Spiritual Journeys: Weekly Messages from St. Peter's Episcopal Church

St. Peter's Episcopal Church
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Welcome to "Spiritual Journeys: Weekly Messages from St. Peter's Episcopal Church." Each episode delves into inspiring sermons that offer guidance, hope, and a deeper connection to the divine. Join us as we embark on a journey of spiritual growth, discovering insights that nourish the soul and illuminate the path of faith. Whether you're seeking solace, inspiration, or a deeper understanding of spirituality, "Spiritual Journeys" provides a sacred space for reflection and enlightenment. Tune in and let the transformative power of these sermons enrich your spiritual life.

  1. 14h ago

    What Makes a Good Life? Lessons From God’s Happiest Saint (arguably)

    Ready to find a meaningful community?  🧡https://www.stpetersdelmar.net/im-new-start-here 👈 Visit us at one of our 3 weekend services, Spoken, Traditional, or Family. They’re designed to show you exactly HOW you can find faith, community, and a true sense of belonging. — What if having more isn’t the secret to a better life? Today, you’re getting the answer to a powerful question: What does it actually mean to have enough? Because the way we think about abundance could be keeping us from experiencing the very thing we’re looking for: joy. In this sermon, Rev. Madeline explores the surprising contrast between two very different approaches to life. One man has wealth, success, and more crops than he knows what to do with. His solution? Store it all away. Relax. Eat. Drink. Be merry. St. Francis of Assisi chose almost the exact opposite path. Born into wealth, Francis eventually gave up a life of privilege to embrace simplicity and care for people living on the margins. And yet, remarkably, his life wasn't defined by deprivation. It was defined by joy. So what did Francis understand that the wealthy man in Jesus' parable missed? You’ll discover what Jesus means when he tells us to be “rich toward God,” why gratitude can completely change the way we experience abundance, and what the earliest Christians understood about sharing what we have. You’ll also hear a radically different vision of wealth from the Book of Acts—a community so committed to caring for one another that “there was not a needy person among them.” And perhaps most importantly, you’ll be challenged to consider one life-changing question: What if everything you have is a gift—and your greatest joy comes from sharing all of it? This sermon will make you think differently about wealth, generosity, gratitude, and what it means to live a truly abundant life. Because maybe a rich life isn't about accumulating more. Maybe it's about learning to love what you already have. Maybe it's about turning outward instead of constantly asking, “What can I get?” And maybe the life you're looking for begins when you trust that you already have enough. For more resources related to today’s sermon, visit our website: https://www.stpetersdelmar.net. Follow St. Peter’s Episcopal Church on Instagram: @stpetersdelmar And remember, we’re just your friends. We are not licensed therapists (except for Deacon Pete), and this sermon is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. Cool? Cool. We’ll see you next time. In this sermon: 00:00 Opening Prayer 00:20 Francis Finds Simplicity 01:10 Joy in Creation 01:49 All Creatures Hymn 02:51 Rich Fool Parable 04:16 Being Rich Toward God 04:57 Acts Community Sharing 06:24 Stewardship Call — Follow St. Peter’s: Instagram: @stpetersdelmar Facebook: @stpetersdelmar Website: https://www.stpetersdelmar.net — Sign up for St. Peter’s newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/stpetersdelmar/weekly-enews-signup A note from us to you, once a week, sharing simple, practical opportunities to deepen your connection with your community. — Subscribe to St. Peter’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@stpetersdelmar1940 — Listen to Spiritual Journeys – Sermons from St. Peter’s Del Mar 🎧New episode drops every Tuesday! Spotify Apple Podcasts Amazon Music

    What Makes a Good Life? Lessons From God’s Happiest Saint (arguably)

  2. Sep 30

    You Can Say All the Right Things—But Are You Living Them?

