St. Columba's Episcopal Church Sermons St. Columba's Inverness

Fourth Sunday of Easter The Collect:
O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
First Lesson: Acts 4:5-12
5The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem,6with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, 10let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. 11This Jesus is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’ 12There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”
Psalm: Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd; *
       I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures *
       and leads me beside still waters.
3 He revives my soul *
       and guides me along right pathways for his Name’s sake.
4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
   I shall fear no evil; *
       for you are with me;
       your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; *
       you have anointed my head with oil,
       and my cup is running over.
6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *
       and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Epistle: 1 John 3:16-24
16We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? 18Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 19And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him
20whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; 22and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.
23And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.24All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.
Gospel: John 10:11-18
11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.16I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”

The Soul of Anglicanism: Compromise or Comprehension? 
A Brief Survey of Anglican History 
Part 1 of 7 Sessions
Join The Rev. Andrew Walmisley, PhD, as he presents a seven-part series on the Soul of Anglicanism. With meetings once per month over the course of six months, Fr. Andrew will survey the history of Anglicanism while exploring its distinctive theological sources and unique characteristics. Is Anglicanism a tradition of compromise between Protestants and Catholics? Or one which comprehends elements of both as a “reformed catholic” tradition? This overriding question will become the lens for which to explore the distinctive characteristics of Anglican history, liturgy, sacrament, ecclesiology, and spirituality.
These presentations are free and open to the public, especially crafted for anyone who wishes to make an initial foray into the study of Anglicanism. All who are considering baptism, confirmation, or reception into The Episcopal Church would find Fr. Andrew’s presentations especially informative.
The series will be presented over seven consecutive months on Sundays from 1-2pm on April 7, May 5, June 2, July 7, August 4, September 8, and October 6. All presentations will be hosted in the St. Jerome Conference Room (second floor of the Retreat House). All sessions will be audio recorded and uploaded to the St. Columba’s website for distanced members or for those who may have a scheduling conflict with one of the sessions.
We look forward to seeing you there!

Third Sunday of Easter The Collect:
O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
First Lesson: Acts 3:12-19
12When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, “You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. 14But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, 15and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you. 17“And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.18In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. 19Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out,
Psalm: Psalm 4
1 Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause; *
       you set me free when I am hard-pressed;
       have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
2 “You mortals, how long will you dishonor my glory; *
       how long will you worship dumb idols
       and run after false gods?”
3 Know that the Lord does wonders for the faithful; *
       when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.
4 Tremble, then, and do not sin; *
       speak to your heart in silence upon your bed.
5 Offer the appointed sacrifices *
       and put your trust in the Lord.
6 Many are saying, “Oh, that we might see better times!” *
       Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O Lord.
7 You have put gladness in my heart, *
       more than when grain and wine and oil increase.
8 I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep; *
       for only you, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Epistle: 1 John 3:1-7
1See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.3And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
4Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.5You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. 7Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
Gospel: Luke 24:36b-48
36Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate in their presence. 44Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms m

Second Sunday of Easter The Collect:
Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
First Lesson: Acts 4:32-35
32Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
Psalm: Psalm 133
1 Oh, how good and pleasant it is, *
       when brethren live together in unity!
2 It is like fine oil upon the head *
       that runs down upon the beard,
3 Upon the beard of Aaron, *
       and runs down upon the collar of his robe.
4 It is like the dew of Hermon *
       that falls upon the hills of Zion.
5 For there the Lord has ordained the blessing: *
       life for evermore.
Epistle: 1 John 1:1-2:2
1We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— 3we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
5This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; 7but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Gospel: John 20:19-31
19When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
26A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas

CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO SERMON HANDOUTS  
Easter Day The Collect:
O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
or this
O God, who made this most holy night to shine with the glory of the Lord’s resurrection: Stir up in your Church that Spirit of adoption which is given to us in Baptism, that we, being renewed both in body and mind, may worship you in sincerity and truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
or this
Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
First Lesson: Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 25:6-9
34Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
or
6On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. 7And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever. 8Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.
9It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
Psalm: Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; *
       his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let Israel now proclaim, *
      “His mercy endures for ever.”
14 The Lord is my strength and my song, *
       and he has become my salvation.
15 There is a sound of exultation and victory *
       in the tents of the righteous:
16 “The right hand of the Lord has triumphed! *
       the right hand of the Lord is exalted!
       the right hand of the Lord has triumphed!”
17 I shall not die, but live, *
       and declare the works of the Lord.
18 The Lord has punished me sorely, *
       but he did not hand me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
       I will enter them;
       I will offer thanks to the Lord.
20 “This is the gate of the Lord; *
 

The Great Vigil of Easter At The Liturgy of the Word
At least two of the following Lessons are read, of which one is always the Lesson from Exodus. After each Lesson, the Psalm or Canticle listed, or some other suitable psalm, canticle, or hymn may be sung. A period of silence may be kept; and a suitable Collect, such as those on pages 288-291 of the Book of Common Prayer, may be said.
Genesis 1:1-2:4a – Psalm 136:1-9,23-26
Genesis 7:1-5,11-18;8:6-18; 9:8-13 – Psalm 46
Genesis 22:1-18 – Psalm 16
Exodus 14:10-31;15:20-21 – Canticle 8
Isaiah 55:1-11 – Canticle 9
Baruch 3:9-15,32-4:4 or Proverbs 8:1-8,19-21;9:4b-6 – Psalm 19
Ezekiel 36:24-28 – Psalm 42 and 43
Ezekiel 37:1-14 – Psalm 143
Zephaniah 3:14-20 – Psalm 98
At the Eucharist
The Collect:
Almighty God, who for our redemption gave your only- begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
or this
O God, who made this most holy night to shine with the glory of the Lord’s resurrection: Stir up in your Church that Spirit of adoption which is given to us in Baptism, that we, being renewed both in body and mind, may worship you in sincerity and truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
First Lesson: Romans 6:3-11
3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. 7For whoever has died is freed from sin. 8But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Psalm: Psalm 114
1 Hallelujah!
  When Israel came out of Egypt, *
       the house of Jacob from a people of strange speech,
2 Judah became God’s sanctuary *
       and Israel his dominion.
3 The sea beheld it and fled; *
       Jordan turned and went back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams, *
       and the little hills like young sheep.
5 What ailed you, O sea, that you fled? *
       O Jordan, that you turned back?
6 You mountains, that you skipped like rams? *
       you little hills like young sheep?
7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, *
       at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 Who turned the hard rock into a pool of water *
      and flint-stone into a flowing spring.
Gospel: Mark 16:1-8
1When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”4When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of N