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 Podcast Directory—Use this icon to subscribe via the iTunes Store (and raise our popularity index on iTunes).
Podcast 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.
Pentecost—May 31, 2020
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 2:1–21 | Psalm 104:24–34, 35b | 1 Corinthians 12:3b–13 | John 20:19–23
Summary: In our reading from Acts, a violent wind fills the house where the disciples are, they are anointed with the Holy Spirit, and they speak to people of every race and class and nation gathered in Jerusalem for the festival of Pentecost. This is the same wind that blew over creation in Genesis and the breath that filled Adam with life. God breathes this Spirit on all humanity and fills humanity with life, but it seems that society has decided that it should not be so. As Peter says in his sermon in the lesson from Acts, we each have a responsibility to dream dreams and prophesy that God’s Spirit is poured out on everyone.
Ascension Sunday—May 24, 2020
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 1:1–11; Psalm 47; Ephesians 1:15–23; Luke 24:44–53
Summary: The Ascension is a pivotal moment. Jesus has been comforting and strengthening the disciples and then ascends into heaven, but first Jesus reminds them that he will send the Advocate, blesses them, and tells them to remain in Jerusalem. They must have been bereaved, but they stayed together with joy until Pentecost. The post-resurrection appearances drew them together, and while Jesus leaves them, he leaves them together. The two men in the Acts reading ask them why they are looking up into heaven. Like the disciples, we should not be looking up into heaven. Our work is here on earth—our vocation of love.
Sixth Sunday of Easter—May 17, 2020
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 17:22–31 | Psalm 66:8–20 | 1 Peter 3:13–22 | John 14:15–21
Summary: In today’s Gospel, just before he is betrayed, Jesus tells the disciples, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate…the Spirit of truth.” Of course, keeping the commandments is not easy, and in this world, we have more and more choices; but God’s promise abides. And in our first lesson Paul also faces a wide variety of choices, including the unknown god that Paul identifies with God who created all and in whom we live and move and who is near to us. The current pandemic will end up changing our lives, but rather than mourning what was, let us be excited by the future ministry God is calling us to with the Spirit of truth.
Fifth Sunday of Easter—May 10, 2020
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 7:55–60 | Psalm 31:1–5, 15–16 | 1 Peter 2:2–10 | John 14:1–14
Summary: In today’s Gospel, which comes from Jesus’ final discourses with the disciples at the Last Supper, Jesus tells them that he goes to prepare a dwelling place for them and that he is the way, the truth, and the life. But today, many of us feel like Thomas who says that they do not know the way. Our desire is to be strong and in control, but that is often not helpful. Jesus calls in us to believe in God, to believe in Jesus, and to abide in God.
Fourth Sunday of Easter / Good Shepherd Sunday—May 3, 2020
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 2:42–47 | Psalm 23 | 1 Peter 2:19–25 | John 10:1–10
Summary: In today’s Gospel, Jesus talks about being the gate of the sheepfold and the good shepherd. When we think of gates, we tend to think of Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates, but Jesus calls himself not the gatekeeper but the gate that swings open to reveal the great mercy and grace of God giving abundant life. God chooses us for that abundant life, but we can choose other doors. Over the next weeks and months, we will see how that abundant life is already opening up for us.
Easter III—April 26, 2020
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 2:14a, 36–41 | Psalm 116:1–4, 12–19 | 1 Peter 1:17–23 | Luke 24:13–35
Summary: In today’s Gospel, some disciples meet a stranger on the way to Emmaus. He doesn’t know about Jesus’ death and resurrection, so the tell him and then invite him to dinner. In the end they discover that he is Jesus when he breaks the bread, and they remember that their hearts had been warmed when they had spoken with him. If our faith is only a matter of the heart, then it is purely subjective; but if it is only a matter of the head, we cannot be transformed. Head and heart must work together in our faith. When all parts of our lives come together in live and service, we have a living faith.
Easter II / Earth Day Sunday—April 19, 2020
Preacher: Bishop Andrew Taylor
Lessons: Acts 2:14a, 22–32 | Psalm 16 | 1 Peter 1:3–9 | John 20:19–31
Summary: Like many of you, I’m sick of staying home, miss being at church and with people, and afraid about the future. The disciples in today’s Gospel are locked away in fear, even though Mary Magdalene has told them Christ has risen. But God in Jesus comes to them behind locked doors and sends them out with the good news. God comes to us now and calls to us now and at all times to proclaim God’s love in this physically-distanced world.
Easter Day—April 12, 2020
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Acts 10:34–43 | Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24 | Colossians 3:1–4 | Matthew 28:1–10
Summary: In Matthew’s recounting of of the resurrection, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go to the tomb, there is an earthquake, the angel rolls away the stone and tells them not to be afraid and that the tomb is empty, and sends them to the disciples with the message that they are to go to Galilee and meet Jesus. Today this church building, and most churches, are empty or almost empty, but our hearts are full because the body of Christ lives in us.