    Ever had a moment when you wondered, Is God actually here? Not as a theological question. A real-life question. When the headlines are overwhelming. When people disappoint you. When your prayers seem to go nowhere. When you’re trying to do the right thing—and you’re still wondering whether any of it matters. The ancient Israelites asked the same question: “Is the Lord among us or not?” And their question becomes ours. In this sermon, Mother Paige looks at three powerful passages from Exodus, Philippians, and Matthew to explore what faith looks like when life gets messy—and why the answer to “Is God among us?” isn't simply something we say. It's something we live. Paul gives us a surprisingly practical answer: live with humility, compassion, sympathy, and concern for others. Jesus takes it even further, reminding us that what we do matters more than simply saying all the right things. Because faith isn't just about having the right words. It's about what those words turn us into. Why the question “Is God among us?” is one we all ask—even when we have faith. What the story of Moses and the Israelites can teach us about doubt, frustration, and uncertainty. Why Paul connects a life of faith with humility, compassion, and looking out for other people. The difference between saying the right thing and actually living it. Why Jesus' story of the two sons isn't about being perfect—it's about what we ultimately do. How to bring your faith, values, and beliefs into the way you actually live. You don't have to have everything figured out. You don't have to get every word right. The invitation is simpler: align your life with what you say you believe—and go do some good in the world. Because God is among us. And God is at work in us. So the question isn't only “Is the Lord among us or not?” The question is: What will we do about it? Watch the sermon and then take that question with you into your week. 00:00 Opening Prayer 00:11 Quarrel Town Question 02:25 Living Worthy Lives 04:24 Christ Hymn Why 06:41 Matthew Parable Context 09:23 Two Sons Story 11:35 Words Versus Actions 13:08 Sent Into Vineyard

    You Can Say All the Right Things—But Are You Living Them?

  3. Sep 23

    How to Cultivate a Mindset of Gratitude: The Theology of Grace

    What if the person who showed up at the very last minute received exactly the same grace as the person who had been there all day? That’s the uncomfortable question Jesus puts in front of us in this week’s Gospel. And honestly? We don’t like it. We live in a world that keeps score. We believe people should get what they earn. Work longer, get more. Show up first, get rewarded first. Do more, deserve more. But Jesus tells a story that completely disrupts that logic. A landowner hires workers throughout the day—at dawn, at 9, at noon, at 3, and finally at 5 PM. When it’s time to get paid, every single person receives the same daily wage. The people who worked all day are furious. And Jesus seems to say: That’s the point. Mother Paige connects this strange and uncomfortable parable with the story of manna in the wilderness and Paul’s words to the Philippians: “Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” What does that actually mean? Maybe it means remembering that none of us earned our way into God’s grace. We all showed up at 5 PM. We are all living in the generosity, mercy, and love of a God who keeps coming back for us. Again and again. The landowner in Jesus’ story doesn't give up on the people who haven't been hired yet. He keeps going out—morning, noon, afternoon, even at 5 PM—to make sure no one is left behind. God never stops seeking us. And once we recognize that, something changes. We can stop keeping score. We can stop asking who belongs and who doesn't. We can stop deciding who deserves grace. And we can start noticing the moments when we're called to be grace for someone else. Grace isn't something you earn. The good news is that God's love isn't a paycheck for good behavior. God keeps coming back for us. The landowner's persistence is a powerful picture of a God who never gives up seeking us. Pay attention to your own reactions. Who do you instinctively think deserves more—or less? Everyone belongs. Jesus challenges our assumptions about who is “in” and who is “out.” Gratitude changes the way we live. Instead of resenting someone else's grace, we can become grateful for the grace we've already received. The question isn't whether you showed up early enough. You showed up. And at 5 PM, God was still there—with more than enough grace to go around. Amen. 00:00 Opening Prayer and Welcome 00:07 Manna and Daily Provision 01:11 Why Philippians Matters 02:35 Live Worthy of the Gospel 03:37 Matthew Parables Get Prickly 04:28 Why This Parable Offends Us 05:46 Context in Matthew 19–20 07:01 Not Anti Jewish but Anti Presumption 08:25 The Landowner Who Never Quits 09:29 Living Gratefully at Five O Clock

