Sunday Sermons

The Circle of Mercy

This is a recording from the Children’s Sermon preached by Rev. Kristen Hawley at St. David’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, June 7th, on the Third Sunday in Pentecost, the First Sunday and last of the program year. Rev. Hawley teaches the congregation about God’s mercy, describing it as God’s help that enables people not only to think about what is right but to do what is right. Reflecting on the Gospel story of Jesus calling Matthew the tax collector to share a meal, she emphasizes that Jesus chooses to include someone widely disliked, not to condemn him but to show kindness that can change a heart. Using a ribbon “circle of mercy” and a pretend picnic, she demonstrates how exclusion and “earning” belonging are unmerciful, and she encourages parishioners to leave space to welcome others rather than exclude them.00:00 Welcome and Setup00:10 What Mercy Means02:06 Matthew the Tax Collector03:46 Why Jesus Invites Outsiders04:46 Ribbon Circle Activity06:00 Who Gets In07:49 Opening the Circle09:28 Mercy for Everyone11:27 Build Your Own Circle12:18 Wrap Up and Creed This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stdavidsepiscopaldc.substack.com [https://stdavidsepiscopaldc.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The Trinity as a Key Change & Finding the Current of God

Rev. Kristen Hawley preaches for Trinity Sunday at St. David’s Episcopal Church, noting the Church’s long, often confusing attempts to explain the Trinity (including the Athanasian Creed) and emphasizing that people come to understanding in different ways. She connects the Trinity to delight, inspiration, and praise, referencing a staff Easter project in which each person wrote about what helps them notice and engage God (from biscuits and words to trains, shoes, gardening, dance, and music). Describing the Trinity as a never-ending relational “dance” and current, she urges congregants to find their way into it through what moves them. She offers the musical key change as an image of Trinity and creation, using Beyoncé’s “Love on Top” and the repetitive, building pattern of Genesis—God said, saw, created, blessed, and it was good—as examples of “home” and surprise. She encourages parishioners to listen for life’s key changes that draw them into deeper connectivity and remind them “it is good.”00:22 Trinity Sunday Explained00:58 Athanasius Creed Deep Dive01:58 Is Trinitarian Language Helpful01:18 Different Paths to Truth03:10 Praise and What Moves Us03:20 Easter Staff Reflections04:01 Delightful Examples and Takeaway05:00 Entering the Trinity Current05:44 Delight as Spiritual Compass00:05 Trinity as Key Change06:30 How Key Changes Work07:29 Beyoncé Demo Love on Top09:35 Genesis as Refrain and Shift11:18 Finding Your Holy Spirit Stride12:43 Music Memories and Everyday Modulations14:26 Listen for the Key Change This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stdavidsepiscopaldc.substack.com [https://stdavidsepiscopaldc.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Branded by the Holy Spirit: One Spirit, Many Gifts

On Pentecost Sunday at the Celtic Service at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., Rev. Kristen Hawley reflects on why people come to church by comparing church identity to honest branding and slogans. She recounts teaching the Pentecost story in children’s chapel, where a child defines church as “whenever two or three are gathered” with God, and connects this to the Pentecost reading in which the Holy Spirit breaks down barriers of language and division. Drawing on Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, she emphasizes that many different gifts come from one Spirit and are meant to complete, not compete with, one another. She points to congregants stepping in when staff were absent as evidence of Spirit-filled community marked by love, shared burdens, welcome, and joy, and offers a simple slogan: “St. David’s, not perfect, working on it together.”00:00 Welcome and Pentecost00:33 Church Branding Ideas02:09 Kids Chapel Definition04:22 Pentecost Story and Unity05:39 Corinth and Many Gifts07:40 Spirit in Action Today10:35 Love Across Divisions12:09 Our Slogan and Sending This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stdavidsepiscopaldc.substack.com [https://stdavidsepiscopaldc.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Pentecost: The Spirit as Fire and the Church for the Sake of the World

Rev. Jordan Rippy describes Pentecost as a principal feast rooted in a Jewish harvest festival and as the fulfillment of Eastertide and the Ascension promise that the Holy Spirit (paraclete, a helper alongside) will be with the church. Noting biblical images of the Spirit—especially fire—Rev. Rippy emphasizes that at Pentecost the fire falls on people, then and now. Through a story about a child asking if one must go to church to be a Christian, he explains that Christian life is communal worship, service, and mutual help so congregants can be changed for the sake of the world. The Spirit gives fearful disciples, especially Peter, a voice and empowers ordinary people. He closes with a Desert Fathers saying urging believers to “become all flame.” 00:00 Pentecost Feastday 01:10 Easter Promise Fulfilled 01:53 Paraclete Helper Spirit 02:41 Spirit as Fire 03:56 Why Church Matters 04:54 Family Story Answer 06:29 Changed for World 07:20 Spirit Gives Voice 08:35 Church Beyond Opinions 09:25 Become All Flame 10:36 Pentecost Sending Prayer This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stdavidsepiscopaldc.substack.com [https://stdavidsepiscopaldc.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Power to Be Witnesses: Identity Before Action

Rev. Daniel Bentley’s sermon at St. David’s Episcopal Church (Washington, D.C.) on the Seventh Sunday of Easter reflects on Acts 1, where the disciples ask Jesus when Israel’s kingdom will be restored, and Jesus instead promises the Holy Spirit and names their identity as his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. He emphasizes that Christian life is not primarily a checklist of deeds; faithful actions flow from first knowing who we are and whose we are. Congregants become witnesses through encountering the risen Christ in baptism, Scripture, prayer, and the Eucharistic table, and then live that witness in ordinary acts of patience, presence, and care, illustrated by a marathon runner’s “being” and the life remembered at Carolyn Bail’s funeral. 00:00 Power to Witness 00:21 Disciples Ask When 01:14 Identity Over Timeline 02:08 Being Before Doing 03:13 What Makes a Witness 04:07 Meeting Christ Today 05:06 Marathon Runner Analogy 06:47 What Witness Looks Like 08:24 Come to Table 00:13 Closing Amen This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stdavidsepiscopaldc.substack.com [https://stdavidsepiscopaldc.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]