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http://www.ashlandpresbyterian.org/

Ashland Presbyterian Church, 401 Virginia Street, Ashland, VA (2026)

02/19/2023

This is the bonus sermon that's happening because I've delayed my departure from Ashland. I feel compelled to preach "Transfiguration" one last time, and I want a re-name for this Sunday. Enjoy. This was live earlier.

Transfiguration: Beloved Sunday
February 19, 2023
Matthew 17:1-13; 2 Peter 1:16-21

We call this Transfiguration Sunday, the Sunday before Lent begins, and it’s one that I usually don’t like to preach.
It feels too super-natural.
A little too showy.
Jesus with his face shining like the sun.
His outfit bleached and bedazzled to glowing white.
Moses and Elijah showing up for a prophetic reunion.
Disciples scrambling to make sense of what they’ve just seen.
It’s a moment they want to hold on to, and Jesus lets them know that they must let it go.
They can’t make it last.
And boy does Peter want to make that feeling last.
He says, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will set up 3 tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
They could stay all day. Enjoy the visit. Get comfortable and get to know each other.
Then they get interrupted by a cloud.
Not just any cloud, but a brightly overshadowing cloud that speaks.
The cloud voice says this, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with him I am well pleased; listen to him!”
This is an echo from Jesus’ baptism.
And the second letter of Peter will repeat this cloud message in the re-telling of this story.
For Jesus received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
The memory of majestic glory is there, and it’s solid.
It’s not at all dreamy.
Peter isn’t questioning if what he experienced was real.
His letter goes on to say that this is the prophetic message fully confirmed.
A light shining in the darkness until the full day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
A proclamation. A prophecy. A message of the highest magnitude.
My Son. The Beloved. With you I am well pleased.
Peter, or at least a scribe from Peter’s tradition says in this letter – “We heard the voice.”
That’s the big news.
Therefore, I’d like to rename this Sunday – Beloved Sunday.
Or maybe BE – LOVED Sunday. Know your belovedness Sunday.
Knowing that kind of love will change you.
Will transform you.
Maybe even make you look different to others.
Knowing that God loves you, like a child, and is proud of you.
What could be more affirming than that?
The holiness that the disciples, Peter, James and John experienced on that mountain was a sense of the fullness of love exchanged between God and Jesus.
It certainly made an impression.
They wanted to hold on to it, to savor it, to box it up and keep it close.
The problem is that it doesn’t work that way.
The Holy Spirit is primarily defined by her capacity to be on the move.
A dove on the wing, a cloud brightly overshadowing, a voice, a feeling, a deep intuition.
Those things move in and through you.
The love remains, but the story that goes with it seems fantastical.
It’s interesting to make note of some of the overshadowing voices we are hearing about in our own world.
A Superbowl ad lets people know that “He gets us.”
At Asbury University in Kentucky – young people have been praying and singing and worshiping for days in a place with a long tradition of holy revivals.
We long for that experience of being known, and when we get a taste of it, we try to keep it hanging around.
I have both hopes and concerns about the big, big moments.
Who paid for that Superbowl ad? And what do they hope to gain from it? Will it do what’s expected or something else? What about the “things” I’ve paid for in terms of sustaining my own religious preferences? Is it the same that I want to financially sustain quaint churches and hear organ preludes and 4-part choir harmonies to let me know that God is near and present? Who am I to judge?
Will there be transformed souls motivated by love and justice that come out of the collegiate revival and work to change our world? Is my own faith as motivating?
I don’t have all the answers to those questions.
That’s what makes transfiguration Sunday such a hard Sunday to preach.
How do you explain the inexplicable?
That slice of time that seemed illuminated and transformative, which became the one that buoyed a lifetime of discipleship.
I have to give Matthew credit for telling the story, and I’m grateful to Peter for trying to help us understand it.
I haven’t gone into the biblical scholarship to make sense of the trajectory of putting these two scripture texts side by side, but I like to think that Matthew pointed out Peter’s blunder in wanting to set up tents to coax Moses and Elijah into staying around, and I like to think that Peter in his old age or represented by his followers gets redemption for remembering and re-telling the most important part of the story.
The most important part is love. Being loved.
The love of God is what assisted Jesus on the path to who he was becoming.
It shows up to consecrate his ministry and to confirm the leaders who will extend the mission so that Jesus himself can let go and fulfill his destiny.
God loved Jesus, so that Jesus could love the world.
Jesus loves us, so we can follow him in our wonder, and in our work.
I think it is absolutely essential to this story that others “heard the voice.”
It wasn’t in Jesus’ head or for him alone – more like at his baptism.
The message this time was specifically directed to those Jesus brought with him.
THIS is my Son, the Beloved.
With him I am well pleased.
Listen to him!
The disciples are being instructed, as are we, as listeners to the story.
The 2nd letter of Peter tells us that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but it did come through men and women moved by the Holy Spirit to speak from God.
Obviously listening for what God is saying to us is a matter of serious discernment.
A LOT of people are going to want to speak for God, to speak as gods.
To find God’s true voice is more of a challenge.
Prophecy here is a pronouncement of love, and appreciation, and trust.
Too often, prophecy is couched in belittlement. I know what God wants and you don’t.
To listen for those who are moved by the Mover (capital M), listen for love, and confirmation of goodness, and trust.
You can listen to Jesus – because he is loved, and good, and trustworthy.
Others will try to twist the message of Jesus. Be on the lookout.
Does the message glow with possibility?
Does the message align with the truth tellers of the past?
Is it so attractive that you want to hold on to it and make it a permanent fixture in your Spirit?
Can others hear it too?
Then it may be God’s cloud hovering overhead.
Trying to tell that experience to others may prove difficult.
That’s OK.
Keep the most important part in front of you: God loves. Fully. Magnificently. Majestically.
And if any of you talk to the liturgical calendar people, could we get a name change for this week?
Amen.

