Sermons

"Justice or Love. What do you want?"

Proper20.A.2023
Matthew 20:1-16
The Rev. Melanie L. McCarley

In the classic “Charlie Brown Christmas Special” Charlie Brown’s sister Sally is writing a letter to Santa Claus and in the process generates an enormous list of toys she wants. At the conclusion of her North Pole-bound missive she writes, “But if that is too much to carry, just send cash.” When Charlie Brown sees this and despairs over his sister’s greed, Sally indignantly responds, “All I want is my fair share. All I want is what I have coming to me.”

"Forgiving"

Proper 19.A.23
Matthew 18:21-35
The Rev. Melanie McCarley

A Nun, Sister Elaine, liked to tell a story about a bishop who made fun of an old woman because she claimed that when she prayed to God, God spoke back. Now the bishop had devoted his whole life to the study of God, and he was certain that if God spoke to anyone, it would not be to one such as she. And, as the bishop himself had never heard God speak, he was dismissive of her claims.

"Love in Action"

Proper 18.A.23
Romans 13:8-14
The Rev. Melanie McCarley

Imagine what might cause a person to head out on a rainy spring night, when temperatures hover in the mid-forties, to walk along the quiet roads of rural New Hampshire? Insomnia, maybe? A troubled mind? An opportunity for a quiet, albeit chilly and damp self-reflection? These all make sense. However, the truth is far more dramatic…a life saving mission! But one without sirens or flashing lights…just a flashlight.

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