Readings: Isaiah 8:23-9:3; 1 Corinthians 1: 10-13,17; Matthew 4: 12-23 Preacher: Susan Howard I’ve noticed recently that shining a light for others is not always a gentile act. It’s not always peaceful and loving like lighting a candle or shining a flashlight. Sometimes it’s like a principal standing in front of her school with a baseball bat yelling at ICE agents… read more →

Readings: Isaiah 49: 3, 5-6; 1 Corinthians 1: 1-3; John 1: 29-34 Preacher: Liz Webster Do you have small children in your life?  I have two; my granddaughter is 4 and my grandson is 1.  Almost every time we see each other, they both break into huge smiles… their faces just light up! Both Lynda and Clint become beacons of God’s… read more →

Readings: Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7; Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3:13-17 Preacher: Patricia Young In the Scriptures for today, the Baptism of our Lord, which brings to a close the Christmas season, we encounter a grown-up Jesus. And what an introduction it is! In the first of Isaiah’s Servant Songs, Jesus bursts onto the scene, as the chosen one, anointed with God’s Spirit, who will… read more →

Readings: Isaiah 60: 1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2: 1-12 Preacher: Irene Goodwin Today many protest for No Kings.  However, in the Hebrew Scriptures we read how the Israelites prayed for a king.  They received a long list of bad kings. They continued to pray for a king in the tradition of David; a king who would bring prosperity and freedom… read more →

Readings: Sirach 3: 2-6, 12-14; Colossians 3: 12-21; Matthew 2: 13-15, 19-23 Preacher: Liz Gillette-Clarke Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—a family made holy not by extraordinary circumstances, but by the unwavering faith and trust of two ordinary people. Mary and Joseph were asked to embrace what seemed impossible, and they did so… read more →

Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14, Romans 1:1-7, Matthew 1:18-24 Preacher: Cathy Glisson We talk of Advent as our season of waiting and reflection. From the perspective of Saint Joseph, it is all about listening, discerning, and taking action. Prior to moving to Rochester 30 years ago and joining St. Joseph’s Church in Penfield, I would have been hard pressed to offer an understanding… read more →

Readings: Isaiah 35:1-6a.,10; James 5:7-10; Mattthew 11:2-11 Preacher: Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler Rejoice! The desert and parched land will exult! . Vegetation will burst into bloom! Advent readings on this third Sunday of are so full of joy and hope, aren’t they? Because our God is coming to save us! In fact (Scripture tells us elsewhere ), our God is already in… read more →

Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15: 4-9; Matthew 3: 1-12 Preacher: Gloria Ulterino  What a beautiful new year!  It’s Advent, and once again we’re beginning another new liturgical year. On this Second Sunday we’re not only invited … but urged … to become more aware.  For what and for whom are we grateful?  Where and how can we see the goodness of… read more →

Readings: Isaiah 2: 1-5; Romans 13: 11-14; Matthew 24: 37-44 Preacher: Brigit Hurley This weekend we mark the beginning of the liturgical year and the first Sunday of Advent. When I read the Gospel to prepare this reflection, I was surprised. In my 60+ years of church-going, I never remember kicking off the season of Advent with stories of robberies and… read more →

Readings: 2 Samuel 5: 1-3; Colossians 1: 12-20; Luke 23: 35-43 Preacher: Margot Van Etten “King of the Jews” the sign over him said. Over the bleeding, battered, dying man who had done no wrong yet was crushed by Imperial might, colluding with religious elites who should have honored him and the mob who should have loved him. Bound and helpless… read more →