Sermons by Rev. Carrie Cabush
Staying Awake in Advent
November 30, 2025
This Advent season, I can’t help but wonder if the invitation to stay awake and be ready is an invitation into mindfulness. John Kabat-Zinn defines mindfulness as “paying attention on purpose.” So for our purposes, a mindful Advent would be one spent paying attention to spiritual things. And truth be told, it is a fabulous place to start. Evelyn Underhill, a British mystic from the early 20th century, identified the first stage of the spiritual journey as “awakening,” or the soul becoming conscious to the reality of the divine.
November 30, 2025
This Advent season, I can’t help but wonder if the invitation to stay awake and be ready is an invitation into mindfulness. John Kabat-Zinn defines mindfulness as “paying attention on purpose.” So for our purposes, a mindful Advent would be one spent paying attention to spiritual things. And truth be told, it is a fabulous place to start. Evelyn Underhill, a British mystic from the early 20th century, identified the first stage of the spiritual journey as “awakening,” or the soul becoming conscious to the reality of the divine.
God is in Control
November 23, 2025
Christ the King Sunday invites us to proclaim that God is still in control - even in exile, even on the cross, even in our messy and uncertain world. Thanks for Giving Sunday invites us to live out that proclamation by offering our wealth, wisdom, and works. Not out of fear or obligation, but from our confidence in God’s type of power. The type of power that transforms the world through the love of good shepherds, surprised fathers, and humble teachers. A power that gathers, frees, strengthens, and forgives.
November 23, 2025
Christ the King Sunday invites us to proclaim that God is still in control - even in exile, even on the cross, even in our messy and uncertain world. Thanks for Giving Sunday invites us to live out that proclamation by offering our wealth, wisdom, and works. Not out of fear or obligation, but from our confidence in God’s type of power. The type of power that transforms the world through the love of good shepherds, surprised fathers, and humble teachers. A power that gathers, frees, strengthens, and forgives.
"Tell Out My Soul" Stewardship Sermon by Reina Smith
November 16, 2025
I think of my closed fists, holding onto what is mine, and letting it trickle out, bit by bit. I open up, let go, and find that my hands and my heart are open to receive more than I could ever give. I pray that I continue to grow in faith and stewardship with all of you. May our prayers as a faith community be unceasing, as we participate in God's unseen works. May they manifest, and may we welcome many to the feast.
November 16, 2025
I think of my closed fists, holding onto what is mine, and letting it trickle out, bit by bit. I open up, let go, and find that my hands and my heart are open to receive more than I could ever give. I pray that I continue to grow in faith and stewardship with all of you. May our prayers as a faith community be unceasing, as we participate in God's unseen works. May they manifest, and may we welcome many to the feast.
The Question Matters
November 9, 2025
Unlike every elementary school teacher I ever had, I believe that there are some stupid questions. Okay…maybe the questions aren’t stupid, but I do believe there are questions that get us farther from the truth rather than closer to it, and this morning’s gospel gives us an example of one of them.
November 9, 2025
Unlike every elementary school teacher I ever had, I believe that there are some stupid questions. Okay…maybe the questions aren’t stupid, but I do believe there are questions that get us farther from the truth rather than closer to it, and this morning’s gospel gives us an example of one of them.
Saints & Baptism
November 2, 2025
Jesus loved people up close, and the promises we make and renew at baptism call us to do the same. To pay attention to what is happening in the world - especially to the people who are the most vulnerable - and do something about it.
November 2, 2025
Jesus loved people up close, and the promises we make and renew at baptism call us to do the same. To pay attention to what is happening in the world - especially to the people who are the most vulnerable - and do something about it.
All Hallows' Tide
October 26, 2025
As Christians we still mourn. We long for those we love but see no longer. We feel their loss in deep and profound ways. Even Jesus, God incarnate, wept at the tomb of his friend. But as Christians we do not need to fear death. We can mourn with the hope that we will see one another again. We mourn with a peace that passes understanding, because we may not know exactly what heaven looks like, but we trust that our loved ones are with God; that they are taken care of and no longer in pain. We mourn with confidence that Jesus destroyed death to get to us; to prepare a way for us. As our Book of Common Prayer reminds us in the burial liturgy, life is changed, not ended.
October 26, 2025
As Christians we still mourn. We long for those we love but see no longer. We feel their loss in deep and profound ways. Even Jesus, God incarnate, wept at the tomb of his friend. But as Christians we do not need to fear death. We can mourn with the hope that we will see one another again. We mourn with a peace that passes understanding, because we may not know exactly what heaven looks like, but we trust that our loved ones are with God; that they are taken care of and no longer in pain. We mourn with confidence that Jesus destroyed death to get to us; to prepare a way for us. As our Book of Common Prayer reminds us in the burial liturgy, life is changed, not ended.
Re-imaging What Is Possible: Stewardship Launch
October 19, 2025
God doesn’t call us to do the impossible, but God does call us to move the dial on what we perceive to be possible. This is a powerful theology of stewardship. In the church we talk about stewardship as our responsibility to carefully and responsibly manage the gifts God has given us. Stewardship is an expression of gratitude: giving thanks for the time, talent, and treasure God has gifted us by using them well. But stewardship is also a leap of faith toward a God who is trustworthy. Stewardship is an invitation to trust that together we can do more with what God has given us than we can do alone.
