Sacred Words and Art

Gatekeeping   A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday of Easter April 30, 2023 The Rev. Robin Teasley   Jesus said, “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.   So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and fin

Recognizing Christ   A Sermon for the Third Sunday of Easter April 23, 2023 The Rev. Robin Teasley   Now on that same day two of Jesus' disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?”    They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one

Believing   A Sermon for the Second Sunday of Easter April 16, 2023 The Rev. Robin Teasley   When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."   But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of

Egg Hunt   A Sermon for Easter Day April 9, 2023 The Rev. Robin Teasley     After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of hi

Power   A Sermon for Good Friday                  April 7, 2023 The Rev. Robin Teasley   John 18:1 – 19:42   The cross is about power. We may think we know what that means. Power is control. Power is status and prestige. Those with power win. Those with power make all the decisions. Those with power write the history. In the Passion narrative we just heard, it appears clear who has the power. It seems everyone has more power than Jesus. Judas, the chief priests and Pharisees, soldiers, Annas, Caiaphas, and Pilate, who actually claimed to have power to release and power to crucify Jesus. The crowd yelling “crucify him!” and even Barabbas, the prisoner released instead of Jesus, all had power.   There was also power in lanterns, torches, weapons, emperors, nations, kingdoms, and laws. All things mentioned or used by the people to attempt to control Jesus. Christ Before Pilate, Mihaly, Munkacsy  Good Friday is a day most of us would rather avoid, on so many levels. It’s easier to just ign