19 Pentecost: Pray always and do not lose heart...

19 Pentecost/Year C/Track 2 scriptures – October 19, 2025

Scriptures: Genesis 32:22-31; Psalm 121; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5; Luke 18:1-8

Rev Julie Platson

Opening Prayer: (Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion)

Eternal God, you remain constant with our ceaseless prayers. We seek your wisdom, yearn for your justice, and crave your blessing, for our own sake and for the sake of the world. By the power of the Holy Spirit and in the name of Christ, who prays with us. Amen.

Pray always…and do not lose heart…Those words were summed up in Jesus’ message in today’s parable shared with the disciples in ages past…and with us today as disciples of the present age who are seeking and striving to keep the faith, and not lose heart, in the midst of so much chaos, uncertainty, and heaviness of heart, and mind, and spirit that is prevalent all around us…

Jesus knows us all too well…our human desires and limitations frustrate us at times, when we can’t control what’s going on, when we can’t fix something, when we can’t hurry anything up to get to the end result that we want…especially when it comes to our desire to want to follow the way of love Christ has shown us, and as we strive to live out our baptismal promises to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves, and as we strive for justice and peace among all people, and choose to respect the dignity of every human being…

Jesus encourages us, reminds us: To pray always…and do not lose heart…Not as a means to escape the heartache and heaviness of what’s going on in our personal lives, or in our local communities, or in world-wide community neighbors…

But to pray always, and not lose heart…as a way to turn our hearts and our faces towards one another, to unite us to God and one another, in prayer, in building relationships with one another, encouraging one another, listening to one another, striving to understand one another, knowing that God is eternally present; believing Jesus is at the center of our hearts as the thread that binds us together, and holds us lovingly in the palm of God’s hands, hearing all of our cries for mercy and justice and peace…

And as we strive to pray always, and strive to not lose heart… it is the Holy Spirit that will nudge us, guide us, comfort us, remind us, that no matter what’s going on all around us, or in our own hearts, that seems to be out of our present control…or circumstances that cloud our vision and hope for anything to ever change or get better; for justice and peace and healing and reconciliation for all God’s people and creatures to ever come to fruition in our lifetime…or the generations yet to come…

Remember this:

God is here among us…God has always been here among us…God will always be with us…for ever…

I pray that those words remain with you and that Jesus’ words of encouragement today to pray always, and not lose heart remain with you… in the coming days...and months…as the people of St Peter’s, and Loyd and I, prepare to begin a new season of our lives…

Psalm 121 is my go-to scripture prayer…when I need to be reminded to pray always…and not lose heart…

Psalm 121

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills; *from where is my help to come?

2 My help comes from the Lord, *the maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved *and he who watches over you will not fall asleep.

4 Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel *shall neither slumber nor sleep;

5 The Lord himself watches over you; *the Lord is your shade at your right hand,

6 So that the sun shall not strike you by day, *nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; *it is he who shall keep you safe.

8 The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in, *

from this time forth for evermore.

I invite you to turn to Psalm 121 in future days, too…when the spirit is nudging you, and calling you to pause, be still, and pray…and do not lose heart…

Being persistent in prayer, and not losing heart, also calls us to look back from time to time, and to see where God has been at work in our lives, listening to our cries, hearing our prayers, and bringing us through challenging experiences we never thought we would ever find any peace of mind or heart....and to give God thanks and praise…and to give thanks for the people in our lives who persisted in prayer for us and each other, and did not lose heart, did not lose their faith, but continued to trust and Hope in God, and in the life, death, resurrection of Jesus Christ...who reminds us that in all of our endings, there is always the promise of new beginnings, a new creation just starting to come to life....

I am so thankful, Loyd and I are so thankful, for our time here at St Peter's and in Sitka...We've been through some beautiful and challenging times together...yet everyone who has served and worshipped in this place and on behalf of St Peter's in the community, has always shown me, beyond a doubt...the fruits of one's labor,  in praying always, and not losing heart. These days and months ahead, you can be assured that you have worship leaders and vestry leaders who will continue to provide meaningful opportunities for you to be engaged in worship, programs and ministries in the church, and outreach in the community. The Bishop and his staff will be working closely with them, and all of you...to assist in helping you grow into the new creation God is calling you to in this next season of your lives together...

Pray always, and do not lose heart....

And in the words of WLP hymn 775…vs 1 & 4

Prayer/Hymn: (WLP) 775

1 Give thanks for life, the measure of our days,

mortal, we pass through beauty that decays,

yet sing to God our hope, our love, our praise, Alleluia, Alleluia!

