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Sermon by Deacon Steve Seibert

​In some parts of the Anglican Communion, of which the Episcopal Church is a part, Pentecost is known as Whitsunday. This is especially so in England. Whit is a form of the word white, and refers to  the white garments worn by the newly baptized; white signifies purity that has come through baptism. Some churches lower a carved dove into the congregation and call this – are you ready? – swinging the Holy Ghost!  Cattle are decorated for this feast day; an overdressed person is said to be dressed like a Whitsun ox!

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Sermon by Rev. Renee LiaBraaten

I have a couple questions to get us started, and I can’t wait to hear your answers.
1.  When you were a child, what was one of your favorite fairy tales?
2.  What are some things you learned from fairy tales?
 
Last December, just before Christmas, I was driving to the library with our little 5-year-old grandson, Jonah. Many of you met Jonah, when he and our daughter, Linzee, worshipped with us at St. Cyprian’s this past March. Back in December, Jonah had just starting learning how to sound out words. So, as we were driving, he was trying to read the signs.  We were waiting at a traffic light and Jonah was struggling to sound out the words that were written on a Christmas decoration that was hanging on a building. “Peee—aaaa—cccc…”
Finally he asked, “MiMi, what do those words say?”
“Peace on Earth,” I answered.
“What does that mean?” he asked.
“Well, peace on earth is when all the people all around the world get along and help each other instead of fighting or being mean to each other. Peace on earth are the words to the song that the angels sang to the shepherds on that first Christmas night the baby Jesus was…”
 “Wait a minute,” Jonah interrupted me. “Is this a real story or a pretend story?”
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Sermon by Rev. Jerry LiaBraaten

ONE QUESTION
 
Today I have just one question for us to consider. It’s about gardening and fortunately, whether you are a true gardener, a wannabe gardener or one who, like myself, is just very thankful for those of you who know what you’re doing when it comes to plants and dirt, you can all answer this one: What does it take for a garden to thrive? Got an answer? Now, please hold that thought. In a few moments we’ll come back for it.
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Sermon by Rev. Renee LiaBraaten

As usual, I have a couple questions to get us warmed up:
 
1. When you go to visit someone for a couple days, and you arrive at their home and sit down to a delicious meal that has been prepared for you, and you settle into a cozy bedroom that is all ready for you, how do you feel?
 
2. What things are “troubling your heart” these days?  
 
Before we dive into discussing our Gospel lesson for today, there are a couple things we need to note.  First, even though it’s the Fifth Sunday after Easter, the conversation we just heard between Jesus and his disciples took place before Easter, on the night Jesus was betrayed, at the last supper.  It is part of what Biblical scholars refer to as Jesus’ Farewell Discourse—his final words to his disciples before his death. And we will hear a bit more of this conversation in our gospel lesson next Sunday.