October 19, 2025
God doesn’t call us to do the impossible, but God does call us to move the dial on what we perceive to be possible. This is a powerful theology of stewardship. In the church we talk about stewardship as our responsibility to carefully and responsibly manage the gifts God has given us. Stewardship is an expression of gratitude: giving thanks for the time, talent, and treasure God has gifted us by using them well. But stewardship is also a leap of faith toward a God who is trustworthy. Stewardship is an invitation to trust that together we can do more with what God has given us than we can do alone.
Blessings Start Small
October 5, 2025
This week I’ve been reflecting on how just a little bit of faith is a powerful thing. In our gospel reading this morning, Jesus talks about having faith the size of a mustard seed. And I found these mustard seeds in my cabinet. They are very small! But the mustard plant is what we call invasive, which just means that from one very small seed the mustard plant will grow, spread, and fill a whole garden. So what Jesus is saying is that with even just this small little bit of faith, it can spread and fill all of creation.
October 5, 2025
This week I’ve been reflecting on how just a little bit of faith is a powerful thing. In our gospel reading this morning, Jesus talks about having faith the size of a mustard seed. And I found these mustard seeds in my cabinet. They are very small! But the mustard plant is what we call invasive, which just means that from one very small seed the mustard plant will grow, spread, and fill a whole garden. So what Jesus is saying is that with even just this small little bit of faith, it can spread and fill all of creation.
Sermon by Jeffery Blanford, Youth Coordinator
10 am, September 28, 2025
10 am, September 28, 2025
The Chasms We Create
8 am, September 28, 2025
This past week's rummage sale was both fundraiser and community outreach. Both a means for us to support our music ministry and a means to offer support to our neighbors by offering clothing and home goods at discounted prices. Had we only tried to get the highest price for each item we could, not only would we not have made as much, we would have failed in our mission to help our neighbors get access to items they may not have been able to afford otherwise. It’s a small example, but a powerful one. When we put our love of money above our love for God and neighbor everyone loses out.
8 am, September 28, 2025
This past week's rummage sale was both fundraiser and community outreach. Both a means for us to support our music ministry and a means to offer support to our neighbors by offering clothing and home goods at discounted prices. Had we only tried to get the highest price for each item we could, not only would we not have made as much, we would have failed in our mission to help our neighbors get access to items they may not have been able to afford otherwise. It’s a small example, but a powerful one. When we put our love of money above our love for God and neighbor everyone loses out.
Becoming Peacemakers
September 21, 2025
Perhaps all it takes to shift from “Is there no balm in Gilead” to proclaiming that there is a balm is recognizing that we have a part to play in healing the world. That we have a part to play in bringing about peace. Not because God is absent and disinterested, but because God is alive and working in and through us.
September 21, 2025
Perhaps all it takes to shift from “Is there no balm in Gilead” to proclaiming that there is a balm is recognizing that we have a part to play in healing the world. That we have a part to play in bringing about peace. Not because God is absent and disinterested, but because God is alive and working in and through us.
Getting Lost
September 14, 2025
Sometimes getting lost isn’t our fault. And sometimes - perhaps most of the time - we can’t get ourselves unlost. At least not alone. That’s where God steps in. We worship a God whose love is so all-encompassing that God goes looking for us, even if - perhaps especially when - we don’t move a muscle.
September 14, 2025
Sometimes getting lost isn’t our fault. And sometimes - perhaps most of the time - we can’t get ourselves unlost. At least not alone. That’s where God steps in. We worship a God whose love is so all-encompassing that God goes looking for us, even if - perhaps especially when - we don’t move a muscle.
Letting God Shape Us
September 7, 2025
How many of you have started work or school in the last two weeks? What did you do to get ready for this new year? Probably a lot of planning and preparation. Do you think everything will go exactly as you planned this year?
September 7, 2025
How many of you have started work or school in the last two weeks? What did you do to get ready for this new year? Probably a lot of planning and preparation. Do you think everything will go exactly as you planned this year?
Lament
August 31, 2025
Like Jeremiah, we know it doesn’t have to be this way. That we do not need to live in a nation where the news of a school or house of worship shooting is so commonplace that it disappears from front page news in two days, without any hint of actionable response. So this morning, let us lean into lament a bit. Because as the old adage goes, we can only heal what we allow ourselves to feel.
August 31, 2025
Like Jeremiah, we know it doesn’t have to be this way. That we do not need to live in a nation where the news of a school or house of worship shooting is so commonplace that it disappears from front page news in two days, without any hint of actionable response. So this morning, let us lean into lament a bit. Because as the old adage goes, we can only heal what we allow ourselves to feel.
Healing
August 24, 2025
Healing is not just the absence of the “identified problem;” it is a restoration of those things we long for but have been lost, or were previously unattainable. Jesus doesn’t just cure, he heals.
August 24, 2025
Healing is not just the absence of the “identified problem;” it is a restoration of those things we long for but have been lost, or were previously unattainable. Jesus doesn’t just cure, he heals.
Baptism & Choosing Life
August 17, 2025
Baptisms are a celebration, but the earliest baptismal liturgies looked and sounded very similar to a funeral service. That is because they represented death to the ways of the world and rebirth into a life guided by Christ.
The words and symbols we use speak to this tenuous connection between life and death.
August 17, 2025
Baptisms are a celebration, but the earliest baptismal liturgies looked and sounded very similar to a funeral service. That is because they represented death to the ways of the world and rebirth into a life guided by Christ.
The words and symbols we use speak to this tenuous connection between life and death.