Explaining the inexplicable: thoughts for Trinity Sunday. Delivered at Ascension Episcopal Church, Hinton, West Virginia, June 3, 2007 (Trinity Sunday Year C)
Author: Kent Higgins
Fr. Kent is an Episcopal Priest in the Diocese of West Virginia. He functions primarily as a supply priest, but also serves as Dean of the Kanawha Deanery. He was ordained deacon December 16, 2006 and priest June 16, 2007. He is married and the father of two grown sons. Fr. Kent retired from his "day job" in August, 2014.
Varieties of Gifts
When you need real heavy lifting done, it’s time to call on the Holy Spirit – but be prepared to get out of the way! Reflections on Pentecost delivered May 27, 2007, at Ascension Episcopal Church, Hinton, West Virginia (Pentecost Year C).
That They May Be One
Parallels in Scripture: Elisha is to Elijah as Jesus is to God the Father – sort of. A look at the empowering of Jesus’ apostles. Preached at Ascension Church, Hinton, West Virginia, the Sunday following the Feast of the Ascension, May 20, 2007 (Easter 7 Year C).
We are Mortals Just Like You
We’re not asked to have a faith with an answer for everything, nor do we have to be able to prove everything, or anything for that matter. Paul and Barnabas in Turkey, mistaken for gods incarnate. Delivered at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Mullens, West Virginia, May 13, 2007 (Easter 6 Year C).
If You Have Love For One Another
More on the subject of church building, including something on the idea of giving away what we have to others. Preached on May 6, 2007, at Ascension Episcopal Church, Hinton, West Virginia (Easter 5 Year C).
Hearing the Voice of Jesus in the Anglican Way
Some people read the Bible seeking black-and-white answers to “some of lifes persistent questions,” but that approach doesn’t work well for me. Anglicanism has historically been sufficiently flexible to allow people to have differing understandings of the Bible, even opposing views, and yet to remain in communion with one another. Would that it were still so! This ermon was delivered April 29, 2007, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Mullens, West Virginia (Easter 4 Year C).
All Things Are Made New
Church building is not about buildings, but about doing something, and that something is the spreading of God’s good news. Preached at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Mullens, West Virginia, on April 22, 2007 (Easter 3 Year C).
“Doubting Thomas” – An Alternate View
Thomas is famous for appearing to deny the risen Lord, but is that what the Bible says? This sermon is a personal example of how a few words, previously skimmed over, can and did change my view of what happens with Thomas. The intent of this sermon is not to convert anyone to my point of view, but to explore how Scripture speaks to us. Delivered at Ascension Episcopal Church, Hinton, West Virginia, on April 15, 2007.
Easter Sunday – Why are we here today?
This sermon is loosely connected to that for Maundy Thursday in that it talks a bit about “midrash” as a technique for studying Scripture, one which I think is mis-used on occasion to avoid dealing with the hard issues of what we really believe. Delivered at Ascension Episcopal Church, Hinton, WV, on April 8, 2007.
The Last Supper
Maundy Thursday is the day on which Jesus eats the Last Supper with the twelve apostles. The name comes from the Latin which is the root for the English “mandate,” and refers to the “new coommandment” that we love one another as Christ loved us. (In the Jewish reckoning of days, what we know as a Thursday evening meal took place on Friday, the same day as the crucifixion.) The traditional foot-washing of that service demonstrates the servant nature of that love. Delivered at Ascension Episcopal Church, Hinton, WV, April 5, 2007.