Episcopal Church Of All Saints, Indianapolis

"There is a wonderful mystery in the emergence of plants. We plant, yes, but we are not in final control of what happens. This parable reminds us that even though we may be planting seeds for the in-breaking Kingdom of God, the timing and ultimate germination of this Kingdom is not in our control." Brother Daniel-Chad Hoffman preaches on the sixth Sunday after Pentecost (July 16, 2017). Readings: Gen. 25:19-34; Ps. 119:105-112; Rom. 8:1-11; Matt. 13:1-9, 18-23 Image: "The Sower" (Millet), photograph by Thomas Hawk (https://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.

"Whatever our fears are, they are from us: from our culture, from our brokenness. Whether they’re rational or not can certainly be debated, but they are not from God. Justice and mercy: they are from God, and when we make the choice to resort to violence, that is not from God. That is not living into the Kingdom, and as Christians, that is what we’re called to do.” #AaronBailey Mr. Patrick Burke preaches on the Fourth Sunday of Pentecost (July 2, 2017). Readings: Genesis 22:1-14; Psalm 13; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:40-42. Image: Christ Church Cathedral, Indianapolis

"John the Baptist's version of faith is too hard! Jesus' is too easy! Just like us, they want what THEY want: a God, a faith, that is 'just right.' And, of course, 'just right' usually means 'just like me.' Not surprisingly, Jesus isn't having it." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the fifth Sunday after Pentecost (July 9, 2017). Readings: Gen. 24:34-38, 42-49; Ps. 45:10-17; Rom. 7:15-25a; Matt. 11:16-19, 25-30. Image: Rick Gordon (https://www.flickr.com/photos/rgordon/), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND license.

"Thurman is writing to men and women of color, but even among the majority of us in this congregation who are white, many of us know in our bones what this feels like: that for some of us to hold hands or present as one's true gender in public is to invite violence; that to struggle with health or money solicits derision from congressmen who say it would all be affordable if you just bought a cheaper phone." Brendan O'Sullivan-Hale preaches on the third Sunday after Pentecost (June 25, 2017). Readings: Genesis 21:8-21; Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17; Romans 6:1b-11; Matthew 10:24-39 Image: Alberto Alerigi (https://www.flickr.com/photos/albertoalerigi/), distributed under a CC BY license.

"The Anglican Communion had been struggling over our identity for some time as the British Empire collapsed but the churches birthed by the Church of England remained. The consecration of Gene Robinson was a flashpoint for the Church. The crisis led to a conversation about what held us together as a worldwide body - our history? The Archbishop of Canterbury? Our shared liturgy?" The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Feast of Corpus Christi (June 18, 2017). Readings: Deut. 8:2-3; Ps. 116:10-17; 1 Cor. 10:1-4, 16-17; Jn. 6:47-58. Image: Karin Hamilton (https://www.flickr.com/photos/episcopalct/_, distributed under a CC BY-NC license.

Gordon Chastain, Geoffrey Butcher, and Tom Honderich remember the Rev. Tom McCart at his funeral, June 17, 2017.

"It's why the doctrine of the Trinity resonates with us so well: this interplay and this dance between Father, Son, and Spirit Is relational. It includes all of creation, which is blessed and good in the eyes of God." Mr. Patrick Burke preaches on Trinity Sunday (June 11, 2017). Readings: Genesis 1:1-2:4a; Psalm 8; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20. Image: Joanna Young (flickr.com/joanna_young), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.

"The Holy Spirit is calling us, we the Church, out into the world - now and always." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Feast of Pentecost (June 4, 2017). Readings: Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b; Romans 8:22-27; John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15. Image: © Tim Jensen, used with permission.

"For each of us there is a place in God's house; there is a place especially for you, Erin, on that's not about how good or wonderful you are, but one that's about loving you for exactly who you are." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches at the ordination of Erin Hougland to the Sacred Order of Deacons on June 1, 2017. Readings: Jer. 1:4-9; Ps. 84; Acts 6:2-7; Lk. 22:24-27

"Let's not stare up into heaven, waiting for the coming of the Kingdom. We who are in the world must love it for the sake of God." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the seventh Sunday of Easter (May 28, 2017). Readings: Acts 1:6-14; Ps. 68:1-10, 32-36; 1 Pet. 4:12-14, 5:5-11; Jn. 17:1-11. Image: Clive A. Brown (https://www.flickr.com/photos/cliveabrown/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.

