Sermons

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer the call of our Savior Jesus Christ

Sermon for January 25, 2015 (Third Sunday after the Epiphany)
Rev. Amy Welin:
St. John’s parish needs to get in touch with your spiritual side. Embrace Sunday as a celebration by disciples of Jesus Christ. We are church and not just a gathering of friends. (It is not possible to overstate the import of this foundational theological principle of our reason to exist). Do church like you mean it: sing, pray, respond. We need to transform our worship and our music so they are active and engaged and not passive. Worship in this community must be our passion, not merely habit. The God we worship is the God to whom we pray and sing, and the God of our worship is tired, kind of dull, and easy to tune out. Participation in worship gives apostles the energy to share the good news beyond the doors of the parish. Read More Read more • Leer más → “Give us grace, O Lord, to answer the call of our Savior Jesus Christ”
Sermónes

Habla, Señor, que tu siervo escucha

La Rev. Amy Welin (2 Epifanía): ¿Alguna vez se necesita un experto para ayudarle a resolver un problema? En San Juan, dependo en el personal y los guardianes, ya veces tenemos que llamar a los expertos. Especialización tiene sus méritos. Esta semana, el Grupo de reutilización se reunió con un representante de la Corporación de Apoyo a Iniciativas Locales (LISC), que ayuda a las organizaciones no lucrativas locales a construir comunidades donde la gente puede prosperar. La mujer que se reunió con nosotros tiene la experiencia como desarrollador, y tenía muchas ideas para compartir con nosotros. Estamos agradecidos por su experiencia y sus preguntas, y pensamos que nos beneficiaremos de explorar algunas de las opciones para el desarrollo de nuestra propiedad. Esperamos que nos conectará con otros expertos, que pueden ayudar a San Juan en asegurar un futuro aquí. Lea más Read more • Leer más → “Habla, Señor, que tu siervo escucha”
Sermons

Speak, LORD, for your Servant is Listening

Sermon for January 18, 2015 (Second Sunday after the Epiphany)
Rev. Amy Welin:
Have you ever needed an expert to help you resolve a problem? At St John’s, I lean on Cindy and Tony, and on Dave and Don, and sometimes we need to call the experts. Expertise has its merits. This week, the RePurposing Task Force met with a representative of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), which helps local non-profits build communities where people can thrive. The woman who met with us has experience as a developer, and she had many insights to share with us. We were grateful for her expertise and her questions, and we think that we will benefit from exploring some options for development of our property. We hope that she will connect us with other experts, who can assist St John’s in securing a future here. Read More Read more • Leer más → “Speak, LORD, for your Servant is Listening”
Sermons

You are my beloved; With you I am well pleased

Sermon for January 11, 2015 (First Sunday after the Epiphany)
Rev. Amy Welin:
What would it do in our lives if we knew - really knew, all the way down in our bones - that we are beloved by God? Beloved - cherished - as we are - with our weaknesses, faults, and any of the good bits we would like to boast about. Personally, I think it would be a foundationally healing and transformational awareness, even better than being born into a loving family, even better than winning awards, even better than hitting the lottery. Read More Read more • Leer más → “You are my beloved; With you I am well pleased”
Sermons

My Favorite Things

Sermon for December 28, 2014 (First Sunday After Christmas)
Rev. Amy Welin:
Imagine the following sermon sung to the tune of My Favorite Things, from the musical The Sound of Music.
 
Poinsettias decorate the sanctuary. Thinking the snow won’t start ‘til January. Gold bows and white candles and choirs that sing These are a few of my favorite things. Read More Read more • Leer más → “My Favorite Things”
Sermons

Are you ready to sing “Joy to the World”?

Sermon for December 25, 2014 (Christmas Day)
Rev. Amy Welin: Which nativity character are you? Are you ready to sing "Joy to the World"? My friend Catherine and I were discussing (on Facebook!) the generally cheerful chaos and occasional insanity of the Christmas season: the challenges of working and preparing for the holiday, the delights and stresses of family and children, adventures in baking, and so on. Catherine says that for her, the joy and sparkle and wonder of Christmas is what keeps her going. She often uses #Blessed on her facebook page. Are joy and sparkle and wonder a part of your Christmas? Would you be inclined to use #Blessed to identify your feelings about this season? Read More Read more • Leer más → “Are you ready to sing “Joy to the World”?”