 

4 Give thanks for hope, that like the wheat, the grain

lying in darkness does its life retain,

in resurrection to grow green again. Alleluia, Alleluia!

18 Pentecost/Year C Sermon - October 12 2025

18 Pentecost/Year C – October 12, 2025

Track 2 Scriptures: 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c; Psalm 111; 2 Timothy 2:8-15; Luke 17:11-19

Rev Julie Platson

Opening Prayer: (Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion)

God of our salvation, you are the source of wisdom and joy. Your love and mercies are not limited to one time or to one people. You continue to heal and to save, transcending the artificial boundaries and barriers we set. For such expansive love, we offer you all of our thanks and praise, now and forever. Amen.

Fall has always a busy travel time for me throughout the years: For work, church meetings, conferences, and some family visits mixed in too. But, this year, it feels even busier, because there’s a lot of extra details and variables mixed in to my reasons for travel this fall…

Travelling is a joy, even though exhausting at times. And no matter how enjoyable the purpose for the travel is, there’s often a bit of anxiety in the mix too…an anxiety with not being in our usual places of comfort. We miss the comfort of our own beds, the foods we like, the familiar smells in the air we breathe, the places and people who give us joy in our neighborhoods, and our own routines that keep us grounded to this place we call home. We count ourselves blessed to have a place we call home. And we are thankful.

But, after a time, once we are back home, we tend to fall back into our routines and back into our circle of comfort….and perhaps forget….the uneasiness of what it felt like to be an “outsider” for a time when we were travelling…what it felt like…to be on the outside of a community, looking in…what it felt like to live with some uncertainty and uncomfortableness for a time in a place that wasn’t quite familiar… and perhaps, we forget…to give thanks to God… that no matter where we are, we are in the hands of God who sees us, loves us, welcomes us, heals us, and grounds us in a place we can call home…home with God…and one another…

In today’s gospel reading…we hear about the 10 lepers, outsiders, untouchables, who approach Jesus when he comes into a village…but, they keep their distance…they are used to being on the outside…looking in…on the outside, perhaps…just waiting for someone to notice them, and invite them, to be part of the community gathered….

And they summon up the courage to call out to Jesus…I wonder why? What had they heard about him? Maybe they have been following Him, and watching him closely from a distance…from a perspective that others on the inside could not have known? Or perhaps from a perspective that others had forgotten…what it meant to be an outsider…how it felt to be an outsider…

The 10 lepers call out to Jesus, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Jesus sees them…he hears them…he understands them…he responds to them… “Go and show yourselves to the priests”.  And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan.

He was not only a leper, but a Samaritan. He was a foreigner, considered an outsider. He was made clean. He was healed. He was noticed, acknowledged, his human dignity was respected and honored. And, he turned back to praise God and thank Jesus. Only the Samaritan in this story turned back to praise God and thank Jesus. The other nine did not. We really don’t know why the others didn’t.  

As we pay attention to the small details in this story, we can see that it is the outsider who reminds us of who it is that loves us, welcomes us, heals us, makes us whole, restores us, and reconciles us to God, and one another…into a community of love, God’s love…God’s home. It is the outsider, the leper, the Samaritan, who reminds us all in today’s story…to return to God to give thanks for everything…and in doing so…our faith makes us whole and well…in all times, and in all circumstances…

It is by the Samaritan’s example in today’s story…that we get a tiny glimpse of what God’s kingdom, God’s beloved community looks like…a home, a community for all God’s beloved children….where there are no more outsiders looking in…where there are invitations extended, welcomes celebrated, forgiveness and mercy offered, love shared among everyone…and when we remember, in all times and in all circumstances, to give thanks and praise to God, for welcoming us all into God’s forever home.

In Jesus’ time, and in this story, we know the outsiders as lepers…

What about in our time now…who does our society label and treat as outsiders now? The poor, the homeless, the addicted, those with behavioral health and mental health disorders, those with physical conditions that are hidden from our eyes, those who don’t act like us, or believe what we do, those who are in prison, those who are tucked away in facilities, the children who are caught up in a system of abuse and neglect, those who are foreigners and refugees…

We have a long list of people we can think of who live on the margins, and on the outskirts of a welcoming and loving community…

We can all most likely recall some times in our own lives when we’ve been on the outside, looking in, too, and how lonely and isolated that felt …and we can look back and remember how we were nudged to return and give thanks and praise to God, Jesus for welcoming us home once again…we have experienced the comfort and joy in this…

Might we tap into that remembrance of being on the outside, looking in and tap into our thankfulness and gratitude for God’s blessing, often -  and offer and share the same love, comfort and joy and assurance of our faith that has made us well…and invite others to know the same?

