Monday, December 31, 2012

Grace Upon Grace





Greetings Friends in Christ,

The picture above is from the service yesterday. I'm wearing the new stole made for me by church member Cari Sherwood. As you can see, it is made to represent the church windows behind me. Cari made it for me so that I can always remember and feel connected to everyone at SPOTH. I'm so thankful for this gift, and the gift of the past nine years as priest-in-charge and then rector of St. Paul's on-the-Hill Episcopal Church. Standing with me is the Rev. Dr. Ellen Richardson, who has been my colleague in ministry since 2010; she remains priest-in-residence at the church.

This will be my last post from this blog as a blog from St. Paul's on-the-Hill. In the next few days, I will rename this blog and begin posting here from the reality of my current transition to new ministry.

We had a great day yesterday, December 30th, the 1st Sunday after Christmas. The service was lovely and included within the liturgy was a form of The Ending of a Pastoral Relationship, which I include below. I'm also including here a link to yesterday's sermon from my new personal sermon site, where you will be able to hear my future sermons.

The Meaning of Incarnation Sermon given by Hilary+ on December 30, 2012


The Ending of a Pastoral Relationship

Rector In September of 2003, I began my ministry with you as priest-in-charge and was later called to be rector. I have, with God’s help and to the best of my abilities, exercised this trust, accepting its privileges and responsibilities. After prayer and careful consideration, it now seems to me that I should leave this charge, and I publicly state that my tenure as rector of St. Paul’s on-the-Hill ends today at the conclusion of this service.

Rector Do you, the people of St. Paul’s on-the-Hill recognize and accept the conclusion of this pastoral relationship?

People We do.

Symbols of our shared ministry will be given to representatives of the congregation, after which the following prayers are said.

Rector Let us pray. O God, you have bound us together for a time as priest and people to work for the
 advancement of your kingdom in this place:
Rector and People We give you humble and hearty thanks for the ministry which we have shared in these years now past.

Rector We thank you for your patience with us despite our blindness and slowness of heart.
Rector and People We thank you for your forgiveness and mercy in the face of our many failures.

Rector Especially, we thank you for your never-failing presence with us through these years,
Rector and People and for the deeper knowledge of you and of each other which we have attained.

Rector We thank you for those who have been joined to this part of Christ’s family during these years.
Rector and People We thank you for opening our hearts and minds again and again to your Word, and for feeding us abundantly with the sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood.

People Now we pray, be with Hilary+ who leaves and with us who stay;
Rector and People and grant that all of us, by drawing ever nearer to you, may always be close to each other in the communion of your saints. All this we ask for the sake of Jesus Christ, your Son our Savior. Amen. 

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Sermon Preview for the 1st Sunday after Christmas

Sermon for the 1st Sunday after Christmas; December 30, 2012



The Meaning of Incarnation



Friday, December 28, 2012

My Last Sunday at SPOTH

Seeing this sign last night was very emotional for me. I'm so thankful for everything my faith community for the last nine years has shared with me. Tomorrow we will celebrate our shared ministry and our Savior who has made everything possible. It is all by God's grace.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Christmas Sermon 2012 Preview

Go Now To Bethlehem


I will be preaching a shorter, kid-friendly, version of this sermon at 4:00 pm, though still with enough for the adults to be engaged at a deep level, I hope. Full sermon at 9:00 pm and Christmas Day at 10:30 am.


wordle.net


Christmas Services


Sermon given on the 4th Sunday of Advent

The Good and the Bad News of Christmas


Sermon given by the Rev. Bruce Gallup on the 4th Sunday of Advent, December 23, 2012. Bruce continues where Ellen left off last week, in a sense, with the tragedy in Newtown CT and how we are dealing with it personally...and all within the context of Advent 4. Well done.

http://sermon.net/spoth/sermonid/1199919280

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Join Us for the 4th Sunday of Advent

On December 23rd, we will celebrate the 4th Sunday of Advent. Join us to worship at 8am or 10:30am. No Saturday service this weekend.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Sermon given on the 3rd Sunday of Advent

Lament

Sermon given on the 3rd Sunday of Advent, December 16, 2012, by the Rev. Dr. Ellen Richardson.

Ellen does an excellent job of addressing the tragic events of last Friday in CT.


http://sermon.net/spoth/sermonid/1199914829

Sermon given on the 2nd Sunday of Advent

Preparing for Salvation


My sermon given on the 2nd Sunday of Advent, December 9, 2012.

http://sermon.net/spoth/sermonid/1199908913

Friday, December 14, 2012

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Monday, December 10, 2012

Youth Group Goes Caroling

Youth and adults from church brought joy to members of the parish on Sunday December 9th when we went caroling.

Why Do What You Have Never Done



Saturday, December 8, 2012

This Weekend's Sermon Preview

Preparing for Salvation


Hear this sermon live at St. Paul's on-the-Hill tonight, Saturday Dec. 8th, 5:00 p.m. And on Sunday, the Second Sunday of Advent, December 9th, at 8:00 a.m. or 10:30 a.m.


Friday, December 7, 2012

The Gift You Can Give to Hilary+

The Greatest Gift


Into my final weeks at St. Paul's on-the-Hill. I'm preaching this weekend and then again for Christmas and on my last Sunday December 30th. People often ask what they can give clergy when they are concluding their ministry with them. The greatest gift that you can give me is to see you in church and worship with you in these next weeks. That means you! :)

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Sermon from the First Sunday in Advent

Beginnings and Endings

In the context of Advent, I discuss the endings and beginnings that our church is now going through following the announcement that I am concluding my ministry with the wonderful people of St. Paul's on-the-Hill on December 30, 2012. My leaving will be the first time a rector has left SPOTH under good circumstances. The two rectors before me left in the midst of conflict. Both times, the church suffered much pain and loss because of conflict. This time, we are having a good ending. That is significant, and a significant experience of grace! I pray that this time of transition and the final service will be a time of healing for many who have had bad experiences of clergy leaving or of endings in life that were handled in a less than graceful way. I really feel the Spirit in this time. Thanks be to God. 


http://sermon.net/spoth/sermonid/1199896816

Sermon from Christ the King Sunday Nov. 25

God's Reign in Our Hearts


http://sermon.net/spoth/sermonid/1199896805