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An Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas |
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This Week's Sermon This page is offered for those unable to attend the service or who would like more time to study the message. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20 |
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Proper 9 - C 2010 / Independence Day
I Kings 19; Gal.5; July 4, 2010 Allan Conkling Happy Fourth of July and Happy Birthday to the United States of America! Poet Rudyard Kipling said:
All we have of freedom, all we use or know -- The founders of the new nation considered Independence Day an important occasion for rejoicing. John Adams said of this day: "I am apt to believe that it will be commemorated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival...It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward for evermore." And we do that well as a nation, with our annual display of flags and family gatherings; parades, patriotic music, picnics, and potato salad. Unfortunately as to the background, and responsibilities of Independence Day, that is sometimes lacking. As Mark Twain said, "Many public-school children seem to know only two dates--1492 and 4th of July; and as a rule they don't know what happened on either occasion." We speak of freedom as being an inalienable right and that brings a good feeling: "Republic: I like the sound of the word. It means people can live free, talk free; go or come, buy or sell, be drunk or sober, however they choose. Some words can give you a feeling that make your heart warm. Republic is one of those words." Of course that quote wasn’t from the Federalist Papers it was from John Wayne, playing Davy Crockett in the movie, The Alamo. So it is probably better to remember on this day some of the other quotes about rights and responsibilities. For example, it was Thomas Paine, who said, "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." Paine also said, "He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself." Abraham Lincoln said, "Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves." Probably my favorite quote is a continuation of the one I just gave from John Adams, who said, that in addition to pomp and fireworks, bells and bonfires, "It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty." Here in the Episcopal Church we are always proud that George Washington, Patrick Henry, numerous presidents, national leaders, justices and generals have claimed their affiliation with us. And yet, as Episcopalians, we also have an innate suspicion of any denomination that aligns itself too closely with the government. We of all groups know best that good fences make good neighbors, and that we are healthiest as a nation when the boundary separating church and state is firm and secure. We never forget that Jesus was a revolutionary, who went against the powers of government and religion, and it was ultimately that combination of religious collusion with imperial power that killed him. We are not God. Our country is not God. Our leaders are not God. The sins of our forebears haunt us still in their toleration of slavery and pursuit of manifest destiny. Our present day sins of global domination, economic expansion at any cost, greed and self-indulgence will be an ugly legacy left to our children and the source of our undoing as a nation if left unchecked. For the past several weeks St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians has reminded us of the true nature of freedom: "For freedom Christ has set us free," (5:1). As Christians we are to love one another in "a spirit of gentleness", "uphold one another", "bear one another's burdens", “not grow weary of doing what is right", and "work for the good of all". This reading urges us Christian Americans to remember, that for all the good we do in the world there are many ways in which we fall short as a nation and as a people to glorify our Creator. There continues to be a vast gap between what we call "our American way of life" and the way God intends for the world to be. This Independence Day can be our wake-up call to work not simply for the pursuit of our American ideals but those holy standards which God continually sets for us. Jesus says, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few". We at Emmanuel hear Christ’s call to serve. I love this country and I am grateful to God for the freedom and liberty I enjoy, recognizing full well that these are costly gifts. As you go through your day I hope you too, will remember those who even now are making it possible for us to live in freedom. Pray for the leaders of this nation, even (and probably most especially,) if you don't like them. Pray for the poor and the oppressed. Pray for our enemies. And as you pray, remember that prayer doesn't change others as much as it changes us! "May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy, more lovely, than this our own country!" (Daniel Webster) Have a great day and God bless America.
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| Available Sermons - 2011 |
Available Sermons - 2010 |
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A sermon by Allan Conkling |
A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling May 16, 2010 - Not Available A sermon by Mary Claire Lewis A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling April 25, 2010 - Not Available A sermon by Allan Conkling April 18, 2010 - Not Available A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling
A sermon by Allan Conkling Given at United Campus Ministries A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling February 14, 2010 - Not available A sermon by Allan Conkling February 7, 2010 - Not available A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling January 17 sermon - Not Available A sermon by Bob Hedges January 10 sermon - Not available A sermon by Allan Conkling January 3, 2010 - Not available A sermon by Allan Conkling |
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| Available Sermons - 2009 | Available Sermons - 2008 | |||
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A sermon by Susanna Brosseau December 25, 2009 Christmas Day A sermon by Gary Sanford December 24, 2009 Christmas Eve A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling November 8, 2009 - Not Available A sermon by Allan Conkling November 1, 2009 - Not Available A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling Blessing of the Animals A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling Given at United Campus Ministries A sermon by Gary Sanford September 27, 2009 - Not Available A sermon by Bishop Mayer September 20, 2009 - Not Available A sermon by Allan Conkling September 13, 2009 - Not Available A sermon by Bob Hedges September 6, 2009 - Not Available A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford July 26, 2009 - Not available A sermon by Bob Hedges A sermon by Allan Conkling July 12, 2009 - Not available A sermon by Bob Hedges A sermon by Allan Conkling |
A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling May 17, 2009 - Not Available A sermon by Susanna Brosseau A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling April 12,2009 - Not Available A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling March 15, 2009 - Not available A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling February 25, 2009 Ash Wednesday A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Susanna Brosseau A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling |
A sermon by Allan Conkling December 25, 2008 Christmas Day A sermon by Gary Sanford December 24, 2008 Christmas Eve A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling December 14, 2008 Youth Sunday A sermon by Christopher Steadman, Drew Theiman & Susanna Brosseau A sermon by Allan Conkling December 7, 2008 - Not available A sermon by Bob Hedges A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Alan Conkling November 16, 2008 - Not available A sermon by Bob Hedges A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling July 20, 2008 - Not available A sermon by Allan Conkling July 13, 2008 - Not available A sermon by Bob Hedges July 6, 2008 - Not available A sermon by Bob Hedges |
A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by William B. Wright A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford March 20, 2008 Maundy Thursday A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling January 20, 2008 - Not Available A sermon by Bob Hedges A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling |
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| Available Sermons - 2007 | Available Sermons - 2006 | |||
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A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Alan Conkling U2 Eucharist November 11, 2007 A sermon by Susanna Brosseau A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Bill Wright |
A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford June 9, 2007 Phil Ray Ordination A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling February 21, 2007 Ash Wednesday A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling |
A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A Sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Kelly Schneider Conkling |
A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by William B. Wright A sermon by Kelly Schneider Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Kelly Schneider Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Kelly Schneider Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Kelly Schneider Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling |
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Available Sermons - 2005 |
Available Sermons - 2004 |
Available Sermons - 2003 |
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A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Kelly Schneider Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A Sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Phil Ray |
A sermon by Kelly Schneider Conkling A sermon by Gary Sanford A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Kelly Schneider Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Jill Sethness A sermon by the Alan Conkling A sermon by the Allan Conkling A sermon by the Allan Conkling A sermon by the Allan Conkling A sermon by the Celia Ellery A sermon by the Celia Ellery A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling January 18, 2005—Induction Sermon A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Celia Ellery A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling |
A sermon by Rev Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Allan Conkling A sermon by Celia Ellery A sermon by Gary Sanford A Sermon by Celia Ellery A sermon by Celia Ellery A sermon by Celia Ellery A sermon by Celia Ellery A sermon by Michael Smith |
A sermon by Celia Ellery A sermon by John H. Loving A sermon by Celia Ellery A sermon by John H. Loving A sermon by John H. Loving A sermon by John H. Loving |
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Revised:
07/05/10
This site was last updated 07/05/10
