Voices whispering in your ear, just like in the Virgin Mary's ear.

Who are you listening to?

Preached at the Epiphany Eucharist on Sunday, December 18, 2011 (Advent IV).

In Isaiah 40, which poetically describes the coming of a King, we hear about:

1. Atrophy

2. Upheaval

3. The Arm of the Lord.

He is coming: get ready!

The Psalmist invites us, commands us: "Lift up your hands in the Holy Place."

But just were is this "Holy Place?" Where, in our disenchanted world can we find this place?

Preached on Sunday, Nov 20, 2011, Christ the King Sunday.

"Behold how good & pleasant it is when brothers & sisters dwell together in unity." - Ps 134.

This unity comes from above. It is a gift that we cannot manipulate or manufacture.

Why would the people of Israel sing a song about lowliness & contentment on their way to the feast?

Because sometimes we act like "unweaned babies." (See Ps. 131:2.)

Preached by Matt Boulter on 10-30-11.

Psalm 130 admits that in our journey to the temple, in our journey to Christ and into God, sometimes we stumble. Sometimes we fall. Sometimes we fall hard, and sometimes we fall into a pit.

Few pits are as traumatic and difficult to escape than the pit of shame.

Preached by Matt Boulter on 10-23-2011.

With Psalm 128 we continued our "journey" to the temple, looking at these ancient "travel songs," Psalms 120 - 134, which the people of God would chant on their pilgrimage to the temple during the three great feasts of Israel.

In this Psalm we encounter the language of "walking:"

"Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,

who walks in his ways!" (ESV)

In Psalm 127, we see a common biblical pattern.

Time and time again, in places like Genesis 11 (the story of the Tower of Babel) and 2 Samuel 7 (King David and the temple), we see people like you and I trying to build. Trying to build a house, even a house "for God."

And yet ... time and time again, God comes to us and turns the tables. "You would build me a house?" God says. "I am going to build you a house, and it is a house made of living stones, a house made of people, a house of relationship."

In this sermon, a break from our series on the Psalms of Ascent, The Rev. Brandon Peete speaks to us out of Matthew 20:1-16.

"I lift my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come?"

What's up with these hills? Perhaps they are the haven of bandits, waiting to pounce on us and attack us on our journey. Or perhaps they are the habititat of false gods in their "high places." Either way, when we realize (with the Psalmist) that our Creator is on our side, that our Creator is our Redeemer, we are liberated to minister to others.

Preached by Fr. Matt on September 11, 2011.

For the rest of ordinary time up to Advent, the Epiphany Community of Christ Church (Tyler) will join the ancient Hebrews in the journey to the Temple, singing and meditating upon the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134) as we approach the first Advent of the Christ, the true Temple of God (John 2:13-22).

As we see in Ps 120, this journey begins in distress and discontent. It begins with repentance, with the searing coals of the judgment of God.

Preached by Matt Boulter on September 4, 2011.

"I believe ... in the life everlasting."

Preached by Fr. Matt on Aug 21, 2011.

What does it mean to confess (with all of your doubts) "I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life?"

That is the question addressed by this sermon, given by Fr. Matt on Aug. 7, 2011.

Preached on July 31, this is Father David Luckenbach preaching on how the work of Jesus Christ saves us.

"who for us and for our salvation...." But ... saved from what?

Preached on Sunday, July 24, the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost.

"... and in Jesus Christ ... our Lord." How can we, how do we, make Jesus our lord?

Preached on July 17, 2011 (5th Sunday after Pentecost).

"We believe in God ... creator of heaven and earth." But what is creation, and why does it matter?

Every week in the Nicene Creed we confess not just that we believe in general, but rathat that we believe in the Father. What does it mean to call God "Father?"

What is Faith? What does it mean to confess (as we do every Sunday in the Nicene Creed), "I believe ...."?

Preached on the Day of Pentecost.

The Christian story is rooted in relationship. This sermon was preached on the Feast of the Ascension.

As we ramp up to transition to regular Sunday morning worship, this was our final Thursday night gathering. We continued in John's Gospel, looking at the first of John's "signs."

What's up with these 3 Christ-worshipping scorcers ("the Magi") from Matthew 2?

"The Gospel for the Nations." That's what. That's what "Epiphany" is all about.