Holy Trinity Silicon Valley - Homilies & Sermons

Peter asked Jesus how many times he must forgive, and offered a generous answer: seven. Jesus' reply, "seventy-seven times," moves forgiveness beyond anything we can count. In this sermon from Holy Trinity Silicon Valley, the Rev. John Gorin looks at the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:21–35). He calls it both comforting and disturbing. It is comforting because it shows the scale of God's mercy toward us. It is disturbing because it makes clear that forgiving others is not optional. In this episode: Why we have a God-given "justice reflex," and why staying there blocks our path like a mudslide on Highway 1 through Big Sur How unresolved offenses spread through workplaces, families, and churches, including a medieval dispute over communion bread during the East–West split The unpayable debt: what the king's mercy cost, and what Christ's mercy cost The link between receiving God's forgiveness and extending it (Matthew 6:14–15) A practical step: naming the offense and declaring forgiveness in the name of Jesus, even before our emotions catch up Insights from Lewis Smedes' The Art of Forgiving on relapses, lingering anger, and patience with the healing process Why "mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13) Scripture: Matthew 18:21–35; Matthew 6:9–15; James 2:13 Resource mentioned: Lewis B. Smedes, The Art of Forgiving: When You Need to Forgive and Don't Know How About Holy Trinity Silicon Valley Holy Trinity Silicon Valley is an Anglican church in Palo Alto, California, part of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) and the Diocese of Christ Our Hope (C4SO). We are a liturgical, sacramental community rooted in ancient tradition and engaged with the life of Silicon Valley. Learn more and join us on Sunday at https://www.holytrinitysv.org.

Summer's over but autumn hasn't shown up yet. Deacon Cindy Miller notices that we're living in that same gap spiritually: the Kingdom of God is here, and it also isn't here yet. She'll tell you she doesn't usually bother titling her sermons. This one she did, because the week leading up to it was one of the hardest she's had, and the in-between is where she found herself sitting with some genuinely difficult scriptures. Ezekiel gets called as a watchman. Matthew hands the church an uncomfortable process for what to do when someone sins against you. Paul, in Romans 12, says your love has to be sincere, then keeps going: bless the people who persecute you, mourn with those who mourn, live in harmony. The question Cindy keeps returning to is why. Why does God ask us to do the hard thing and go to the person who hurt us? Her answer is that he's teaching us how to love the way he loves, and that's a lifetime of formation rather than a switch that flips. Keep short accounts. Go to people in a way that's loving and respectful, because you have no idea what kind of week they've had. And when someone won't hear it, you don't write them off forever, you just move them out of your close circle and keep leaving the door open. She lands on three things from Romans 12:12 to carry into the week. Be joyful in hope. Be patient in affliction. Stay faithful in prayer. One line worth the whole sermon: love is an action, not an adjective. Anyone who's been married a long time already knows that. Holy Trinity is an Anglican church (ACNA / C4SO) in Palo Alto. Sermons are posted weekly.

Every team has conflict. Most of us just hope nobody brings it up. Rev. John Gorin starts this week with Patrick Lencioni's Five Dysfunctions of a Team and its second dysfunction, the fear of conflict, before turning to a much older one in Matthew 16. Jesus tells his disciples that whoever wants to save their life will lose it, and whoever loses it for his sake will find it. Every disciple has to decide which life they're actually trying to keep. From there John looks at why the alternatives have such a pull on us. Money, power, sex, and the applause of other people were good gifts in the garden before they got bent, and they still promise a security they can't deliver. Peter finds this out the hard way. He's just been called the rock, he takes Jesus aside to talk him out of the cross, and he gets one of the sharpest rebukes in the Gospels. Not because he's malicious, but because well-meant advice can still come from the wrong place. The last stretch is practical. John calls them "little habits": bookending the day with Morning Prayer and Compline, being honest about the conflicts you'd rather deny, and giving thanks in all circumstances even when you don't like how things are going. Small things, done for years, by saints who never faced anything as dramatic as Calvary. Also in this one: Romans 7, Tim Keller on counterfeit gods, Bruner on what self-denial is and isn't, and a Supertramp reference that will land for about a third of the room. Holy Trinity is an Anglican church (ACNA / C4SO) in Palo Alto. Sermons are posted weekly.

For two thousand years, Christians have practiced their faith by gathering weekly as a church. So it may come as a surprise that Jesus mentions the church only three times in Matthew's Gospel. In one of them, He tells us almost everything we need to know about what the church is for. In this sermon, Rev. John Gorin turns to Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi: "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God". John then asks what the church looks like when it is at its best. He offers three marks: a church with Jesus at its center, answering rightly the question of who He is; a church engaged in the mission it has been given, breathing the Lord's life into strained relationships, offenses, and the ordinary demands of a week; and a church rooted and grounded in love, honest that none of us has arrived. Along the way, he takes up the long-contested question of what Jesus meant by "this rock". Rev. John explains how Catholic, Reformation, and Anglican readings differ and offers a corrective on the gates of Hades: gates are defensive, not offensive. The church is not bracing for attack. It is advancing with an offer of life. Holy Trinity Silicon Valley is an Anglican parish (ACNA / C4SO) in the heart of the Bay Area.

Elliot Haught opens with a fence. A redwood one, built in his Oakland front yard with a few friends after the contractor quotes came back way too high. It's a good fence. It marks where the private yard ends and the public sidewalk begins, and the gate works like a portal between the two. Boundaries do that. They're useful, and they're deeply human. They're also how we decide who's in and who's out — and that's where this sermon goes. The readings for the day all circle the same question. Isaiah tells foreigners and eunuchs, the outsiders of ancient Israel, that they get a name in God's house that outlasts sons and daughters. Psalm 67 says "all nations" and "peoples" twelve times in seven verses, which Elliot admits is almost obnoxious. Paul warns the Gentiles in Rome not to get smug about being grafted into someone else's olive tree. And then there's the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15 — an enemy of Israel, by the standards of the day — who asks Jesus to heal her daughter and doesn't take his first answer for a final one. Her faith is desperate, persistent, humble, and, Elliot argues, genuinely playful. She's the one who brings up the crumbs under the table. Fifteen centuries later, the church put her words in the Prayer of Humble Access. An outsider's line became the prayer we say right before we come to the table. As Elliot puts it: that's very much like God. Recorded August 16, 2026 at Holy Trinity Silicon Valley. Readings: Isaiah 56:1, 6–8 · Psalm 67 · Romans 11:1–2a, 29–32 · Matthew 15:21–28 More: holytrinitysv.org

