Sermons

“They Are Icons for Us All” January 3, 2021 First & Franklin Presbyterian Church The Prayer for Understanding: The Witness of the Scripture: Old Testament: Isaiah 60:1-6 The Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12 The Sermon: “Now is the winter of our discontent…” that is how Shakespeare begins Richard III. But “discontent” seems a weak vessel for our…

“At Home in our Midst” – II Samuel 7.1-9, Luke 1.26-33 Rev. Rhonda S. Cooper – December 20, 2020 First and Franklin Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, Maryland You better watch out, you better not pout, you better not cry, I’m telling you why … you-know-who is coming to town. Most of us, no matter our age,…

A Place of Tears and Fears – 11-8-2020 – Rev. Rhonda S. Cooper, First & Franklin Presbyterian Joshua 24.1-3a, 12-15, 22; I Thessalonians 4.13-18; Matthew 25.1-13   I spend most of my week in a place of tears and fears. As many of you know, I am the cancer center chaplain in one of the…

“Ode to a Shepherd” – Rev. Rhonda S. Cooper – November 22, 2020 Ezekiel 34:11-16, Matthew 25.31-40, 41-46 Jesus was well aware of both the Psalms and the Prophets, having heard them recited as a child on his mother’s knees, and as a young person at the feet of the rabbis. He too recited the…

The Risk-Free Option Matthew 25:14-30 Stephen Hollaway Sunday, November 15, 2020 This story used to frighten me more than all the other judgment parables combined. When I was in college and a young adult, I read this story strictly in terms of individual abilities. A fine book from The Church of the Savior in D.C.…

November 1, 2020 Imagine There’s a Heaven Rev. Stephen Hollaway Revelation 7:9-17   John Lennon’s song Imagine is a song that seems to be everywhere. It’s at the Olympics; it’s at charity fundraiser concerts; it’s sung at 9/11 memorials. Not only was Imagine Lennon’s best-selling solo song, but Rolling Stone named it #3 in its…

Sweat Equity Rev. Robert P. Hoch, Ph.D. First & Franklin Presbyterian Church Baltimore MD 21201 October 4, 2020   Gospel Matthew 21:33-46 33“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants…

Lively Commentary Rev. Robert P. Hoch, Ph.D. First &Franklin Presbyterian Church Baltimore MD 21201 October 25, 2020 Matthew 22:34-39   When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to…

Render Unto God  Rev. Robert P. Hoch, Ph.D. First & Franklin Presbyterian Church Baltimore MD 21201 October 18, 2020   Gospel Matthew 22:15-22 15Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. 16So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and…

Real Hunger & Real Thirst Rev. Robert P. Hoch, Ph.D. First & Franklin Presbyterian Church Baltimore MD 21201 October 11, 2020     Gospel Matthew 22:1-14 1Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: 2“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his slaves…

    Power Grab or Gift of Power? Rev. Robert P. Hoch, Ph.D.   First & Franklin Presbyterian Church Baltimore MD September 27, 2020   Philippians 2:1-13   1If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2make my joy complete: be of the…

Late in the Day Rev. Robert P. Hoch, Ph.D. First & Franklin Presbyterian Church Baltimore, MD September 20, 2020 Matthew 20:1-16 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for her vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, she sent…