Saint Paul’s Pod

This week we ask ourselves, "what story are we living into?" What God does among us and through us is the story of God redeeming the world. We don't have to defeat the empire. We must tell the story of love, life and hope.      Open the eyes of our heart, Lord. Let us have faith and taste the honey.

The 2nd Sunday of Easter Mother Dunn talks faith. Peter’s words about faith show us that sometimes we must have countercultural beliefs. We must face social and moral chaos with faith. Death could not hold Jesus. The resurrection holds up a mirror to remind us that we have been emboldened to exercise our faith We must never allow ourselves to get caught up in the despair of today and lose the brightness of Jesus’s birth, life and resurrection. The end is not yet and believers should remain calm and rely on God. We are change agents through faith, action and prayer. The church is people too. We’ve all been wounded, so we must find community and hope together through faith.

Run with fear and great joy! Christ is Risen! The first witnesses to the resurrection ran with fear and great joy. The new world came as Jesus defied death and exposed the frailty of the empire.   The world has been redeemed, and the power of those who live by death is empty. Just as Mary and Mary ran with fear and great joy, we must live the same way. There is great need and great conflict, but we can be joyous knowing God’s kingdom will come. Let’s live out our lives with the gifts and exercise our testimonies, remembering our trials and difficulties to build resilience.

Father Biddy and Mother Dunn walk us through the passion as we experience Holy Week and prepare for the resurrection of Jesus.

The story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead is a precursor to Jesus’ ascension into heaven. It is when those opposing him find him truly dangerous. As we reflect, consider your own comforts with prejudice and violence. What complicity impedes the call God has for your life? Many times, it is easier for us to leave all of who we are in the dark. But God invites us out of our self-inflicted tombs. Join us all Holy Week with special services Thursday, Friday and Saturday and then join us for Easter on Sunday.

Bishop Frank Logue, our chief pastor of central and south Georgia visited Saint Paul's this week. He talked about how God looks on the content of the heart. The bible is full of stories of unlikely heroes. We are all unlikely heroes called to serve using our God-given talents.

Without credentials, power or answers we are called to participate in God’s redemption. The world already has a savior, and it isn’t us, but he saves through us. God meets us exactly where we are just like the Samaritan woman at the well. Living water can wash us through and through, demonstrating the universality of God’s family Even though we are a mess, we must tell the story of our ongoing redemption. We are always becoming, showing we cannot do this alone. Thank God for Jesus.

 We are Christians by faith, not genre. If we believe God’s word is true, we follow the commandments to love God and to love people. Our testimonies would not exclude or put boundaries around people. During Lent we take a sacred pause to strengthen our faith. Faith is not meant to be compartmentalized into genres to fit our preferences. We are Christians by faith, not genre.   Reflections on our country at war. We pray for healing. We pray for the needs of others We converge our resources to God together, full of grace, bringing the peace of Christ in the world.

Jesus resists temptation in the wilderness. Jesus doesn’t “prove” himself. He shows the power of grace and steadfastness. Mirroring his love and grace, we can triumph over evil.

Ash Wednesday Service 2026

The story of the transfiguration helps us make sense of things in our world. When life is out of our control, hope can become fear and confusion, but we trust Jesus is near. We are to get up with courage and perseverance, not because we are safe but because Jesus is with us through it all.

Note: This sermon was not preached during the regularly scheduled service due to the snow storm experienced in the CSRA on 2/1. This content is a Saint Paul's Pod exclusive. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Song of Simeon (Nunc Dimittis) is a prayer of praise spoken by the prophet Simeon in Luke 2:29-32 when he sees the infant Jesus at the Temple. It is a declaration of fulfillment and readiness for death, acknowledging Jesus as the promised salvation, light to the Gentiles, and glory of Israel. Father Biddy offers the idea of a second song from Simeon; one that recognizes the struggle. During this time in Israel, there are hardships and those in power are actively choosing darkness. Simeon’s perseverance of hope allows him to see Jesus clearly. While the Kingdom of God has come near, we must continue to seek truth. When God’s salvation has come, the nations will see the truth and the faithful will see glory. God calls us to be the light shining in the darkness. The light shall overcome.

Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear. A relationship with God is not a checklist. Checking the boxes won’t cut it. We cannot have blind eyes. We activate our relationship with God by seeking justice and rescuing the oppressed. God is right where we are always. The mystery of God is not hidden. God’s love and compassion is seen in Jesus. So listen carefully as God calls you to be light in dark spaces, a spiritual conduit of His kingdom. Love God and love people.

  Jesus sends his followers out as sheep amid wolves. But he doesn’t send us out alone. God’s presence in our lives is guiding us through our response to struggle. Salvation lies in staying faithful. We love our enemies. If we share the radical love of God, we find a purposeful life. By proclaiming and embodying the kingdom of God, we change hearts.

Jesus is the light of the world. Our light will illumine others, so God is known, worshipped and obeyed. The light of Christ is the divine energy and power of God through Jesus. Be the light in the dark. The light guides toward truth and love. It shifts our heart posture to see others in a new way. Commitment, courage and compassion fuel our light.

Have you ever tried to keep a tune while others are singing a different song? It is hard. By renewing our baptismal covenant, we renew and recommit to the song we know of God’s love. We must renew and recommit regularly, so that the screaming around us won’t throw us catastrophically off key from our song. We know being loud doesn’t make one right. The love of God is what shines in the darkness. The world wants our hearts to be hardened. But we must remember that many believers have walked difficult paths. We must renew our devotion to peace and see traces of God in all people. Every single person is a beloved child of God. Let us be the means that others can know Jesus.  

During the Feast of Epiphany, we celebrate Jesus appearing to the gentiles. God created this space so we all could participate in the mystery of Jesus. The wisemen came from different nations and cultures. Despite their differences, they were invited to accept he mystery of Christ. They were not fascinated or mesmerized by power. They were transformed by the love Jesus emanated. The Gift of Jesus shows how God’s love is transnational. It does not discriminate. God defends the needy, delivers the poor and pities the lowly. So how can we today be faithful when times feel dark and heavy? Look up, find a star and remember God has the whole world in his hands.  

When John the Baptist is imprisoned for speaking out, he is most relatable, his weakest and the most like us. When life has not gone according to plan and our expectations are not met, we may feel lost. This is when doubt and uncertainty can only be overcome by the truth of the Gospel. When John questions the truth of the Gospel, Jesus doesn’t respond with a miracle on demand but instead he asks his disciples to report what they hear and see.  The only proof John needed, or we need today is the lives that have been transformed by the love of God. Overcome the doubt and uncertainty today by remembering how you have been transformed by the love of God. Love has made the way clear for us to be a part of the reason for hope.

Matthew’s story of John the Baptist reminds us of his remarkable life in the wilderness, uncompromising calls for repentance, direct confrontation with corruption and championing for justice at all costs. He lived by anything but the cultural norms. John’s vision of redemption meant complete destruction of the world. But Jesus comes along to show us that God’s love can transform. The world is pregnant with the kingdom of God. Bruised and confused, the world is the one God loves so much that he became a part of it with Jesus. We can’t pretend the world today is the kingdom, but we don’t need to burn it to the ground. We need to live radically to see all human beings with the love of God. Loving the world and one another to be destined for redemption not destruction.  

The first week of advent, we look in two directions. We are preparing for Christmas, a time to remember and celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus. But we also look forward to the second coming of Christ. In opposition with the feverish consumerism and mandatory jolliness of the season, advent calls us to sit, wait and watch. We balance between expectation and memory. How do we prepare for the second coming, something we cannot predict? Being constantly ready feels traumatic, but we must remember the way Jesus came to this world the first time. He came to us in humility and vulnerability, so we look for his second coming amongst the lowly; serving and loving one another.

On Christ the King Sunday we celebrate Jesus, the king of the universe and our hearts. Luke’s story of the crucifixion reminds us of the truth in a confusing time during the rise of Christian nationalism. Let us not shrink Jesus down. Christian nationalism assumes God endorses has a national identity where God works for the world. God is bigger. We serve a God of all people, working for all people throughout the world. We should not rush to the top to look down on others but to the bottom where we serve and help those in need as Jesus would do. Jesus is expanding compassion, deepening hope and meeting us where justice and mercy embrace. Jesus is the GOAT. Greatest of All Time, the ultimate servant leader, transforming the world and all of us from the inside out.