The best soccer players in the world aren't set apart by their touch. They're set apart by how often they lift their heads — scanning the field every few seconds, because the picture decays that fast. In this sermon from Ordinary Time, Mayo Adigun suggests the life of faith works much the same way. We have been given a true picture of the field: a God who reigns over chaos and is even now making all things whole. But the picture fades. The winds pick up, we look away, and within seconds we've lost it. Tracing three scenes — Jonah singing thanksgiving from the belly of the fish, the Lord enthroned above the storm in Psalm 29, and Jesus walking out onto the water in Matthew 14 — this message lands on a simple claim: chaos does not reign. And when Peter sinks, the hand reaches him before a single word about his faith. For anyone in a season where the shalom you walked in a moment ago is hard to remember, this one is for you. Texts: Jonah 2, Psalm 29, Matthew 14:22–33 Holy Trinity Silicon Valley is an Anglican church (ACNA / C4SO) in Palo Alto, California — a liturgical community for those drawn to beauty, depth, and historic Christian worship. Join us Sundays, or find more info at https://www.Holytrinitysv.org

We know how to bring God our catastrophes. The harder question is what to do with the ordinary friction of being a person. Maybe that's the missed meal, the runny nose, the car that cuts us off, or the small things that quietly keep us from prayer and from our neighbors. Preaching from Matthew 14:13–21, Romans 8:35–39, and Nehemiah 9:16–21, Kate Lucky begins with two children's Bibles and the story of Christ feeding the Five Thousand. From there she turns to the passage that insists nothing in creation can separate us from the love of God. Her answer is not lower expectations but a wider view of mercy: the God who sustained Israel in the wilderness attended to the smallest details. He is present in the tedium of living in a body, and the capacity he builds in us is meant to be turned outward, toward other people's hunger, insecurity, and ridiculous humanity. Recorded August 2, 2026, at Holy Trinity Silicon Valley — an Anglican church in Palo Alto (ACNA / Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others). To learn more about Holy Trinity Silicon Valley head to: https://www.holytrinitysv.org

Interested in checking out Holy Trinity Silicon Valley? Head to https://www.holytrinitysv.org The night before D-Day, General Eisenhower had two meteorologists telling him opposite things, a hundred thousand troops waiting, and no way to push the decision onto anyone else. Most of us will never carry a choice that size. But we know the feeling of standing in front of a decision we don't feel qualified to make. This week we sit with the question of discernment. When Solomon became king, he had every option available to him and asked God for one thing: a listening heart. Not wealth, not a long life, not victory over his enemies. Just the ability to tell the difference between what is right and what only looks right. We talk about the pots currently on your stove. The relational rift you keep circling back to. The next step in your career, and the worry that you're either too late or too early. The self-care you keep putting off because accomplishment feels more urgent. And we look honestly at what makes discernment hard, from our habit of gathering one more data point to the quiet bias that wants a certain answer before we ever start praying. Then Romans 8 does what Romans 8 does. God is working all of it for good, and that good has a shape: becoming more like His Son. Gregory of Nyssa pictured our souls as silver mirrors slowly being polished clean. Every decision, every setback, every joy is part of that polishing. And while we wait for clarity, the Holy Spirit is already groaning on our behalf, praying a prayer beyond prayer. If God is for us, who can be against us? Scripture: 1 Kings 3:5-12, Romans 8:26-32

What if the weeds in the field look exactly like the wheat? In this sermon on the parable of the wheat and the weeds (Matthew 13), David McGaw digs into a detail most of us miss: the "weed" Jesus names is darnel, a toxic false wheat that is nearly indistinguishable from the real thing until harvest. Its roots entangle with the wheat, which means you cannot rip it out without destroying the good crop alongside it. That single agricultural fact reframes the whole parable. The field is the world, not the church. The call is not to purify the field ourselves, or to spend our lives wondering To find out more about Holy Trinity Silicon Valley head to: https://www.holytrinitysv.org

Somewhere around thirty-five, our bodies start to slow down. Life in the Spirit works the other way. The older we get, the more vibrant and consequential our life in Christ is meant to become. In this sermon from Romans 8, Rev. John Gorin looks at three things the Holy Spirit does for us. He assures us of a future secured by the risen Christ. He helps us today, in the middle of the stubborn habits and old ways of thinking that are so hard to pull out by the roots. And he reminds us that we belong to God the Father, adopted as his children, able to call him "Abba." If you've been fighting the same battle for a long time, or quietly wondering whether any of this holds up, this one is for you. Outwardly we are wasting away. Inwardly we are being renewed day by day. To find out more about Holy Trinity Silicon Valley Anglican church head to: https://www.holytrinitysv.org

This week we celebrated 250 years as a country, with all the good and the hard parts of that history. But our scriptures point us to a freedom that goes deeper than any nation can offer. The prophet Zechariah calls believers "prisoners of hope," and it's a phrase worth sitting with. Because of who God is, hope never runs out. In this message by Deacon Cindy Millwer we look at Zechariah 9, Psalm 145, Romans 7, and Matthew 11. David praised God through a very difficult life. Paul was honest about how hard it is to keep sin out of ours. And Jesus offers rest to anyone who is weary and carrying a heavy load. You'll also hear a story from a recent hospital visit, where a woman in terrible pain found real relief the moment she turned to prayer. To find out more about Holy Trinity Silicon Valley head to: https://www.holytrinitysv.org

What does it actually cost to follow Jesus, and what do we gain when we do? In this message from Holy Trinity Silicon Valley, Rector John Gorin turns to Matthew 10:37-39, where Jesus tells his disciples three times that loving family, comfort, or life itself more than him makes us "not worthy" of him. Drawing on the Greek word Axios, the root of our word "axiom," the message explores how worthiness here isn't about personal value, but about alignment: living a life that reflects who Christ is and what he prioritizes. The teaching confronts two pressures every disciple faces. There is family pressure, where our deepest relationships can pull against our calling, and cultural pressure, where good gifts like reputation, money, and meaningful work quietly become things we grip too tightly. Using a vivid image, the Tahoe casino billboards promising a thrill that always disappoints, Rector Gorin asks an honest question: is there something in your life you've told God, "Anything but that, Lord"? But the heavy news gives way to good news. The same Lord who calls us to take up our cross is the one who helps us carry it. Through the story of John Mark, the missionary who quit, was written off, and yet went on to author a Gospel, we're reminded that the final word about our worthiness has not yet been written. We serve the God of another chance, who invites us to lose our life for his sake and, in doing so, finally find the life we were made for. A message on discipleship, sacrifice, and the freedom of holding life's blessings with an open hand.

