Sermons by Washington National Cathedral

June 27, 2021: Sermon by the Rev. Canon Rosemarie Logan Duncan

"You and I are free for one another. Free to build the beloved community, to lean into the ideals of a more perfect union, where our value and worth as the human family, as beloved children of God, is not defined by social status, by the pronouns by which we identify ourselves, by who we love, or by the color of our skin."

On the last weekend of Pride month and looking forward to celebrating Independence Day next week, Canon for Worship Rose Duncan told us what freedom as God's children means.

June 20, 2021: Sermon by Bishop Yvette A. Flunder

“I am free to be free and I am free to free people.”

We were thrilled to welcome guest preacher Bishop Yvette A. Flunder to the Canterbury pulpit. Preaching the day after Juneteenth was made a national holiday, Bishop Flunder encouraged us to reflect on the meaning of freedom.

June 13, 2021: Sermon by the Rev. Canon Leonard L. Hamlin, Sr.

"Can you hear me now?"

As we reemerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rev. Canon Leonard L. Hamlin, Sr. reminded us yesterday that we cannot return to a new normal. We need to hear God’s call and put in the work to help create a world full of love.

June 6, 2021: Sermon by the Rev. Canon Jan Naylor Cope

“We have to deal with the sin that is so much a part of our human fabric.”

The Rev. Canon Jan Naylor Cope reminded us yesterday that in order to be repairers of the breach and help heal the soul of the nation, we first need to understand what is broken and how it came to be.

May 30, 2021: Sermon by the Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith

“Faith is more than belief. It is more than the quest for the right ideas about God. Faith means inviting Jesus Christ into your life. It means falling on your knees and asking Christ to draw closer to you than you are to yourself.”

Dean Randy Hollerith preached on Sunday and discussed Nicodemus, who, like many of us, had trouble turning his spiritual curiosity into a religious faith.

May 23, 2021: Sermon by the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry

“Love is ecumenical. Love is interfaith. Love is bipartisan. Love is multiethnic. Love embraces and includes us all.”

 

Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry celebrated Pentecost Sunday with us yesterday, reminding us that Pentecost is an extension of the incarnation, and a revolution of the Spirit and love.

May 16, 2021: Sermon by the Rev. Canon Leonard L. Hamlin, Sr.

“There’s power in prayer.”

A simple message, but one that we often need to be reminded of. The Rev. Canon Leonard L. Hamlin, Sr. preached yesterday, emphasizing the importance of putting prayer into action.

May 9, 2021: Sermon by the Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith

“This is not love as an emotion. It isn’t the command to feel a certain way. It is love as action, as concern, as care for each relationship and the well-being of each person.”

Jesus’ ministry was not about moral purity. As Dean Hollerith reminded us in his sermon yesterday, to love as Jesus loved, we need to do more than hold kind feelings for others.

May 2, 2021: Sermon by the Rev. Canon Dana Colley Corsello

“We are born from love into love, not from sin and shame.”

Canon Vicar Dana Colley Corsello reminded us yesterday that love is at the core of who we are. Even if it’s scary or imperfect, as children of God, we are called to love.

April 25, 2021: Sermon by the Rev. Patrick Keyser

“As people of faith seeking to follow Jesus, it is a call to lay down our lives for one another. To allow what needs to be given up to be given up, so that new life can emerge in ourselves and in this country, so that children are no longer killed, so that children no longer have to be forced to grow up with no parent, so that Black and Brown bodies are no longer killed by the police.”

 

The Rev. Patrick Keyser preached yesterday on what it means to be a good shepherd. How are you laying down your life for others?