When there are times of persecution, where do you turn? Allow the holy scripture to feed your peace. Allow it to sturdy your foundation and plant your feet. Your belief in the truth of God’s word lets you know you’re never alone. God is in relentless pursuit of his creation, you. Scripture outlines a roadmap to navigate a holy life, a good, healthy and prosperous life but also how to navigate hardships. When Jesus calms the waters he showed the disciples the power of faith. Mother Kimberly shares a personal story of her experience of intense fear during the political and racial tensions of 2021, specifically during the insurrection on January 6th. She looked to the word to guide her with peace and strength. God promises we will not perish and hope in him is stronger than death.  

Throughout Saint Paul’s 275-year history, we have been a place of refuge for those seeking faith and the love of God. It is remarkable as we have loved our neighbors in one place for such a long time. For generations, Christians have gathered here; in peace and turmoil, in confidence and confusion. We don’t always live up to the calling, but we always point to the living God. We acknowledge our strong history of mission, but we celebrate the God who continues to work within us. God’s reign is uninterrupted and defies the concept of time. In God’s love, justice and mercy are complete. Regardless of where the world stands, the living God remains working. We are celebrating the grace of God being active amongst us and His faithfulness no matter what. May we continue the legacy of service, feeding the hungry and loving the lonely for the next 275 years.

We are on the cutting edge of a long line of faithful people. We are not the first generation to do this. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who have faced the trials of the world by loving God. The Gospel of Luke says that blessed are those who are poor, hungry and weep on this earth. God help us to love our enemies and bless those who curse us; to turn the other cheek. We’re on the current page of the long story of the faithful. May we make those proud who came before us and walk in love, doing to others as we would have them do to us.

Oh God, you have bound us together in a common light. Help us amid our struggles for justice and truth to confront one another without hatred and with respect. Amen Our lives together mean we struggle together. We are asking God to help us not become the injustice we confront. God doesn’t give up on any of us.

We aren’t perfect, but Jesus is. Jesus asks, when the son of man comes, will he find faith on earth? Yes, He will. Persistent prayer and unwavering faith will help us see clearly the difference between what is true and what is false. Jesus helps us stay focused on God’s grace. In this world there are threats, insecurities and fears. There are times when evil presents itself as truth. When the noise of life becomes too much, remember the good news. God stands ready to provide justice.  

Consider God’s people in exile. The worst had happened as Jeremiah had warned. The people are shunned and the temple in ruins. They can only hope for a reversal, an escape hatch. But God through Jeremiah tells His people to build houses, plant gardens and grow families. To continue to live faithful lives. When our world feels helpless, we cannot pause and wait for deliverance. We still have work to do and can serve others to create prosperity not defined by wealth and power. If you don’t particularly like where you are in life or the world you find yourself in, there is no escape hatch. We can’t sit on our hands and wait for God’s kingdom, we work for his people today. We follow Jesus’ example of living with a purpose to seek and save the lost on the way and in between.  

The parable of the mustard seed illustrates the power of faith. Jesus taught that having faith "as a grain of mustard seed" is enough to accomplish the impossible. To strengthen our relationship with God we must have faith, steadfastness, courage and obedience. We must not be clouded by our worldly surroundings and allow faith to activate our life of service. Serving others furthers the kingdom of God. Exercising our faith in God allows us to live boldly using our time, talent and treasures to serve. We can also exercise our faith by humbly seeing ourselves and our neighbors as God sees us. We must focus on the work to be done and what we are called to do. How do we put this into action? “Go wash some feet.”  

There is no barrier that can prevent us from experiencing God's love; however, it is essential that our hearts remain open. How we utilize our time, talents, and resources reflects the true state of our hearts. God is endlessly patient with humanity; yet, it is important to understand that patience does not equate to tolerance. The message of God's word is a profound love story — He is actively pursuing you, His cherished one. God extends mercy to the oppressed, the poor, and all those in need. We have received all the necessary warnings; may we recognize that pride has the power to lead to our downfall. In our pride, we may gain the world but ultimately lose our souls.

In the Old Testament, Jeramiah tells of a society in crisis; a world full of violence and filled with greed. Jesus comes 600 years later, and the world remains in a state of crisis filled with murder, oppression, neglect, lies, brokenness and wickedness. Where do we as Christians look when our world is fractured? We look to God. God is relying on hope and perseverance to bring all people into the heart and family of God. The answer is not in vengeance. Jesus calls out to the lost. He came to seek and save what was lost…sinners and tax collectors alike. The church must remain with Jesus, on the move. Not on the left or on the right but serving from the bottom. These are horrible times. We grieve but not without hope. We must follow Jesus more closely and proclaim the good news of the love of God more boldly. “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,  In the light of His glory and grace.”