What happens when following Jesus moves from the joy of the harvest to the hard work of facing real opposition? Continuing our journey through Matthew's Gospel, this message picks up where Jesus commissions his disciples. He doesn't offer a sugarcoated vision, but speaks honest words about what lies ahead. He sends them out "like sheep among wolves," warning of councils, persecution, and even division within families. It's a sobering shift from the excitement of being sent into the harvest to the genuine cost of the effort. But Jesus doesn't leave his followers in fear. Three times he says: Do not be afraid. And he gives three reasons why. This week's teaching explores what that means for us today. It speaks not only to Christians around the world facing high levels of persecution, but also to those of us navigating faith in a culture that's grown more skeptical. What does it look like to live openly as a follower of Jesus in a place like Silicon Valley, where assumptions and "baggage" are already assigned before we say a word? And how does the example of Christ himself, who "for the joy set before him endured the cross," reframe the way we understand opposition? Drawing on Scripture, history, and the witness of believers like Stephen and Augustine, this message offers a grounded, hopeful reminder. Our circumstances may not change, but the presence of God can transform how we walk through them. Fear gives way to peace when we trust that we are seen, known, and deeply loved. Join us as we sit with a difficult but freeing truth: the same resurrection power Jesus displayed is the power he extends to us. A sermon from Holy Trinity Silicon Valley. To find out more about Holy Trinity head to https://www.holytrinitysv.org

We live in the heart of Silicon Valley, a place that is completely obsessed with scaling up, massive innovation, and huge tech launches. It is easy to get caught up in wanting our own lives and careers to have that same kind of massive impact. In this episode, Rev. John Gorin asks a great question. What if the most important startup out there is not the next big tech company, but the one Jesus started two thousand years ago? Looking at the Gospel of Matthew, Rev. John talks about what it really means to be part of God’s harvest. This is a mission that is not about breaking stock market records. Instead, it is about building a lasting kingdom right where you live and work. What We Chat About in This Episode The Valley Mindset vs. The Kingdom Mindset: We look at how our culture defines success and why Jesus offers a completely different way to make our lives matter. The Ultimate Rescue Mission: Spreading the Gospel is not just about sharing a message. It is about being a real, practical part of God’s rescue plan for a world that often feels overwhelmed and helpless. Finding Your "Person of Peace": How do you actually share your faith in a busy office or a neighborhood where people might not be interested? Rev. John gives a practical tip on how to pray for and identify the specific people God has already placed in your life. The "Coin-Operated" Motivation: Rev. John gets honest about his past career in tech sales. He shares how he learned to take that natural drive for results and channel it into something eternal, like helping people find Jesus. Key Reflection "What is eternal is what we have been called to do, to be part of this harvest, to just do it where we are called to be. Just be God's harvester where we are." Rev. John Gorin If you have ever felt like your Monday through Friday job is totally disconnected from your faith, or if you are wondering how to make a real difference right where you are, this episode is for you. Tune in to get a fresh perspective on a harvest that will never fade or lose its value.

We all know that feeling when our internal "injustice radar" goes off. Maybe it is a terrible call by a referee during a game, a favorite artist getting snubbed at an award show, or a painful personal betrayal that cuts deep. In this episode, Rev. John Gorin talks about our natural instinct to demand justice and explains how Jesus completely flips the script by introducing a radical, life-changing way to handle wrongdoing: mercy. Drawing from the Gospel of Matthew, Rev. John breaks down what happens when we stop judging everyone around us and start living from a place of real grace. What We Chat About in This Episode The Drama of Matthew's Career Change: We take a look at what tax collectors actually did back then (hint: it was basically legal extortion) and why Matthew's sudden choice to drop everything and follow Jesus was so shocking. Mercy Over Rules: Why did Jesus choose to hang out at a big dinner party with Matthew and his friends? We look at the cultural weight of that dinner and what Jesus really meant when he told the judgmental religious leaders, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice". Running on Empty (The "Mercy Tank"): Trying to force yourself to be merciful on your own willpower never works. Rev. John explains why our personal mercy tanks are pretty small and how we need to constantly refill them from God's endless supply. A Reality Check at Home: Rev. John shares an honest story about a major wake-up call from his wife, Vicki, during his busy tech-sales days. It is a great reminder of how easily we can lose patience with the people who matter most and how to course-correct. Key Reflection "We can only show mercy to others with what we have received in terms of the mercy of the Lord." — Rev. John Gorin If you are holding onto a grudge or finding it tough to forgive someone who deeply hurt you, this episode is a friendly invitation to take a step back. Tune in to discover how to move past judgment and bring a little more healing into a broken world.

What if a 500-foot cathedral could teach us more about the Trinity than a theology textbook? Returning refreshed from travels through Germany, England, and Wales, Rev. John Gorin moves past the ancient debates of the fourth-century church—the arguments over a single Greek word, homoousios—to ask a more personal question: How do we actually experience the Triune God? His answer takes us inside the Cologne Cathedral. In this Trinity Sunday message, Rev. Gorin offers a guided tour of how sacred space reveals sacred truth: God the Father in the cathedral's towering height and the light descending from its highest windows—echoing the first act of creation and reminding us of our smallness before an almighty, loving God. God the Son in the cross-shaped floor plan and the central aisle leading to the altar, where the bread and cup proclaim a sacrifice that leaves us with no condemnation. God the Holy Spirit in the easily-missed Pentecost window—a fitting home for the "shy member of the Trinity," the indwelling God who cultivates Christ's likeness in us through patience, peace, and self-control. Along the way, Rev. Gorin shares an honest reflection on the 4 a.m. anxieties we carry, and the freedom that comes from casting them on the One who already holds the plan. A meditation on tradition, beauty, and presence—for anyone seeking to know God not just in theory, but in the quiet places of daily life. Recorded May 31st at Holy Trinity Silicon Valley.

