St. Thomas Episcopal Church Sermons

From Dry Bones to Resurrection | Easter Vigil 2025 | The Rev. Shane Carlson

At the Easter Vigil, we step into the ancient story of God's promise to bring life from even the driest bones. The Rev. Shane Carlson invites us to move through the valley of despair into the dawning hope of resurrection. Through the voices of the faithful women at the tomb, the wind through the bones, and the light of the risen Christ, we are called to remember: hope is alive. Christ is risen! Alleluia! Join us as we journey from darkness to light, from death to life, from exile to homecoming—because God is in the business of resurrection.
📖 Scriptures: Ezekiel 37:1–14 (The Valley of Dry Bones) Luke 24:1–12 (The Women at the Tomb)
🔔 Worship with us at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Medina, Washington: Sundays at 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM PT | www.stthomasmedina.org
#EasterVigil #HeIsRisen #StThomasMedina #EpiscopalChurch #ResurrectionHope #DryBonesComeAlive #Alleluia #Easter2025

Tremble: A Good Friday Meditation on the Cross | The Rev. Jim McEachran | April 18, 2025

On this Good Friday, Rev. Jim McEachran invites us into the quiet gravity of the cross—a place of sorrow, yes, but also of unspeakable love. From Golgotha to the garden tomb, this meditation walks us through the loneliness, courage, and divine grace that pulses through the Passion story.
Through memory, scripture, and personal reflection, Rev. Jim reminds us that Jesus breathed his last so that we might breathe our first. That we are the beloved—each one of us—claimed by the One who loved us to the end. What does it mean to live at the foot of the cross, to see God in action even now? Come with your questions.
Come with your gratitude. And tremble, if you must.

“Loser”: The God Who Gave It All Up | Palm Sunday 2025 | The Rev. Edmund Harris

On this Palm Sunday, Father Edmund Harris invites us into the tension between triumph and loss. We begin with the crowd's celebration—Jesus hailed as king, cloaks laid down, palm branches waving—but quickly we are led into the heartbreak of betrayal, abandonment, and crucifixion. In this powerful reflection, Father Edmund names the discomfort of following a God who chose not power, but vulnerability. Not winning, but loss. “What does it mean to follow a God who became, by every earthly standard, a loser?” This sermon challenges us to sit with that question—not rushing to Easter, but remaining with the Jesus who stands in solidarity with the powerless, the betrayed, the incarcerated, the crucified. And in doing so, we discover the radical good news: that God shows up not just in resurrection, but in rejection too.
📖 Scripture: Luke 19:28-40, Luke 23:1-49, Philippians 2:5–11, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31:9-16 📍 St. Thomas Episcopal Church | Medina, WA 🕊️ Learn more or join us at www.stthomasmedina.org

The Fragments We Carry: Faith, Rest & the Work of Compassion | April 6, 2025 | The Rev. Shane Carlson

In this week’s sermon, Father Shane invites us to reflect on the story of the feeding of the 5,000—not as a tale of scarcity solved by miracle, but as a deeply human moment where Jesus invites his disciples (and us) into rest, community, and shared abundance. Amid lives that often feel fragmented—by personal overwhelm, cultural noise, or a world in need—what does it mean to pause, take Sabbath seriously, and bring what we have to the table? Even the smallest gifts, even the simplest compassion, may become part of something more. This sermon weaves together the Gospel of Mark, Episcopal values of shared sacrament and service, and the quiet radical act of resting as resistance. It’s a timely message for anyone seeking grounding, clarity, and a deeper sense of connection.
#StThomasMedina #EpiscopalChurch #GospelOfMark #FeedingThe5000 #FragmentsAndFaith #SabbathRest #RestAsSpiritualPractice #CompassionateFaith #LiturgicalLiving #ModernEpiscopalian #GodsAbundance #SpiritualCommunity #FaithAndWholeness #FollowingJesusToday #SundaySermonSeries #HopeintheWilderness

