2019 Book of Sermons from the preaching excellence program CONFERENCE CALENDAR 2020 January 7-10: J-Term Homiletics Program, Candler School of Theology Atlanta, GA January 21-24: Rooted in Jesus, Preaching Track Programs, Atlanta, GA February 19-22: Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes (CEEP), Louisville, KY May 25-29: PEP 2020, Roslyn Retreat Center, Richmond, VA June 2-5: PEP-II 2020, The Claggett Center, Adamstown, MD The 2019 Sermon Book Sermons and Addresses from the 2019 Preaching Excellence Program O God, when you spoke your word, all things came to be; when your Word was made flesh, the Gospel of grace gave hope to a fallen world. We pray that your Word may be spoken with power and grace today. Guide and prosper the work of the Episcopal Preaching Foundation that succeeding generations of preachers may be trained to hear your voice and to speak in your name with clarity and conviction to congregations hungry for your truth. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen. Edited by The Rev. Dr. Stephen Smith The Rev. Canon Charles A. Cesaretti Fred Rossi Peter D. Wild Volume XXVIII Copyright © 2019 by the Episcopal Preaching Foundation, Inc. All Rights Reserved – 1 – TABLE OF CONTENTS Major Supporters . 4 Introduction: A . Gary Shilling, Ph .D . 5 Reflections on The Sermon in Today’s World . 6 Why Preaching Matters . .. The Most Rev. Michael Curry Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church The Sermon in the 21st Century . 8 Rev. Dr. Stephen Smith Dean of EPF Faculty, and Rector, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Dublin, OH When Does Breaking News Compel a Preacher to Rewrite Sunday’s Sermon? . .. 10 Rev. Nathan Kirkpatrick Managing Director, Leadership Education at Duke University Sermons From The 2019 PEP and PEP-II Faculty . 12 Are You Listening? .. 13 The Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori Former Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church A Holy Conversation . 16 Rev. Thelma (Nikki) Mathis Rector, St. Gregory The Great Episcopal Church, Athens, GA Bring Forth Those Who Will Be Dedicated to You . 18 Rev. Dr. Stephen Smith Dean of EPF Faculty, and Rector, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Dublin, OH In Wonder, Love and Praise .. 20 The Rev. Sr. Miriam Elizabeth (Faith) Bledsoe, OSH Rejoice That Your Names Are Written in Heaven . 22 Rev. Kate Spelman Rector, All Saints Episcopal Church, Western Springs, IL Selected Sermons From PEP and PEP-II Participants . The Second Coming is Here and Now . 26 Paul Bennett, Virginia Theological Seminary A Widow? A Priest? A Neighbor? . .. 29 Rachel Douglas, Princeton Theological Seminary The Work of the Prophet is the Work of Love .. 32 Melissa Howell, School of Theology, University of the South, Sewanee Do You Know That You Are God’s Temple? . 35 T.J. Humphrey, Nashotah House Love Your Enemies . 38 Regina Hurley, Diocese of The Rio Grande; The Iona Collaborative To You That Listen . .. 41 – 2 – Zachary Jones, Candler School of Theology at Emory University Jesus is The Truth .. 44 Jonathan Pucik, Virginia Theological Seminary The Prodigal Son . 47 Melody Purdue, Bexley Seabury A Charter for Christian Liberty . 50 Patricia Rose, Church Divinity School of the Pacific Our Turn to Embody the Light and Life of Christ in the World .. 55 Michele Simmons, School of Theology, University of the South, Sewanee Where is God Disguised in Your Life? . 58 Samuel T. Vaught, Berkeley at Yale Divinity School The Lost Has Been Found, Let Us Rejoice! . 61 Maryann D. Younger, General Theological Seminary See The World Through New Eyes . 67 Luke Zerra, Princeton Theological Seminary Blessing… And Belonging . 69 Rev. Ricardo Lopez Vicar, San Miguel Arcangel Episcopal Church, Odessa, TX How Can I Keep From Singing? . 71 Rev. Cameron O’Reilly Assistant Rector, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Dublin, OH Jesus Is… Nurturing . 75 Rev. Ann Kathryne Urinoski Priest Associate, Christ Church, Christiana Hundred, Wilmington, DE What Makes A Great Sermon? Three Perspectives The View From the Pulpit . 78 The Very Rev. Randolph (Randy) Marshall Hollerith, Dean of Washington National Cathedral The View From the Seminary . 81 The Very Rev. Kurt H. Dunkle, Dean and President, General Theological Seminary The View From the Pew . .. 85 A. Gary Shilling, Ph.D., Founder and Chairman of the Episcopal Preaching Foundation Seminaries and Formation Programs Represented at PEP 2019 . 90 PEP Faculty 2019 . 