What if poverty and wealth were honest with each other? Could they find riches in one another? Poverty has bounty in community while wealth has bounty in gifts and talents. Jesus lacked nothing in life, but he did not possess worldly wealth. In honesty with one another, we find a space of transformation. The space in between is a place where we grow. We must allow our Lord to navigate us to a transformative life of purpose.  

False evidence appearing real…FEAR. The world bombards us constantly with negativity. We are challenged by fear morally, ethically and spiritually. Fear will attempt to control our thoughts, words and emotions. Proverbs tells us not to lean on our own understanding. But to trust in the Lord. In all our ways, acknowledge him. The word of the Lord must stay in our mind and serve as a compass to guide us. In the Gospel of Luke we see Jesus heal a severely crimpled woman. Often chronic illness hinders us from engaging and seeing one another. Leaving us feeling left out, oppressed and unvalued. Jesus sees through that and restores our identity and community. As God's people and a body of believers, we are called to remember not only whose we are but also that our neighbors are His as well. Prayer: Dear Lord, We turn to you in our need. You are worthy of our complete trust. When our lives are filled with confusion and angst, fill our souls with hope and belief. Amen

Before he dies, Jesus asks for unity among all people. This is usually how we see Him in hymns and stories—a peacemaker, gentle, meek and mild. While his heart remains pure, we see a different side of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel. Here Jesus yearns for fire on earth and embraces division among people. While we aren’t called to set fires of destruction or glorify division between neighbors, we are called to recognize oppression and cruelty that have no place in God’s kingdom. The fire we desire is the cleansing fire of repentance fueled by love. The unity Jesus is looking for requires us to roll up our sleeves and aid the hungry, the sick, the lonely and the outcast. Prayer: Lord, give us humility to see our faults and the grace to forgive one another. Unite us in love through the cleansing flame of your mercy. Amen  

In the Bible, many followers are acknowledged for their faithfulness and suffering, even unto death, for their beliefs. Today, we may not be called to death, but we can still make our lives a witness to the gospel. We can give our lives away to others. By giving to others, we can live more deeply and fully than before; mysteriously renewed in joy. It is God’s pleasure to give us the kingdom. Jesus calls us to not be afraid and jump into faith with the assurance of God’s promises.  

The Parable of the Rich Fool, tells the story of a wealthy landowner whose crops were so abundant that he lacked storage space. He decides to tear down his existing barns and build larger ones to hoard his wealth for his own comfort and enjoyment. However, God calls him a fool. God has created us in community to care for and lean on one another. When we are more interested in our possessions than our community, we are missing the point. We have been made by God to live together and share, not to be alone with our worldly possessions. Everything belongs to God. Wealth is a dangerous good, that can only remain good when shared.    

This week we hear about what it means to be "in" Christ. As humans we desire to belong. Paul tells the Galatians that as converts, they have been transformed "in" Christ with blessings of peace, protection, provision and providence.    This transformation also brings us together and allows an intimacy with the holy trinity. As we pray together each week, we can reshape our faith together, praying beyond our selfish needs and desires. We can pray together for those who have no voice and together celebrate the fullness of salvation found in Christ.

This week we look at the book of Luke and the story of Jesus visiting Martha and her sister Mary. Martha is busy with hosting responsibilities while Mary sits with Jesus. Jesus acknowledges this and encourages Martha to focus on her spirit rather than the worldly tasks that consume her.  It is easy to compare the sisters and say one is right, and one is wrong. It is easy to say those who are active should pause and be more contemplative. But lets look at how our good intentions can sometimes distract us from what really matters. Sometimes we go the wrong way, not by evil intent but by our best intentions. Take a holy pause. Set down your tasks. And remember the only thing that is necessary: provide a way to love God, each other and your neighbors.  

God has given us compassion. He has also given us empathy. The gospel of the Good Samaritan teaches us to love all, regardless of their background or social standing. May we walk in God's love and see all as our neighbor. There is no qualification to receive God's love. We are made in the image of God; therefore we should share His love openly.

