1 John 3:1-3 (MSG) South & New Life Presbyterian Churches – November 1, 2015 – All Saints Day The Reverend Deborah Fae Swift Does anyone here know the name of Algernon Crapsey? He was an Episcopal priest and father of poet Adelaide Crapsey, and he lived from 1847–1927. He was a real proponent of the social gospel movement and in 1879 he was appointed rector / pastor of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church right here in Rochester, NY.  That is today known as Calvary St. Andrew’s in the South Wedge. His progressive thinking and teaching made him very popular here in Rochester and St. Andrew’s soon … Continue reading “Can Only Christians be Saints?”

Jeremiah 31:31-34 New Life & South Presbyterian Churches – October 18, 2015 – Children’s Sabbath Celebration The Reverend Deborah Fae Swift Who went grocery shopping this week? How many things did you buy? Did you get everything you needed? Did you ever go to the store and forget to get the one thing you went to the store for?         OK. So what do you do so that doesn’t happen? [Make a list and write it down.] There have been a lot of sermons written about just that thing … the fact that we have God’s law written in our … Continue reading “Build-A-Bear & Jeremiah”

Hebrews 4:12-16;  Mk 10:17-31 with a nod to Joshua New Life & South Church at the Meadows – October 11, 2015 The Reverend Deborah Fae Swift This year when we’re all reading The Story together, we are not following the Common Lectionary for preaching very carefully.  But today the readings from both seemed to hold meaning for us. During the week we were reading and studying about Joshua, how he took over as the leader of the Jewish people after the death of Moses, and I think that ALL of us can relate to what it’s like to change leadership … Continue reading “What’s in Your Wallet?”