96 – 3 – THANK YOU TO OUR MAJOR SUPPORTERS With deep appreciation and thanks, we acknowledge the following major donors – individuals and foundations – who contributed $5,000 or more to the ministry and mission of the Episcopal Preaching Foundation during our fiscal year 2018/2019 . The Anderson Family Foundation Patricia Shield Ayres David and Kitty Beecken The Rev. Canon Charles A. Cesaretti The Duffy Foundation John and Gillett Gilbert Debra and David Humphreys The Peter R. & Cynthia K. Kellogg Foundation The F.M. Kirby Foundation Bryan Hunt Lawrence John C. Markey Charitable Fund A . Gary Shilling, Ph .D . The Shilling Family Foundation – 4 – INTRODUCTION Dr. A. Gary Shilling, Chairman and Founder The Episcopal Preaching Foundation Good preaching has never been more important! This was confirmed most recently by two studies from the Pew Foundation (2016) and The Gallup Organization (2017), which documented that for the American public, preaching is the most important factor in deciding on a place of worship, and making the decision to attend church. This is why the EPF has focused single- mindedly on helping to develop strong preachers since our inception 32 years ago . Center-stage in this endeavor is the EPF’s annual 5-day Preaching Excellence Program, held in 2019 at the Roslyn Retreat Center in Richmond, Va. The Conference was attended by a capacity audience of 56 seminarians representing 17 seminaries and diocesan formation programs across the US and Canada. This year’s distinguished Faculty included The Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Past Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church; The Rt. Rev. J. Neil Alexander, Dean of The School of Theology, University of the South, Sewanee; Jonathan Merritt, Author ofLearning to Speak God From Scratch; The Rev. Gary Jones, Rector of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Richmond, VA; The Rev. Dr. Carolyn J. Sharp, Professor of Homiletics at Yale Divinity School; and The Rt. Rev. William H. “Chip” Stokes, Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey. Among the student body were postulants from local diocesan formation programs, a growing track for new ordinands, particularly in non-urban areas where the economics of a parish calling are incompatible with the financial burden of a seminary education. PEP week’s format interweaving inspiring keynotes, plenary addresses and sermons with practical workshops and moderated preaching groups, continues to be an effective format that generates strongly positive feedback from PEP participants in our follow-up surveys. As you read these sermons and addresses, I hope you agree that the Foundation is making significant strides in inspiring the next generation of parish clergy to develop their preaching skills and ultimately to excel as preachers for the benefit of all of us. We want to thank all of the donors who make our work possible, especially the major contributors listed on page 90 of this book. – 5 – REFLECTIONS ON THE SERMON IN TODAY’S WORLD PREACHING MATTERS! The Most Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church This introduction by Bishop Curry appeared in the Anglican Theological Review, Winter 2019 and is reprinted with permission of the publisher. In the late 1970s, I attended a conference on preaching. One of the speakers, a great and well-respected preacher of the time, spoke of preaching a revival recently in South Africa . This was not long after the death of Stephen Biko. Nelson Mandela was still languishing in a prison cell on Robben Island, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu had not yet been recognized by the world with a Nobel Peace Prize. And any hope for a land made beautiful by a rainbow of the children of God living in peace and justice in the way of love seemed far removed from the reality of race wars. In this context the preacher has been invited to preach, but with strict limitations imposed by the apartheid government. He was warned that he would be carefully watched. He was not to comment on the sociopolitical of South Africa. He was only to “preach from the Bible” – that’s all, just preach from the Bible. And so, that is what he did. He only preached from the Bible… and told the story of Moses and the Hebrew children, slaves in Egypt, but set free by the mighty and outstretched hand of the Lord God Almighty . Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver to them.” (Exod. 3:7-8) He only preached from the Bible and told of how the Lord Jesus Christ identified his work on earth with the prophecy of Isaiah that says, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he had anointed me To bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To let the oppressed go free, To proclaim the year of the Lord’s Favor. (Luke 4:18-19, from Isa 61:1-2) He only preached from the Bible, citing passage like this: Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in – 6 – my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31-32) And… I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.