A sound like wind. Tongues like fire. And a question that has shaped the Church for two thousand years: what is all of this for? On Pentecost Sunday, Deacon Cindy Miller turns to Acts 2 and to Paul's answer in 1 Corinthians 12 to explain that the manifestations of the Spirit are given, he writes, for the common good. Not for spiritual elites. Not gifts to collect. This is power lent for the sake of others. Cindy traces the line from Mount Sinai to Pentecost with fire from heaven confirming first the Law, then the indwelling Spirit, no longer in a single place but on many. She offers a clear test for discernment (anything the Spirit says to you will be consistent with Scripture, period). And she closes with a story from her years as a hospital chaplain about a nudge, a stranger, and a conversation neither of them had planned. A sermon for anyone who has wondered whether the Holy Spirit is a doctrine to recite or a presence to recognize. Holy Trinity Silicon Valley. Palo Alto, California. Anglican · ACNA · C4SO.

The Ascension arrives quietly. No trumpets, no fiery chariots, just a cloud, a question, and a commission. In this sermon on Acts 1, David McGaw sits with the disciples' last conversation with Jesus: Is it now? Are you finally bringing the kingdom back? The answer comes not as correction but as handoff. The kingdom is coming, but it's coming through you. Plural. All of you. Together. Drawing on N.T. Wright, the Apostle Peter, and a famously misattributed line from St. Francis of Assisi, David reframes witness as something more honest than a street-corner pitch and more costly than a Christian T-shirt. It is the overflow of a life abiding in Christ. It's your particular life, with all its credibility and all its scars that is offered as testimony to the rightful King of the world. For anyone wondering what the Ascension has to do with Monday morning in Silicon Valley: this is the bridge. A sermon from Holy Trinity Silicon Valley. Palo Alto, California. Anglican · ACNA · C4SO.

What does it actually mean to "abide" in Christ, and why does Jesus repeat the word eight times in just four verses? In this teaching on John 15, we sit with one of the most contemplated passages in all of Scripture, the vine and the branches. Drawing on voices from Augustine to Luther to Calvin, the sermon unpacks what Jesus meant when he called himself the true vine and invited his followers to make their home in him. The conversation moves through four honest questions. What is this passage really saying? Why is abiding necessary rather than optional? Why do so many of us find it genuinely difficult? And how might we actually move further into life with Christ this week? Along the way you'll hear reflections on the missional and personal fruit that grows from staying connected to Jesus, the adventure of bold prayer (yes, "ask whatever you wish" really does mean what you think it might), and the quiet promise of Isaiah 30:15, that in rest and repentance is our salvation, and in quietness and trust is our strength. Whether you're navigating a season of transition, carrying weight you were never meant to solve on your own, or simply drawn to a faith that feels both ancient and alive, this is a teaching worth your time. Learn more about our community in Palo Alto, and find service times, events, and resources, at https://www.holytrinitysv.org.

Samuel Adams was called "the grand incendiary". He was man whose words were so dangerous the British sent soldiers to silence him. In a culture that prefers spiritual language tame and private, the simple sentence "I follow Christ" remains one of the most subversive things a person can say. A meditation on identity, pressure, and the long arc of faithful witness, from 1 Peter 2. When pressure rises, we default. To deceit when the truth is costly. To hypocrisy when belonging is on the line. To envy when someone else's story looks lighter than ours. The Apostle Peter knew all three from the inside. He had denied, dissembled, and compared, which is precisely why his letter to the scattered church reads less like a lecture and more like a field manual written by someone who has been there. This week's teaching walks through 1 Peter 2 and the three identities Peter places in the hands of every believer: a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. Not future titles. Present ones. The teaching closes with one of the New Testament's most quietly radical promises; that those who accuse us now may, on the last day, glorify God because of the witness they once resisted. Holy Trinity is a liturgical Anglican parish (ACNA / C4SO) in Palo Alto, gathering professionals, academics, students, and creatives around historic Christian worship, the sacraments, and the arts. Rooted in tradition. Relevant to today. Learn more and plan a visit at https://www.holytrinitysv.org

In the heart of Silicon Valley, it is easy to believe that if we just had a little more data, we could finally solve our problems and ease our anxieties. We crave knowledge, stress over building massive data centers, and hire consultants and coaches to ensure we are on the right path. But what if the guidance we truly need is not found in acquiring more information, but in choosing who we follow? In this episode for Good Shepherd Sunday, Rector John Gorin of Holy Trinity Silicon Valley explores what it means to follow Jesus as our shepherd. Drawing from John's Gospel and Psalm 23, Rector Gorin reminds us that while information is necessary for daily life, our ultimate comfort, provision, and soul's refreshment come directly from the Lord. To find out more about Holy Trinity Silicon Valley: https://www.holytrinitysv.org Find on Socials at: @HolyTrinitySV

Two disciples walk the road to Emmaus, grief-heavy and uncertain. A stranger joins them. It is only when bread is broken at supper that they realize who has been beside them the whole way. In this sermon for the Third Sunday of Easter, Rector John Gorin traces a thread that runs through Scripture, the modern courtroom, and the ordinary rhythms of our lives: the weight of witness. Drawing on the eyewitness accounts that ground the resurrection, the ethical tension at the heart of the film Juror #2, and Peter's letter to a scattered early church, Fr. John moves past familiar identity labels to ask a sharper question — beyond calling ourselves Christians, what would it mean to actually live as witnesses of the risen Lord? The sermon unfolds in three movements: 1. We are called to be witnesses. Not as firsthand observers of an empty tomb, but as those whose lives quietly testify to Christ's presence — sometimes in answered prayers, more often in the steady trust carried through difficult seasons. 2. Witness reorders a life. As it did for the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus, and as Fr. John reflects from his own eighteen-year path through Silicon Valley tech into seminary and into ministry. 3. We grow as witnesses through holiness and love. The rhythms Peter names — alert minds, reverent fear, deep love from the heart — are how the Church becomes credible in any age. Recorded live at Holy Trinity Silicon Valley, an Anglican parish (ACNA / Diocese of C4SO) in Palo Alto, where ancient liturgy meets the questions of our moment.