02/19/2023

Worship for February 19, Transfiguration Sunday, Pastor Kerra English preaching

02/19/2023

Worship at Ashland Presbyterian Church, Transfiguration Sunday, Kerra English preaching

02/19/2023

Prayers for today: For those who have caught COVID, may your symptoms be mild and your recovery speedy. And for Caroline who fell and broke her hip - keep her in prayer and contact the church office for more information. Prayers lifted for the ability to be together the next two weeks!

02/19/2023

Worship will be on Facebook Live today at 11 a.m. (anticipating a small in-person crowd).

02/16/2023

This is Kerra. I plan to lead worship at the church in person this week, but due to our COVID outbreak at church, I will also be streaming live on Facebook this Sunday at 11 a.m. I'm posting the bulletin in the comments, and it will be attached to your "Staying Connected" email this week.

02/12/2023

February 12, 2023
Love
Song of Songs 8:6-7, 1 Corinthians 13
Kerra Becker English

Love is stronger than death.
Love is patient, kind, and truthful.
This close to Valentine’s Day, one might think that love could be bought with flowers and chocolate.
But the love poetry of scripture reminds us that even if a person were to offer all the wealth of their house for love – it would be utterly scorned.
And that when all else comes to an end, love remains.
I wanted to talk about love today because being in this congregation for 10 years has renewed my belief in Christian love in a time when it has been desperately needed.
Too much hate has been spun as Christian truth, and too many platitudes like “thoughts and prayers” have replaced the fortitude needed for love to flourish.
As Mr. Rogers taught – love is an active verb, like struggle.
It requires us to fulfill the Presbyterian ordination vow of seeking to serve with energy, intelligence, imagination, and most of all, love. And even if you’ve never been an officer in the church, the congregation promises to pray for those who make that commitment. No one gets ‘out of’ the baptismal contract to keep seeking to bring more love into the world.
I don’t know where it all got spun that Jesus’ main goal in being a human on earth was to save us from our sins, when it seems very clear from his own words that what he came to do was to teach us how to love. He outlines the pathway to salvation, to wholeness in no uncertain terms. He tells us that that love is now and has always been the foundation of religious law – that all the law flows from loving God and loving our neighbors as ourselves.
None of us do that perfectly, but as a keen observer and participant in the life of this congregation, you have taught me some things about Christian love that I’d like to share with you. This is my Valentine to you, observing your love poetry in action.
Here’s what I have learned about love from being your pastor.
Love is.
Love is hospitality.
- Praise to the Potluck, sharing meals matters, and there’s even a great story in John’s gospel about Jesus smoking some fish (maybe to put on a bagel) for his disciples even after his resurrection
- Hosting “outside” voices well – Doug Ottati, Peter Mayer, all the Lenten Series speakers
- Welcoming Alaskans – what a weird coincidence?
- Thinking about transportation in Metropolitan Richmond
- Interns – of every kind (Think Genesis 1)