Might we reach out, not in fear, but with love…joining hands with one another…and welcome someone home, once again….and with all of our hands joined together – lift them up, praising God together:

Hallelujah! Let us give thanks to the Lord with our whole heart! (psalm 111)

O Lord my God, how great thou art!

Prayer/Hymn: How Great Thou Art

 

 

Faithful Stewards of God's good gifts...

15 Pentecost/Year C – Sept 21, 2025

Track 2 Scriptures: Amos 8:4-7; Psalm 113; (1 Timothy 2:1-7); Luke 16:1-13

Rev Julie Platson

 

Opening Prayer: (Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion)

Faithful God, we give you thanks that in Jesus Christ you have entrusted us with the richness of your glory and the treasure of your grace. Make us faithful stewards of your good gifts, that we may show your love to this generation and welcome us into your eternal home, where we will worship and serve you forever; through Christ our Savior. Amen.

Jesus’ parables often cause us to look down and shake our heads, wiggle around in our seats, and make us feel a bit uncomfortable… Yet, as we practice learning to sit with the uneasiness of what we are hearing in the scriptures at times, his message can become a point of reorienting our lives in such a way, that helps us to see the goodness and value in being good stewards of all God’s gifts entrusted to us…

Today’s gospel is probably one of those notable ones that makes us a bit uncomfortable, because it talks about money, and dishonesty, and shrewdness…it closes with a sentence that calls us to a moment of judgment… that requires us to pause for a time of soul searching, when Jesus says: You cannot serve God and wealth.

Money, our wealth, as we walk through this earthy life together, is one of those gifts we are called to steward wisely. Are we using our wealth and our monies to serve God’s people, especially the most vulnerable among us? Are we using it in ways that lead to healing and better lives for all God’s people now, and for the future generations, long after we are gone?

Or are we using it in ways that lead to further oppression of the poorest of the poor? Are we using it in ways that lead to the destruction of our natural resources that are God-given gifts meant to equally and mutually nourish, protect, provide, sustain all life…all God’s people…all of creation…

We are faced with small choices and big choices every day…that require us to choose…

Will we choose to base our daily decisions about money and other matters through the lens of God’s heart by strengthening our relationship with God and one another through communal prayer, striving to listen to one another to understand the needs of our neighbors, and to seek and serve Christ, by loving our neighbors, as ourselves?

Or will we choose to base our daily decisions through the lens of our personal wealth and desires first…just for ourselves, with no regard to the implications on the lives of those we share this earthly life with?

We are faced with many hard decisions every day…not always about money…but as we begin and end our days with prayer, we are choosing God first, choosing to serve God in the world…as we seek Christ’s wisdom in becoming faithful stewards of God’s good gifts, that enable us to do all that we can with the resources available to us, to love our neighbors as ourselves…all of our neighbors….all of creation…

 

The Creation Collect of the Day

Grant us, Creator God, to put wealth to use in relieving the suffering of others; so that we might hold fast to the love that endures; through Jesus Christ the Wisdom of Creation, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

I invite you now, in this time of reflection as I play a hymn, entitled, Hear our prayer O Lord, to pray and seek Christ’s wisdom, in discerning what it means for you to be a faithful steward of God’s good gifts…keeping in mind…that stewardship is more than managing money and resources – it is practicing justice, mercy, and radical welcome in Christ’s name… (The Deaconess Community)

 

Prayer/hymn: (LEVS II) 249 - Hear our prayer O Lord

Hear our prayer, O Lord,

Hear our prayer, O Lord;

Incline Thine ear to us,

And grant us Thy peace.

***Image: Choose Peace (Inspirivity)

 

Spiritual Autobiography Reflection: Sunday Sermon

Sept 14, 2025

Today’s sermon reflection was written by Nancy Jo Bleier.

Today I told the congregation about myself through a Spiritual Autobiography. What is that and why? This from participating in Education for Ministry (EfM) via Zoom with 8 other people.  This is my third year.

Some of you may have written a Spiritual Autobiography in EfM years ago.

EfM defines the spiritual autobiography as the narrative of significant events, people and places that have shaped our relationship with God.  It recounts how we have become the person we are and how we have developed our beliefs. Most of the work is private and “for my eyes only.”

So today I talked and showed a mosaic I did my first year for my spiritual autobiography. 

For you who did not attend the church service today I am giving you the process EfM gives each participant on how to write a spiritual autobiography but not the details of my journey.