Longing for Home | March 30, 2025 | The Rev. Liz Costello

Mar 30, 2025 #StThomasMedina #EpiscopalChurch #Lent2025
 
Have you ever felt homesick for something deeper—something sacred? On this Fourth Sunday of Lent, Mother Liz Costello invites us to reflect on the longing that lives in each of us: the longing to come home to God. Drawing from the parable of the Prodigal Son and the wilderness themes of Lent, this sermon explores the places we lose our way and the grace that calls us back. Whether you feel close to God or far off, this is an invitation to rest in the arms of the One who is always ready to welcome you home. 🕊️ This message is for anyone seeking peace, perspective, or a renewed sense of connection during the Lenten season.
Readings: Joshua 5:9-12, Psalm 32, Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 13:31-35
#StThomasMedina #EpiscopalChurch #Lent2025 #FourthSundayOfLent #ProdigalSon #ComeHomeToGod #FaithJourney #LentenReflection #AbideInChrist #HomeInGod #SpiritualLonging #EpiscopalWorship #LiturgyAndLife #WildernessSeason #GodsGrace #SacredBelonging

Jesus, Our Only Mediator: A Love That Bridges the Divide | The Rev. Paul Barthelemy | March 23, 2025

#SpiritualReflection #ChristianLove #FirstCorinthians13
What do ancient words like mediator and advocate have to offer us in 2025? In this special sermon from guest preacher Father Paul Barthelemy, we explore the powerful phrase from the 1982 Book of Common Prayer—"Jesus Christ, our only mediator and advocate"—and ask how it still speaks to our lives today.
Father Paul unpacks what it means for Jesus to bridge the divide between humanity and the divine—not with judgment, but with love. Drawing from scripture, tradition, and his own reflections on language, liturgy, and life, Father Paul explores how love—patient, kind, and enduring—can be the foundation for holy mediation in a divided world.
A retired priest and longtime educator, Father Paul has served as parish priest, Episcopal school chaplain, headmaster, and Executive Director of the Portland Youth Philharmonic. He and his wife Mary recently made St. Thomas their parish home after moving to Washington in 2024. We are honored to share his sermon with you. 📖: Exodus 3:1-15, Psalm 63:1-8, Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:31-35 #MediatorAndAdvocate #ChristianLove #FirstCorinthians13 #BookOfCommonPrayer #FaithIn2025 #JesusOurBridge #InclusiveChurch #EpiscopalChurch #StThomasMedina #FatherPaulBarthelemy #LoveBuildsBridges #SpiritualReflection #ModernFaith

Lament & Action: Jesus’s Call to Hope | The Rev. Edmund Harris | March 16, 2025

What does it mean to lament without falling into despair? In this Second Sunday of Lent sermon, Rev. Edmund Harris reflects on Jesus's lament over Jerusalem (Luke 13:31-35) and the difference between grief that paralyzes and lament that leads to transformation. Just as Jesus did not turn away from the brokenness of Jerusalem, we are called to see, name, and respond to the injustices in our world with courageous love. But lament is not passive—it moves us toward action. Inspired by Teresa of Avila’s words—"Christ has no body now but yours"—this sermon challenges us to step into Christ’s work of healing, justice, and reconciliation. #Lent #LamentToHope #ProgressiveChristianity #EpiscopalChurch #FaithInAction #FollowingJesus #LentenJourney #HopeInHardTimes #SocialJusticeFaith #TeresaOfAvila #StThomasofMedina

Wilderness as Teacher | Rev. Liz Costello | March 9, 2025 | The First Sunday of Lent

Readings: Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 Luke 4:1-13 Lent leads us into the wilderness—a place of dislocation, but also renewal. In "Wilderness as Teacher," Mother Liz reflects on the biblical role of the wilderness, from Israel’s formation in the desert to Jesus’s time of testing. She invites us to consider our own wilderness journeys: times of uncertainty, challenge, and transformation. What does it mean to find hope in the wilderness? How do we learn to trust in God’s provision, even when it looks different than we expect? Join us as we explore the spiritual resilience the Lenten season offers.
 
#Lent #WildernessAsTeacher #FindingHope #EpiscopalChurch #LentenJourney #SpiritualResilience #FaithInTheWilderness #SeattleEpiscopal #BellevueWA #ChristianFormation #Liturgy #AnglicanTradition #FaithJourney #GodWithUs #ChurchOnline

Practicing Hope | March 2, 2025 | The Rev. Liz Costello

Scripture Readings: 
Exodus 34:29-35
Psalm 99
Corinthians 3:12-4:2
Luke 9:28-36

Love Your Enemies | February 23, 2025 | The Rev. Edmund Harris

Scripture readings:
Luke (6:27-38)
Corinthians (15:35-38,42-50)
Genesis (45:3-11, 15)