Glimpses of Grace

Aidan VoylesThis sermon considers the human inclination to gravitate towards a location of familiarity. In examining the Holy Spirit through the lens of Paul's teachings to the Athenians in Acts, it questions how our mental confinement of Biblical understanding affects the potential of our relationship with GodFor episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.ReadingActs 17:22-31

Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker, Ed.D.This sermon reflects on the quiet, disorienting moments when life feels unstable and what it means to trust in that uncertainty. Drawing from John 14, it reframes Jesus’ promise not as an explanation or map, but as the assurance of belonging—a place prepared in God, discovered in community. In conversation with Thomas and Stephen, it invites us to see faith as a way of being held in a shared life.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.ReadingJohn 14:1-14

Welcome to the first episode of the Grace Episcopal Outreach Mission Spotlight, a new series on the Glimpses of Grace podcast highlighting community partners supported by the Grace Episcopal Outreach Ministry in Gainesville and Hall County, Georgia. Each episode features local organizations making a measurable impact through service, advocacy, and compassionate support.Featured Organization: Bloom Enterprises (Gainesville, GA)In this episode, we spotlight Bloom Enterprises, a Hall County nonprofit dedicated to empowering adults with different abilities. Their mission is rooted in inclusion, dignity, and faith-based community support. Bloom Enterprises works to ensure that adults with different abilities can participate fully in community life and experience meaningful opportunities for growth, contribution, and connection.Mission Statement: “To support, encourage and empower adults with different abilities to participate as contributing members of their community and to enrich their quality of life. Our faith-based organization aims to celebrate each person’s value while shining a light on inclusion in all that we do.”Guest InterviewOur guest is Cathy Drerup, Chairperson of Bloom Enterprises. Cathy shares the organization’s vision, the motivation behind their work, and the values that sustain their mission of inclusion in the Gainesville–Hall County community.Learn More & Get InvolvedDiscover Bloom Enterprises’ programs, volunteer opportunities, and ways to support their mission at bloomga.org.Learn more about Grace Episcopal Outreach Mission at https://www.gracechurchgainesville.org/grace-church-outreach-ministry-spotlight-on-funding-recipients/.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinWe may feel we know the story of the shepherd, the sheep, and the gate very well, but in this Gospel reading, Jesus offers a powerful teaching that invites us to use our imagination in a new way. How can we use our spiritual muscles and explore the profound insights that rise within us as we examine our faith? We remember once more that, in the end, it is not we who read these stories but the stories that read us. For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.ReadingsActs 2:42-47 Peter 2:19-25John 10:1-10

Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker, Ed.D.This sermon invites listeners into the Emmaus story not as observers, but as companions on the road. Inspired by the Ignatian Examen, it explores how Christ meets us not in certainty but in brokenness and quiet recognition. In the breaking of bread and turning back toward life, we discover that even in what we had hoped would be different, God is still drawing near.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Reading:Luke 24:13-35

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinChrist has risen, Alleluia! Now comes the hard part. The disciples are left in confusion. When Jesus returns the disciples struggle to recognize him. Christ has been raised from the dead, but we do not receive a quick fix to our daily struggles. How do we take Christ's message and see the world through different eyes? How do we navigate life now?For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Reading:John 20:19-31

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinThe resurrection of Christ marks a time of celebration and joy, a welcome rebirth, but overly relying on familiar customs lets us bypass the deep soul work that the resurrection of Christ calls for. How can we, as Fr. Brandon said during the Great Vigil, "set the world aglow?" When our life is our practice, how do we fan the flames and become the resurrection of Christ? How do we become all fire?For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker, Ed.D."Returning to the Fire" invites us into the mystery at the heart of the Easter Vigil, where light emerges not by avoiding darkness but by entering it. Tracing the journey through soil, water, and breath, this sermon centers on the fire that has always marked God’s presence—guiding, refining, and rekindling life where hope feels lost. In a world of uncertainty, it calls us to become participants in that living flame, carrying resurrection not just as belief, but as practice.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinSo much in our modern world is obsessed with personal desires and power, and a spirit of greed and ambition saturates all aspects of our lives. Good Friday challenges us to become aware of the deep power of Jesus Christ: that in self-emptying and compassion, we are healed together and brought into wholeness.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Reading:John 18:1-19:42Musical Reflection:Were you there?James Marshall, bassSpiritual, arr. Harry T. BurleighMusic by permission under www.OneLicense.net (license number A-701954)

Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker, Ed.D.This sermon reflects on the disorienting tenderness of Jesus’ final night with his disciples, where love takes the unexpected shape of kneeling to wash feet. In a moment that confuses and unsettles, Jesus invites his followers—not to understand everything—but to trust and receive a love that feels both intimate and undeserved. “Love to the End” calls us to be transformed by that love, so that we might embody it for one another, even when we do not yet fully understand it.ReadingJohn 13:1-17, 31b-35

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinIn John 12:20-36, Jesus says "unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains but a single grain. But if it dies, it bears much fruit." We have learned to come to church and look to God for comfort, and to feel good. But God asks us to be transformed. What habits, ways of seeing and thinking and being have we been called to let die so that we can be transformed to bear fruit?For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Reading- John 12: 20-36

Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker, Ed.D.This Lent we’ve been on an exploration of elements: moving from soil and water to breath—the Spirit that animates all life. Through visions of dry bones in Ezekiel and the raising of Lazarus in John, we are invited to consider where life has gone still and how God’s breath restores what feels lost or beyond hope. As we approach Holy Week, this sermon calls us to become people through whom God’s living-giving Spirit flows into the world.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.ReadingsEzekiel 37:1-14John 11:1-45

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinWhen Jesus gave sight to a man who was born blind, the community couldn’t accept it. It was inconceivable. It conflicted with their world view. Jesus shows us that we see the world not as it is, but as we are. What miracles and opportunities do our rigid world views and expectations blind us to? How can our vision break open so that we see through God's eyes? For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Readings1 Samuel 16:1-13John 9:1-41

Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker, Ed.D.This sermon explores the deep human experience of thirst—both physical and spiritual—through the stories of Israel in the wilderness and Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. Our lives are shaped by the sources from which we draw, and we’re invited to consider what our daily practices reveal about our trust, fear, and hope. God’s living water flows through even the most broken of places.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.The First Reading: Exodus 17:1-7 The Second Reading: Romans 5:1-11 Gospel: John 4:5-42

