Sermon by Rev. Gary W. Charles, May 30th, 2021 Once upon a time in a land far, far away, people sang. Not just children or youth keeping the beat with earbuds inserted. Not just young adults at concerts, but adults of every age and in every place. Some sang solos, soaring into perfect pitch glory. Some sang in small groups sitting on the front porch with friends while strumming their instruments. At some point, everyone sang in a large community choir, even those who changed

Sermon by Rev. Erin Burt, May 23rd, 2021 This week we are very pleased to have a guest Sermon by Reverend Erin Burt. Rev. Erin Burt is originally from Atlanta, Georgia but relocated to attend Union Presbyterian Seminary. She completed her M.Div. in May 2020 and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Union Presbyterian Seminary. Rev. Erin Burt has known Rev. Gary Charles since his days at Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta where she is a member. After Jesus’ ascensio

Sermon by Rev. Gary W. Charles, May 16th, 2021 Happy Ascension Sunday! I know, it has something of a hollow ring to it. At best, this is an odd Sunday in the church year. It has none of the unfettered anticipation of Christmas Eve, none of the festive air of Easter, none of the wild pageantry of Pentecost. To make matters more bizarre, it is a holiday that actually takes place on Thursday, exactly forty days after Easter. This church holiday is not found on most calendars and

Sermon by Rev. Gary W. Charles, May 9th, 2021 There was not a cloud in the sky and it was ridiculously hot. Once inside, some spoke Creole. Some spoke French. Some spoke English with accents ranging from Ohio to the deep South. The bishop of the Episcopal Church in Haiti was decked out in full, colorful, liturgical vestments, holding his shepherd’s crook and wearing his impressive mitre. Hundreds of Haitians, along with those of us from the U.S. gathered on the mountainside a

Sermon by Rev. Gary W. Charles, May 2nd, 2021 Think of a time when you felt truly at home even when you were not at home. What made you feel that way? What made it feel different from the many other places that you have lived or traveled or worked and never felt at home? What did you find there that you did not find anywhere else? My most vivid feeling of being at home did not occur in this country. It happened in an open-air Episcopal Cathedral in Port au Prince, Haiti almos