Deacon Cindy Miller preaches on why the risen Christ's first words to his frightened disciples were "Peace be with you," and why he had to say them more than once. Drawing from John 20, Acts 2, and 1 Peter 1, she traces a thread from that locked upper room through Peter's bold Pentecost sermon to his letter written thirty years later, showing how even those closest to the events needed constant reminding of what they had witnessed. Cindy shares a moving encounter with a Liberian man at the hospital whose faith was forged through fourteen years of civil war, and reflects on how Scripture, prayer, worship, Eucharist, and Christian community keep the truth of the resurrection in front of us when the world tries to pull it away. Holy Trinity Silicon Valley is an Anglican church in Palo Alto, CA, and a member of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) and the Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others (C4SO). Learn more at holytrinitysv.org

On Good Friday, Deacon Cindy Miller walks us through the final hours of Jesus' life as recorded in John's Gospel, from the cross to the moment the soldiers find he has already died. What did Jesus mean when he said "It is finished"? Cindy traces the larger arc of Scripture, from Abraham's promise that "the Lord will provide the lamb" to the cross where that promise is fulfilled. In less than twenty-four hours, nearly every form of human sin was committed against Jesus, and he took it all on willingly. This sermon sits in the tension between apparent hopelessness and the hope Christ offers, reminding us that even on the hardest day of the church calendar, Sunday is coming.

This Easter Sunday, we explore the moment the risen Jesus asks Mary Magdalene a deceptively simple question at the empty tomb: "Who is it that you are looking for?" From John's Gospel, we walk through Mary's journey from grief to revelation, and consider how that same question speaks to three kinds of people today: those searching for a Jesus they once knew, those waiting for a God who will finally make things right, and those who aren't looking for anyone at all. What does the resurrection say to each of them? And what happens when we stop looking for a "what" and start looking for a "who"? Join us as we unpack how Easter morning transforms not just Mary's story, but ours. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.

In a valley that celebrates power, ambition, and agency, Palm Sunday confronts us with something radically different. Rector John Gorin walks us through Matthew 27, where Jesus stands before Pilate in what can only be described as peak powerlessness: betrayed by a friend, denied by another, facing injustice, and mocked by the crowd. Yet in that moment, Jesus models something our culture rarely teaches us. Drawing on Isaiah 53, Philippians 2, and 2 Timothy 2, this sermon asks three questions for anyone feeling overwhelmed by circumstances beyond their control: How do I respond? How is God using this in my life? And how do I get through this? Whether you are navigating job insecurity, relational hurt, or simply the weight of a world moving faster than anyone can follow, this message offers an ancient and Christ-centered path through it. Recorded live at Holy Trinity Silicon Valley Anglican Church, Palo Alto, CA. Holy Trinity Silicon Valley is a liturgical Anglican church (ACNA/C4SO) located at 3373 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. We gather each Sunday at 10:30 AM for worship rooted in the Book of Common Prayer 2019. Learn more at holytrinitysv.org.

What do you do when God seems late and the situation has already gone past the point of no return? This sermon sits with the hardest question faith asks us to hold: not whether God can bring life from death, but what we do while we wait. In this final Sunday of Lent before Holy Week, David McGaw explores the painful pause between death and resurrection through the lens of Ezekiel's valley of dry bones and the raising of Lazarus in John 11. Both stories share the same arc: loss, an agonizing wait, and then new life that exceeds anything anyone imagined. But for the people living through it, the wait felt like the end. Whether you're navigating career uncertainty in Silicon Valley, grieving a relationship, or sitting with a dream that seems permanently gone, this message explores what it looks like to speak hope into the driest places of your life and keep showing up when you can't yet see what God is doing. IN THIS EPISODE Why the biblical pattern of "death, waiting, then resurrection" matters for people living through seasons of uncertainty and loss right now What the repeated word "breath" (ruach) in Ezekiel 37 reveals about God's Spirit already being at work before we see results The overlooked detail in John 11 that suggests Jesus was actively engaged even when it looked like he was doing nothing How Thomas's quiet, resigned faithfulness ("let us go, that we may die with him") models what courage actually looks like when the outcome is unclear Why the things God restores in your life are not just for you but become a story that walks others through their own valleys SCRIPTURE AND LITURGICAL SEASON Ezekiel 37:1-14 (Valley of Dry Bones) John 11:1-45 (The Raising of Lazarus) Psalm 130 ("Out of the Depths") Romans 8:11 Fifth Sunday in Lent CONNECT WITH US https://www.holytrinitysv.org Join us for worship this Sunday at Holy Trinity Silicon Valley in Palo Alto. Visit holytrinitysv.org for service times and details. Follow @HolyTrinitySV on Instagram and Facebook. As we enter Holy Week, all are welcome to walk with us through the story that changed everything.

Why does Jesus ask a Samaritan woman for a drink - and what does her story have to do with your deepest longings? In this Lenten sermon, Mayo Adigun traces the thread of thirst from Israel's wilderness in Exodus to a quiet well in Samaria, where Jesus crosses every barrier (ethnic, social, and moral) to reach one woman carrying the weight of five broken covenants. Drawing on John 4, Genesis's well scenes, Isaiah's promise, and insights from Augustine, Tolkien, and Calvin, Mayo reveals that this is no ordinary encounter: the Bridegroom has come to the well. This message explores what it means to be fully known and fully loved, why Lent invites us to sit in our thirst long enough to remember the true source, and how one transformed life overflowed into an entire community. Holy Trinity Silicon Valley is an Anglican church in the heart of the Bay Area. Learn more at holytrinitysv.org.