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinWe all build worldviews based on what we reckon as righteousness. We have collected ideas and views to build an understanding of the world that we are proud of. When Nicodemus was confronted with a new, divine truth that conflicted with his worldview, he realized he was blocked. "You must be born again" Jesus said. What dams have we built that keep God's wisdom from flowing through our lives?Genesis 12:1-4aThe Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him.Romans 4:1-5, 13-17What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”) —in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.John 3:1-17There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker, Ed.D.On the First Sunday of Lent, we return to the garden in the Book of Genesis to reconsider the story not as a tale of blame, but as a story about boundaries, freedom, and what it means to be human. From dust to wilderness, we are invited to see that our lives are always practicing something—trust or grasping, surrender or control—and that our choices shape the spiritual soil around us. Lent invites us to a season of intentional, communal practice, where God continues to breathe life into dust.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Matthew 4:1-11Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written,     ‘One does not live by bread alone,        but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’”Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinWhen Jesus reveals himself to Peter, James and John on the mountain top, their first impulse was to build something to temper their experience. But a bright cloud overshadowed and overwhelmed them. We're often left in the dark, searching for a light. And just like an Arkansas teenager hiding in the HVAC return, the only way to win is to weather the darkness long enough to be found.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Matthew 17:1-9Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker, Ed.D.In uncertain and pressurized times, Jesus’ words remind us that faith is not about spectacle, but about presence that quietly transforms from within. This sermon explores what it means to live as “salt” — preserving dignity, resisting fear, and embodying Christ’s healing love in the ordinary places of life. As we season the small corners we inhabit, we discover that steady, relational faithfulness is how the kingdom of heaven takes root.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Matthew 5:13-20Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Stuart Higginbotham, Brandon Nonnemaker and Meg McPeek talk creativity, new beginnings, playlists, simmer pots, candles, poems and dreams, magic and who is that outside the window? Oh, he's on the phone, it's fine.This bonus episode was recorded on Jan. 5, 2026 in Stuart's office.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker, Ed.D.This sermon reflects on John the Baptist’s witness at the Jordan as a moment of divine light emerging amid instability and change. Drawing on Scripture, art, and the embodied experience of life rooted in place, it explores how God’s presence appears not through force, but through gift, circulation, and belonging. In a world undergoing profound transition, the sermon invites listeners to recognize the Light of the World among us, calling us into a new way of living shaped by love.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.John 1:29-42John saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinAgainst a backdrop of Roman imperial ambition, John the Baptist wrestled with the idea of baptizing Jesus; the one that he was preparing people to receive. While the emperor and dominant power structures sought to impose, grasp for power and self-glorify, Jesus asked John to let him share in our hopes, fears, sins and salvation of even the lowliest of us. When John the Baptist consented, he chose to relate to the world in a different way. Following Jesus sometimes puts you at odds with the power structure and prevailing popular sentiment. How do we handle when being a Christian makes us fundamentally weird? How do we consent?For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Matthew 3:13-17Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker, Ed.D.Set against the fear and insecurity that marks Herod’s empire, this Epiphany sermon contrasts the grasping of control with the courage of wonder. Through the journey of the magi, it proclaims a God who enters vulnerability and draws forth not fear, but joy and abundance. At the beginning of a new year, it invites us to choose another path—one guided by attention, embodiment, and the quiet hope of a star.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Matthew 2:1-12In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:`And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinDuring the Christmas season we retell the birth story of Jesus. The account from the Gospel of John, though, reminds us of the universality of Christ's incarnation and points out that "he came into this world and they didn't recognize him." Will we recognize Him?For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.John 1:1-18In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'") From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMin & Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker, Ed.D.Merry Christmas, Happy New Year!This special episode includes the sermons from both the 4 p.m. youth Christmas pageant and the 10 p.m. Chorale service which included a concert with Gate City Brass, the Grace Episcopal choir and Bill Hildebrandt as organist. These sermons ask us to explore the fundamental vulnerability of Christ’s incarnation in the world and its call to interdependence and community. For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker, Ed.D.This sermon reflects on Joseph as a quiet, working-class man whose life is disrupted by God, revealing how holiness often emerges when our plans fall apart. Framed by Matthew’s theme of Immanuel—God with us—it invites listeners to see divine presence not in spectacle, but in the ordinary, maybe inconvenient moments of life. The sermon gently calls us to discern where God may be interrupting us with possibility and to respond with trust and courage.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Matthew 1:18-25Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,and they shall name him Emmanuel,”which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinAdvent calls us to prepare for the coming of Christ. But what are we really looking for in Christ's coming? What are our motivations, expectations and goals? What choices are we making to commit to our deepest goals?For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Matthew 11:2-11When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written,‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,who will prepare your way before you.’“Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker, Ed.D.This sermon explores Isaiah’s vision of new life emerging from what appears dead and broken, inviting us to notice God’s quiet work in barren places. Through images of stumps, green shoots, and children leading the way, it reframes repentance as awakening rather than shame. In this Advent reflection, hope is not loud or easy, but tender, persistent, and already growing among us.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Isaiah 11:1-10 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins.The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.Matthew 3:1-12In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:‘Prepare the way of the Lord,make his paths straight.’”Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.“I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinWe traditionally think of Advent as the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas that prepares us for the birth of Christ, but that isn't the whole story. Advent is a nuanced and layered season of preparation and focused reflection that stretches includes images of apocalypse and nativity scenes. How do we prepare for the birth of Christ, the return of Christ on Earth, and the birth of Christ within ourselves?For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Romans 13:11-14You know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.Matthew 24:36-44Jesus said to the disciples, “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”

