Sermons On-the-Sound
by web2q
Sermons On-the-Sound is the official podcast of St. Andrew’s On-the-Sound Episcopal Church in Wilmington, North Carolina. Each week, we share sermons that invite you to listen deeply, reflect faithfully, and live with hope. Rooted in the Anglican tradition and the beauty of the Book of Common Prayer, these messages connect scripture to daily life, offering encouragement for the journey of faith. Whether you are a longtime member, a neighbor by the water, or a seeker from afar, we welcome you to come and see the Spirit moving On-the-Sound. For more information, visit our website at https://saots.org.
Episodes
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Saints Among Us: All Saints' Sunday
In this All Saints' Day sermon, The Rev. Sue Cushinotto reminds us that saints are not only the great figures of Scripture and Church history, but also the ordinary people whose faith, love, and perseverance shape our lives. Through personal stories of her parents, a priest who encouraged her...
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Love That Makes a Difference | The Twenty Second Sunday after Pentecost
In this sermon for the Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost, The Rev. B.J. Buracker reflects on Jesus' command to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Fr. B.J. reminds us that Christian love is more than a feeling. It is active, intentional, and...
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Made in God's Image: The Twenty First Sunday after Pentecost
In this sermon, The Rev. B.J. Buracker reflects on Jesus' words, “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's.” While the question begins with taxes, Fr. B.J. reveals a deeper truth: just as a coin bears Caesar's image, we bear the image of God. We...
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Back to the Fundamentals: The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
In this sermon, The Rev. B.J. Buracker reflects on St. Paul's letter to the Philippians and the importance of keeping our lives centered on Christ. When disagreements arise, worries overwhelm us, or life becomes difficult, Paul reminds us to return to three essentials: fellowship, prayer, and...
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You Can’t Outgive God: The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
In this sermon, The Rev. Sue Cushinotto reflects on Jesus’ parable of the vineyard and what it means to be stewards of God’s gifts. Everything we have, she reminds us, is ultimately a gift from God. We are entrusted with those gifts not simply to hold onto them, but to nurture them and share…
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Be Faithful. Have Hope. Jesus Wins. | The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
In this sermon for the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, The Rev. B.J. Buracker reflects on Revelation and its message of hope for Christians facing suffering and uncertainty. The struggles of this world are real, but they do not have the final word. Through the image of Michael defeating the...
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It’s Not Fair: The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
In this sermon, The Rev. B.J. Buracker reflects on Jesus’ parable of the laborers in the vineyard and our instinctive desire for fairness. The landowner does not give the workers what they deserve. He gives them what they need. Fr. B.J. reminds us that this is the good news of God’s grace. God’s...
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Let It Go: The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
In this sermon, The Rev. B.J. Buracker reflects on Jesus’ call to forgive not just seven times, but seventy-seven times. Through the parable of the unforgiving servant, Fr. B.J. reminds us that forgiveness begins by recognizing how much mercy we ourselves have received. The cross assures us that…
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Now Is the Time to Love: The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
In this sermon, The Rev. Sue Cushinotto reflects on God’s law not as a burden, but as a gift that draws us into right relationship with God and one another. Drawing on the Psalms and Paul’s letter to the Romans, Rev. Sue reminds us that love is not simply a feeling. It is something we do.…
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Following in His Footsteps: The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
In this sermon, The Rev. B.J. Buracker reflects on Peter’s struggle to understand a Messiah who chooses service and sacrifice rather than worldly power. Jesus shows us a different kind of kingship. He feeds the hungry, welcomes the stranger, serves others, and ultimately gives his life for us.…
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Many Gifts, One Body: The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
In this sermon, The Rev. B.J. Buracker reflects on St. Paul’s image of the Church as one body with many members, each given different gifts for the work of Christ. From prayer and teaching to hospitality, service, generosity, and compassion, every person has something to offer. Fr. B.J. reminds…
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A God for All People: The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
In this sermon, The Rev. B.J. Buracker reflects on Jesus’ encounter with the Canaanite woman and the divisions that too easily separate us into “us” and “them.” Through this surprising Gospel story, Fr. B.J. reminds us that God’s mercy and grace are not reserved for a select few. Jesus crosses...