THE FOLLOWING IS FROM EFM:

In this step, we offer a method for you to explore and write your own spiritual autobiography. This year’s spiritual autobiography method offers you an opportunity to reflect theologically on your personal faith by looking at significant moments or stepping stones in your life that have contributed to its development.

The term “steppingstones” was coined by Ira Progoff to describe events of a life to gain a perspective on that life. He writes, “In steppingstones, we draw out of the jumbled mass of our life experiences, the thin and elusive threads that carry our potentials towards a fuller unfolding” (Progoff 1992).

Preparing Stepping Stones

Below is an outline to guide you through developing your stepping stones:

1.       Begin forming your stepping stones by sitting quietly for a few moments and allowing the events of your life to come to mind.

2.       As you become aware of each event, write down a word or brief phrase that describes it. Continue this process until you have covered your entire life.

3.       Once you complete your list of stepping stones, arrange them in chronological order. By limiting your stepping stones to twelve, you can more easily navigate the flow of your life.

4.       After you finish listing your stepping stones, read them to yourself a couple of times. Sense the flow of your life, its ups and downs, as well as the quieter periods alongside the more active times. Then, write a brief paragraph that encapsulates your life, providing an overarching picture of your journey. This offers a 360-degree view of your life's perspective.

5.       Next, begin to explore your life more deeply by reflecting on your Stepping Stones individually in chronological order.

6.       For each one, write a few sentences that describe the tone and atmosphere of that period in your life: “It was a time when….”

7.       You may wish to consider the people, activities, social attitudes, physical experiences, and sources of inspiration involved in this period of your life. Reflect on the people along your journey and how you grew emotionally, spiritually, or intellectually.

8.       As you finish writing your spiritual autobiography, revisit each Stepping Stone to describe your journey with God.

9.       Where were you?

10.   Where was God?

11.   What did that mean for you?

12.   What emotions or awareness arise in you?

 

My hope is each of you reading this will put together your spiritual autobiography whether in words, a piece of art or in music.

 

Nancy Jo Bleier

Sept 7 2025 sermon

13 Pentecost/Year C – Sept 7, 2025

Track 2 Scriptures: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 1; Philemon 1-21; Luke 14:25-33

Rev Julie Platson

 

Opening Prayer: (Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion)

God of wisdom, by your Spirit speak this day a word of life, and plant in us the power of righteous love; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The next several weeks, through Oct 4, you will hear some reflections, prayers, questions to consider, tied into our worship services for this special season of creation set aside each year from Sept 1-Oct 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

*From the Season of Creation: A Celebration Guide for Episcopal Parishes:

We begin by asking this question:

Why is it important to mark the Season of Creation?

2 simple answers were noted to summarize that loaded question in the intro in the guide:

(1) Because of our Gospel call to grow in faith as we affirm that God in Christ loves, redeems, and sustains the whole of Creation, not only human beings.

(2) Because of the urgency of climate and ecological crisis and the need for a bold, prophetic response.

So, we don’t mark this season to just check off a box that we talked about creation for a few weeks…

It goes much deeper than that…it’s a time for us, personally and collectively, to discern, in this time and place of our lives…how we are being called to spiritually grow and respond to the current needs of the whole creation…

And we set aside this time to celebrate and proclaim that the good news of God in Christ, is indeed, for all creatures and the whole Earth.

Today’s readings give us a place to begin by setting our intentions.  

We have an opportunity to begin anew to choose life for all of creation...not just for today, but for future generations to come: to choose life so that you and your descendants may live…to choose life as we center our lives around loving God, and walking in his ways, that lead us to love our neighbors as ourselves…

In today’s gospel reading…Jesus seems to be speaking to the importance and the urgency of the need to set our intentions, by choosing life, by making choices that enable the *liberation and healing of all God’s people, God’s whole creation.

And as we choose life, a way of life and walking in the way of love as Jesus is striving to teach us and show us…that means we, as followers of Him, need to give up some things, some possessions, habits, privileges, comforts and wealth, that are barriers to the *liberation and healing of all God’s people, God’s whole creation…

I recently watched a Netflix series that shared the personal stories of those who had lived (and died) in the climate disaster, Hurricane Katrina…which happened 20 years ago. I confess, I don’t recall a lot of details about the impacts of the hurricane on the people there, and on the natural environment there. I watched the news for a time, participated in prayer vigils, and donated to Episcopal Relief and Development. And as often happens….big news stories like that are often are forgotten (by those of us not close to the crisis) after just a couple of years.