Rev. Dr. Betsy PowellThis Feast of Christ the King sermon explores the paradox of Jesus’s kingship through the story of a unique copper crucifix that hung on a nursing home wall. The cross depicts both the dying Jesus and Christ the King side-by-side. What does true kingship look like with this humble servant is our king, and with paradise here, in his word and name?For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Luke 23:33-43When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. The people stood by, watching Jesus on the cross; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinIn this improvisational sermon, we explore the deep trust that is fostered as we move from orientation, to disorientation, to reorientation, recognizing the Spirit's presence in our lives. While existing ways of life change and break down, new expressions of life are always rising. The Spirit remains at work, and our eyes are opened to trust more fully.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast.Isaiah 65:17-25For I am about to create new heavensand a new earth;the former things shall not be rememberedor come to mind.But be glad and rejoice foreverin what I am creating;for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight.I will rejoice in Jerusalem,and delight in my people;no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,or the cry of distress.No more shall there be in itan infant that lives but a few days,or an old person who does not live out a lifetime;for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth,and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.They shall build houses and inhabit them;they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.They shall not build and another inhabit;they shall not plant and another eat;for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.They shall not labor in vain,or bear children for calamity;for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord--and their descendants as well.Before they call I will answer,while they are yet speaking I will hear.The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,the lion shall eat straw like the ox;but the serpent-- its food shall be dust!They shall not hurt or destroyon all my holy mountain, says the Lord.Luke 21:5-19When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, Jesus said, "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down." They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?" And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, `I am he!' and, `The time is near!' Do not go after them."When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven."But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls."

