Rev. Doug Floyd Pentecost +22 2025Rev. Doug FloydJob 29:23-27a, 2 Thessalonians 2:13–3:5, Luke 20:27-38 Jesus says, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. (Revelation 1:17-19) Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though…

Rev. Doug Floyd All Saints Day 2025Rev. Doug Floyd In the early fifth century, St. John Chrsysotom delivers a sermon on the holy martyrs. He says, What can I say, and of what should I speak?I skip and am driven out of my mind at this great chastity.I fly and dance and am in the clouds and am as drunk by this…

Rev. Doug Floyd Pentecost+20 2025Rev. Doug Floyd2 Timothy 4:6-18 It’s almost time for Paul to depart. He sits in prison now, but he anticipates his coming execution. As we close the letter of 2 Timothy, our focus shifts from Timothy to Paul’s life poured out as a drink offering. Paul focuses his hope upon promise in Christ. At the same time, he…

Rev. Dr. Les Martin Pentecost+19 2025Rev. Dr. Les Martin2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed…be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. – II Timothy  3:14a and  4:5b In the Name of the Living God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. There is a sense in which the…

Rev. Doug Floyd Pentecost+18 2025Rev. Doug Floyd2 Timothy 2:1-15 In the early 1970s, Richard Wurmbrand came to speak at our church in New Jersey. As many of you know, he spent 15 years in a Romanian prison, persecuted as a minister of the Gospel by the communist regime. I was six or seven years old. He told stories of the torture he…

Rev. Doug Floyd Pentecost+16 – The Mystery of GodlinessRev. Doug Floyd1 Timothy 6:2b-19 The other night I dreamed Kelly and I were driving on the interstate through Asheville, and there was a great storm like we saw last year. Water was rushing over the highway and washing down in a river on the side of the road. We saw a flock of…

Rev. Dr. Les Martin The Feast of St. Matthew 2025Rev. Dr. Les MartinMatthew 9:9-13 I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. -Matthew  9:13 (ESV) In the Name of the Living God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Today, we celebrate the Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. His name in Hebrew means “gift of Yahweh.” He was a tax…

Rev. Doug Floyd Exaltation of the Cross 2025Rev. Doug FloydIsaiah 45:21-25, Psalm 98, Philippians 2:5–11, John 12:31-36a Today we celebrate Holy Cross Day or the Exaltation of the Cross. Historically, this feast commemorated the story of Constantine’s mother, St. Helena, when she discovered the cross where Jesus was crucified. According to the legend, a temple to Venus has been eracted over the…

Rev. Dr. Les Martin Pentecost+13 2025Rev. Dr. Les MartinDeuteronomy 30:15–20, Psalm 1, Philemon, Luke 14:25-33 O Lord God, grant your people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow you – From the Collect of the Day In the Name of the Living God: the Father, the Son, and…