But it wasn’t until I heard some of the personal stories, and viewed some of the news footage of the hurricane and the floods, that I was able to understand a little more fully, this many years later, the long-lasting impact of such a climate disaster on the most vulnerable people among us, and how our personal and collective choices as a society, and our stubbornness to acknowledge the harm and destruction we often cause to the land, its creatures, human beings, and our refusal to change the things we can for the well-being of all people, all of creation…keep us from living into the dream of God’s beloved community, that he intended for all of creation…from the very beginning….when he called it good…very good.

That’s a place for us to begin again, to confess the ways we are contributing to the current climate crisis, and the ways our choices are impacting our neighbors, not only our human neighbors, but all of creation. And to ask ourselves: am I, are we, living in such a way, that enables the liberation and healing of all God’s people, God’s whole creation?

As a body of Christ that gathers together here in the church and in the community, the Gospel calls us to grow in faith as we affirm that God in Christ loves, redeems, and sustains the whole of Creation, not only human beings.

And to grow means there will be changes, there will be things we let go of, new understandings that inspire us, there will be times of struggle, times of uncertainty, times of despair and grief for the sacrifices we will make on behalf of the well-being of all creation.

But, in all of that, in death and in life…we have hope. We have hope that enables us to choose life…

In the forward section of the Green Bible, these words speak to our hope as we grow in our faith and our call to act on behalf of all creation:

Christian hope is in the renewal (Mat. 19:28) and restoration (Act. 3:21) of all things. Our participation with God in creating a more just and habitable world and living more gently on Earth is how we share in what Archbishop Desmond Tutu calls the “supreme work” of Jesus Christ, who reconciles us to God, one another, and God’s whole Creation. The good news of God in Christ is for all creatures and the whole Earth.

 Let us pray: The Creation Collect of the Day

Grant us, O God, the courage to choose Jesus’ way even at great cost, bearing our cross and releasing our possessions, for the liberation and healing of your world; through Jesus Christ the Wisdom of Creation, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

hymn at conclusion of sermon/all sing: (LEVS II) 144 – Where he leads me

1                I can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling,

I can hear my  Savior calling, “Take thy cross and follow, follow me.”

                              Where He leads me I will follow, (x3)

                              I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way.

 

     2  I’ll go with Him through the garden, I’ll go with Him through the garden,

          I’ll go with Him through the garden, I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way.

          Refrain

 

3      I’ll go with Him through the judgement, I’ll go with Him through the judgement,

   I’ll go with Him through the judgement, I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way.

          Refrain

 

    4    He will give me grace and glory, He will give me grace and glory,

          He will give me grace and glory, And go with me, with me all the way.

          Refrain

12 Pentecost/Year C Sermon

12 Pentecost/Year C – August 31, 2025

Track 2 Scriptures: Sirach 10:12-18; Psalm 112; Luke 14:1, 7-14

Rev Julie Platson

 

Opening Prayer: (Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion)

Holy God, you alone are worthy of honor and praise. Open our eyes to see the world as you see it. Give us the wisdom to witness your presence in all people. Transform us in love, grow us in our faith, call us to love with a full heart and to share your promises with all people. Amen.

It is interesting to note that our gospel reading begins today with what Jesus was doing on the Sabbath. Just last week, our first verse began in this way…Jesus was teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath.

Listen again to the opening verses from the gospel reading today:

On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the Sabbath, they were watching him closely.

Jesus was being watched again, just as he was last week, when he was teaching in the synagogue. Last week the leaders were criticizing him for curing someone on the Sabbath… 

Today’s Sabbath story takes us to the house of a leader of the Pharisees, where Jesus goes to eat a meal. Jesus is also doing some watching in today’s gospel reading, just as he was watching and noticing what was going on around him in last week’s gospel and noticing the crippled woman among them and healing her.

Today, Jesus takes notice of how the other guests in attendance are choosing their places of honor. And once again Jesus uses the opportunity to offer a teaching story…another parable…

A parable about a wedding banquet… and the value and importance of humility as a way of engaging with others in the world, through the eyes of God’s heart…

The guests at the wedding were probably busying themselves with thoughts of who is the most important, perhaps rallying with each other and striving to capture the most coveted place at the table. Perhaps they were concerning themselves with what everyone else would think about them, if they weren’t in those most important places at the table that were traditionally set aside for certain persons and honorable guests.