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinHow do we follow Jesus’ example when our culture, laws and customs make that difficult? The Sadducees offer a legalistic point of view, with arguments about the law, but Jesus asks us to go deeper and look at God’s big picture. Recognizing that we all belong to God, and the implications of that, is messy, and it forces us to wrestle.Luke 20:27-38Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and asked him a question, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; then the second and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.”Jesus said to them, "Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive."For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker, Ed.D.On All Saints’ Day, we are invited to see as God sees—to recognize the web of love that binds us to the saints, to one another, and to all creation. Remembering last week's creation-centered Eucharist at Linwood, this sermon explores how the communion of saints mirrors the living, interconnected world beneath our feet. To be a saint is to live as one who is seen, to see with love, and to let that love flow through us for the life of the world. For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinGreek cab driver Kostas helps put everything into perspective. Whether we're grasping for control and superiority, or opining how tragedy could befall us, we need to remember that we are not the center of the narrative, and that we've got to keep our soul balanced.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker, Ed.D.This sermon explores what it means to live a life of embodied faith. Jacob, Paul, and the widow reveal that faith is not an abstract belief but a lived, physical practice of showing up—again and again—even when it hurts. It invites the listener to see their own weary, wondrous body as sacred ground where God continues to dwell.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinWhen we say that our lives are our practice, we affirm that each moment offers us an opportunity to practice gratitude. Rather than seeing our spiritual practice only as a way to fix a problem or achieve a desired result, we learn from Jesus how our entire lives can be transformed. In this way, we are truly made whole.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker, Ed.D.In a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain, Habakkuk, Jesus, and Paul teach us what it means to live faithfully. Drawing on the Hebrew concept of emunah, the Greek pistis, and Howard Thurman’s call "to center down,” this sermon explores how faith is steadiness in the midst of life’s storms. Through small acts of love and trust, even the tiniest seed of faith can move what seems immovable.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinWhen Lazarus the Beggar and a rich man both die, the rich man remains stuck looking at the world through his old paradigm--one that placed Lazarus on the other side of the line regarding his worth as a human being. What does it look like to challenge the way we categorize ourselves and others? How can we truly heed the Gospel's call to transformation in a world that constantly calls us to division?For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker, Ed.D.This sermon invites us to see grief not as something to avoid but as a doorway into God’s own heartbreak for the world. Through Jeremiah’s lament, Jesus’ startling parable, and Paul’s call to expansive prayer, we are reminded that emptiness makes room for compassion, generosity, and solidarity. When our hearts are broken open, we discover not despair but the balm of God’s healing love flowing through us for the sake of all creation.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinThis sermon focuses on the Feast of the Holy Cross, Grace's feast day. The living symbol of the cross challenges us to reflect on the transforming action of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. In a time of such uncertainty, we long to find belonging, and the cross invites us to belong to the life of Jesus, who calls us to empty ourselves.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker, Ed.D.This sermon invites us into the potter’s house, where God shapes us patiently and tenderly, every movement of the divine hand an act of love. From Jeremiah’s clay, to Jesus’ call to redefined family, to Paul’s appeal for Onesimus, it proclaims that we are bound not by blood, power, or status, but by the eternal love that weaves all creation together. We are called to live as the family of God—a household of love where every soul is shaped, cherished, and made new.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinJesus carries the prophetic vision into his own life and ministry, and he challenges us to focus on the deep practice of faith--what the prayer for today calls "true religion." In anxious and uncertain days, Jesus reminds us to trust the Spirit's presence rather than asserting our own agendas and yielding to our impulse to grasp onto power. Such "true religion" offers us hope, and we need more of it these days.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker, Ed.D.This sermon reflects on Jesus' healing of a woman bent down by burden and the clash between rigid law and liberating love. It invites us to move beyond limited perspectives—of ourselves, of others, and of God—and step into Christ’s expansive vision of dignity and compassion.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinJesus speaks of bringing division, and the shallow parts of ourselves push back against discomfort. But the deep teachings of Christian practice demonstrate how the wisdom of Jesus cuts through our illusions and patterns that thwart our own spiritual growth and evolution. That is the point of what we do, the goal of who we are.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker, Ed.D.This sermon gently acknowledges the pervasive fear many face in an uncertain world and invites listeners to respond with faith and trust in God’s ongoing creative work. Drawing on Abram’s story and Jesus’ promise of the kingdom, it reveals how faith becomes the foundation for courage, generosity, and belonging amid life’s challenges. Ultimately, it offers a hopeful reminder that we are treasured by God and already living within the kingdom, called to live without fear.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinGreed is a tricky thing. When we dare to pause and pay attention to where we invest ourselves, we begin to learn where we truly place our trust. The Spirit challenges us to see where our deepest yearnings lie --and to take the first steps toward true freedom.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker, Ed.D.This sermon explores the beautiful tension at the heart of prayer—a space where bold confidence in God’s love meets the mystery of God’s ways. Drawing on Psalm 138, Abraham’s prayerful bargaining, and Jesus’ teaching in Luke 11, it reminds us that prayer is not about having all the answers, but about trusting the One who hears. In joy or grief, with clarity or questions, we are invited to keep asking, seeking, and knocking—because God is good, and that is enough.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinIt is easy to choose certain Bible verses that reinforce our preconceived notions about the worthiness of other people, yet the Spirit hopes that our lives are transformed to see all of creation held in God's embrace. How can our practice of faith nurture a more inclusive vision in our lives, so that our lives are patterned more fully on the life of Jesus Christ?For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Dr. Betsy PowellA pitiful, stray dog on the side of an Alabama country road reminds us that the parable of the Good Samaritan isn't about being a do-gooder or a nice guy. The Good Samaritan is a story about radical mercy, love and action. Active love vs. benign neglect. It's about being a neighbor in the truest sense, and coming near.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Stuart Higginbotham, DMinThe earth bows down and sings, but do we hear it? In a world filled with noise and distraction, how do we stretch our spiritual muscles to truly listen to God's presence, not just in the extraordinary, but in every person and every moment?For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Brandon Nonnemaker, Ed.D.This sermon explores how life’s sudden upheavals—the whirlwind moments—can be more than disorienting; they can be transformative. Drawing from Elijah’s ascent, Psalm 77, and Jesus’ resolute journey toward the cross, it challenges us to choose mercy and to follow God not around the storm, but through it. In the whirlwind, we find not chaos alone, but the presence of a God who walks with us, leading us with grace, love, and purpose.For episode transcripts and more about Grace Episcopal Church, visit online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠gracechurchgainesville.org⁠/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.