Time after Pentecost (October and November) 2020 (Year A)

Listen to an individual sermon—Click on the “Listen to this sermon” link to play the mp3 file of that sermon. To save the file to your computer and listen later, right-click (Windows) or option-click (Mac) on the “Listen to this sermon” link for that sermon.

Subscribe to podcasts of LCH sermon audio—Click on one on the icons below to have LCH Sermons delivered directly to your computer each week.

iTunes iconiTunes Podcast Directory—Use this icon to subscribe via the iTunes Store (and raise our popularity index on iTunes).

iTunes iconPodcast RSS—Use this icon to subscribe via your default RSS application.

For recorded sermons since Easter 2007 and earlier sermon texts, visit our Sermon Archive.

Christ the King: Last Sunday after Pentecost—November 22, 2020

Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Ezekiel 34:11–16, 20–24 | Psalm 100 | Ephesians 1:15–23 | Matthew 25:31–46
Summary: Today’s Gospel has imagery that couples majesty with the self-sacrificing ministry of Christ. The parable of the king who separates people who ministered to “the least of these” from those who did not can be used to bully those we don’t think are on the correct side, so we try to stack up enough pints to be on the right side. The first lesson helps us understand that God seeks out all the sheep. God has already done the work to redeem us all. Christ calls us and frees us to receive God’s grace and to be merciful to all around us.

Listen to this sermon

Time after Pentecost • Lectionary 33—November 15, 2020

Preacher: Intern Pastor Bree Lloyd
Lessons: Judges 4:1–7 | Psalm 123 | 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 | Matthew 25:14–30
Summary: The real message in today’s Gospel parable is for us to be bold with everything God has given us. Our first lesson shows Deborah taking risks to answer God’s call and save the people Locally, the story of Ho‘onani has her boldly take her place in the middle between male and female and lead the boys hula troop at her school. May we boldly trust God’s gracious gifts, risk using our gifts together, and serve with courage.

Listen to this sermon

Time after Pentecost • Lectionary 32—November 8, 2020

Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Joshua 24:1–3a, 14–25 | Psalm 78:1–7 | 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 | Matthew 25:1–13
Summary: Even with the election over, we are still a broken and divided society, and we can’t seem to let go of these division. Theologian Paul Tillich observed that our God is whatever is our ultimate concern, and it seems that our political stances have taken over as our ultimate concern, diving out the God who created and sustains us. In our first lesson, Joshua calls the people to stop following other desires and into covenant with God. With Christ as our center, we are free to work for a world where all are loved, united, and respected as children of God.

Listen to this sermon

All Saints Day—November 1, 2020

Preacher: Intern Pastor Bree Lloyd
Lessons: Revelation 7:9–17 | Psalm 34:1–10, 22 | 1 John 3:1–3 | Matthew 5:1–12
Summary: Vicar Bree shared the sermon William Sloane Coffin delivered ten days after the death of his college-aged son. The sermon shows how All Saints Day hold grief and hope together. Read Dr. Coffin’s sermon.

Listen to this sermon

Reformation Sunday—October 25, 2020

Preacher: Intern Pastor Bree Lloyd
Lessons: Jeremiah 31:31–34 | Psalm 46 | Romans 3:19–28 | John 8:31–36
Summary: “What is truth?” is a deep philosophical question that is also supremely relevant today. We are surrounded with information and rival truth claims, but truth can be uncertain. In the gospel, Jesus tells us that if we are truly his disciples and abide in his word, the truth will set us free. Whatever our ideas of truth, God and Jesus are in relationship with us. Whether we have a hold of God, God has us, and the law is written on our hearts. We are free to be in mutual relationship with one another despite our disagreements.

Listen to this sermon

Time after Pentecost • Lectionary 29—October 18, 2020

Preacher: Bishop Andrew Taylor
Lessons: 2 Chronicles 20:1-12 | Psalm 99 | 1 Thessalonians 1:1–10 | Matthew 22:15–22
Summary: In our first lesson, Judah is facing an invasion that they don’t think they can resist, so the king prays to God for deliverance saying that their eyes are on God. These days we are facing circumstances that seem hopeless. God has shown in Jesus, that God’s eye will always be on us, that God has changed us through the cross, and that God lives through us so that we may love our neighbor.

Listen to this sermon

Time after Pentecost • Lectionary 28—October 11, 2020

Preacher: Pastor Phyllis Hörmann
Lessons: Exodus 32:1–14 | Psalm 106:1–6, 19–23 | Philippians 4:1–9 | Matthew 22:1–14
Summary: In our troubled world, there seems little hope of a return to civility, connection, and hope; so we must work to attend to each other and form connections. Aloha (as interpreted by Aunty Pilahi Pākī) can guide us to peace and reconciliation through connection rather than correction. God persists in reaching out to all, calls us to connection, listens to what is in our hearts, and calls us to the feast.

Listen to this sermon

Time after Pentecost • Lectionary 27 / Feast of St. Francis—October 4, 2020

Preacher: Intern Pastor Bree Lloyd
Lessons: Exodus 20:1–4, 7–9, 12–20 | Psalm 19 | Philippians 3:4b–14 | Matthew 21:33–46
Summary: St. Francis spoke of the equality of all creation (including humans) rather than the dominion of humans over nature. The life of faith today needs to tend to the wound that divides humans from the environment we depend on. The vineyard in today’s Gospel, its vines, and the workers in the parable are all dear to God.

Listen to this sermon