Perhaps they were being meticulous about all the proper hand-washing rituals…the proper table blessings…the proper attire…

Often, as I listen to Jesus’ parables, children’s stories come to mind… When I think of the scene that Jesus is observing in today’s gospel…I recall a beloved children’s story for all ages called Cinderella, which involved the stepsisters fighting among themselves to be noticed, to be seen as the best and the prettiest…

I remember the shocking looks of the guests in attendance at the ball…as they watched the prince dance with Cinderella, the girl in the beautiful gown and wearing glass slippers…trying to figure out who this mysterious woman was…and even more shocking and angry were the wicked stepsisters and stepmother in discovering that Cinderella, the one who was usually dressed in rags and did all the household chores, was the person that the prince had fallen in love with that night!

How could that be? she did not look or act like someone who should become royalty…she wasn’t anyone worth paying attention to…she was just a lowly and humble servant… 

It’s not long before we find out that it is the humblest person among them, who catches the prince’s attention…she was not necessarily the prettiest, the one who was the most powerful, she was not the one people expected, she was not the one that hung out with royalty and snubbed others….no…she was a humble servant…with a heart full of love…while others were concerned with outer appearances and the proper way to go about life and seeking to acquire power and status for oneself, neglecting the needs of the others around them…she was concerned only with one thing…the matters of the heart…her heart was good, kind, humble, open and loving…all values that matter, when engaging in the world with others, through the eyes of God’s heart…

Bishop Mark shared a teachable lesson on humility this week, too, referencing this verse from today’s gospel: "For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Luke 14: 11.

He writes:

“Being humble is often misunderstood. It is common these days to confuse being humble with being humiliated: a pushover; weak; or of little importance, dignity or esteem. But these are a pretty limited understanding of what it means to be humble. To the contrary, there is great strength and dignity in being humble.

My favorite lesson on the strength and dignity of being humble comes from E.B. White's wonderful book: "Charlotte's Web." For those not familiar, it is a great read. Described as a children's book, it is every bit worthy of any age group. It is a story of a pig named Wilbur who is confronted with the terrible reality that he is destined for the farmer's table. His friend, Charlotte, a spider, trying to save Wilbur from this fate, attempts to convince the farmer that Wilbur is worth saving, by writing messages in her web to describe Wilbur in the most positive light (sort of like an eight-legged PR Officer). Charlotte offers 4 different words in her web: "Some Pig," "Terrific," "Radiant," and, finally, "Humble."

When questioned about the use of the word humble to describe Wilbur, Charlotte reflects that the word not only means 'not proud,' but, in its truest form, humble means 'close to the ground.' To be humble is to live close to the ground--to be grounded. Which isn't at all like being humiliated, weak, a pushover, or of little esteem.

To be humble is to know we are of the earth--dust. To be humble also means to know that our life and the life of the entire earth are a gift of the loving God who created everything. To be humble is to know that you and all things belong to God and are held in God's hands.

And THAT is exalted humility. God exalts us when we are humble, humble enough to recognize that we, like all things, are of the earth, God's creation. To be humble is to understand that we are because of God's love. God's love alone exalts humble dust.”

As you keep informed of the national and local news, and as we celebrate Labor Day, and the start of the season of creation tomorrow, I invite you to take some time this week to reflect more on the value and importance of humility as a way of engaging with others and all of creation, through the eyes of God’s heart… How might this renewed understanding of humility inspire and influence your focus and actions this week to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

 

Let us pray: (Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion)

Faithful God, in Jesus you show us the way of humility and hospitality with power to transform our world. Give us the vision and the grace to love those things that please you and the courage to live them to your glory. Amen.

 

HYMN: Be thou my vision (H) #488

 

 

10 Pentecost/Proper 15 sermon

10 Pentecost/Year C – August 17, 2025

Track 2 Scriptures: Jeremiah 23:23-29; Psalm 82; Luke 12:49-56

Rev Julie Platson

 

Opening Prayer: (Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion)

God of Wisdom, we eagerly seek your presence in our lives and in the world. By your Spirit, speak your word to us, and give us your grace to recognize abundant signs of your care for us, so that we might be freed to act in the world with courage and abandon. Amen.

 

It's that time of year, when we are on the cusp of a new season…a time of year marked by the ending of summer, the beginning of school, the days have started to grow shorter, and hints of changes in the weather can be noticed all around us. We are on the cusp of moving from the flow of summer activities, in the community and in the church…that signal the season of Autumn (or fall) is just around the corner…

I talk about seasons quite often during my sermons throughout the year…the liturgical seasons we mark on the church calendar; the seasons of the year we mark as fall, winter, spring, and summer; the season of creation which we will observe in September; the seasons we all go through, throughout the various stages of our lives – seasons of joy and sorrow, seasons of uncertainty and seasons of times in our lives when we feel confident and assured of all that seems to be going according to our plans…

If there is one word I would use to capture the theme associated with all of these different seasons I’ve mentioned today…(which really doesn’t capture all of the them)…I would choose the word “CHANGE”.