In this sermon, Rev. John Gorin draws on the harrowing story of the Donner Party and the quiet, prayerful faith of Patrick Breen, a father who kept a diary of devotion through months of starvation and freezing cold to explore what it means to hope in God when circumstances feel impossible. From the headlines of military escalation in the Middle East to sweeping AI-driven layoffs, and from the personal struggles we each carry into every season, Rev. Gorin asks: how's your hope meter? Walking through Psalm 33 and the story of Israel's deliverance from Egypt, he reminds us that God specializes in impossible situations: Not to leave us alone in them, but to carry us through by his grace. This Lenten season, we're invited to become people of prayerful hope, trusting that the God who gives eternal life through his Son is also the God who provides, protects, and never forsakes. Scripture: Psalm 33:16–22, John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 1:8–9 To find out more about Holy Trinity Silicon Valley: https://www.holytrinitysv.org

What if temptation isn't something to be embarrassed about, or dismissed with a wink and a smile? In this first Sunday sermon of Lent 2026, David McGaw takes on one of Christianity's most misunderstood topics and reframes it entirely: temptation isn't cute, but it doesn't have to be crushing either. It's an invitation to grow. Opening with a crowd-singalong of The Temptations' "My Girl," David draws a sharp contrast between our culture's tendency to make sin seem charming ("sinfully delicious," anyone?) and what Scripture actually says about the life cycle of temptation from the Garden of Eden to the wilderness of Jesus's forty-day fast. In this message, you'll explore: - Why Eve's story is more relatable than we'd like to admit and what it reveals about how rational people fall for irrational choices - How Jesus's time in the wilderness wasn't forty days of spiritual combat, but a season of focused preparation a "gym for the soul" - Why Jesus's responses to the devil weren't magic incantations, but a deep recall of God's faithfulness throughout history - The practical difference between giving something *up* for Lent and taking something *on* and how even small disruptions (like swapping Diet Coke) can rewire your spiritual habits - What N.T. Wright's "From Wilderness to Glory" reveals about learning to recognize the voices that "whisper attractive lies" Whether you're a lifelong Lent observer or new to the Anglican tradition, this message is an honest, warm, and surprisingly funny guide to why the wilderness isn't a punishment, it's a gift. And why the pruning season is exactly when new growth begins. Recorded at Holy Trinity Silicon Valley, February 22, 2026 — the First Sunday of Lent.

As we observe the final Sunday in the season of Epiphany, we move from the revelation of the wise men to the ultimate revelation of Jesus’ divine nature. In this episode, we explore the Transfiguration, a pivotal event recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke that confirms Jesus as both incarnate and divine. To find out more about Holy Trinity Silicon Valley head to: https://www.holytrinitysv.org

What would it take to completely reset your life? In this Ash Wednesday message, Rev. John Gorin of Holy Trinity Silicon Valley opens the Lenten season with a powerful reflection on letting go of ego, self-reliance, and the worldly scorekeeping that pulls us away from God. Drawing on the remarkable story of U.S. Olympic skier Colby Stephenson, who survived a devastating car accident and returned to competition with a transformed perspective, Rev. Gorin explores how Lent invites us into a similar kind of reset. Before his accident, Stephenson described himself as ego-driven and obsessed with winning. After it, he called his renewed athletic career "the bonus years". This was a gift he didn't deserve. Sound familiar? In this sermon, you'll explore: Why Lent is less about guilt and more about liberation from the habits that crowd out Christ The three ancient Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving and why Jesus practiced all three How God meets us in our reset not as a judge with a scorecard, but as the compassionate Father of Psalm 103 What it means to live the "bonus years" of a grace-filled life Whether you're new to Lent, returning after years away, or simply feeling a nagging distance from God, this message is for you. Lent is not a season of shame, it's an invitation to turn your head from the things of this world and into the loving, truthful presence of Christ. Recorded at Holy Trinity Silicon Valley's Ash Wednesday service, February 2026.

In this sermon delivered on Mission Sunday during the liturgical season of Epiphany, we explore the calling of every believer to be an agent of rescue in a world that is "harassed and helpless". Drawing from the dramatic true story of a young boy's grueling swim to save his family stranded at sea, the message frames our mission through three distinct lenses: rescue is our experience because we share the grace we have first received; compassion is our guide** as we allow the visceral needs of those around us to direct our focus; and prayer is our action . Rather than simply "working harder," we are invited to petition the Lord of the harvest to send more workers, trusting that the same Kingdom power that overcomes despair, disease, and division will continue to multiply through our faithful presence in our local communities. To find out more about Holy Trinity Silicon Valley: https://www.holytrinitysv.org Socials: @HolyTrinitySV For any questions or resources: [email protected]

Podcast Episode: The Foolishness of God In the series finale of "Church Matters," we explore Paul’s letter to a Corinthian church struggling to find its identity amidst a culture obsessed with **money, sex, and power**. While the world demands visible signs of strength and sophisticated intellectualism, the Gospel offers something seemingly contradictory: a crucified Messiah. This episode dives into the tension between worldly "wisdom" and the "foolishness" of the Cross. We examine the ancient influences of the **Stoics, Epicureans, and Sophists**—the influencers of their day—and how their pursuit of self-mastery and pleasure mirrors our modern scramble for status and technological dominance. Join us as we learn to rest in the peace and trust of a God who has already won the battle. The church matters because we are the messengers and the living embodiment of a Gospel that truly saves.

In this episode, we dive into the second part of our "Church Matters" series, exploring Saint Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. While the Corinthians were "sanctified" and set apart for a special mission, they found themselves deeply fractured by earthly allegiances and personality cults. From favoring the intellectual rhetoric of Apollos to the traditional roots of Cephas (Peter), the early church was struggling with the same divisions we face today. We examine the "unhealed self"—that part of us that seeks worth in status, talent, or tribalism instead of finding our complete identity in Jesus Christ. Using the powerful example of the Apostles Matthew (a former tax collector) and Simon the Zealot (a political revolutionary), we see how Christ brings together "arch-enemies" to become brothers in a spiritual kingdom. In this episode, you’ll discover: The Cost of Division: Why internal friction erodes the "fruitfulness" of our ministry and work. Conflict vs. Division: How the early church used prayer and practical solutions (like the appointment of deacons) to address grievances without breaking fellowship. The "Smokey the Bear" Principle: Why "only you" can prevent division by practicing proactive humility and forgiveness. Healing the Unhealed Self: Moving from seeking worldly affirmation to resting in an "unshakable love" that can never be taken away. Join us as we learn how to move from a place of fraction to a place of flourishing by making Jesus the "be-all and end-all" of our lives.

