Sermons On-the-Sound

In this sermon, The Rev. Pati Mary Andrews reflects on Jesus' invitation, "Come to me," as a call to rest, renewal, and deeper trust. Drawing from Eugene Peterson's The Message, she reminds us that Christ speaks clearly to ordinary people and continues to meet us in the midst of weariness, grief, and uncertainty.
Rev. Andrews encourages us to listen for God's personal invitation in our own lives. Through prayer, gratitude, and the promises of our Baptismal Covenant, we are reminded that we never journey alone. God's grace strengthens us to rise again, to love our neighbors, and to become instruments of hope in a hurting world. Even when we feel burdened, Christ gently lifts us up and teaches us "the unforced rhythm of grace."

Christian hospitality is the practice of welcoming others with the same love, grace, and generosity that Christ extends to us.

In this sermon, The Rev. Michael Singer reflects on Jesus’ challenging words about discipleship, reminding us that following Christ has never been the easy path. Drawing on the examples of Peter, Andrew, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and countless other faithful witnesses, he explores what it means to stand with Christ even when it is costly.
 
Fr. Michael reminds us that discipleship is more than belief or words. It is a deliberate choice to live according to the values of God's kingdom, showing mercy, seeking justice, and loving others in ways that may challenge the expectations of the world around us.
 
At the heart of the sermon is a simple question: If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

In this sermon, The Rev. Michael Singer reflects on Jesus’ words about the plentiful harvest and the few laborers, inviting us to see the pain and brokenness around us not as something to avoid, but as a call to compassionate action.
Fr. Michael explores how Jesus consistently met suffering with mercy, healing, and hope. He suggests that prayer is only the beginning. When we pray for God to send laborers into the harvest, we may discover that God is calling us to become part of the answer to that prayer.
At the heart of the sermon is a challenge to align our lives with our prayers, offering our hands, feet, and hearts in service to a world longing for healing.

On the Second Sunday after Pentecost, The Rev. Sue Cushinotto reflects on what it means to live as disciples during the long season of Ordinary Time. Through the stories of Matthew, the hemorrhaging woman, and the raising of a young girl, Rev. Cushinotto reminds us that Jesus continually moves toward those pushed to the margins, meeting people with compassion, mercy, and healing.
She invites us to see discipleship not as perfection or certainty, but as faithfully responding to where God calls us in everyday life. We may never fully know how our kindness, presence, or compassion affects another person, but God works through those ordinary encounters in ways we cannot always see.
At the heart of the sermon is a simple but powerful reminder: God does not call the qualified. God qualifies the called.

On Trinity Sunday, The Rev. Michael Singer reflects on the Great Commission and challenges us to rethink what it means to be a missionary.
Rather than something reserved for a few extraordinary people far away, Fr. Michael reminds us that mission happens in the ordinary rhythms of everyday life. As we go to work, school, the grocery store, or care for loved ones, we are invited to carry God’s love into the world.
Reflecting on doubt, discipleship, baptism, and community, Fr. Michael describes faith not as certainty or perfect doctrine, but as learning to walk with Jesus in the messiness of life. At the heart of that mission is a simple calling: love God, love your neighbor, and let your baptismal identity “splash” onto everyone around you.

On Pentecost Sunday, The Rev. Michael Singer reflects on the Holy Spirit as both wind and breath, a presence that can unsettle us, transform us, and breathe new life into the world.
Drawing from the story of Pentecost in Acts, Fr. Michael explores how the Spirit moves not only through dramatic moments, but also through quiet prayer, music, relationships, compassion, and simple acts of kindness. While the Spirit may sometimes disrupt our comfort and stir us beyond complacency, it also grounds us deeply in God’s presence and reminds us that love will prevail.
Through vivid imagery, humor, and the playful act of blowing bubbles together, Fr. Michael invites us to rediscover wonder, openness, and the life-giving movement of the Spirit within and among us.

Last Sunday, on Senior Sunday, graduating senior Lane Tompkin offered a moving reflection on faith, uncertainty, compassion, and belonging.
Rev. Michael Singer asked that the parish share her sermon because of its honesty and grace. Lane’s words were a powerful reminder that faith is not about having all the answers, but about learning to trust God and love others well.

In this sermon, The Rev. Sue Cushinotto reflects on Jesus’ words, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments,” inviting us to understand discipleship not as guilt or obligation, but as a response to love.
Rev. Cushinotto explores the challenge of loving both God and neighbor, especially when love asks us to move beyond comfort, agreement, or ease. She reminds us that every person we encounter is loved by God, and that Christian life means allowing “the Christ in us to meet the Christ in them.”
Recognizing how difficult that calling can be, Jesus promises the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate who guides, strengthens, and sustains us. Through prayer, silence, and love lived out in everyday life, we are invited to follow Christ more deeply and faithfully into the world.

Sermons On-the-Sound: Greater Works of Love
In this sermon, The Rev. Michael Singer reflects on Jesus’ promise that his followers will do “greater works,” inviting us to rethink what that truly means.
Rather than focusing on miraculous displays of power, Fr. Michael points us to the deeper purpose of Jesus’ ministry—love. The miracles of Jesus were not about proving power, but about expressing compassion, care, and connection. And while we may not walk on water or raise the dead, we are called to something just as profound.
Through a powerful story of a simple act of kindness that transformed a grieving woman’s life, Fr. Michael reminds us that these everyday expressions of love are the “greater works” Jesus speaks of. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, each of us has the ability to carry Christ’s love into the world, one person at a time.
🎧 Listen now on Sermons On-the-Sound.