Sermon preached by the Rev. Michael Anderson Bullock [Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12] With this Second Sunday of Advent, we move quickly and directly into the heart of this complex season. Enter center stage: John the Baptist. In my own Advent explorations and experiences, I have found John the Baptist to be the face of Advent; and in this second week of Advent, we meet him today in our Gospel lesson. Matthew wastes no time with fancy introductions, no acc

Sermon preached by the Rev. Michael Anderson Bullock [Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44] “Be Prepared.” I never was a Boy Scout, and truth to tell my Cub Scout career ended pretty much after I learned how to tie a necktie, which was a required skill in pursuit of earning an accomplishment badge of some sort. Nonetheless, the Boy Scout motto, “Be Prepared” is a good reminder of how one might face life with all its “changes and chances” (as the Prayer Book puts

Sermon preached by the Rev. Michael Anderson Bullock [Jeremiah 23:1-6; Colossians 1;11-20; Luke 23:33-43] On this last Sunday of the liturgical year, worshipping Christians the world over mark this day as “Christ the King”. In point of fact, this day’s celebration comes on the 100th anniversary of Pope Pius XI’s encyclical, through which this feast day was created. Intended to crown the jubilee year of 1925, the purpose of this new feast was to honor the kingship – that

Sermon preached by the Rev. Michael Anderson Bullock [Malachi 4:1-2a; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13; Luke 21:5-19] To say that we live in uncertain times smacks of sarcasm run amuck. The state of our nation and the events in the world – both politically and naturally made – have created such a charged atmosphere that any spark that is the result of ordinary life has the capacity to create an inordinately disproportionate explosion. We are all so emotionally raw and exhausted that

Sermon preached by the Rev. Michael Anderson Bullock [Job 19:23-27a; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17; Luke 20:27-38] In my first parish experience as a priest, I remember the priest I worked for telling me about an interesting pastoral experience he had. That experience came to mind as I thought about the question portrayed in today’s gospel: the one the Sadducees asked Jesus about the woman who had married (in succession) seven brothers, all of whom died. The issue presented

Sermon preached by the Rev. Michael Anderson Bullock [Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18; Ephesians 1:11-23; Luke 6:20-31] We are gathered on a day that overflows with life – God’s life. We have a lot going in church today; and I not only want to give this day’s many wonderful elements their due, but I also want to identify the thread that (like a necklace) strings and holds this day’s precious pearls together. Among this day’s many pearls, the largest is the celebration of All Saints Da

Sermon preached by the Rev. Michael Anderson Bullock [Sirach 35:12-17; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-14] A priest, a pastor, and a rabbi walk into a bar. Soon after settling into a corner table and ordering their libations, they begin arguing over who was the best at what they do. In order to come to a measurable judgment about such a thing, they lighted upon the notion that they all would go out alone into the woods and convert a bear to their respective religious tra

Sermon preached by the Rev. Michael Anderson Bullock [Genesis 32:22-31; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5; Luke 18:1-8] Experts who study the human brain tell us that the earliest autobiographical memories begin at the age of two or three years. “Infantile amnesia” (as it is called) describes the fact that we cannot remember much about our earliest experiences. This is so because the hippocampus (that part of the human brain that processes experience into memory) is undeveloped. These ea

Sermon preached by the Rev. Michael Anderson Bullock [2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c; 2 Timothy 2P8-15; Luke 17:11-19] This is a sermon about transitions. It is now thirty-five years ago that I had a special teacher. He was a rabbi who had the amazing ability to take significant ideas and observations and put them together into a larger and deeper insight than had been visible before. A perfect example was in his teaching about times of transition. His piercing insight into tran

Sermon preached by the Rev. Michael Anderson Bullock [Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4; 2 Timothy 1:1-14; Luke17:5-10] This past Tuesday, there was...

Sermon preached by the Rev. Michael Anderson Bullock [Amos 6:1a, 4-7; 1 Timothy 6:6-19; Luke 16:19-31] One of the most challenging and...

Sermon preached by the Rev. Michael Anderson Bullock [Amos 8:4-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-7; Luke 16:1-13] Life is messy; isn’t it? I suppose that...

Sermon preached by the Rev. Michael Anderson Bullock [Exodus 32:7-154; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-10] Question: “Which one of you,...

Sermon preached by the Rev. Michael Anderson Bullock [Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Philemon 1-21; Luke 14:25-33] One of the lessons that I hope...

Sermon preached by the Rev. Michael Anderson Bullock [Isaah 58:9b-14; Hebrews 12:18-29; Luke 13:10-17] She moved slowly, and with visible...

Sermon preached by the Rev. Michael Anderson Bullock [Jeremiah23:23-29; Hebrews 11:2912:2; Luke 12:49-56] Here we are: In the middle of a...

Sermon preached Robert Shaw [Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 12:13-21] Today’s lessons both offer warnings against materialism. Paul urges his...

Sermon preached by the Rev. Michael Anderson Bullock [Genesis 18::20-32; Colossians 2:6-19; Luke 11:1-13] In light of the strong, common...

Sermon preached by the Rev. Michael Anderson Bullock [Genesis 18:1-10a; Colossians 1:15-28; Luke 10:38-42] This sermon is about...

Sermon preached by the Rev. Michael Anderson Bullock [Deuteronomy 30:9-14; Colossians 1:1-14; Luke 10:25-37] “Living the questions”. As...