“The Church is a ship, keeping us safe, but that doesn’t mean that ship is to seek safety." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the sixth Sunday of Easter (May 21, 2017). Readings: Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:8-20; 1 Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21.

"Left to its own devices, a rat would return to the bottle with cocaine over and over again until it died. But a later researcher examining the study noticed that there was always just one rat in each cage with nothing to do but choose between two bottles. So he ran the experiment again." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the fifth Sunday of Easter (May 14, 2017). Readings: Acts 7:55-60; Ps. 31:1-5, 15-16; 1 Pet. 2:2-10; Jn 14:1-14 Image: Paul Narvaez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_photographer/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license

"The role of the shepherd is a matter of presence more than anything else. Political forces, social mores, and plain stupidity are powerful and real enemies of faith. Confrontation is critical, but it does not change opinions. Ultimately, presence is what changes hearts." The Rev. Tom Honderich preaches on the fourth Sunday of Easter (May 7, 2017). Readings: Acts 2:42-47; 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10; Psalm 23 Image: MCAD Library (https://www.flickr.com/photos/69184488@N06/), distributed under a CC BY license.

"What are we to make of this story of two folks who make a round trip from Jerusalem to Emmaus and back? What can we take away from a biblical story with a happy ending?" The Rev. Brantley Alexander preaches on the third Sunday of Easter. Readings: Acts 2:14a,36-41; Psalm 116:1-3, 10-17; 1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35 Image: "Emmaus Road" by Sarah Brush (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahhamilton/), distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND license.

“Peace. Forgiveness. Vulnerability. Being sent out to do His work. Those are the qualities of the risen Lord. That’s how we know Jesus in our lives. That’s how we show Jesus to the world.“ The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Second Sunday of Easter (April 23, 2017). Readings: Acts 2:14a, 22-32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31

"This is the night when we hear God's word coming down to us, speaking to us, the night we move from fear to hope." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches at the Easter Vigil (Saturday, April 15, 2017). Readings: Genesis 22:1-18; Exodus 14:10-31, 15:20-21; Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21, 9:4b-6; Zephaniah 3:14-20; Romans 6:3-11; Matthew 28:1-10. Image: Stephanie Harris, used with permission.

"We are a fearful, violent people when we look to the state rather than to our God, when we look to ourselves rather than to God, when we choose fear over hope, judgment over love, violence instead of peace. And I confess to you, on this Good Friday, I no longer hope that we're going to change." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on Good Friday (April 14, 2017). Readings: Is. 52:13-53:12; Ps. 69; Heb. 10:16-25; Jn. 18:1-19:37. Image: Thomas Hawk (https://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/), distributed under a CC BY-NC license.

“Tonight, we leave this place speechless, surrounded by darkness. We don’t turn our backs on the unspeakable pain that all-embracing love must undergo. We let the darkness itself open our eyes. We let the silence speak with meaning no words can capture." The Rev. Dr. Charles Allen preaches on Maundy Thursday (April 13, 2017). Readings: Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 116:1, 10-19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35.

"Today, we enter the drama. Faithfulness or expedience? Humility or power? The way of the cross or the way of injustice? This week, we choose." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday (April 9, 2017). Readings: Matthew 21:1-11; Psalm 118; Isaiah 50:4-9; Psalm 31:9-16; Phillipians 2:5-11; Matthew 26:14-27:66. Image: Friends of Father Pedro Opeka (flickr.com/akamasoa), used under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license.

"Jesus doesn't prevent the calamity, doesn't work in magic tricks, turning back time, forcing weather or biology or our own human hearts to his will. Rather, Jesus works with what *is*." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the fifth Sunday of Lent (April 2, 2017). Readings: Ez. 37:1-14; Ps. 130; Rom. 8:6-11; Jn. 11:1-45. Image: Tim (https://www.flickr.com/photos/79890322@N02/), distributed under a CC BY license.