The Feast of All Saints and the Masks We Wear

Masks can conceal, masks can reveal, and masks can transform. Today we are celebrating the Feast of All Saints when we remember all the saints. When we think about the saints, we normally think about them as amazing super Christians, that they are extra righteous and good and perfect. And I promise you they are not. If you read their histories, not their hagiographies, you will discover they are folks just like you and me, with all their quirks and foibles, all of their errors and yes, sins. What makes the saints different, I think, is

Read Bingham’s entire reflection on All Saints by clicking “Read More.”

, ,

Rupture and Reconciliation: Walking the Way of Love

, ,

It is also a story of a clash of two different world views or mindsets, imaginations of how this world should operate. One mindset is the one of the brothers, who are afraid. It is a mindset of punishment, revenge, vengeance, an eye for an eye justice. They know they did wrong, they know they should be punished for it, and are afraid of what that punishment is going to look like. That is their view of how things are probably going to go.

The other mindset is the one that Joseph has, which is the imagination of forgiveness, of mercy, of grace, of reconciliation. I think the brothers’ mindset is probably where most of the world is. A lot of the time, most of us feel that same way, too.

Listen to or read Bingham’s entire sermon by clicking “Read More.”

, ,

The Intentional Practice of Love

, ,

Jesus is teaching us the Gospel message to love. I know it is not always easy. In fact, it is rather difficult sometimes. We think of love as being that feel good feeling, but love is so much more than that. Love is the very intentional practice of caring about another person, even when there doesn’t seem to be very much to care about. Love is that act of blessing and not cursing that Paul talked about last week. Love is not an easy thing. It is one of the most challenging things to do sometimes.

Listen to or read Bingham’s entire sermon by clicking “Read More.”

, ,

A House of Prayer for All People

, ,

We have quite an interesting story in today’s gospel. It’s certainly NOT the typical picture of Jesus we are used to. First, context is key. Jesus has been talking to the crowds and arguing with the religious elite about ideas of purity, about what makes someone clean and what makes them impure.

Listen to or read Ryan’s entire sermon by clicking “Read More.”

, , ,

The Feast of Saint Mary

, , ,

Over the past several weeks St. Mary’s has held Quinceañera services here in the church in celebration of girls’ 15th birthdays. A Quinceañera is a tradition with both Mexican and Spanish roots, celebrated throughout Latin America and elsewhere. It marks the passage from girlhood to womanhood, emphasizing the importance of family and community in her life, and her changing responsibilities to them.

Listen to or read Deacon Nancy Crawford’s entire sermon by clicking “read more.”

, ,

Pilgrimages, Mountaintop Moments, and the Feast of the Transfiguration

, ,

This past week I returned from England where I was helping lead our youth pilgrimage. We had a wonderful time. We visited London and Canterbury and York and other small towns nearby. It was a wonderful pilgrimage.

 

What is a pilgrimage? Scholars who study pilgrimages say the word is hard to define. There are definitions that cover different aspects, but every definition leaves something out. The scholars say pilgrimage is a rather slippery term. But for today’s purposes, let’s define pilgrimage as a physical journey one takes to a place with the goal, the intention of some sort of spiritual deepening, growth in faith, encounter with the divine, seeking God.

 

Listen to or read Bingham’s entire sermon by clicking “read more.”

   St. Mary's on Instagram     
follow us: @st.marys.eugene
Bingham likes to remind us that Easter is a 50 day season. If you see him during these 50 days he is likely to give you some Easter candy! How will you bring a smile to someone’s face today? Did you know that Easter lasts 50 days?
Alleluia! Christ is risen! Happy Easter, friends! Let us go out and love like Christ. Be a light in this world today.

Worship. Serve. Grow in Faith.