Church of the Good Shepherd
This church is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida. Visit the diocesan site for information about our bishop, other church locations and diocesan news.
Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida

Sermons at Church of the Good Shepherd

"For God's sake, forget the house and take the helicopter!"

Posted February 28th, 2010

By Fr. Tom Seitz

Today’s gospel troubles me. And that’s not a bad thing, even if it still troubling, because I often need to be frightened into seeing life the way it really is. Maybe the same is true for you.

What does the game of Jenga teach us about Jesus' temptations?

Posted February 21st, 2010

By Fr. Tom Seitz

[Lent 1, Year C] As I reflected on our lessons this morning for the first Sunday in the season of Lent, I realized that the game of Jenga, by analogy, provided me a helpful way of understanding and appreciating the good news contained in our lessons. I would like to explain and draw out this analogy in the hope that it will be helpful for you as well.

Transfigured and Transforming

Posted February 14th, 2010

By The Rev. Joanie Brawley

Today’s Gospel recalls one of the most mysterious, yet most detailed, episodes in Jesus’ life. Christ has gone up the mountain - to pray - and He has selected Peter, James and John to go with him. There, as he prays, His face, his robes, everything about Him, begins to glow a shining white. As the three disciples look on, Moses and Elijah appear, and speak to Jesus. Luke even recounts the exact topic of their conversation: Jesus’ upcoming “departure at Jerusalem.” A cloud then overshadows them all, and, for the second time (remember Jesus’ baptism?) God Himself speaks to them: “This IS my Son, my chosen; listen to him!” And then – just as suddenly - the cloud disappears, Moses and Elijah are gone, and there stand Jesus and his disciples alone – and silent – on the mountain.

Reflections on Paul's "Untimely Birth"

Posted February 7th, 2010

By Fr. Tom Seitz

“Last of all, as to one untimely born, the risen Lord also appeared to me.”

I don’t think I’ve ever tried to preach the gospel in the context of abortion before, but today is an appropriate day to do so for several reasons.

First of all, the word that Paul uses to describe himself in his first letter to the Corinthians this morning has been translated as ‘an untimely birth.’ This Greek word was used and can also be translated as a miscarriage, or a deliberate abortion. And according to Paul’s own testimony, he certainly understood that what happened to him on the road to Damascus was a deliberate, and in some sense, a violent and unnatural act of God, and not an accident or merely an internal, psychological event.

What was your vision for your life when you were a young adult?

Posted January 31st, 2010

By Fr. Tom Seitz

Imagine taking a trip to Honolulu, Barack Obama’s birthplace, or to the British hometown of Nick Varney, the CEO of Merlin Entertainment, or to Swansea, Wales, where Rowan Williams, the current archbishop of Canterbury, was born. Imagine each of them going back to their hometowns as young men and announcing, “I’m going to be the leader of the free world.” “I’m going to be the CEO of the largest entertainment company in the world, even bigger than Disney.” “I’m going to unite the Anglican Communion through an historic Covenant.”

I think we can understand why the hometown folks might be skeptical, might question the ability or the capacity of their native son to effect such a transformation, to have such an impact.

"The joy of the Lord is your strength."

Posted January 24th, 2010

By Fr. Tom Seitz

The joy of the Lord is your strength.
The people of God needed to hear these words of encouragement from Ezra, the High Priest and scribe, to the Jews who had chosen to return to their native land, following forty years in exile under Babylonian rule.

Who says miracles are impossible?

Posted January 18th, 2010

By Fr. Tom Seitz

Today we remember the first of Jesus’ signs, his first miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee, turning water into wine. For many of us, these signs present a problem, because they are a direct challenge to our modern way of thinking, which denies the possibility of miracles. Most people, whether they are aware of it or not, make the assumption that there is no supernatural realm that can or should interfere with the natural realm. The natural realm is all there is. Everything can be explained by explaining nature. And nature obeys laws which cannot be suspended from time to time.

Passing Through the Hour Glass of Faith

Posted January 3rd, 2010

By The Rev. Joanie Brawley

Miss Brookes was an experienced 4th grade teacher when I entered her classroom. She had taught my father over a quarter century before – in the same 2nd story room, in the same old brick schoolhouse. There was no fooling Miss Brooks; she had heard every excuse, and she had honed her teaching methods and materials to a fine and engaging art. She was a tough but marvelous teacher with a fearless love of learning - and she was also a woman of deep, lived faith (we could talk about God in public schools back then.) Miss Brookes did everything in her power to make that love – of learning and God - contagious and relevant.

God's Kingdom: Some Assembly Required, Batteries Included

Posted December 24th, 2009

By Fr. Tom Seitz

I received an email last week with a subject line that claimed, “This is unbelievable!!! It’s something you’ll not want to miss.” It wasn’t referring to our glorious Christmas decorations, or the rich sound of our choir and new organ, or to the timeless majesty of our prayer book liturgy. What I discovered when I opened up the unsolicited email was a description of the world’s largest train set, located somewhere in Germany, covering over 12,000 square feet and featuring almost six miles of track with much more yet to be completed.

Repentance leads to Joy which leads to Christ

Posted December 13th, 2009

By Fr. Tom Seitz

One of my Kairos prison ministry friends forwarded an email to me and a bunch of her other Kairos co-workers that is apparently making the rounds of cyberspace this year, containing an imaginary letter from Jesus. In it, Jesus offers some practical ways of drawing closer to him in order to experience more fully the joy of his presence on the anniversary of his birth.

Set up a nativity in your own yard if your community won’t.

Write a letter of thanks and hope to a soldier.

Visit someone in a nursing home.

Send a card to the President, telling him you will be praying for him every week.

Spend as much time with your children as your spend money on them.

Forgive someone who hurt you.