Epiclesis

Someday, our King Jesus will return. Someday, the people of God will enter into that ultimate Sabbath-rest. One way or another, believers will be a part of that Great Cloud of Witnesses—the cloud that is gathered before the coming of the King, or that final cloud made up of all God’s faithful people with their new, resurrected bodies at the great messianic banquet. But what do we do in the meantime? What do we do as we wait for the King? Join Pastor Chris as he asks that question and poses another as well: Is it OK with you if the waiting is a lot longer, if the arrival of the new heavens and new earth is much, much farther in the distance that what you had imagined?   Note: The artwork associated with this sermon podcast is titled "The Holy Trinity with Saints in Heaven" by Scipione Compagno.

What's happening when the Church gathers around the Table of the Lord? And, where is the Church going when it gathers around the Table of the Lord? On this All Saints Sunday, Pastor Chris makes the theological case for saying that the closest place and time we are nearest our loved ones who have already gone to be with Jesus— the Saints in our lives— is when we gather for Eucharist. Along the way we talked about how participation at the Table is participation in Christ, and how at the Eucharist we enter the heavenly sanctuary and worship alongside all the saints in glory. The Table of the Lord is not merely and only remembering. Something much more significant and profound is happening. The artwork associated with this sermon podcast is a detail from Fra Angelico's "The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs" (c.1423) found on the painted base of the high altarpiece of the Church of San Domenico in Fiesole, Italy.

In Jesus, the Law and Prophets are fulfilled, completed, and brought to total expression. We see a glimpse of that at the Mountain of Transfiguration, but it happens definitively on the cross. Did you ever think of Jesus' crucifixion as His enthronement? Join Pastor Chris for a close look at one of Jesus' encounters with the religious leaders and what it says about who He is and what He's done. Jesus Christ is Lord! Note: The artwork associated with this sermon podcast is titled "The Pharisees and the Sadducees Come to Tempt Jesus" by James Tissot. Other artwork mentioned by Pastor Chris: “The Exaltation of the Cross” by Mark Lambert and “He Shall Crush Your Head” by Cliff Neilsen.

In this sermon from Rev. Robert Brown, we encounter Jesus's familiar saying, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." It's typical of Jesus to answer questions put to him-- especially insincere or hostile questions-- indirectly or as a question back to his questioners. Jesus, like any good Rabbi, leaves his hearers-- that is, us-- to prayerfully wrestle with the issues, rather than simply pocket some abstract life rule for later reference. Jesus is more concerned with our whole lives-- given over to God the Father, being formed by the Holy Spirit in worship, community, prayer, and spiritual disciplines. The whole universe belongs to God, and is under his sovereign rule. We are called to live coram Deo: before the face of the living God. We belong to God--"body and soul, in life and in death" as the Heidelberg Catechism puts it! The Christian life is a journey, a way, of day-by-day giving back what already belongs to God. Note: The image associated with this post is of a Roman denarius, very likely the coin that was at the center of Jesus' encounter with the religious leaders.

"Think about such things." Have you ever thought about those first few verses of Philippians 4 as a recipe for spiritual formation? There's a lovely pattern found there: we pray and practice, and God guards and gives. Join us for a look at not a self-improvement program, but rather a biblical way of inhabiting the true, the good, and the beautiful.

The ancient church believed, practiced, and taught that Christian Formation is something we receive as well as something we pursue. In preparation for a forthcoming retreat, Pastor Chris looked at readings from Philippians through the lens of Christian formation. Here's a thought for you: Paul talks about straining forward-- stretching out-- toward the goal to win the prize. The great Church Father Gregory of Nyssa said that “straining forward” IS the shape of the Christian life: It’s not the arrival; it is never ceasing to be drawn on. It’s the pursuit. Along the way we also heard Paul recite his resume, as it were, and compared his "superior pedigree" to the worth of knowing Christ. Join us!

Epiclesis has a fall retreat coming up. Our aim is to look closely at the “Great Tradition” and see how it serves as a foundational guide for shaping a believer’s mind, character, and faith. So, just what is the Great Tradition? Join Pastor Chris as he answers that question and looks at one of the great passages of Philippians through the lens of spiritual formation. He writes this, "We cannot master the story that God is writing. But we can choose to immerse ourselves in the mystery of a living process we cannot control. And that is where Christ-shaped people are formed." For more information about the fall retreat, or Dr. Jim Hart, check out this link on the Epiclesis website.

We’ve been talking the last few Sundays about psalms and looking at them through a lens developed by Walter Brueggemann. He says that all of human life with God moves through three seasons: Orientation, Disorientation, and New Orientation. Pastor Chris shared that his life had recently been through that three part cycle. He said, "In each of those places— especially if I turn around and look back at what happened and where I’ve been— I see God’s tender mercies." That phrase, "tender mercy," appears in several psalms including the one we looked at on this Sunday. Join us for the final in our short series in the psalms and hear several that punctuated our pastor's recent past-- and in which you may find encouragement as well. Note: The artwork associated with this sermon/podcast is titled "Tender Mercy" by Steve and Tonya Vistaune.

We just spent several weeks in the Gospel of Matthew. Now, we've pivoted into the lectionary psalm passages. Pastor Chris embarked on a four-week look at those psalms, but we're also looking at how and if those psalms might point to some of the wonderful signs and wonders of the stories we encountered in Matthew. In this third of the series, we look at Psalm 103 and at two or three of its delightful lines that seem speak to two of the characters we met along the way in Matthew's Gospel. Question: Is there a way that we can bless the Lord? You bet. Join us and find out! The main image associated with this sermon/podcast is titled "A Reason to Hope" by Becky Hefty. Other images that Pastor Chris referred to in the sermon are these: Duc in Altum Chapel at Magdala: "The Encounter" by Daniel Cariola. Closer detail.

God’s Law is precious and life-giving, so says Psalm 119, and the psalmist just cannot get enough of it.  One commentator has said, “[I]f he’s not gushing over the beauty and wonder of the Law, [the Psalmist is] asking God to make him even more excited about it— all while asking God for help in keeping [the Law].…” So, sometimes it’s hard to read Psalm 119 and not get a little humbled and feel inadequate. What do we do with that feeling if we have it? Pastor Chris suggests that a look at the life of Christ and His parables give us some answers. Join us for a look at a portion of Psalm 119 and a reflection on Jesus' Parable of the Seed and Sower. Note: The image associated with this sermon podcast is a photo of the Catacomb of Priscilla and the "orans" prayer posture/position. Along the way, Pastor Chris also showed the congregation these images: Hebrew alphabet The letter He "God" poem/acrostic Progression of the evolution of the letter He