Sermons from St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Cohasset, MA



		Home \| Recorded Hymns Welcome to our Library of Sermons. Be inspired! Select from the below sermons, mostly from our 10:00 a.m. Worship Service. You are listening to "Rain to River" by William Ackerman from his CD entitled, "Past Light". (If the sound is too low or high, consider adjusting the speaker volume on your computer.) Come, Holy Spirit, Come \| May 23, 2010 A sermon on Pentacost Sunday by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield. Download the text. Faithful to God or Faithful to Scripture? \| May 2, 2010 A sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Acts 11; Psalm 148; Revelation 21; John 13. Download the text. Are you a Peter or a Paul? \| April 18, 2010 A sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Acts 9: 1-6; Psalm 30; Revelation 5; John 21 Download the text. Resurection Life and Power \| April 4, 2010 Easter Sunday Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield. Download the text. Stone Symphonies \| March 28, 2010 A sermon by the Rev. Adam Thomas on Palm Sunday. Luke 19:28-40. Download the text. You Will Always Have the Poor... \| March 21, 2010 A sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on John 12: 1-8. Download the text [PDF]. Growing on Holy Ground \| March 7, 2010 A sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Exodus 3m, Psalm 63, 1 Corinthians 10 and Luke 13. Download the text. The Word Happens \| February 28, 2010 A Sermon by the Rev. Adam Thomas on Genesis 15: 1-12, 17-18. Download the text [PDF]. Giving up the Idol of Control \| February 21, 2010 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Deuteronomy 26: 1-11; Romans 10: 8b-13; Luke 4:1-13. Download the text [PDF]. Transfiguration Figuring \| February 13, 2010 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Luke 9: 18-26. Download the text [PDF]. The Joy of The Lord \| January 24, 2010 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Nehemiah 8: 1-3, 5-6, 8-10; 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31a; Luke 4: 14-21. Download the text [PDF]. We Will Not Keep Silent (for Haiti's Sake) \| January 17, 2010 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Isaiah 62: 1-5; Psalm 36: 5-10; John 2: 1-11, on the plight of Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake. Download the text [PDF]. Christmas Preparation \| December 13, 2009 A Sermon by Dr. John Seel on Advent 3: Luke 3:7-18. Download the text [PDF]. What If? \| December 6, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Advent 2: Malachi 3: 1-4; Luke 1: 68-79 (Canticle 16); Luke 3: 1-6. Download the text [PDF]. Advent Waiting \| November 29, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Advent 1: Jeremiah 33: 14-16; 1Thessalonians 3: 9-13; Luke 21: 25-36. Download the text [PDF]. The End of the World as We Know It \| November 15, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Mark 13: 1-9. Download the text [PDF]. God's Faithfulness \| November 8, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on 1 Kings 17: 8-16; Mark 12: 38-44. Download the text [PDF]. When the Going Gets Tough \| October 25, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Isaiah 40: 21-31. Download the text [PDF]. Free to Love as He Loves \| October 11, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Amos 5: 6-7, 10-15; Hebrews 4: 12–16; Mark 10: 17-31. Download the text [PDF]. Inviting the Outside In \| September 27, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Mark 9: 38-50. Download the text [PDF]. Welcoming the Invisible \| September 20, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Mark 9: 30-37. Download the text [PDF]. Servant Leaders \| September 13, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on the meaning of our Parish Circles. Download the text [PDF]. The Implanted Word \| August 30, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on James 1: 17-27; Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23. Download the text [PDF]. Remembering \| August 23, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Joshua 24: 1-2a, 14-18; Ephesians 6: 10-20; John 6: 56-69. Download the text [PDF]. Spiritual Intelligence \| August 16, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Proverbs 9: 1-6, Ephesians 5: 15-20; John 6:51-58. Download the text [PDF]. The Christian Diet \| August 9, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on 1 Kings 19: 4-8; Ephesians 4:25 - 5:2; John 6: 35, 41-51. In this week we celebrated our time with Rev. Colette, said our goodbyes and blessed her new ministry as hospice chaplain for the Norwell VNA. Colette is forever in our hearts, etched on our faith journeys and in the story of our church. Listen to the sermon [audio file]. Download the text [PDF]. Christian Moral Living \| August 2, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Ephesians 4: 1-16; John 6: 24-35. Download the text [PDF]. Remember Whose You Are \| June 21, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Mark 4: 35-41. Download the text [PDF]. Holy Trinity Sunday \| June 7, 2009 A Sermon on the essence of the Holy Trinity by Dr. John