Love is Compassion.
- Working with the town on the hotel crisis (first thing I stepped into)
- Food pantry – Susan takes the time to talk to people who show up in the office
- Hosting AA FOREVER – like almost from its inception
- Seeing you serve in EVERYTHING town related
- Collecting for Charles when he was going through cancer treatments as our intern
- And what my friend Patrick calls life-cycle events – weddings, funerals, baptisms, welcoming new people
Love is Seeking Justice.
- Support of the Congo ministry (though Flo wouldn’t have it otherwise)
- Presbyterian Women’s projects – Hanover Safe Place, Adopting a young woman through working with Rebecca Glazebrook
- Ashland area clergy – Prayer walk, You know them all and see their ministries as part of our collective Christian witness in the community
Love is Friendship and Fun.
- Ash Grove retreat that has included many friends over the years – included not just your friends, but made my friends from Tennessee your friends – Christy and Brandon
- Sunday school classes – where we got to know each other’s stories
- Seeing you dance and sing and play all over town – where else but the Center of the Universe is there a town Variety Show – I laughed until tears ran down my cheeks
Love is Forgiveness.
- I know there have been times I have messed up. I appreciated it when we’ve been able to talk it through. In a 10 year relationship, there will be times of hurt, or times of making mistakes. I own those. But I also feel like you learned how to work with my quirks and accept me for me, which isn’t always the case for pastors. Sometimes the community wants to mold their pastor into a particular image. Here, I have been able to feel more fully myself – and I hope that’s a gift you will extend to all the guests who come to fill this pulpit, and to the next pastor who comes to walk alongside of you in ministry. Show them grace, and it will return back to you.

Love is kindness.
- College students – letting them study you!
- Choir – mini church within the church – they say when you sing you pray twice – you also show love for those who have aged through the years, with students who’ve shown up and sung with you, for kids who sit next to adults who bring them
- Harsh words are rare here – not that they never happen – they have – but there’s not a culture of acceptance of ugliness (That’s how church “should” be but sometimes isn’t)
- When I came here and had to interview with this Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry, rather than it being a welcome into the fold, it felt like a test that they wanted to make it extra hard for me to pass. It felt like extra trauma on top of having served a difficult congregation prior to coming here. The members of the team who offered me this job were gracious, supportive, and compassionate to me as we navigated that process together. You have the ability to do that again – as we say good-bye, God is preparing the person who will come here to say “hello.” Show your next pastor the kindness you showed me. You may not be able to fathom how much that meant to me.

Love is a place and a people.
- I am believing more and more that answering God’s calling is less about finding a job, and more about having the right place and people find you. You found me. And I am grateful for that.
- This is where the line from “Here I am Lord” always gets to me and usually makes my eyes moist. I will go, Lord, when you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart. I may be going, but the love remains. It always does.
Thank you, genuinely, from all my heart. I love you, and have learned about love from you. Amen.