Does the church still matter in today’s world? In this sermon, Rev. John Gorin opens our three-part series, **"Church Matters,"** by exploring the opening of Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth. Despite being located in a bustling, secular commercial hub, the Corinthian church was called to be a "sanctified" and "equipped" presence—a calling that remains just as vital for us today in Silicon Valley. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, Rev. Gorin highlights three primary functions of the "called-out assembly" (ecclesia): Worship God: Our first order of business is to exalt the Lord together, acknowledging His presence and sovereign plan. Encourage One Another:Using our unique spiritual gifts to build up the body, finding the strength to live for Christ in a challenging culture. Witness to the World: Acting as ambassadors of grace and hope to those who have yet to hear the Good News. Whether you are seeking a community, feeling discouraged by past experiences, or looking to deepen your mission, discover why the local church is the vessel God uses to bring His love and power to the world. **Connect with Holy Trinity Silicon Valley:** Visit Us: Join our weekly "called-out assembly" for worship and fellowship. Next Week: Tune in as we dive deeper into the challenges faced by the church in Corinth and how they apply to our lives today.

The decorations are down, the trees are at the curb, and the stores have already moved on to the next holiday. For many, the end of the Christmas season brings a vague sense of disappointment—a feeling that something was missing. In this week’s sermon from **Holy Trinity Silicon Valley**, Deacon Cindy Miller explores why the "holiday" often feels hollow when the true hope of Christ is forgotten or secularized. As we enter the season of **Epiphany**, Deacon Cindy reflects on the journey of the Magi—the "wisemen" who traveled thousands of miles to find the newborn King. By examining the different ways people respond to the arrival of Jesus—through fear, passivity, or worship—we are challenged to look at our own hearts. In this episode, you’ll hear about: The Secular vs. The Sacred:Why a colleague’s comment about Christmas being a "secular holiday" prompted a deeper look at the light that continues even after the season ends. The Mystery Revealed: How Epiphany marks the revelation of Jesus to the entire world, offering redemption to both Jews and Gentiles alike. True Worship: Lessons from the Magi on honoring God for "who He is", rather than just what He has done for us. Daily Offerings: Practical ways to worship God throughout the week by offering back what is most valuable to us—our time, our trust, and our love for others. Join us as we move into the New Year with a renewed focus on the hope that doesn't get packed away with the decorations. **Visit Holy Trinity Silicon Valley** Are you looking for a community that seeks to live out the light of Christ in the heart of the Bay Area? We invite you to join us! Whether you are exploring faith for the first time or looking for a place to call home, there is a seat for you at Holy Trinity. Learn more about our community, services, and mission at: https://www.holytrinitysv.org

In this insightful message, Reverend John Gorin explores a unique moment in the life of Christ: the story of a young Jesus in the temple. Drawing from the Gospel of Luke, Reverend Gorin examines the only recorded event between Jesus’s birth and the start of his public ministry. He challenges us to look beyond the "Home Alone" moment experienced by Mary and Joseph and instead focus on the profound identity Jesus reveals in his Father’s house. Whether you are starting a new year or seeking a deeper sense of belonging, this sermon offers a powerful reminder that through Christ, we are adopted into the same intimate relationship with God that Jesus modeled in the temple. In this episode, you’ll discover: The Priority of Presence: Why Jesus chose to stay behind in the temple courts to seek His Father’s presence. Living for a Purpose: How Jesus, even as a child, was already "connecting dots" spiritually and aligning His life with His Father’s mission. Overcoming Barriers to "Father": A compassionate look at how we can embrace God as our "True Father," even if our earthly experiences with fatherhood were difficult or "hot-tempered". The Gift of Adoption: Understanding the "astounding" reality that we are predestined for adoption and can cry out to God as "Abba, Father". About Reverend John Gorin: Reverend John Gorin is the rector of Holy Trinity silicon Valley. He provides a thoughtful, relational approach to the Gospel. His ministry emphasizes connecting ancient scriptural truths with the practical, everyday calling of modern believers.

Is it possible to find the holy in the middle of the holiday rush? In the days following Christmas, it is common to feel a sense of "letdown" after the gifts are unwrapped and the guests have gone home. In this sermon, we explore the Prologue of John (John 1:1–18) to discover how the Logos—the Word—bridges the gap between the divine and the daily grind. Join us as we move from the manger to the theology of the Incarnation, learning how to stop criticizing the secular "Christmas crazy" and start a "treasure hunt" for God’s grace in unexpected places. In this Sermon Frank Leong covers: The Theology of Waiting: How Advent prepares us to ponder the mysteries of God, just as Mary did. The Meaning of Logos: Understanding how the Apostle John used a Greek philosophical concept to reveal Jesus to a Gentile world. The "Secular" Christmas: Why we should stop judging the commercialism of the season and start looking for the "Invisible becoming Visible" in acts of love and generosity. A Miracle of Reconciliation: A powerful personal testimony by Frank Leong of how God orchestrated a family reunion, bridging a years-long gap between estranged relatives in the midst of illness. Scripture: John 1:1–18 Connect with Holy Trinity Silicon Valley: Website: https://www.holytrinitysv.org Instagram: @HolyTrinitySV Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holytrinitysv Did this message encourage you? Please share it with a friend and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

To find out more about Holy Trinity Silicon Valley head to https://www.holytrinitysv.org On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, Reverend John Gorin explores the profound significance behind the name given to the Messiah: Jesus. Based on the Gospel of Matthew and the account of Joseph’s dream, this sermon examines the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and the dual nature of Christ as both the human Son of David and the Divine Son of God. Rev. Gorin unpacks the Hebrew roots of the name "Yeshua" (The Lord Saves) and challenges listeners to consider what it means to truly live under that authority today. The message moves beyond viewing salvation solely as a future event, presenting it as a present reality that grants believers a new, transcendent identity. Key Topics Covered: The Prophecy Fulfilled: Understanding Matthew 1 and the connection to Isaiah 7:14. The Meaning of the Name: How "Jesus" signifies both human history and divine intervention. Identity in Christ: Shedding the "old garments" of social status and past idols to embrace a unified identity in the Church. Power and Healing: The importance of praying expectantly for healing in Jesus' name. Reverence: Recovering a sense of awe and holiness in our approach to the Lord. Scripture References: Matthew 1:18-25, Isaiah 7:14, Acts 4:12, Philippians 2:9-11.

