Coming into Focus
Photo by Devin Avery on Unsplash This is the sermon that was offered up during Morning Prayer on August 9, 2020. This service was held via the zoom platform for St John's Episcopal Church in Dubuque, Iowa. The reason that services weren't held in person was due to the COVID-19 pandemic that prevented the congregation from gathering together. The scripture readings were 1 Kings 19:9-18, Psalm 85:8-13, Romans 10:5-15, and Matthew 14:22-33. Dear God, may we not be distracted when we pray, may we be able to focus on you and in the silence, hear your voice. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Awkward. Uncomfortable. Embarrassing. We all feel these emotions that we see in today's readings. Like the time in the elevator when someone's stomach makes noises and we pretend we don't hear. At the dinner where two family members with different political opinions stray from the script and start speaking of topics sure to...