Second Epiphany, 2025
Are you being called to follow Jesus? Continue reading Second Epiphany, 2025
Author: Ben
A Prayer Challenge?
What’s a prayer challenge? Why am I doing it at my parish? Read to find out more! Continue reading A Prayer Challenge?
Digital Prayer
I am exploring how people engage with digital resources in their prayer lives! I have had some really compelling conversations with some friends and members of my church, which inspired me to throw the questions out there further. Continue reading Digital Prayer
Confirmation, 2024
Are you being called to follow Jesus? Continue reading Confirmation, 2024
What are we waiting for? Earth and Altar Article
Advent offers more questions than answers, more uncertainty than peace and hope and joy. Advent requires honesty; and honesty can lead to lament, to pain, to unanswered questions, and finally to prayer: Come, thou long expected Jesus. Continue reading What are we waiting for? Earth and Altar Article
The First Sunday of Advent, 2023
This sermon was preached for St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lynchburg, VA on the First Sunday of Advent, Year B 2023.Photo by Ben Cowgill of All Saints Chapel in Sewanee, TN on a foggy day.Isaiah 64:1-9; Mark 13:24-37 Happy Advent! This weekend’s fog took me by surprise— as maybe it did many of you. As I drove down 29 on my way to my wife … Continue reading The First Sunday of Advent, 2023
Church?
This sermon was preached for St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (Clifford, VA) and Grace Episcopal Church (Massies Mill, VA)n Lynchburg, VA on the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Year A 2023.Photo by Ben Cowgill at Grace Episcopal Church, Massies Mill.Exodus 3:1–15; Romans 12:9–21; Matthew 16:21–28 What is task of the church? I think there is a lot of confusion— well, maybe I have a lot of confusion— … Continue reading Church?
Weeds and Wheat
No matter how evil, no matter how powerful, God will ultimately judge and resolve it. That is Good News. Sin? It’s gone. The Devil? Taken care of. Racism? Sexism? Homophobia? Poverty? Injustice? Solved. Jesus’ explanation is finally about the completion of God’s plan, of God’s redeeming power over the world to set all things right, and invite all into his heavenly kingdom. Continue reading Weeds and Wheat
Anything but Ordinary Time
“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:39 NRSV I speak to you in the name of one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.Before I begin, I want to acknowledge the tragedy that happened this past Thursday in Alabama at St Stephen’s … Continue reading Anything but Ordinary Time
We Go the Way of the Cross
This sermon was preached for St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lynchburg, VA on Palm Sunday, Year C 2022.Photo by Yannick Pulver on UnsplashLuke 22:14-23:56 I speak to you in the name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It may not seem so at first, but the passion narrative, the gospel story this morning that we just heard, is profoundly Good News. This week, this … Continue reading We Go the Way of the Cross
Ben Cowgill 