Sermon

July 15, 2017 Matthew 13

Reverend Melissa Hall, St. James Episcopal Church

Parable of the Sower

Annually, in the United States we spend our money in interesting ways that says a lot about who we are as a people.  So, let me begin this morning with some significant financial factoids.

·         We spend $16 billion dollars on Chocolate

·         Coffee: $11 billion

·         We Eat Girl Scout Cookies: to the tune of $800 million

·          we spend 500 million dollars on Twinkies

·         We buy $500 million worth of Golf balls

Sunday June 11, 2017

St. James Episcopal – Sermon preached by Kaitlin Griffin, High School Graduate Class of 2017.

Good Morning.  My name is Kaitlin Griffin.  I am known as the youngest member of the Griffin family or America’s sweetheart to a small few.

As my graduation date approaches so does the end of my adolescence.  So, I would like to acknowledge the last days of my childhood by preaching about…me.  And of course, the great presence this church has on my life.  But first me…

Scouts came forward to say their respective oath/promise

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, Yr. A

Scout Sunday

Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon Notes

Scout Introduction

For half a dozen years I had the privilege of serving first as a Brownie Leader and then as a Girl Scout Leader for our middle daughter’s troop, GS troop 451. I, myself was not a scout as a youth, but my girls were, each in turn.

Veterans Day Sermon   by Mark Di Ionno 
Veterans Day, like Memorial Day, is a day of solemn remembrance and reflection. We gather, lay wreaths and pay homage to the men and women who fought our wars, preserved our way of life, served our nation in all corners of the world over a 241-period, from Bunker Hill in 1775 to the faraway Kurdish provinces of Northern Iraq, where U.S. Marines are battling ISIS to recapture the city of Mosul. 

September 3, 2016: Jeremiah 18:1-11, Philemon 1-21, Luke 14:25-33

Reverend Melissa Hall, St. James’ Episcopal Church

Tower of Power

            Good morning friends. Today we are going to start with a party game called truth or dare. And since I am up here, which puts me in charge, I will pick which we will do. So on to truth!

            We will start gently with the truth.  How many of you like receiving gifts?

Okay, now how many of you have re-gifted a gift? Raise your hand.

September 25, 2016: Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 1 Timothy 6:6-19, Luke 16:19-31

Reverend Melissa Hall, St. James’ Episcopal Church

There Are No Do Overs

This past Friday some middle schoolers were playing a game on our lawn, when conflict struck and I heard these words, “No fair… Do Over!”

 It must have worked because there was no ensuing argument or name calling. The Do Over was invoked and apparently accepted.

 Remember Do Overs? Wouldn’t that make life so simple?

YOU hurt my Feelings – Do Over

August 21, 2016: Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17

Reverend Melissa Hall, St. James’ Episcopal Church

Where is God?

August 14th 2016, Luke 12:49-56

Reverend Melissa Hall, St James’ Episcopal Church

A House Divided

It has been said that a house divided cannot stand. Abraham Lincoln wrote that as he prophesied on the devastating outcome of a civil war in this country over the issue of slavery.  Lincoln knew that a house divided turns in on itself and destroys the essence of its very being. 

             Abraham Lincoln was the quintessential statesmen, a loving Christian and an astute and ethical politician.  I miss that type of politician.