Sermon Advent 3—Year C December 13, 2015 William Bradbury Zephaniah 3:14-20, Canticle 9, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18 Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician of the first order, creating one of the first mechanical calculators. He was also a physicist, and religious philosopher. He died of stomach cancer in 1662 at...

Sermon Advent 2 December 6, 2015 William Bradbury Baruch 5:1-9, Canticle 16, Philippians 1:3-11, Luke 3:1-6 Since the Church is called to proclaim resurrection I want to see today if we can resurrect a word that has become dead to most of us. Not dead in the sense that no one uses it,...

Sermon Last Pentecost—B November 22, 2015 William Bradbury 2 Samuel 23:1-7, Psalm 132:1-13, (14-19), Revelation 1:4b-8, John 18:33-37 Pilate asks Jesus: “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answers, “My kingdom is not from this world.”So what does this encounter that took place 2000 years ago have to tell us about...

Sermon 25 Pentecost—Proper 28-B November 15, 2015 William Bradbury 1 Samuel 1:4-20, 1 Samuel 2:1-10, Hebrews 10:11-25, Mark 13:1-8 Jesus says, “Beware that no one leads you astray.” Friday night our opening liturgy for diocesan convention took place in our newly renovated cathedral in Boston on Tremont Street across from...

Sermon 24 Pentecost—Proper 27-B November 8, 2015 William Bradbury Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17, Psalm 127, Hebrews 9:24-28, Mark 12:38-44 Anchors can be helpful: one summer afternoon some friends and I are fishing well off the North Carolina coast when both 200HP motors conk out. We throw an anchor and wait for...

Sermon All Saints’ Day November 1, 2015 William Bradbury Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9, Psalm 24, Revelation 21:1-6a, John 11:32-44    Lord Jesus, may only the gospel be preached and only the gospel be heard. Mary and Martha stand outside their brother’s tomb and weep. When Jesus gets there he also bursts into tears....

Sermon 22Pentecost-Proper 25-B October 25, 2015 William Bradbury Job 42:1-6, 10-17, Psalm 34:1-8, (19-22), Hebrews 7:23-28, Mark 10:46-52 I ask you: in the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears who is the central character? Is it Baby Bear who is concerned with his porridge, his chair, his bed? No,...

Sermon 21Pentecost-Proper 24-B October 18, 2015 William Bradbury Job 38:1-7, (34-41) / Psalm 104:1-9, 25, 37b/ Hebrews 5:1-10/ Mark 10:35-45 Many of you have told me that Tuesday night’s Celebration of New Ministry with our bishop was wonderful. I heartily agree and I am deeply grateful to the many of you who...

Sermon 20 Pentecost—Proper 23-B October 11, 2015 William Bradbury Job 23:1-9, 16-17,   Psalm 22:1-15,  Hebrews 4:12-16,  Mark 10:17-31 He keeps the commandments since childhood. He doesn’t murder, steal, commit adultery, defraud anyone, or dishonor his parents. And now he comes to Jesus, not slowly, with dignity and composure, but running, in...

This past year I’ve had occasion to mention that there is a profound difference between a contract God and a covenant God. The contract God, which many were raised with, is the God who forgives us only after we repent and who loves us only after we’ve cleaned up our...