Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17 I hope you’ve had a chance to look at the note in your bulletin about the steps we are taking in reaction to concerns about the Coronavirus. While I am not aware of any indications that the virus has come to Berkshire County, we are pretty […]

Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Roman 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11 Good morning. We began our service today with the Great Litany, the history of which you can read on the front page of the insert. It is a prayer with quite a pedigree. And it has become a tradition in the Episcopal Church to pray it […]

https://soundcloud.com/user-812903695/epiphany-lasta-200223-smith Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 2; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9 Here we are about to take the plunge into Lent. As happens every year, the gospel readings for the last Sunday after the Epiphany tells the story of the Transfiguration, this journey that Jesus takes up the mountain with a few disciples. This idea of […]

Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 119:1-8; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Matthew 5:21-37 Good morning, and a belated Happy Valentine’s Day to you all. Recently I was on Facebook and read a friend’s post that really encapsulates how I feel about February 14th: Some people are kind of cynical about Valentine’s Day. I am not one of them. When […]

Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 84; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40 Happy Groundhog Day! We have had a very mild winter, but I still find myself longing for Spring. I certainly hope the groundhog didn’t see his shadow this morning, because I’d be happy for it to get warm as soon as possible! This is also the Feast […]

Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-12; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42 Last week we heard Matthew’s version of the baptism of Jesus; this week we hear John’s take on Jesus’ baptism, as well as his story of the calling of Andrew and Peter. What sets John’s Gospel apart from Matthew, Mark and Luke (known as the synoptic […]

Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72: 1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.” As one prepares a sermon, you are taught to read the scripture appointed for the day and note what gets your attention. This year, […]

Isaiah 9:2-7; Luke 2:1-14 Welcome to St. Paul’s on this most holy night, as we recall one of the central stories of our faith, mixed together with the stories of our own lives, and contemplate what those stories might mean for us as we approach a new year. As I think about Christmas, stories come […]

Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25 Did you dream last night? Last week, with Jane’s excellent sermon on The Magnificat, we got Mary’s side of the journey to the birth of Christ the lens of the gospel of Luke. In Luke’s version of things, the angel Gabriel appears first to Zechariah, the […]

Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12 Here we are in the second week of Advent, and just as happens every year, John the Baptist comes on the scene. John and his prophetic words are this week’s theme: From last week’s words from Jesus himself about his second coming we move backwards chronologically […]