the Rev. Phil Brochard

In this sermon, the Rev. Phil explores the metaphor of the vine from John's Gospel, emphasizing spiritual pruning as essential for growth. By removing life's unneeded parts, we focus more on deepening our relationship with God and building resilience in personal life and in community.

the Rev. Phil Brochard

This sermon reflects on the symbolism of Christ as the Good Shepherd, an image prominent in Christian art and practice throughout the centuries. The Good Shepherd metaphor emphasizes Jesus' dedication to safeguarding his flock, offering reassurance and a sense of safety amidst life's challenges. The sermon encourages us to apply the example of the Good Shepherd in our own lives, accompanying one another to the difficult places and showing others that we are always worthy of help, love, and care.

Link to “The Call” podcast from This American Life, referenced in the sermon.

The Rev. Phil Brochard

In this Easter Sunday sermon, the Rev. Phil Brochard reflects on the unexpected joy and fear experienced by the women at Jesus’ tomb. He explores how fear often silences us, preventing the sharing of transformative truths. Emphasizing resurrection as a continuous, unfolding reality, he invites us to trust that Jesus’ presence is always ahead of us, guiding us towards hope and new beginnings.

the Rev. Phil Brochard

Drawing from John 12:20-33, the sermon highlights the profound lesson of Jesus' death: true life springs from sacrifice. The narrative of the wheat grain dying to give life is paralleled with Christian discipleship's call for personal sacrifice. The preacher underscores the paradox that by dying to ourselves, we gain eternal life and true fulfillment. The message calls for introspection and readiness to follow Jesus’ example of sacrificial love.

the Rev. Phil Brochard

The sermon discusses the transitory nature of life, illustrated by the speaker's experience of clearing out his childhood home and the historical destruction of the Jewish temple. It emphasizes placing trust in the eternal—Jesus Christ's living and resurrected body—over temporary physical structures or relationships.

the Rev. Phil Brochard

the Rev. Phil Brochard

The sermon emphasizes the importance of Ash Wednesday and Lent as times for reflection, repentance, and remembering our mortality. It calls for genuine love, self-examination, and acts of mercy, urging listeners to live attentively and meaningfully, focusing on relationships with God, themselves, and others.

the Rev. Phil Brochard

the Rev. Phil Brochard

the Rev. Phil Brochard

the Rev. Phil Brochard

the Rev. Phil Brochard

the Rev. Phil Brochard

the Rev. Phil Brochard

the Rev. Phil Brochard

the Rev. Phil Brochard

the Rev. Phil Brochard

The Rev. Phil Brochard

The Rev. Phil Brochard

The Rev. Phil Brochard