Sermons by Scott Mayer

Sermons by Scott Mayer

. . .An outward visible sign of faith, hope, and love by a liberated people.

This is the sermon Bishop Scott Mayer preached at the Special Meeting of the Diocesan Convention June 18, 2021. ——————– North Texas Special Convention      Trinity, Fort Worth        June 18, 2022 We have arrived at a decisive moment for the Episcopal Church in 24 North Texas counties. I would suggest “arrived” is the right word, as it implies we have been on a journey – a journey that is coming close to full circle from the Mission Territory of Texas to…

Chain reaction of love

This is the sermon Bishop Scott Mayer preached at Trinity, Fort Worth, on the Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 22, 2022. —– Trinity Fort Worth 2022          6 Easter – Year C               May 22 It’s wonderful to see you in person. It’s been three years since we have gathered for Confirmations, although we have celebrated your new ministry with your new rector, Robert. I want to express my gratitude for the way you navigated the pandemic as a congregation: the innovative…

Seeking what is real

This is the sermon Bishop Scott Mayer preached at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, Decatur, on the Fifth Sunday of Lent, April 3, 2022. —— Resurrection Decatur 2022                     5 Lent – Year C                              April 3 I have had the privilege to hear one of the great evangelical preachers speak a couple of times:  Tony Campolo.  If you are not familiar with him, Dr Campolo is a Baptist, a sociologist, a pastor, a spiritual advisor to presidents,  and a progressive. …

The Good News

This is the sermon Bishop Scott Mayer preached at the joint service of St. Christopher and St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church on the Third Sunday of Advent, December 12, 2021. St. Christopher has been worshiping at St. Matthew’s since they lost their building in the end of the litigation. —— St Christopher FW with St Matthew’s Lutheran             December 12, 2021 I want to begin this morning by expressing gratitude on behalf of the Episcopal Church, this diocese, and St Christopher’s to…

Advent hope

This is the sermon Bishop Scott Mayer preached at St. Mary’s, Hillsboro, on the Second Sunday of Advent, December 5, 2021. —– St Mary’s Hillsboro 2021            2 Advent                December 5 It is a joy to be with you – in person. It is a joy to be with you in this place. Thank you for your service to God in and through the Episcopal Church. If we are honest, there are easier paths right now – but, none any more…

The first Incarnation

This is the sermon the Rt. Rev. Scott Mayer, bishop of The Episcopal Church in North Texas, preached at his visitation to St. Alban’s Theatre Arlington, on the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, September 26, 2021. ———– St Alban’s Arlington 2021    Creation Season, Mountain Sunday   September 26 I have an all-time favorite New Yorker cartoon. It’s a cartoon picture of two fleas standing on a dog’s back. One flea is speaking to the other. And the flea says (the caption reads):…

“It’s all grace – all gift”

This is the sermon Bishop Scott Mayer preached at the worship service before the diocesan picnic on Saturday, June 26, 2021, at All Saints’ School. Read the text below the sermon. Today the Episcopal Church in North Texas gathers together from all parts of the diocese, ranging from Wichita Falls to Hillsboro, a tremendous turnout, to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, the Sacrament of Confirmation, and have a picnic. It is a time to celebrate our identity as Episcopalians, and our…

“Our calling is to scatter seeds”

This is the sermon the Rt. Rev. Scott Mayer preached at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Fort Worth, worshiping at the Chapel at All Saints’ Episcopal School, 9700 Saints’ Circle, Fort Worth, TX, 76108, on the Third Sunday after Pentecost, June 13, 2021.. —————- All Saints Fort Worth 2021         3 Pentecost – Proper 6B           June 13 I want to begin this morning by expressing my respect, affection, and gratitude for you, the people called All Saints Episcopal Church. These have been…

“…your immeasurable love.”

This is the sermon Bishop Scott Mayer preached at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Granbury on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday, April 25, 2021. The service marked the 50th anniversary of the parish. ————– Good Shepherd Granbury 2021        4 Easter – Year B             April 25 I am glad to see you – in person. It has been a strange year, a surreal year, and for many people a devastating year. For most of a…

“The tomb is empty. Love is released.”

This is the sermon the Rt. Rev. Scott Mayer preached at the diocesan worship service for Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021. ——— Easter Day, North Texas     April 4, 2021 Alleluia, Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia! Jesus Christ is risen today, and by his rising to new life, we are raised with him. For, resurrection happens not only to Jesus, but to us as well – and not only to us, but to all of creation. We…

“Joy anyway”

This is the sermon Bishop Scott Mayer preached at the diocesan worship service for the Second Sunday of Lent, February 28, 2021. Watch it below or on YouTube. The text is below the video. ——– Lent 2 B Mark By now you know that we lost. In the course of a long interview this week,  I told a news reporter that I grieve with you, and I hurt for you,  but that I’m not worried about you. He was taken…

God is in the manger

This is the sermon Bishop Scott Mayer preached at the diocesan worship service on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2020. ——————— Christmas Eve 2020 I remember a brief, but for me unforgettable, conversation several years ago on Christmas Eve at the Church of the Heavenly Rest in Abilene (where I served).  Right before the procession into the nave, the choir was lined up, the acolytes with crosses and torches and banners were taking their places in the procession, our organist was…

What won’t change

This is the sermon Bishop Scott Mayer gave at the diocesan worship service for the Day of Pentecost, May 31, 2020. ——————- The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth        The Day of Pentecost        May 31, 2020 Today we celebrate one of the three primary feast days in the life of the Church: the Day of Pentecost.  In the words of our Eucharistic Prayer,  “In fulfillment of his true promise, the Holy Spirit came down on this day from heaven, lighting upon…

Behold this your family

This is the sermon Bishop Scott Mayer preached for the online Good Friday service, April 10, 2020. ———————————————— Good Friday                                                                                            April 10, 2020 This has been a long Season of Lent.  One person observed that…

Maundy Thursday Mass on the World

This is the sermon Bishop Scott Mayer preached for the online Maundy Thursday service, April 9, 2020. ———————————— Maundy Thursday            Mass on the World              April 9, 2020 The Collect for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist on Maundy Thursday reads as follows (and let us pray it together): “Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully, grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ…

No place is beyond God’s reach

This is the sermon Bishop Scott Mayer preached during the online Palm Sunday worship service, April 5, 2020. ———————— Palm Sunday 2020                                             April 5 In Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday we see two dramas enacted on the same day, even during the same liturgy, all in a little over an hour. The Gospels tell us that Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem humbly riding a donkey, and he is greeted by a large crowd who has prepared his way with…