In Sermons:

A Kinder And Gentler Community

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Feb 3, 2018

a community must respect and care for each other

Jesus gave us only two commandments: This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12) The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these (Mark 12:31) For those of you who are relatively new to In The Garden, I ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal

The Wilderness Of Lent Series

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Feb 3, 2018

how should we spend the forty days of Lent?

Mark 1:9-15 Today is the first Sunday of Lent – the annual period of reflection leading to the joy and celebration of Easter. It is also the Sunday that we hear in the reading about of the baptism of Jesus and God’s affirmation that He is His well-beloved son. It surely helps to remind us of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:9-15

Denomination: Episcopal

Are We Wandering In The Darkness? And How Do We Get Out? Series

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Feb 3, 2018

Advent gives us time to bear witness to Jesus

Mark 1:1-8 We gather on this the second Sunday of Advent with joyful expectations of another Christmas season with the sacred and secular traditions that Christmas brings. We can see the excitement in the faces of children who patiently wait for Christmas Day. It's harder for them to concentrate ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8

Denomination: Episcopal

We Are All Blind In Some Way Series

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Feb 3, 2018

where are we blind?

Mark 10:46-52 There was a blind man called Bartimaeus, who lived in Jericho. According to Jewish law at the time, blind people held a special position; he was cared for and there was nothing he was required to do. His fellow citizens had a religious duty to give alms, and that meant he would ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52

Denomination: Episcopal

We Are Healed So That We May Serve Series

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Feb 3, 2018

we, like Jesus, must reconnect with God in prayer

May the words of my mouth be heard, written in our hearts, and acknowledged to God in prayer. Amen. We are beginning a study of the Gospel of Mark, and as Father Philip told us last week, Mark is the first gospel, and in many ways a “just the facts, ma’am” account of Jesus’ ministry, In this ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:29-39

Denomination: Episcopal

Jesus Loves The Children - All Of Us! Series

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Feb 3, 2018

we must have the faith of a child

Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me." (Mark 9:37) A follow-up to the Scripture we just heard told more of the story ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:13-16

Denomination: Episcopal

That Mighty Little Mustard Seed

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Feb 3, 2018

out of something small can come great things

Mark 4:30-32 Have you ever seen a mustard seed? I have one in my hand, but unless you are very, very close to me, you will not be able to see it. This little seed is one of the most mysterious seeds in nature. It is hard to believe that from this tiny little seed, a plant that grows . . . and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:30-32

Denomination: Episcopal

Twenty-First Century Demons Series

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Feb 3, 2018

we must fight the demons of the 21st century

Mark 1:21-28 Dear Lord, may we listen with our ears, hear with our hearts, and be willing to carry out your mission. Amen. In the passage from Mark that was read today, Jesus was teaching at the synagogue in Capernaum. It was the first time his newly chosen disciples had heard Jesus teach, and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:21-28, Matthew 25:35-46

Denomination: Episcopal

The Kingdom Is Not 'up There'

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Feb 3, 2018

Where is the Kingdom of God?

Mark 1:15 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news. (Mark 1:15) We have just heard Jesus say in the Gospel of Mark, “The time has come. ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal

Never A Slave Again Series

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Jan 30, 2018

things to be grateful for as we celebrate Independence Day

Next Sunday people in the United States celebrate Independence Day, the time the little colony of the thirteen states threw off the English yoke of domination and established a new country. It is the time that we remember those forefathers who were brave enough to take a stand and risk war to say ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal

No –isms Here!

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Jan 30, 2018

there are no ISMS' in God's Kingdom

In this election year, we have constantly heard mean, nasty, degrading speeches as part of the Republican debates and primary election ads. We have heard: • women reduced to human incubators by removing their ability to make decisions about their own bodies, • candidates accused of infanticide ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal

We Are All One!

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Jan 30, 2018

we are all children of God, regardless of color, sex, nationality, religion

Forty-eight years ago Martin Luther King Jr. published a collection of sermons entitled 'Strength to Love'. In this small volume Dr. King challenged Christians to connect their faith to action, which would result in just laws and society for all people. These sermons are as relevant today as they ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:23-29, Isaiah 5:9-10

Denomination: Episcopal

Who Is God?

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Jan 30, 2018

just exactly who is God

The last couple of weeks I have been talking about following Jesus and that the Holy Spirit has been sent to help us do that. But one of the things that is often overlooked, is ‘just exactly who is God’. As I was preparing for this homily, I was thinking that we hear about Jesus and have a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:37-40, Ephesians 2:4-5

Denomination: Episcopal

One Day At A Time

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Jan 30, 2018

live each day to the fullest; don't borrow trouble

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to you, my Lord and my Redeemer. I have been reading the Bible for more than fifty years. Yet sometimes I feel like I am reading it for the very first time. These words of Jesus that we heard from the Gospel took on new ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:24-34

Denomination: Episcopal

God Has A Plan For You

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Jan 30, 2018

God has a plan for each of us

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-12

Denomination: Episcopal