And that word “change” can stir up a lot for us…it makes us squirm in our seats, it makes us uncomfortable, it makes us angry, it makes us fearful, it makes us long for what we’ve always known, and makes us worry about what’s to come.

But change can also makes us hopeful…in knowing that no matter all the changes we face throughout the different seasons of our lives, we are perpetually and eternally grounded in one season throughout the ages…and that is the “God-season”… as noted in the Message paraphrase…or in our insert version today…that calls it simply, the “present time”.

That’s part of the ending verses in today’s gospel when Jesus is pointing out to the disciples that they are really good at interpreting the signs of the weather changes, some of the obvious signs of things happening around them which aren’t hard to miss…. but they seem to have such difficulty paying attention to the present time, in which God is there, in the midst of all the changes, equipping them with all that they need to help each other to see and hear and sense God’s presence and care and guidance right now, in this place, in this uncertain season…

Why all this attention to changing seasons from me in today’s sermon?

Because most of you know, we are on the cusp of some pretty big changes later this fall, with the news that Loyd and I will be leaving St Peter’s and Sitka.

There will be changes for all of us…changes that will have to be made, that we would rather not make…There’s the potential for disagreements about what to change, and not to change…There will be worries about how or if certain things will continue…worries that distract us from the present time and the present gifts of the people among you…There will be differences of opinions and suggestions for the timeline in which you will be embarking on the unknown journey ahead.

Any changes that we are faced with, ones we know that are coming or those which inevitably come unexpectedly, have the potential to stir up our spirits and tongues in healthy and unhealthy ways…leading us to not always treat our neighbor with love and patience.

My hope and prayer, is that we recognize these moments right away, and turn to our neighbors quickly to forgive one another, and commit once again to supporting one another through all the changes.

Here's another thing: there is nothing we can do to speed up all the emotions that will come up for us when we are having to endure in the slow, slow work of discerning what all these changes in this “God-Season” are asking of us, at this time, and in this place.

But, what we can do is hold fast to the good news of God’s love and care for all of us, as made known to us in the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, that proclaims this truth for us:  no matter all the changes we face throughout the different seasons of our lives, we are perpetually and eternally grounded in one season throughout the ages…and that is the “God-season”…

God is with us…God has always been with us…God will be with us throughout the ages to come…

And know this: We at St Peter's are not alone in having to do the important and slow work of re-imagining and re-visioning what it means to be the church, here and now. Changes have been happening across the church wide body for generations…

We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith…

(Hebrews 12:2)

 

Let us pray: (LEVS II) 71 – vs 3

In times like these we have a Savior,

In times like these we have an anchor;

I'm very sure, I'm very sure

Our anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

 

This Rock is Jesus, Yes He's the One,

This Rock is Jesus, the only One;

Be very sure, be very sure,

Our anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

 

8 Pentecost/Proper 13 Sermon

8 Pentecost/Year C – August 3, 2025

Track 2 Scriptures: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23; Psalm 49:1-11; Luke 12:13-21

Rev Julie Platson

 

Opening Prayer: (Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion)

Holy God, allow us your wisdom. By the power of the Holy Spirit, open the Scriptures to us today that in the Word read and proclaimed we might know your truth. Amen.

I admit I chuckled to myself a bit, as I first read the gospel reading that was assigned for today. My mind immediately returned to the gospel reading several weeks back, when Martha wanted Jesus to intervene, as she was calling out Mary, for sitting at his feet, while she was busy doing all the physical tasks to prepare for the dinner and visit from him and his disciples.

Only today’s lament and wanting Jesus to intervene was about a different topic; and Jesus responds as he does in the Mary and Martha gospel, with a teaching and reminder, that it’s about putting God first, it’s about centering our lives, our work, our hearts and minds on Jesus and his love…and by doing so…we come to understand what truly matters in this world…loving one another, caring for one another, serving one another, sharing the abundance of our riches with one another for the well-being of all God’s people…

Today’s readings help us think more about that…focusing on what we are working for…

Do you ever stop to think about your views on work? What you always liked about it? What you didn’t like about it? What kind of work you would still be doing, if you had the opportunity?

