 30, 2012 - Jesus Must The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Sixth Day of Christmas We must recognize that it is to be our joy to live in the web of relationships established by Jesus through Holy Baptism, celebrated in worship and strengthened in study and fellowship. (More...)
Dec 30, 2012 - I Will Not Forget The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Remembrance Service It is the hand of God that now holds all those of our beloved memory, and the voice of God that says again “yet I will not forget you.” (More...)
Dec 28, 2012 - Hear, See, Do The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Carl Belles Funeral Carl has done all that he can do, and has gotten all that he could get out of life. Now he only has things to give. (More...)
Dec 27, 2012 - Fresh Every Morning The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Evelyn McMahon Funeral Even though it is a sad reason that brought folks together, what a wonderful opportunity for all to laugh and cry together, to grow together, to eat together, to comfort and encourage each other to strengthen all of us for the next part of living. (More...)
Dec 24, 2012 - The Fullness of Time...for Us The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Christmas Eve For me, Christ is come for me! --with all of my sins and inadequacies... Christ is come for me. Yes, I can, I should, I must join in heaven's song. (More...)
Dec 23, 2012 - Emotions of Advent: Graced Wonder The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Fourth Sunday of Advent Discipleship is not a one-time decision, but a life-long journey. It is Jesus who takes us places! (More...)
Dec 16, 2012 - Confused Anticipation The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Third Sunday of Advent Let's get un-confused about our anticipation this Advent. The baptism with Spirit and fire is Good News; it is the cleansing, purifying fire and the Spirit of Pentecost's explosion. (More...)
Dec 9, 2012 - Moods of Advent: Anger The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Second Sunday of Advent God loves us enough to be angry with us, or to provoke the kind of discontent and anger within us that can cause us to be changed. (More...)
Dec 2, 2012 - Moods of Advent: Anxiety The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin First Sunday of Advent We will not conquer our anxieties all at one time; only Jesus does that. But we can appropriate and use his gifts a little bit at a time, fighting one little fight today, meeting another little challenge tomorrow. (More...)
Nov 25, 2012 - Not Overwhelmed The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Christ the King The joy in our life could be easily overshadowed by the pain of the world's troubles if we did not keep on remembering who it is that is ultimately in charge of this creation with all of its twists and turns; Christ is King, now and ultimately. (More...)
Nov 18, 2012 - Piles of Troubles The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost Before we get busy with making something of our lives, we first have the privilege of hearing how God is determined to make something of us. (More...)
Nov 11, 2012 - Thankfulness The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost No matter what, the attitude of the church will still be thankfulness to the Lord God who continues still to bless us and will not abandon us despite a multitude of troubles. (More...)
Nov 4, 2012 - The Communion of Saints... The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin All Saints Sunday When we commune with Christ Jesus, we are also communing with the saints and martyrs of all those ages past. (More...)
Oct 28, 2012 - Look back, around, ahead! The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Reformation Sunday A new day, a fresh opportunity opens in the wiping-the-slate-clean forgiveness offered to us by Jesus. (More...)
Oct 21, 2012 - Consecration Sunday 2012 The Rev. W. Stevens Shipman Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost Your financial stewardship is an essential part of your consecration in response to Christ’s love. And as you look you will find many opportunities to be a servant. (More...)
Oct 14, 2012 - The Right Questions The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost At budget time, the questions and conversations that we have are not only about account balances and projections; they should be about discipleship, our mission and how best to accomplish it. (More...)
Oct 7, 2012 - God's Yes The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost So what do we do with all of these gifts of God's YES? In a hundred different ways we say NO. (More...)
Oct 6, 2012 - Waiting The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Betty Diehl Funeral For Betty the wait is over. Yes, Betty has already discovered that it was worth the wait. (More...)
Sep 30, 2012 - Insignificant? The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost We may be little, common, and feel like we are insignificant, but we are chosen by God, gifted by God, commissioned by God, and that makes all the difference in the world. (More...)
Sep 23, 2012 - That pesky word “obedience” The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost Obedience is changed from a hateful thing against which we fight, to the joyful question: What next can we do? (More...)
Sep 16, 2012 - Led on their Way The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost Who do you say that I am? An historic figure safely in the past? Or a living Lord in our midst, giving us his body in Communion, and then using us as his body in the world? (More...)