02/05/2023

Sermon 3 of Kerra's last 5 sermons
February 5, 2023
Matthew 5:13-20
Salty and Lit

Today you have a picture of me on the front cover of your bulletin. It is the picture that my mother chose to put in for my Senior year ad in my high school yearbook. Why she used that little kid picture of me in a coat and hat is beyond me, that is, unless it was to mirror the senior picture I had taken that same year in my fluorescent pink ski jacket. It was the late 80’s after all when ski movies were all the rage.
Next to the picture, cheesy as it sounds, she added the code for an accompanying Bible verse, which was part of the reading for today – The first line of the ad said, Matthew 5:14-16. It’s the part that reads: “You are the light of the world…and… Let your light shine before others.” Next to the biblical code, she simply wrote, “Keep on shining, love Mom, Dad, and Laurie.” Perhaps it’s good that treasures like that end up in boxes in the attic – far, far away from any light of day.
What she didn’t include, but could have, was to add verse 13 as well. She could have just as easily said, “Stay salty.” I do love that Moms of high school seniors can come to see the glorious light in their children, when what I was REALLY like at the time was probably more on the salty side, with an strong aptitude for eye rolling. I was exceptionally talented at backtalk. Call it a gift! I argued any time I wanted to get my way, which meant I argued about everything. My vocabulary was colorful and, truth be told, occasionally mean-spirited – though I held back a bit more than what I hear as a mother today. Different era of acceptability and all.
Perhaps she was hoping for one without the other. More about the light, less about the salt.
Oddly though, whenever this verse comes up for worship or for study, I always have a mind’s eye glimpse of that Yearbook ad. Even as locked away as it was deep, deep in the attic, I managed to find it so I could show it to you. It made me laugh to read again her own midrash on the text. Keep on shining. Now that part, I kind of forgot. It reminds me that even in her more serious moments she always tried to turn toward the slightly silly. It fits.
The other bit I’ll share this morning is to tell you that long ago biblical affirmation when I was stretching toward adulthood functioned as a blessing, as a premonition and a confirmation of who I was to become in this world, and in today’s language, it conveys attitude, and a particular kind of Christian persona. Matthew 5:13-16. Yeah, you know me, I’m salty and lit.
The salty part continues to allow me to have an edge of irreverence about my faith. I don’t want it to be too pristine or God-forbid, flavorless. As one of the ministry forms that I read during my interview days put it. That particular job wanted to call a leader with a “hermeneutic of suspicion for the status quo.” To question. To be a skeptic. To be suspicious when things are tied up too neatly and wrapped with a bow. That’s one way to embody being the salt of the earth. That salty edge has served me well on occasion, and as I’ve grown and matured, my ability to “season appropriately” and not either too timidly or too aggressively has taken a much better form.
Now “lit,” since I’m about to unpack for you, will never be cool again because I’m a grown up, and I’m saying it from a pulpit no less. Ryleigh warned me yesterday that it was already something no one says anymore. But “lit” has two different connotations in current slang for those uncool enough to still be saying it. Yes, it can mean drunk or intoxicated. I am aware. And doing some searching, I learned that it’s been used with that meaning since the 1910’s, for over a hundred years. It isn’t new. However, in recent use it has come to mean exciting, or excellent. It means really good. So good that it is lit up.
Salty and lit. Yes, I hope to carry both as an attitude and way of life, a way of life Jesus is preaching about. So how does Jesus use this in his sermon? Is it still relevant for us now?
Oh yes, I believe it is. And I’m going to tell you something now that would make for a stupid argument on the news. The most important realization to identify about these verses on salt and light can be found in the pronouns. That’s right, the pronouns matter. They especially matter because you don’t see in English what is easy to identify in the Greek.
When Jesus is saying here is that - YOU are the salt of the earth. YOU are the light of the world. Those are second person PLURAL pronouns. It means, in southern, Y’all. He’s talking to the disciples, to the crowds, and by virtue of the sermon being handed down thanks to Matthew, he’s talking to all of us. You, all of you, are salt, are light. Now John’s gospel uses a different pronoun and has Jesus say multiple times, “I am the light of the world.” Which is also true. But I LOVE that Jesus is calling us out here. We are the salt of the earth. We are the light of the world.
Therefore, it isn’t just that I got a “keep on shining” message from my Mom, Dad, and sister and other’s didn’t. We who follow where Christ is leading us are meant to be as essential as salt, as wondrous as light.
Jesus is helping us build our sense of righteousness, not by being better than everyone else, but by following the commandments as God gives them to us and encouraging others to do the same. He invites us into an attitude where we are contributors, where we are making the difference in this old world because we care about it and its people. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about doing good. There’s a difference in those approaches. The Scribes and Pharisees that rub him the wrong way are about their own perfection in the truth, rather than being about the guidance and care of others. We all know those who claim the faith, but lead others astray even as they self-promote their own righteousness. To that, Jesus says, “Cut it out. It certainly won’t make you great in heaven.”
Jesus’ sermon is just the best. This part was one of my Mom’s favorite texts, and it’s one of mine too. I am delighted that it’s less about the rules and more about the attitude you carry with you in the world.
You, Jesus says, ALL OF YOU are meant to salt this earth with your bravery and your kindness. You, ALL OF YOU, are meant to shine your light in this world – especially when it feels like too many candles are being snuffed out. Be the light, not only for yourself, but as an example to others.
The ritual of lighting the candles the way that we do in worship comes specifically from this text. The light comes from the back of the sanctuary as a reminder that our doors are open to the world, and after worship we carry the light back out with us to let us know that though we tend our light in this place, it isn’t so that it stays here, it’s so that we will be able to carry it with us, wherever we go.
As my Mom would tell you too if she could – Keep on shining. As I, as a Mom and as your pastor, would also remind you – Stay salty.
Jesus is counting on us to listen to his voice and to grow in love for God and for each other. Amen.