Perhaps, you’ve been retired for a long time now, or just recently retired…and now these questions fall fresh on your mind…did you give yourself to work so fully, that it was difficult to find that balance of work and rest that Jesus was trying to teach us, as commanded by God…Or perhaps now that your “usual day job” is done…you don’t really know who you are any more…or what it is you are supposed to do with this new rhythm of a different kind of work and rest…

Work often consumes our life and takes over every ounce of our being…either because we have a strong passion for what we are doing or sometimes because we have an obligation to work to make sure we can pay all the bills that we never seem to be able to catch up on…and to take care of our families….sometimes, we work ourselves to the bone so we can pay for all the extra “stuff” we want…and then the day comes and we look around at all this “stuff” we accumulated over the years and ask ourselves this question: “And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?”

Most of us could probably identify with having a job that we didn’t particularly like…or at least know someone personally who held a job who for years grudgingly went to work every day, and came home and collapsed from shear exhaustion…and vented for a time every evening, about how much they despised their job…only to have to get up the next day and start all over again…

In our first reading this morning, from Ecclesiastes…we hear these words of grumbling about work…

I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to those who come after me -- and who knows whether they will be wise or foolish?

The writer, Solomon, in his old age, who became so immersed in the everyday world, forgetting his connection to God, seemed to be focusing on “I, me” and thinking that whatever work he did should be for the benefit of himself only…why should any of this work “I do”…benefit anyone else? Perhaps the frustration comes with the thinking that it is he alone who is responsible for doing all the work….or perhaps the frustration comes because of his focus and attention to his own needs and his own wants…and not seeing the connection between his work in relation to his neighbors or for the needs of his neighbors?

Then Solomon gives us a glimpse of a change of focus and attitude about all the toil and work when he says this: So, I turned and gave my heart up to despair concerning all the toil of my labors under the sun, because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it.”

The shift in focus and attention…appears to show us that Solomon turned his heart once again back to God’s abundant gifts and acknowledges “the others” in God’s family...understanding…that we are part of a community…and that all the work we do today for our family, and church, and communities… we may never see the fruits of our labors in our lifetime…

By our baptisms…we are a New Creation…our work in this world is about building up God’s Kingdom rooted in love and abundance of plenty for everyone…working from the center of our hearts by loving God and loving our neighbors as ourselves…

By our baptisms, we are called to put God, Jesus and his love, first, and at the center of our lives…being obedient to the work they are calling us to do, for the well-being of all God’s people…today, and for future generations…

In the book, St Benedict’s Toolbox:  The Nuts and Bolts of Everyday Benedictine Living…one of the chapters talks about listening and obedience…and its’ influence of putting God at the center of our lives, of all that we are working for…and it has nothing to do with storing up an abundance of possessions and treasures for ourselves…

Giving our Life to God…pg 72

St Benedict gathered ordinary people around him, giving them a new way of looking at the world that put God at the center of their lives. This is key, for once this starts to happen we see and experience life differently.

The work which was boring and tedious takes on a new resonance and significance. Deeds which are performed, not out of love of self, but out of love for God, have an infinite depth of meaning and value of the deeds themselves, which may be quite small.

But, be careful. It is much easier to talk about obedience than to live it. So, to do more than talk, we need to place our lives in the hands of God. When we choose to give away our lives to God, we begin to realize that we’re co-collaborators with God and are not responsible for everything. We use what’s been given to us creatively, attentive to our lives and to God’s presence. Through obedience we grow. Listening and responding in love, we take our part in furthering Christ’s kingdom in the world. (end of book excerpt)

“This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, (for yourself),whose will they be?”

What are you working for?

Who are you working for?

Who are you working with?

Who will benefit from your toil under the sun? or the rain…which is more relatable to us here in Sitka…

Will your persistent prayers and whatever work you are led to do, illuminate what truly matters to God in this world…loving one another, caring for one another, the hungry, the poor, the unhoused, the suffering, the lonely, the oppressed, the refugees…

Will your persistent prayers and whatever work you are led to do, enliven what truly matters to God in this world, by leading you to serve one another, and share the abundance of our riches with one another for the well-being of all God’s people…in this time, and in this place…and for future generations…

This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, (for yourself), whose will they be?”

Let us pray: For the Right Use of God's Gifts (BCP 827)

Almighty God, whose loving hand has given us all that we possess: Grant us grace that we may honor you with our substance, and, remembering the account which we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your bounty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today’s a new day…morning has broken….let us begin again…and turn to the one who gives purpose and meaning to the work we are called to do throughout the ages…

Closing Prayer/Hymn: Morning is broken (H) 8