Having loyalty to God and our loyalty to the nation are not identical. How do we navigate this? How do we see God’s perfection as inspiration? We follow Him by loving our neighbor. God cares how we live together and care for one another, but from what we can tell, God’s love for us is equally fierce no matter our nationality. Our primary citizenship is the Kingdom of God. PLUS NEW BONUS CONTENT A conversation between Father Eric and Mother Kimberly reflecting on this message. They discuss a hymn we sung, “O God of Every Nation”. “Keep bright in us the vision of days when war shall cease, when hatred and division give way to love and peace, till dawns the morning glorious when truth and justice reign and Christ shall rule victorious o'er all the world's domain.”  

For freedom, Christ has set us free. The way to maintain our liberated lives is to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Our hearts crave God’s message: the way of redemption and freedom can only be found in Christ.

The first followers of Jesus received His gift of the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost. How do we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit today? You may feel an urge to stay restful in safety inside the church. But the Holy Spirit drives us out into the world. The messy, needy world. As the body of Christ, we must burst out into the streets to bring the good news to those in need. The good news that your value is not based on power. It is based only on God’s love for you, and it is infinite.  There is hope deeper than the grave. God help us, through us to share that hope. Bonus Content: Reading of Caedmon by Denise Levertov

Throughout the Bible we ready stories of God’s unmatched love and power. No struggle, sin or hurt is a match for God. What challenge are you facing today? It is no match for the Matchless King.

Late in the Easter season, we look forward to the coming of the Holy Spirit. Our mission in the new age when Jesus is not physically here, we/the church becomes the hands and feet of Jesus. Jesus told his disciples, “Peace I leave with you. My own peace I give to you...” What does it mean to have and share the peace of Jesus? It is not calm or indifferent peace. It is peace that sustains us in the face of trauma and fear. Peace is what results from the promise that God makes a home with us. God will abide with us always through love.

The book of Revelations depicts a new heaven and earth full of the grandeur of God. How can we keep hope as we exist in the meantime? We sustain our hope through Jesus’ commandment to love one another. We live toward the new world by loving one another and keeping an eye out for the good that breaks down barriers of evil and shines through into the present world. Fun fact: This week’s sermon was inspired by the Gerard Hopkins poem, “God’s Grandeur”. God's Grandeur Gerard Manley Hopkins 1844 – 1889 The world is charged with the grandeur of God.    It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;    It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod? Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;    And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;    And wears man's smudge and shares man's smell: the soil Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.   And for all this, nature is never spent;    There lives the dearest freshness deep down things; And though the last lights off the black West went    Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs-- Because the Holy Ghost over the bent    World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.  

We celebrated Senior Sunday with our graduating seniors. One of our high school seniors, Campbell Harison, preached the sermon. She shared reflections on the book of Romans acknowledging we need the power of grace, the gift we receive through faith in Jesus. Campell is an amazing testament to the community at Saint Paul’s where all are empowered to know and share the love of God as we walk through the world.  Faith into action, grace into gratitude and belief becomes a way of life.

This week we welcomed the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Rt Revd Anthony Poggo. Based in London, we were honored to have him visit us from across the pond to share in prayer and encourage our ministries. He talked about strengthening relationships and the power of serving one another, feeding each other’s minds, bodies and souls with God’s bounty, grace and love.

Mother Kimberly leads us during the second Sunday of Easter. We discuss how Jesus is the reason for the season. We cherish the mystery of the Passion. Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension helps us reconcile humanity with God. God is everywhere and only a prayer away for all of us.  

We journey through the resurrection story from John. The God we serve is the God who raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus conquers death, hypocrisy, power, cruelty and pain. The divine's response? Light and never-ending life. Christ is risen.

On this Good Friday, we look to the gospel according to John. It is in a way a miracle we keep the custom of narrating the death of our God. But we tell the stories during Holy Week that make us who we are including the story of Jesus’s arrest and execution.

"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!" Luke Chapter 19 As we celebrate Palm Sunday, we learn of Jesus healing a servant's severed ear. This highlights Jesus' power as a healer and His refusal to respond to violence with violence, demonstrating the power of peace. We invite you to join us throughout Holy Week and on Easter Sunday as we join together in the liturgies that shape our faith and community.