the Rev. Phil Brochard

This sermon reflects on the symbolism of Christ as the Good Shepherd, an image prominent in Christian art and practice throughout the centuries. The Good Shepherd metaphor emphasizes Jesus' dedication to safeguarding his flock, offering reassurance and a sense of safety amidst life's challenges. The sermon encourages us to apply the example of the Good Shepherd in our own lives, accompanying one another to the difficult places and showing others that we are always worthy of help, love, and care.

Link to “The Call” podcast from This American Life, referenced in the sermon.

the Rev. Emily Boring

Focusing on the ministry of presence, the sermon illustrates how small, physical gestures can offer immense comfort during crises. Through stories from hospital chaplaincy, the speaker describes how simply being present and offering physical tokens of comfort, like holding a hand or providing a quiet presence, can deeply affect those suffering. This approach demonstrates the deep impact of embodying Christ's compassion and presence.

Harlowe Zefting

In this sermon, seminarian Harlowe Zefting explored the story of Doubting Thomas, highlighting that doubt can lead to deeper faith. She challenged the negative connotation of doubt, suggesting that asking questions is part of a dynamic faith journey. The sermon emphasized the community's role in supporting each individual's spiritual journey, linking personal experiences of faith to the collective strength found in church fellowship.

The Rev. Phil Brochard

In this Easter Sunday sermon, the Rev. Phil Brochard reflects on the unexpected joy and fear experienced by the women at Jesus’ tomb. He explores how fear often silences us, preventing the sharing of transformative truths. Emphasizing resurrection as a continuous, unfolding reality, he invites us to trust that Jesus’ presence is always ahead of us, guiding us towards hope and new beginnings.

The Rev. Emily Boring

Reflecting on her first Holy Week at All Souls, the Rev. Emily explores the deep connection between personal faith and communal expression. The sermon delves into the emotional journey from Good Friday's solemnity to Easter Vigil's joy, illustrating how communal practices can mirror and magnify personal spiritual experiences. It concludes with a powerful message of unity and hope found in the shared celebration of Christ's resurrection. As members of Christ’s resurrected Body, we are never alone in our darkness or despair.

The Rev. Marguerite Judson

Drawing from the Passion narrative and Julian of Norwich's revelations, the Rev. Marguerite underscores Jesus' unconditional love and his identification with our suffering. It illuminated how Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was a testament to his immeasurable love for each individual, offering a pathway to redemption and inviting us into a relationship marked by love, sacrifice, and eternal hope.

The Rev. Clark Berge

Focusing on Jesus's final teachings, The Rev. Clark Berge explores the profound implications of love and service, as demonstrated in the act of foot washing. He challenges listeners to embrace love as a transformative force capable of reshaping society. By engaging in acts of service and compassion, he argued, individuals can reflect Christ's love, fostering unity and healing in a world marked by division and strife.

Emily Hansen Curran

The sermon explores Jesus' nonviolent approach to confronting violence and empire, drawing from Walter Wink's ideas. Jesus chose not to mirror violence but to stand against it with a heart of flesh, symbolized by his peaceful entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. This act challenges us to confront injustice not with aggression but with compassion and understanding, highlighting Jesus' alternative way of life that emphasizes love and nonviolence.

the Rev. Phil Brochard

Drawing from John 12:20-33, the sermon highlights the profound lesson of Jesus' death: true life springs from sacrifice. The narrative of the wheat grain dying to give life is paralleled with Christian discipleship's call for personal sacrifice. The preacher underscores the paradox that by dying to ourselves, we gain eternal life and true fulfillment. The message calls for introspection and readiness to follow Jesus’ example of sacrificial love.

the Rev. Emily Boring

The Rev. Emily Boring reflects on what it means to trust in the living and resurrected body of Jesus the Christ. What does this trust offer us in times of fear, uncertainty, grief, and change? It draws on the work of German theologian Paul Tillich, who writes about sin as the state of separation: separation from true self, from others, and from God. To trust in the body of Christ means trusting that connection, relationship, and love are stronger than separation, and acting from that conviction. Emily reminds us that we are the living body of Christ in the world, and asks the listeners to consider what that identity calls us to do.

the Rev. Phil Brochard

The sermon discusses the transitory nature of life, illustrated by the speaker's experience of clearing out his childhood home and the historical destruction of the Jewish temple. It emphasizes placing trust in the eternal—Jesus Christ's living and resurrected body—over temporary physical structures or relationships.

the Rev. Phil Brochard