01/31/2023

The 2nd of Kerra's last 5 sermons
Blessed Are You
Matthew 5:1-12; Micah 6:1-8
Kerra Becker English
January 29, 2023

Recently I discovered the “How to Build a Happy Life” podcast with Harvard professor Arthur Brooks.
With a title like that, the producers acknowledge that many of their listeners are looking for a formula for happiness – when just “one” formula doesn’t exist.
The same could be said of the Christian life - many search for the one formula, or the best strategy for getting it “right,” when a singular way isn’t enough.
Brooks’ podcast looks at a variety of pathways to happiness through sociological and scientific lenses, asking what “is” possible to know about those who live seemingly happy lives. Trust me, if there really were a formula – there would only be one episode, right?
Luckily for the longevity of the podcast, there are multiple pathways to happiness – through healthy romantic partnerships and fun friendships, through caring for your physical well-being and spending time in meditation. Happiness comes in many different forms, and the most surefire way to not have it is to relentlessly pursue it for its own sake. That’s the paradox of happiness.
We wish it were simple, but it’s not. Life is complicated. Relationships are messy. Though there isn’t a foolproof way to make our lives golden, that doesn’t mean we quit trying to come up with one. We are meaning making creatures, so we still want answers, even if we don’t have a ready-made solution by the end of a 30 minute podcast or a 20 minute sermon.
So, in the episode I listened to on Friday, Brooks talked about how our culture of success teaches us to love having the things, to use people as a means for getting the things, and to center ourselves as the pinnacle of the known word which leads to worship that is no larger than our own self-orbit. That sounded familiar. It’s called, in the Christian world – idolatry – and it generally means loving the wrong things, or loving the right things in twisted ways - like taking our fellow human beings for granted and having a narcissistic adoration of ourselves rather than an appropriate level of awe for the Divine.
Instead, Jesus taught his followers, and therefore he also taught us to love God and love others as ourselves. He also told us to quit worrying so much about stuff. Give away your possessions as often as it is asked of you. That’s crazy logic according to most folks.
Brooks then noted that the key to happiness is an inversion of that cultural model. Not sounding that different from Jesus, he claims that happiness is a result of loving other people, using things for good purposes, and worshiping the Divine.
I like it. It’s a modern take on much that we can learn from our own faith tradition.

The prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures certainly liked exactly these kinds of inversions. They use them all the time to show us the really real among the things we usually think of as real.
Let’s switch to Micah’s text.
God is angry. “The Lord has a case against his People.”
God seeks justice, resolution, perhaps even compensation in the form of changed hearts.
Sometimes, God even seeks destruction and punishment when people have strayed too far.
Micah proclaims that the Israelites have forgotten how God had delivered them.
Now that they had their own land and had experienced some of their own prosperity, they were in a position to want more, to expect more.
They want the success that the world gives. Well, surprise, surprise.
They even start to think God wants things too - burnt offerings, oil offerings, more stuff, more proof that God chose the right people to bless.
But that’s not what God wants. Not in the least.
God wants justice, kindness, humility.
God wants us to look outside of ourselves.
God wants us to want healing and wholeness for all.
What does the Lord require of us?
What is the strategy for living a faithful life?
Is it making the required number of sacrifices?
Heavens no.
It’s to seek justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly.
Worship God, love people, don’t be a jerk.
It’s another abbreviated formula I guess, but one that makes a lot of sense even as hard as it is to fully put into practice.
The strategy is to just live differently, perhaps even completely opposite, from what everyone else is telling you the key to winning at life is. Got it?

Of course, Jesus has his motivational speech too.
This sermon manuscript, the ONE fully articulated one that still exists, is precisely a strategy for living the blessed life.
Happiness. Faithfulness. Blessing.
How do I get to live a good life? The one God wants me to live?
Human beings have always wanted to know. How do we do this living thing – right?
The beatitudes are an inverted model as well.
Jesus is asking us to think differently about what it means to be blessed, or happy, or to be doing what God wants from us.
We perceive ourselves as blessed when we are the strong and mighty, that blessings abound for the well-loved and satisfied among us.
The world tells us that the “blessed” days are the prosperous days, or the relaxing vacation days, the Instagrammable days.
Jesus preaches this differently.
To be a follower of Jesus is to be perpetually dissatisfied.
To always feel like the world is a little bit off.
We are blessed when we know that the way things are is not the way they should be.
That’s the strategy for living a Christian life.
A relentless pursuit of the better.
This pursuit cannot be only for my own betterment, but it is the anticipation that the Kingdom of Heaven is going to show up.

In fact, these qualities that Jesus lifts up aren’t ones that we generally welcome into our lives.
Who wants to be poor, or sad, or meek, or perpetually dissatisfied?
Who wants to be merciful to those who’ve wronged us?
Who wants to keep room in their hearts ONLY for God?
Who wants the unenviable job of making peace in a conflicted environment?
And who, in their right mind, would seek out to be reviled or persecuted?
Jesus says, Blessed are you – when you are in these places.
If this is Jesus’ weird strategy, what exactly are the results we can expect?
It’s fully based on the eternal rewards of the Kingdom of Heaven, not on the petty prizes doled out in the kingdoms of the here and now.
The framework of the beatitudes is around the expansiveness of a Kingdom that is spiritually accessible, not materially accessible.
There are promises that those states of being aren’t perpetual, and that’s a comfort.
Those who mourn will be comforted.
Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled.
Those who don’t ravage the earth for control will inherit it in all its beauty.
To feel connected to others and to our planet is to feel both pain and joy.
Then to be merciful as God is merciful, to purely love God is to know, really really know who God is. You will see God.
If you act on behalf of peace, you will be called children of God.
Love God. Love others. Let the desire for stuff go.
Jesus will talk more about the things later in this sermon, but for now realize that people will use you, or at least try to. If you see your own power in those systems, you have already changed the game. You are not a victim when you are persecuted or reviled. You can rejoice, knowing that you are in the company of God’s prophets, and that you are seeing the world rightly – not wrongly.
My friends, preachers come and preachers go.
Some are gifted with words, others struggle to get their points across.
What is most important is that they are tirelessly repetitive about the message.
There’s nothing new to see here. There never has been.
It’s all just re-packaging.
Living a good life. Living a faithful, blessed life will come from loving God, loving each other, and respecting yourself.
Don’t love your stuff too much.
Don’t make your God too small, or let God look too much like yourself.
It won’t be easy, but it will be your window into the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.

Ashland Presbyterian Church

02/19/2023

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