"If God is real, why is there suffering?" It is perhaps the most common question asked by believers and non-believers alike. In this Advent sermon, we explore the tension of living in the "now and not yet"—waiting for the full restoration of the Kingdom while navigating the darkness of the current world. We look to the story of John the Baptist, who, despite his faithfulness, found himself in prison questioning if Jesus was truly the Messiah. By examining Jesus’ response to John, and sharing a moving testimony of finding grace in the midst of tragedy, we discover that rejoicing isn't about ignoring pain. Instead, it is a spiritual gift—a choice to "look up" and recognize how God is working, even when life doesn't go according to plan. Scripture References: Isaiah 35:1-10 Psalm 146 James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-11 Connect with Holy Trinity Silicon Valley: Website: https://www.holytrinitysv.org Instagram: @HolyTrinitySV Facebook: @HolyTrinitySV

Lessons & Carols is a special Advent Service which pairs Scripture readings with Hymns and Carols to create a beautiful service of song and Scripture. Each Scripture reading and carol tells the story of the coming Messiah, Christ Jesus. To learn more about Holy Trinity Silicon Valley head to: https://www.linktr.ee/holytrinitysv

Two years ago, a routine chapel service at Asbury Seminary turned into an overwhelming experience of God's presence—an outpouring that drew thousands worldwide. What are the hallmarks of such a revival, and what is the appropriate human response? In this Sermon, Rev. John Gorin explores the characteristics of revival, from the recent events at Asbury to the historical, repentance-fueled movement led by John the Baptist in the Gospel of Matthew. Join us as we dive into: The palpable presence of the Lord that beckons us to a posture of worship and seeking more. Why confession of sin is a common, healing response to God's love and holiness. Saint Augustine's warning about "light sins" and how they accumulate like weeds in a garden. Practical ways to practice confession—personally, communally, and with trusted clergy—to disempower sin and experience freedom, forgiveness, and restoration. Advent is a time to prepare for the King's coming. Don't let sin hold you captive! Discover how the gift of confession can be the catalyst for personal revival in your own life. To learn more about Holy Trinity Silicon Valley head to: https://www.holytrinitysv.org

The history of mankind runs in cycles: nations are formed, rulers emerge, culture develops, there are wars and rumors of wars, then the glory of one nation is replaced by another. In Matthew 24:29-44, Jesus is speaking to his disciples, and now to us, about the end of this cycle, when he will come again to rule and reign as the King of kings. He tells them they will not know when this will actually happen so they are to be watchful. This sermon explores this passage and points to ways that we are to be watchful today by how we live. Holy Trinity is an Anglican community in the California Bay Area, in Palo Alto. Worship with us on Sundays at 10:30am! To learn more about Holy Trinity Silicon Valley: https://www.holytrinitysv.org

"Christ The King Sunday" - Deacon Cindy Miller by Holy Trinity Silicon Valley

In a world filled with rising tensions, unexpected challenges, and daily anxieties, how do we stay rooted in Christ? In this final message of the Good News in Anxious Times series, Rev. John Gorin explores Paul’s pastoral wisdom from 2 Thessalonians, offering a biblical roadmap for navigating the pressures we face right now — not yesterday, not someday — but in the present moment. Drawing from the struggles of the early Thessalonian church, Rev. Gorin reveals three powerful practices that help believers remain faithful and resilient amid stress, uncertainty, and spiritual opposition: In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The Posture we must take when pressures mount — and why avoidance, distraction, and numbing never lead to peace. The Prayer Paul gives the church: “May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” The Practice of Sabbath rest — not as luxury, but as an act of trust, worship, and spiritual formation. Through Scripture, pastoral insight, and real-life application, this sermon helps listeners face life’s pressures with courage, humility, and dependence on God. Whether you’re battling worry, navigating tough relationships, or simply feeling worn thin, this message offers hope, clarity, and a path toward spiritual renewal. To learn more about Holy Trinity Silicon Valley head to: https://www.holytrinitysv.org

In this sermon Rev. John Gorin discusses the realities of worry, anxiety, and fear, in an age marked by stresses and calamities. Where do we turn when we get overwhelmed or feel fearful for the future? Listen in on how to navigate these realities from a Christian lens. To learn more about Holy Trinity Silicon Valley head to: https://www.holytrinitysv.org

Feeling overwhelmed by the uncertainty of the world? In this powerful sermon, Rev. John Gorin unpacks the enduring 'Good News' of the Christian faith. Discover how to anchor your soul in lasting peace and find spiritual clarity when life is at its most anxious. Tune in for a timely message of hope for challenging times. To find out more about Holy Trinity Silicon Valley head to: https://www.holytrinitysv.org

In this powerful sermon, Deacon Cindy Miller explores the true meaning of faith and righteousness through the lenses of Luke 18:9-14 (The Pharisee and the Tax Collector) and 2 Timothy 4:6-18 (Paul's final words). Discover why humility is not just a virtue, but the essential posture for approaching God, and how the one who humbles himself is exalted. Then, learn how to embrace a life of perseverance and integrity, striving to "fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith," as we pursue the "crown of righteousness" promised to the steadfast. To Find out more about Holy Trinity Silicon Valley: https://www.holytrinitysv.org

In this powerful episode, Rev. John Gorin dives deep into the inherent, active power of Scripture. This message isn't just about reading the Bible; it’s about encountering a living, breathing Word that is the ultimate catalyst for transformation. To learn more about Holy Trinity head to: httpss://www.holytrinitysv.org