    How to Cultivate a Mindset of Gratitude: The Theology of Grace

  4. Sep 16

    The Exodus, the Red Sea, and the God Who Sets You Free

    You are not stuck. You are not forgotten. And you are not alone in the water. That's the energy Rev. Madeline brings to this week's sermon, and here's why it matters to you, right now, today. Rev. Madeline takes you back to one of the most famous stories ever told — the Israelites, trapped between Pharaoh's army and the Red Sea, terrified, exhausted, and out of options. And then the water parts. That's the moment everyone remembers. But the real teaching? It's about everything that happens after. Because freedom isn't just a one-time event. It's a practice. It's a choice you have to keep making. Liberation is God's whole thing. Not a side project. Not a bonus feature. Rev. Madeline makes the case that a God who frees people from bondage is the core identity of the divine — not an isolated miracle. This story didn't stay in the Bible. It became fuel. Harriet Tubman was called "Moses" for a reason. Dr. King stood in a pulpit in 1956 and said the Supreme Court just opened the Red Sea. Rev. Madeline traces how this story has been showing up in real human courage for centuries. Ask yourself: where are you in the story right now? Are you on the far shore, singing? Are you mid-crossing, with freedom in sight but danger still breathing down your neck? Or — and this is the uncomfortable one — are you still in Egypt? Here's the plot twist that keeps this honest: sometimes you're not the Israelites. Sometimes you're Pharaoh. Rev. Madeline doesn't let you off the hook — she points out that the oppressed can become the oppressors the second they forget the point was never just their own freedom. It was freedom for everyone. The celebration is allowed — and it's complicated. When the Israelites sing about their enemies drowning, Rev. Madeline doesn't sanitize that discomfort. She sits in it. Because real liberation stories aren't clean. They're human. "God's dream is to free people from the bonds of oppression." Not your bonds. Not "some people's" bonds. Everyone's. Whatever you're pinned against right now — a situation, a fear, a system, a version of yourself that's keeping you small — Rev. Madeline is telling you: the water can part. It has before. And the people who believed that hardest were usually the ones who had the least reason to. Ask yourself one question this week: Am I still standing at the edge of my own Red Sea — or am I ready to walk? 00:00 Opening Prayer 00:22 Setting the Exodus Scene 02:07 Red Sea Deliverance 03:10 Exodus as Liberation Story 04:29 Exodus in Black History 08:09 God of Liberation Today 08:47 Who Are You in the Story 10:10 Wrestling with Violence 11:29 Go Down Moses

    The Exodus, the Red Sea, and the God Who Sets You Free

  5. Sep 9

    It’s About Time: What If the Moment You’re Waiting For Is Already Here?

    What if the moment you’ve been waiting for isn’t coming? What if it’s already here? In this sermon, we explore what the Bible means when it talks about “the right time”—and why following Jesus may have less to do with waiting for the perfect moment and more to do with recognizing that this moment matters. Drawing from Romans 13 and Matthew 18, we’ll look at the difference between chronos—the ordinary passing of time—and kairos—a moment that is ripe with possibility, meaning, and purpose. And that raises a powerful question: What would change if you lived today as though God is already present in the middle of it? From Harry Potter and the end of summer to Dolly Parton’s music and the surprising power of hope, this sermon invites us to wake up to the sacred possibilities already around us. How to recognize a “kairos” moment when life gives you one Why fear doesn’t get the final word What it means to love your neighbor in real life How to approach conflict without losing sight of one another Why Christian hope is more than wishful thinking How to live as though Jesus really is in our midst Maybe you’ve been waiting for the right time to change something, repair something, begin something, or simply pay attention. It’s about time. The question is: What will you do with this moment? Romans 13:11–14Matthew 18:15–20 St. Peter’s Episcopal Church is a welcoming Episcopal community in Del Mar where curiosity, compassion, and community come together. Whether you’re deeply rooted in faith, asking questions, or somewhere in between, there’s room for you here. What You’ll Take AwayScriptureFrom St. Peter’s Episcopal Church 00:00 Opening Prayer 00:14 Its About Time 02:15 Love Fulfills Law 03:05 Jesus in Our Midst 05:10 Fear Versus Faith 05:42 Summer Music Reflections 06:28 Harry Potter and Dolly 08:31 Light of Clear Morning 09:26 Sacred Hope Forward

    It’s About Time: What If the Moment You’re Waiting For Is Already Here?

  6. Sep 2

    What If God Is Trying to Get Your Attention? – Rev. Madeline Preaches on the Burning Bush

    What if God is already trying to get your attention? Moses wasn’t looking for a life-changing encounter. He was simply doing his job, tending sheep in the wilderness, when something strange caught his eye: a bush on fire that wasn’t burning up. Moses could have kept walking. Instead, he turned aside. He paid attention. And that moment changed everything. In this sermon, we explore the story of Moses and the burning bush and what it can teach us about recognizing God in our own lives. God may not speak to us through flames on a mountainside. Sometimes the invitation comes through a conversation we can’t stop thinking about, a moment of unexpected beauty, a growing sense that something needs to change, or a quiet tug on the heart asking us to take the next step. The question isn’t whether we have everything figured out. Moses certainly didn’t. His first response was, “Who am I?” But God wasn’t asking Moses to feel completely ready. God was asking him to be open. What might happen if we started treating ordinary moments as possible encounters with the holy? What might we notice if we were curious enough to turn aside? And when God calls us toward something new, could we find the courage to answer: “Here I am”? Sometimes one small yes can change the direction of a life—and sometimes, by God’s grace, it can change far more than that. 00:00 Opening Prayer 00:21 Moses Grows Up 01:10 The Burning Bush 02:58 God Shows Up 03:32 I Am Who I Am 05:26 Ready For The Call 05:53 Moses Hesitates 07:07 Saying Yes Changes Everything 08:16 Here I Am Lord