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Step Out in Faith: The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
In this sermon, The Rev. B.J. Buracker reflects on Peter stepping out of the boat to walk toward Jesus. Faith, he reminds us, is more than belief. It is trusting Christ enough to follow, even when the way ahead feels uncertain. When Peter becomes distracted by the wind and waves, he begins to…
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Left Foot, Right Foot: The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
In this sermon, The Rev. Sue Cushinotto reflects on the feeding of the five thousand, the only miracle recorded in all four Gospels. She reminds us that Jesus' concern extends to everyone, especially those whom society overlooks. The miracle begins with a simple offering and a willingness to…
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The Greatest Treasure: The Ninth Sunday After Pentecost
In this sermon, The Rev. B.J. Buracker reflects on Jesus' parables of the mustard seed, the yeast, the hidden treasure, and the pearl of great price. While the world celebrates power, recognition, and success, Jesus reveals a kingdom that grows through humility, service, and transformed lives.…
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Beloved Children of God - The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost | St. Andrew's On-the-Sound
In this sermon, The Rev. B.J. Buracker reflects on Romans 8 and the gift of being adopted into God's family. Because we are already God's beloved children, we are invited to walk by the Spirit with lives marked by prayer, compassion, and hope. Fr. B.J. reminds us that discipleship isn't about...
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The Good Sower - The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
In his first sermon as Rector of St. Andrew's On-the-Sound, The Rev. B.J. Buracker reflects on the Parable of the Sower and reminds us that the story is ultimately not about the different kinds of soil, but about the One who scatters the seed. Fr. B.J. proclaims the hope of the resurrection and…
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Come Away and Rest: The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
In this sermon, The Rev. Pati Mary Andrews reflects on Jesus' invitation, "Come to me," as a call to rest, renewal, and deeper trust. Drawing from Eugene Peterson's The Message, she reminds us that Christ speaks clearly to ordinary people and continues to meet us in the midst of weariness, grief,...
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The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost: The Practice of Welcome
Christian hospitality is the practice of welcoming others with the same love, grace, and generosity that Christ extends to us.
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The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost: Evidence of Discipleship | St. Andrew's 2026
In this sermon, The Rev. Michael Singer reflects on Jesus’ challenging words about discipleship, reminding us that following Christ has never been the easy path. Drawing on the examples of Peter, Andrew, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and countless other faithful witnesses, he explores what it means to…
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The Harvest of Compassion: Third Sunday after Pentecost
In this sermon, The Rev. Michael Singer reflects on Jesus’ words about the plentiful harvest and the few laborers, inviting us to see the pain and brokenness around us not as something to avoid, but as a call to compassionate action. Fr. Michael explores how Jesus consistently met suffering with...
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The Mystery of Discipleship: The Second Sunday of Pentecost
On the Second Sunday after Pentecost, The Rev. Sue Cushinotto reflects on what it means to live as disciples during the long season of Ordinary Time. Through the stories of Matthew, the hemorrhaging woman, and the raising of a young girl, Rev. Cushinotto reminds us that Jesus continually moves...
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Trinity Sunday: Everyday Missionaries
On Trinity Sunday, The Rev. Michael Singer reflects on the Great Commission and challenges us to rethink what it means to be a missionary. Rather than something reserved for a few extraordinary people far away, Fr. Michael reminds us that mission happens in the ordinary rhythms of everyday life.…
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Pentecost: Come, Holy Spirit
On Pentecost Sunday, The Rev. Michael Singer reflects on the Holy Spirit as both wind and breath, a presence that can unsettle us, transform us, and breathe new life into the world. Drawing from the story of Pentecost in Acts, Fr. Michael explores how the Spirit moves not only through dramatic...
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Faith, Uncertainty, and Belonging: The Seventh Sunday of Easter
Last Sunday, on Senior Sunday, graduating senior Lane Tompkin offered a moving reflection on faith, uncertainty, compassion, and belonging. Rev. Michael Singer asked that the parish share her sermon because of its honesty and grace. Lane’s words were a powerful reminder that faith is not about...
