A sermon preached at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church on Sunday October 20, Proper 24.
Mahalia and a City Called Heaven– The Word of God is not Chained.
October 14, 2019 — clarkwest
A sermon preached at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church on Proper 23 Sunday October 13. I reference the spiritual known as A City Called Heaven or Poor Pilgrim of Sorrow. Frank Ward’s homepage including audio of his singing can be found here.
Homily: Anger and the Gospel of the Disinherited
October 10, 2019 — clarkwest
A sermon discussing the interpretive principles of the fourth century desert father Evagrius and the twentieth century theologian Howard Thurman.
Farewell sermon
June 24, 2018 — clarkwestPreached on June 24, 2018, the Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist and also the Feast of Bishop William Alexander Guerry of South Carolina.
My predecessor and mentor Gurdon Brewster’s remarkable sculpture of Jesus and Buddha dancing was given to me by the people of Epiphany as a parting gift.
Audio of Friendship, Forgiveness, and Fun: A wedding Homily
June 17, 2018 — clarkwest
Bishop Guerry, who was killed in office by a priest for Guerry’s insistence on the full inclusion of African Americans in the diocese of South Carolina.
Preached at Grace Cathedral in the Diocese of South Carolina for the wedding of Tom and Elizabeth Daniel, my two dear friends who I met in the green pastures of Cornell University. In the sermon I mention Eliza’s maid of honor Bella Cain, one of the most knowledgeable oyster shuckers in the country and a remarkable person who has broken barriers as a transgender woman in the tight knit world of oyster shucking. An article about her journey can be read here.
postscript: among other errata, I had a delightful conversation at the reception afterwards where one friend of Tom’s family reminded me that there is one quite significant reference to dogs in the Hebrew Bible. The name Caleb, whose courage helps lead the people of Israel into the promised land, means dog. Courageous and steadfast. Amen.
Audio Sermon on Racism at Cornell and Joseph’s witness
September 18, 2017 — clarkwestThis weekend at Cornell, an African-American student was subjected to repeated racial slurs and then attacked violently resulting in hospitalization. In the face of this and the increasingly violent racism in our country, silence is not an option.
Fear and Shame in the Wake of Charlottesville
August 13, 2017 — clarkwest
This was in the background of my sermon
Audio of My Last Compline Meditation 2017
May 5, 2017 — clarkwestHere is a picture of my dear friend, teacher, and living bodhisattva, G. Victor Sogen Hori, professor emeritus of Zen Buddhism at McGill University. For him and for all the mercies and blessings he gave me, thanks and praise to the living God!
P.S. If you listen to the meditation–a special thanks to brother Jeremy Pletter, who bought me my drink at CTB, an Ithaca Ginger Beer-and who is teaching my daughter Annie to sing with power and joy.
The Chaplain Chatters 