Sermons

LECTIONARY - BASED PREACHING AT OUR PRINCIPAL, SUNDAY SERVICE

Pastor Heather Morgan loves to preach the Word of God.  Using a conversational style, she presents the biblical texts for the day.  Being a teacher by nature, Heather’s sermons reach people of all educational levels. They oftentimes illuminate an aspect of the Bible, the Book of Common Prayer, the liturgical calendar, or the Church.  Heather’s sermons emphasize an application of the Word of God to our daily routines of life in Christ.  Sometimes she preaches from a manuscript, and sometimes she preaches without notes.  On high, holy days, she preaches a fun, children’s sermon for the young and the young at heart!  Columbia Hope Church uses the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL).  A lectionary is a set of readings from the Bible, in which readings are assigned to be read on particular days.  Because we use a “common” lectionary, the readings you hear at our church on any particular day also are heard in many other main-line denominations on the same day.  A benefit of using a lectionary is a comprehensive reading of Scripture: it assures us that we will hear many and various passages on a regular basis.

A VARIETY OF VOICES FROM OUR PULPIT

From time to time, the Rev. Janet Schisser, our Deacon, preaches a sermon.  Also, we frequently have special, guest preachers from around our diocese.  On the day of our Launch (February 8, 2009), the Rev. Dan Smith, Canon to the Ordinary in the Diocese of Missouri, was with us to preach.  Our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Wayne Smith, was with us to preach and celebrate the Holy Eucharist on Sunday, February 9, 2010 for our First Anniversary.  Other guest preachers have included the Rev. Emery Washington, Chair Emeritus of the DIsmantling Racism Commission of the DIocese of Missouri, and the Rev. Mark Sluss and the Rev. Jason Samuel, both members of the OASIS Commission of the Diocese of Missouri.  Special supply priests both preach and celebrate at Columbia Hope when our Pastor is out of town; these include the Rev. Carrol Davenport, the Rev. Harv Sanders, and the Rev. Charlie Morris.  Lay leaders from around the diocese have also blessed us with spiritual and educational talks of various kinds outside the context of the sermons themselves: these special speakers have included Brother Carl Hooker, OPA; Mrs. Kate Haggens; Mr. Chester Hines; and Ms. Lydia Ruffin.