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The Sixth Sunday of Easter: Love Enough to Follow
In this sermon, The Rev. Sue Cushinotto reflects on Jesus’ words, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments,” inviting us to understand discipleship not as guilt or obligation, but as a response to love. Rev. Cushinotto explores the challenge of loving both God and neighbor, especially when...
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The Fifth Sunday of Easter: Greater Works of Love
Sermons On-the-Sound: Greater Works of Love In this sermon, The Rev. Michael Singer reflects on Jesus’ promise that his followers will do “greater works,” inviting us to rethink what that truly means. Rather than focusing on miraculous displays of power, Fr. Michael points us to the deeper…
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The Fourth Sunday of Easter: The Voice That Leads Us
On Good Shepherd Sunday, The Rev. Sue Cushinotto reflects on what it means to be formed as disciples in a world full of competing voices. Drawing on the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, she reminds us that discipleship begins when we gather to be nourished and transformed, and continues as we...
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The Third Sunday of Easter: Recognizing Christ on the Journey
On the Third Sunday of Easter, Bishop Robert Skirving reflects on the story of the road to Emmaus, where the risen Christ is revealed not in dramatic certainty, but in relationship, hospitality, and shared experience. Through the story of two disciples walking together in confusion and grief,...
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The Second Sunday of Easter: Unlocking the Doors
On the Second Sunday of Easter, The Rev. Michael Singer reflects on a question many quietly carry: what difference does Easter really make? Even after the resurrection, the world can feel unchanged—still marked by fear, uncertainty, and brokenness. The disciples knew this reality well, remaining...
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Easter Sunday: The Empty Tomb, The Living Hope
On Easter morning, The Rev. Michael Singer shares a moving story about a child named Jeremy whose simple understanding of the resurrection reveals a profound truth: the tomb is empty because Christ is alive. Through this story, we are invited to consider not just what we believe about Easter, but...
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Good Friday: Seeing Ourselves in the Story
On Good Friday, The Rev. Sue Cushinotto reflects on the Passion narrative by inviting us to see ourselves in each of its characters — Judas, Peter, the crowd, Pilate, and the faithful women at the cross. Rather than distancing ourselves from the story, we are reminded that we, too, are capable of...
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Maundy Thursday: The Choice to Love
On Maundy Thursday, the liturgy draws us into one of the most intimate moments of Holy Week. The Rev. Michael Singer reflects on Jesus kneeling to wash the feet of his disciples — all of them. Not just the faithful, but also Judas, the one who would betray him. This night confronts us with a…
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Palm Sunday: The Crowd Within Us
On Palm Sunday, The Rev. Michael Singer reflects on the dramatic shift from celebration to crucifixion. One moment, the crowd shouts “Hosanna!” — and the next, “Crucify him.” In the liturgy, we take on both roles, revealing a deeper truth about ourselves. Father Michael reminds us that this…
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Unbound and Brought to Life
On the Fifth Sunday in Lent, The Rev. Sue Cushinotto reflects on powerful images of new life — Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones and Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. In both stories, what is scattered, lifeless, and hopeless is restored by the breath and call of God. Rev. Cushinotto invites us to...
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Seeing with New Eyes
On the Fourth Sunday in Lent, The Rev. Jerry Gallagher reflects on the Gospel story of the man born blind and the life-changing encounter that restored his sight. What began as a miracle quickly became a challenge to the assumptions and fears of those around him, reminding us how often God’s…
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Encounters That Change Us
On the Third Sunday in Lent, The Rev. Michael Singer reflects on Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well and shares a personal story of a homeless man who once asked him for a blessing. What seemed like a simple act of ministry became something much deeper — a moment where Father...
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Born From Above
In this Lenten reflection, The Rev. Michael Singer explores Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus and the meaning of being “born from above.” While we often define ourselves by where we were born, our ancestry, or our earthly identities, Father Michael reminds us that our truest identity is shaped…
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The Harder Path | The First Sunday in Lent 2026
In this Lenten reflection, The Rev. Michael Singer challenges us to rethink how we understand sin. While it is easy to name the faults of others, Father Michael reminds us that sin is more than rule-breaking — it is a rupture of relationship. It is not merely private wrongdoing but something that...
