Words from Ian J. Burgess
First Sunday in Advent Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 24:29-44 This year of 2019 is drawing to a close.This is the year that China landed on the far side of the moon;Francis became the first Pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula;A breakthrough in stem cell treatment appeared to cure a man of HIV;Algeria… Continue reading A Vain Hope?
Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost Jeremiah 14:1-10, 19-22, Psalm 84, 2 Timothy 4:6-18, Luke 18:9-14 This week, the husband of Kim Kardashian, the rapper Kanye West released an album titled JESUS IS KING, which I think is a sentence no one ever thought would be said out loud. It is very good, I would thoroughly commend… Continue reading Sorry Is Enough
St Michael's Day Genesis 28:10-17, Psalm 103, Revelation 12:7-12, John 1:47-51 Today is September 29th, the Feast of Holy Michael and and All Angels, traditionally called Michaelmas. Our Prayer book gives us a number of feasts which we are asked to celebrate each year, which have to do with the events leading up to Christ's… Continue reading Holy Michael and All Angels
Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost Proverbs 16:18-20, Psalm 112, Hebrews 13:1-8, Luke 14:1, 7-14 In the fall of 2013, Clarence died. I had met him in 2011 on a bench in front of the office the church I was serving. He was an alcoholic, and was often laid out on the bench somewhere between awake and… Continue reading Making God Known in Our Mundane Lives
Ninth Sunday After Pentecost Genesis 15:1-6, Psalm 33, Hebrews 11:1-16, Luke 12:32-40 I do not often throw my cell phone in a burst of frustration. I suppose this is one of the ways owning a smartphone might actually be sanctifying, because unless there is a large and welcoming couch nearby few few of us would… Continue reading Incurably Foreign
Second Sunday After Pentecost Zechariah 12:8-13:1, Psalm 63, Galatians 3:23-29, Luke 9:18-24 When we hear someone say "God bless America", do we know what they mean? Do they mean "may God's blessing be upon my neighbors"? Or do they mean "May God keep out anyone without proper paperwork"? Perhaps they mean to say "May God… Continue reading Pick it up and Follow
Third Sunday of Easter Acts 9:1-6, (7-20), Psalm 30, Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19 One of the ways we can understand our order of worship each Sunday is to split it into two halves: The Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, or Lord's Supper, or Mass, or Holy Communion. Now, that liturgy… Continue reading He Forgives Traitors
Fourth Sunday in Lent Joshua 4:19-5:12, Psalm 34, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Luke 15:11-32 A young person grows up in the church, the family of faith. They were a devourer of hymnals and Sunday school curriculum. They always carried themselves well and made their parents glow with pride. The Pastor loved watching this young person mature,… Continue reading The Foolish Father Or The Lost Son Or The Angry Brother
Last Sunday of Epiphany Exodus 34:29-35, Psalm 99, 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13, Luke 9:28-36 I've lived in America long enough now that I understand that most people have their favorite president. For some its John F Kennedy, who in his brief time helped make Roman Catholicism a mainstream identity in America; maneuvered through the tension of… Continue reading Why Jesus Showed His Glory
Third Sunday After Epiphany Nehemiah 8:1-12, Psalm 113, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Luke 4:14-21 It is very easy to accept that God is speaking to us, when we hear something which soothes our troubled minds or spirits. When I have hurt someone, I love the comfort that "love keeps no record of wrongs" brings. When I… Continue reading God Speaks in Grace Always
Finally Human 