    What If God Is Trying to Get Your Attention? – Rev. Madeline Preaches on the Burning Bush

  7. Aug 26

    What Happens When You Stop Hiding? | Knowing God & Being Known

    What if the parts of yourself you’re tempted to hide are the very parts God can use? This week, we find an unexpected connection between the women who saved Moses, Paul’s call to “be transformed,” Peter’s imperfect faith—and yes, KPop Demon Hunters. At the heart of all these stories is one powerful idea: transformation begins when we allow ourselves to truly know God and be known by God. Not the polished version of ourselves. Not the person we think we’re supposed to be. Our real, imperfect, gifted selves. Shiphrah, Puah, and Miriam use their courage and their voices to stand against a power determined to destroy. Paul reminds us that belonging to Christ doesn’t require becoming someone else. And Jesus looks at the wonderfully imperfect Peter, knows exactly who he is, and still says, “On this rock I will build my church.”That same theme runs through KPop Demon Hunters: hiding who we are weakens our connection, while truth, authenticity, community, and offering our unique gifts can become forces for healing. The invitation for this week is simple: begin each day by offering your truest self to God. Pray the Collect for Purity, write your own prayer, or simply ask God to help you know—and be known—more deeply. Because God isn’t waiting for a perfect version of you. God is ready to work through the real you. 00:00 Opening Prayer 00:40 Purity and Renunciation 02:03 Exodus Women and Moses 02:26 Bible Study Ark and Names 04:03 Romans Living Sacrifice 06:00 Matthew Who Is Jesus 08:00 Peter the Rock 09:34 K Pop Demon Hunters 11:33 Authenticity Heals the World 12:54 Closing

    What Happens When You Stop Hiding? | Knowing God & Being Known

  8. Aug 19

    The Table Is Bigger Than You Think: Deacon Pete Preaches on Matthew 15

    What if the biggest obstacle to seeing God at work isn’t a lack of faith—but the lines we’ve drawn around who belongs? In this sermon, we encounter one of the more uncomfortable moments in Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus challenges the Pharisees’ obsession with religious rules and reminds us that holiness isn’t about looking right on the outside. It’s about what comes from the heart. Then a Canaanite woman shows up. She’s an outsider by nearly every standard of her time. The disciples want to send her away. But she refuses to disappear. She asks for mercy, keeps asking, and demonstrates a faith no one expected. And Jesus sees her. That encounter forces us to confront a question that still matters today: Who have we decided is on the outside? We all draw lines—political, racial, economic, religious, cultural. Sometimes we don’t even realize those lines are there until someone crosses them. But the Gospel keeps reminding us that God’s mercy is bigger than the boundaries we create. Holiness isn’t measured by how many Bible verses we know, what denomination we belong to, or whether we get every religious practice exactly right. It shows up in what flows from our hearts: mercy, compassion, humility, forgiveness, love, and faith. The Canaanite woman came asking for a crumb. She discovered there was room at the table. Maybe the question isn’t, “How did they get in?” Maybe it’s: “Why did we ever think they were outside?” Listen and discover why God’s table may be much bigger than you think.00:00 Opening Prayer00:30 Meet the Theologians01:43 Pharisees and Food Laws03:35 What Defiles the Heart05:01 Canaanite Woman Appears06:38 Crumbs and Great Faith09:53 Who Is Really Outside11:54 Gods Mercy Beyond Lines13:02 Holiness From Within13:59 Bigger Table Conclusion

    The Table Is Bigger Than You Think: Deacon Pete Preaches on Matthew 15
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Welcome to "Spiritual Journeys: Weekly Messages from St. Peter's Episcopal Church." Each episode delves into inspiring sermons that offer guidance, hope, and a deeper connection to the divine. Join us as we embark on a journey of spiritual growth, discovering insights that nourish the soul and illuminate the path of faith. Whether you're seeking solace, inspiration, or a deeper understanding of spirituality, "Spiritual Journeys" provides a sacred space for reflection and enlightenment. Tune in and let the transformative power of these sermons enrich your spiritual life.

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