Ascension Written Sermons

The Rev. Robert P. Travis Pentecost 6A Sunday Sermon 8 and 10:30am Service, Church of the Ascension, Knoxville TN RCL 7/24/2011 Sunday Scripture Readings: 1 Kings 3:5-12, Psalm 119:129-136, Romans 8:26-39, Matthew 13:31-33,44-52 Sermon Text: How many parables do you think you heard in that gospel reading? Normally when we have a gospel reading dealing with Jesus teaching in parables, we get to consider one, or maybe two parables on a Sunday. This time we have 5, six if you count the comparison of the scribe to the master of a household. Each one could be a sermon in itself, but don't worry, I'm going to try to cover all of them, but it won't take me the length of 5 sermons to do it. First it's important to note that the developers of the Revised Common Lectionary had mercy on you, and split last week's parable and it's explanation out of this weeks lessons, so you only have 5-6 parables to deal with, rather than 6-7. So if you wer...

The Rev. Amy Morehous Church of the Ascension July 17, 2011 Proper 11, Year A Wisdom of Solomon 12:13-19 Psalm 86:11-17 Romans 8:12-25 Matthew 13:24-43 In each family there are stories that are told and retold, that weave themselves into the fabric of family life. I have spoken about my grandfather before as a person larger than life - a high school football coach and principal who never met a stranger. He was himself a terrific story-teller, and jokester, so a lot of our stories involve him. After his second heart-attack, he retired from Lenoir City High School. Then his pride and joy every year became his garden, which spanned about an acre. I grew up on fresh, homegrown corn, green beans, okra, tomatoes, watermelon, grapes, strawberries, peaches, apples.... You get the picture. Each summer, my sister and I would go stay for a week or two with my grandparents on their farm. My sister loved anything involving dirt, so she would go spend time in the garden with my grandfat...

The Fourth Sunday After Pentecost Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23 Hearing God “Let anyone with ears listen!” Though a cradle Episcopalian and raised as an active member of the Church my whole life, during one point some aspects of church began to deeply trouble me. I could not understand and was completely turned off by the social aspects of church life, the fellowship, and the importance of and participation in Christian community. Though I continued to attend church and be a member on the surface, this frustration eventually led to my rejection of the Christian religion as a whole and to a serious exploration of other world religions for a time. “Some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up.” I heard the word of the kingdom but did not understand, and what had been sown in my heart was snatched away. At another point in my life, a point accentuated by a strong sense of confidence in and excitement about Christianity, a point when I found ...

The Third Sunday after Pentecost, Year A The Rev. Dr. Howard J. Hess What Does It Mean to be Yoked Together with Jesus? July 3, 2011 I. Introduction . As you know, we have a number of weddings here at Church of the Ascension. Whichever one of the clergy is officiating at the wedding engages in premarital counseling with the prospective bride and groom. One of the most important things I share with them is our belief that in marriage, two persons both remain separate, yet become one. They become “yoked” together in the way that Jesus is describing our being yoked with him in this morning’s gospel. The married couple become one in body, mind, and spirit and promise to remain together in times of both adversity and of joy “as long as they both shall live.” The idea of becoming connected with another in marriage is more than just a contract in our church. It is a sacred promise to remain faithful to the other in all circumstances. Contrary to much current thinking, th...