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Marked as Dust, Claimed by Grace - Ash Wednesday Homily
On Ash Wednesday, The Rev. Michael Singer reflects on the visible mark of ashes placed upon our foreheads and the deeper meaning behind it. While baptism marks us invisibly as Christ’s own forever, the ashes make the cross unmistakably clear. Father Michael offers a powerful image: the ash cross...
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Mountaintop Moments and the Call to Return
On Transfiguration Sunday, The Rev. Sue Cushinotto reflects on the moment when Jesus is revealed in dazzling glory before Peter, James, and John. While the disciples long to remain on the mountaintop, surrounded by awe and certainty, they are reminded that they cannot stay there. They must return...
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Salt of the Earth
In this sermon, The Rev. Michael Singer reflects on Jesus’ call to be “the salt of the earth,” inviting us to reconsider a familiar image through its original meaning. While salt is common and easily overlooked today, in biblical times it was precious, life-sustaining, and essential. Jesus’ words...
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A Net Wide Enough for the World
Jesus begins his ministry not alone, but by calling ordinary people into a shared work of discipleship. In this sermon, The Rev. Michael Singer reflects on Jesus’ call to “fish for people,” reminding us that faith is never meant to remain private or isolated. Drawing on everyday stories and small...
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Called into Relationship
In this sermon, The Rev. Michael Singer reflects on what it truly means to be called by God. Drawing on the call of the first disciples in John’s Gospel and Isaiah’s promise that God has “taken you by the hand,” Father Michael challenges the common assumption that calling is primarily about doing...
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You Are God’s Beloved: The Baptism of Our Lord
On the First Sunday after the Epiphany, The Rev. Michael Singer reflects on the Baptism of Our Lord and the moment when Jesus’ true identity is revealed. At the waters of the Jordan, heaven opens, the Spirit descends, and God names Jesus as Beloved. Father Michael invites us to imagine the power…
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Arise and Shine
On the Feast of the Epiphany, The Rev. Michael Singer reflects on the meaning of epiphany as revelation—God’s light made visible in the world and through our lives. Drawing on the journey of the Magi, the imagery of light after the winter solstice, and the Church’s call to justice, Father Michael...
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The Work of Christmas
In this sermon, The Rev. Michael Singer reflects on what comes after Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Drawing on Howard Thurman’s poem The Work of Christmas, Father Michael reminds us that while much effort goes into preparing for Christmas, the deeper work begins once the celebrations end. The...
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A Christmas Eve Homily: Joy to the World
On Christmas Eve, The Rev. Michael Singer invites us to step into the quiet wonder of Christ’s birth. In the intimacy of a stable, amid the ordinary sights and sounds of life, God enters the world as a newborn child. Father Michael reflects on the joy that new life brings — a joy filled with…
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Saying Yes in Ordinary Lives
On the Fourth Sunday of Advent, The Rev. Susan Cushinotto reflects on Mary and Joseph as ordinary people living ordinary lives when God suddenly interrupts with a life-changing invitation. Both are told, “Do not be afraid,” and both are given a choice: remain within the safety of what they know…
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Blue Christmas | The Longest Night
This week, The Rev. Michael Singer offers a sermon from our Blue Christmas (Longest Night) service, created for those who find Christmas difficult or heavy. Speaking with honesty and compassion, Father Michael acknowledges grief, loss, illness, and longing, and reminds us that Christmas is not...
About this show
Sermons On-the-Sound is the official podcast of St. Andrew’s On-the-Sound Episcopal Church in Wilmington, North Carolina. Each week, we share sermons that invite you to listen deeply, reflect faithfully, and live with hope. Rooted in the Anglican tradition and the beauty of the Book of Common Prayer, these messages connect scripture to daily life, offering encouragement for the journey of faith. Whether you are a longtime member, a neighbor by the water, or a seeker from afar, we welcome you to come and see the Spirit moving On-the-Sound. For more information, visit our website at https://saots.org.
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