Seel. Listen to the sermon [audio file]. On John 15:1-8 \| May 10, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on the Gospel of John 15:1-8. Listen to the sermon [audio file]. Touch Me and See \| April 26, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on the Gospel of Luke 24:36b-48. Download the text [PDF]. "Doubting Thomas" \| April 19, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Colette Wood from the Gospel of John 14:1-7. Listen to the sermon [audio file]. Easter Sunday 2009 Sermon for Easter Sunday by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield. Listen to the sermon. Good Friday 2009 \| To Be with Him in His Suffering A Meditation written by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield for Good Friday. Download the text [PDF]. Palm Sunday 2009 Sermon for Palm Sunday by the Rev. Colette Wood. Listen to the sermon [audio file]. Singing God’s Righteousness, Proclaiming God’s Praise \| March 29, 2009 A Sermon by Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Psalm 51. Download the sermon text [PDF]. On John 3:14 \| March 22, 2009 A Sermon by Dr. John Seel on the Gospel of John 3:14-21. Listen to the sermon [audio file]. Evangelism \| March 8, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on the Gospel of Mark 8:31-38. Listen to the sermon [audio file]. On Being Good to Yourself \| February 8, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Colette Wood on the Gospel of Mark 1:29-39. Listen to the sermon [audio file]. Change? In the Episcopal Church?! \| February 1, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield, recalling the martyrdom of St. Stephen in Acts 6:8-7:2a, 51c-60. Listen to the sermon [audio file]. Cure for Recession Depression \| January 25, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Psalm 62: 6-14. Download the sermon text [PDF]. God's Call in Remarkable Times \| January 18, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on MLK Day, the eve of President Obama's inauguration and 1 Samuel 3: 1-20 Listen to the sermon [audio file]. Download the text [PDF]. Listen to the stirring words of Dr. King's, "I've Been to the Mountaintop" [audio file]. On Commitment, Love and Making a Difference \| January 11, 2009 Colette Wood's first sermon as an ordained priest. Colette preaches on new beginnings and making a commitment to God; a commitment to LOVE on behalf of God, a love that breaks through the prisons that darken our lives because we forget to dream and believe. Prisons that darken our lives because we believe that love and joy weren't meant for us. Listen to the sermon [audio file]. Enlighten the Eyes of our Hearts - A Prayer for the New Year \| January 4, 2009 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-19a. Download the sermon text [PDF]. Keeping Alive the Christmas Spirit \| December 28, 2008 A Sermon by the Rev. Colette Wood on John 1:1-18. Colette preaches on the Word of God made flesh through Jesus Christ, and also on her upcoming ordination to the priesthood. Listen to the sermon [audio file]. Advent Wilderness \| December 7, 2008 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on 2 Advent; Mark 1:1-8. Download the sermon text [PDF]. The Parable of the Talents \| November 16, 2008 A Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Matthew 25: 14-30. Download the sermon text [PDF]. The Saints of God \| November 2, 2008 A Homily by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on All Saints Day. Download the sermon text [PDF]. Faith in a Time of Fear \| October 26, 2008 A Stewardship Sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Matthew 22: 34-46. Download the sermon text [PDF]. Now is a Great Time to be a Christian \| October 12, 2008 A sermon by the Rev. Colette Wood on Matthew 22: 1-14. "The wedding banquet story represents people being invited into faith. If we were to go into our mailboxes this afternoon and God had mailed us an invitation, to what would God be inviting us? Where might God be inviting you? Where are we being invited as Christian people? I think that God is inviting us into the most exciting time ever to be Christians. The most exciting time ever, at least in my life time.... Hope as Christians is not an option. It's who we are..." Because we have hope. Because we have resurrection. This is our time to really shine and to show the world that following Jesus can make a world of difference. That is the great invitation and this is the new wedding banquet to which we are invited. To be a great light in an ocean of fear... It's when things are rough, that we Christians are at our best." The God That Just Keeps Giving \| October 5, 2008 A sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Exodus 20: 1-4, 7-9, 12-20. "You can't out-give God." Download the sermon text [PDF]. God's Faithfulness \| September 28, 2008 A sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Exodus 17: 1-7. "Is the Lord among us or not?" Download the sermon text [PDF]. The Cost of Being Church (Part Two) \| September 14, 2008 A sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Matthew 18: 21-35. Download the sermon text [PDF] The Cost of Being Church (Part One) \| September 7, 2008 A sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield. "Come, Holy Spirit, come. Come to us at St. Stephen's. Come with winds of passion to enliven our minds. Come with tongues of fire to ignite our hearts. Breathe on us the wild breath of your life-giving Love. And then use us, Holy Spirit, as you will, and always to the glory of Christ's name. Amen". Download the sermon text [PDF] Who Do You Say That I Am? \| August 24, 2008 A sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Matthew 16: 13-20. Download the sermon text [PDF] Life Giving Crumbs \| August 17, 2008 A sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Matthew 15: 10-28. "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." Download the sermon text [PDF] "The kingdom of Heaven is like __________." \| July 27, 2008 A sermon by Rev. Colette Wood on the Gospel of Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43. In this sermon, Colette finishes the sentence, "The kingdom of Heaven is like __________." This sermon will touch everyone, and especially dog lovers, who know the unconditional love that they get from their pet - regardless of how they dress, what they do and whether they're rich or poor. This is how God loves us. This is the kingdom of Heaven, and in that place there is no fear. Jacob and the God of In-Between Places \| July 20, 2008 A sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield on Genesis 29: 10-19a; Psalm 139; Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43. Download the text [PDF] Seeds of Gospel Grace \| July 13, 2008 Listen to this sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield. Download the text [PDF] Matthew 13:1-9 and 18-23. Grace in the Binding of Isaac \| June 29, 2008 A sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield [text only] Genesis 22:1-14 June 22, 2008 > Sermon by Rev. Colette Wood Colette delivers this sermon on the Genesis story where God promises to make great nations of Abraham's sons, the one he conceived with Sarah and the one that he conceived with his slave, Hagar. She tells us of Hagar, abandoned with her child to suffer death in the wilderness, but who was saved by an Angel of God after God heard the voice of her boy. When in today's Gospel reading [Matthew 10:24-39], Jesus says that he has come not to bring peace, but a sword, Colette asks whether that sword might be about fighting injustice and oppression, such as what Hagars everywhere are facing in this day. And she talks about this dysfunctional family of Abraham's and how from a common heritage sprang the Jewish and Arab peoples - sharing the same God then, as now. Colette points out that God called them to be great nations, and nowhere did he say that one was better than the other or that one was right and one was wrong - only that they should be great. Evangelism for Episcopalians? \| June 15, 2008 A sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield [text only] Genesis 18:1-15 and Matthew 9:35-10:8 Colette Wood's Ordination to the Diaconate \| June 7, 2008 Sermon by The Rt. Rev. M. Thomas Shaw, Diocesan Bishop Congratulations to REVEREND Colette! The God of Infinite Patience \| May 25, 2008 A sermon by the Rev. Margot D. Critchfield [text only] Matthew 6:24-34 Installation Ceremony: A Celebration of Ministry \| May 4, 2008 Sermon at the 10:00 a.m. Family Service The Reverend Dr. Frank Wade delivers this sermon on Acts 1:6-14 and links it to the occasion, later that day, of the celebration of our ministry with Reverend Margot. Read the text. Sermon at the Installation Service, by Bishop Bud Cedarholm Sermon by The Rt. Rev. Bud Cedarholm, Suffragan Bishop for the Start of our Ministry with Rev. Margot (aka, Margot's Installation). April 27, 2008 > Sermon by Colette Wood In this Gospel account [John 14:15-21], Jesus said to his disciples, "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you." April 13, 2008 > Sermon by Colette Wood A sermon on the Gospel of John 10:1-10. In this Gospel account, Jesus is the image of The Good Shepherd. Do we follow the shepherd's voice when we hear it? April 6, 2008 > Sermon by Rev. Margot A sermon on the Gospel of Luke 24:13-35, on the appearance of the risen Christ to followers on the way to Emmaus. Where are you looking for God in your life? March 30, 2008 > Sermon by Colette Wood The first Sunday after Easter is known by the church as "Low Sunday", and Colette has something to say about that! Easter Sunday, 2008 > Sermon by Rev. Margot Easter sermon, delivered at our 8:00 a.m. worship service. March 16, 2008 > Sermon by Rev. Margot Palm Sunday sermon, delivered at our 10:00 a.m. worship service. March 9, 2008 > Sermon by Rev. Margot A sermon on Ezekiel 37:1-14. "O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD". March 2, 2008 > Sermon by Rev. Margot Reverend Margot's first sermon as Rector of St. Stephen's. Amazing grace, indeed! February 10, 2008 > Sermon by Rev. Edward Reverend Edward's final sermon, reflecting on his year of ministry with us. January 20, 2008 > Sermon by Rev. Edward A sermon on God's call to us and our response to that call. January 13, 2008 > Sermon by Colette Wood A sermon on Matthew 3:13-17 concerning the