a young woman's pilgrimage in ordained ministry
A celebration of St. Francis of Assisi; Psalm 148:7-14; Matthew 11:25-30 A Prayer Attributed to St. Francis: Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is... Continue Reading →
Palm Sunday Sermon, April 9, 2017 audio without the beautiful congregational singing: http://www.gracechurchamherst.org/the-rev-sarah-syer-4917/ "Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? O-o-o-o sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" Tremble. Tremble. Tremble. What did the authors of this... Continue Reading →
Listen to the audio: http://www.gracechurchamherst.org/the-rev-sarah-syer-12217/ Several times in seminary, I heard there were two dualistic types of discipleship: the actives and the contemplatives. The actives being the go-getters: creating new programs, organizing peoples, perhaps even initiating marches across the country and across the world. The contemplatives being the spiritually centered ones: spending time reading, reflecting, and praying... Continue Reading →
“The light shines forth in the darkness, And the darkness has not overcome it.” At Christmas I always feel super nostalgic, and so today I wanted to share some past memories with you. As a child I was afraid of the dark. For everything seemed much more terrifying in the dark: the normal all of a sudden paranormal. Whenever... Continue Reading →
Proper 28, Year C; Isaiah 65:17-25; Canticle 9; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13; Luke 21:5-19 The first time I felt I could call the Pioneer Valley home was at age seventeen, as I was discerning which university to attend. On a snowy April morning I recall riding down route 47 with my mother and a family friend. And... Continue Reading →
Sermon for Sunday, October 16th Jeremiah 31:27-34; Psalm 119:97-104; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5; Luke 18:1-8 I have the privilege of being married to a hospice chaplain. And when this husband of mine isn’t graciously editing my Sunday sermons, I am blessed to hear stories of encounters and interactions with his numerous patients. Some of the most beautiful... Continue Reading →
The Second Sunday of Easter Acts 5:27-32; Revelation 1:4-8; John 20:19-31 It has been one week since Easter Sunday. One week since children held delightfully decorated eggs in their hands, felt their weight, touched their smooth shells, and cracked some open for a sugar high only Christmas and Easter can duplicate. It has been one... Continue Reading →
Advent 1, Year C Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36 I don’t know about you, but every year at this time I get a bit nostalgic. With the Advent countdown to the Christ child now begun, I reminisce over Christmases past and the weeks of preparation beforehand—which usually involved eating way too many of... Continue Reading →
A sermon for St. Michael & All Angels September 27, 2015 Genesis 28:10-17; Revelation 12:7-12; John 1:47-51 My fifth grade year was the only year I was ever in a Christmas pageant. The Episcopal church my family attended at the time, in downtown Atlanta, was so enormous and there were so many children that only... Continue Reading →
A Sermon for the First Sunday of Lent, Year B Mark 1:9-15 I must admit, I was not prepared to hike down the mountain. I was not prepared to leave the spiritual elation Of the season of Epiphany, I was not prepared to follow Peter, James, and John Off of the peak where... Continue Reading →
The Magdalene's Call 