Baptism of Jesus. January 6, 2008 No sermon was given on account of our Epiphany Pageant December 30, 2007 > Epiphany sermon by Rev. Edward (This sermon has been archived and is available on request). Christmas Eve, 2007 > Hymns, Readings & Sermon Recorded Hymns from our Christmas Eve service include "O Come all ye Faithful" and "Joy to the World". The First Lesson, read by Penelope Place, is from Isaiah 9:2-4, 6-7. The Second Lesson, read by David Burnham, is from Titus 2:11-14. Sermon is by Rev. Edward. December 16, 2007 > Readings, Gospel & Sermon Listen to the First and Second Lessons, the Gospel and Reverend Edward's sermon. Our recordings are more expansive for this day, because many parishioners could not make it to church on account of a Noreaster. December 2, 2007 > Sermon by Colette Wood A sermon on Isaiah for the 1st Sunday in Advent. November 11, 2007 > Sermon by Colette Wood A sermon for Veterans Day. October 28, 2007 > Sermon by Reverend Edward A sermon on Stewardship, your gifts to St. Stephen's. October 14, 2007 > Sermon by Reverend Edward On Loyalty Amidst Hardship, from the Book of Ruth and Paul's Second Letter to Timothy. September 30, 2007 > Sermon by Colette Wood On Jeremiah 32:1-15. "How are we planning for our spiritual futures? How are we investing in our faith? Are we growing in our faith or just passing time?" (This sermon has been archived and is available on request). September 23, 2007 > Sermon by Colette Wood On Environmental Stewardship (This sermon has been archived and is available on request). EASTER, April 8, 2007 > Sermon by Reverend Edward On the Gospel of Luke [24:1-12]. (This sermon has been archived and is available on request). Selected passages: “They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen." March 25, 2007 > Sermon by Colette Wood On the Gospel of John [12:1-8]. Selected passages: "Mary of Bethany's is so happy to have Jesus in her home, her heart was so full of love that she could not contain herself. She digs out of her closet one of the few luxuries she probably had. A whole pound of perfume and she brought it out to anoint the feet of this very special man. Mary of Bethany is for us an example of discipleship based on very simple acts of very deep love. She takes what is human made and uses it to touch the sacred. Mary is just bursting at the seams with love for Jesus. So full of the moment. Mary says in this story that we too can touch the divine. We too can take what is human made in our world and use it to seek out - to touch the Holy." March 11, 2007 > Sermon by Rev. Edward On the parable of the fig tree from the Gospel of Luke [13:1-9]. (This sermon has been archived and is available on request). Selected passages: “In the parable of the fig tree, Jesus warns us to repent, but like the gardener, He gives us a second chance. Lent is the season to exercise second chances, to dig around our own fig trees, put on the manure and wait for the fruit. With the simple, but yet powerful parable of the fig tree, Jesus solidified the point that you and I, we must live out evidence of our repentance." February 25, 2007 > Sermon by Rev. Edward On the Gospel of Luke and the three temptations Jesus faced after his Baptism and fasting in the wilderness. (This sermon has been archived and is available on request). January 21, 2007 > Sermon by Colette Wood On the Gospel of Luke, concerning the beginning of Jesus' ministry, and on the message of diversity from Paul's Letter to the Corinthians. "Corinthians says to that every member is as important as the next. Each has its own gifts and the body would not be the same if just one were missing. To me this is a celebration of diversity, because it's within diversity that we find all that we need when an event or an announcement rattles our foundation." (This sermon has been archived and is available on request). January 7, 2007 Sermon on the Baptism of Jesus. (Not delivered at Sunday's worship service, because of the Epiphany Pageant.) Prepared by Colette Wood. Read the text. December 10, 2006 "Do You Hear What I Hear?". Delivered by Colette Wood. (This sermon has been archived and is available on request). John cried out from the wilderness, "do you hear what I hear? Do you know the Lord is coming? Prepare the way for the Lord." Why are there still voices crying out in the wilderness that no one hears? December 3, 2006 > Sermon by Rev. Beth Wheatley-Dyson "Keeping Watch at Advent". Delivered by Rev. Beth. (This sermon has been archived and is available on request). November 26, 2006 "What is Christ King over in Your Life?". Delivered by Colette Wood. (This sermon has been archived and is available on request). November 12, 2006 Sermon on the widow from the Gospel of Mark 12:38-44. Delivered by Colette Wood. Read the sermon. October 29, 2006 > Sermon by Rev. Beth Wheatley-Dyson Sermon on the story of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar from the Gospel of Mark 10:46-52. Delivered by Rev. Beth. (This sermon has been archived and is available on request). October 8, 2006 > Sermon by Rev. Beth Wheatley-Dyson On "Hardness of Heart", concerning the tragic shootings in the Amish schoolhouse. HOME \| TOP