Sermons from Trinity Cathedral Portland

"Advent is a season of prophecy." Sermon by the Rev'd Shana McCauley, Subdean, recorded live at the 10:00 am service on the second Sunday of Advent, December 7, 2025.

Sermon by Liz Harlan-Ferlo, Canon for Spirituality Education & Arts, recorded live at the 10:00 am service on the First Sunday of Advent, November 30, 2025.

"Let our fear be diminished by the light." PLEASE NOTE: After Day 1, this year's Advent podcast will move to its own feed: join us at dailyadvent.podbean.com or search "Daily Advent" wherever you listen.   The Rev. Spencer W. Brown is Congregation Priest Associate at Washington National Cathedral, where he joined the Canon Vicar's team in 2023. Spencer has served congregations in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. He shares his life with his husband, Lucas, and their dog, Cruella. They love watching horror movies, enjoying the outdoors, laughing and cooking with friends.   Join us every morning in Advent for this aural Advent calendar of daily reflections on fear and how it affects our relationship with God.  

PLEASE NOTE: After Day 1, this year's Advent podcast will move to its own feed: join us at dailyadvent.podbean.com or search "Daily Advent" wherever you listen.   Brendan Barnicle and Shana McCauley introduce Daily Advent 2025: Meeting Fear. The Christmas season is full of cheery Santas and shiny wrapping paper, but in that first year, Mary and Joseph faced scary times – much as we do today. In Meeting Fear, we will consider fear and how it affects our relationship with God. Join us every morning in Advent for this aural Advent calendar of daily reflections.   Brendan Barnicle is Interim Dean and Shana McCauley is Subdean at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, Oregon.

"The reign of Christ is about compassion – not control." Sermon by Charissa Simmons, Canon for Intergenerational Ministries, recorded live at the 10:00 am service on Sunday, November 23, 2025.

"How do I prepare to be unprepared?" Sermon by Interim Dean Brendan Barnicle, recorded live at the 10:00 am service on Sunday, November 16, 2025.

"If things do not go our way, does that mean God is absent?" Sermon by VJ Sathyaraj, Canon Associate, recorded live at the 10:00 am service on Sunday, November 9, 2025.

"Christians are a group made up of difference." Sermon by Liz Harlan-Ferlo, Canon for Spirituality Education & Arts, recorded live at the 10:00 am service on Sunday, November 2, 2025.

"Together, we can change the world." Sermon by Interim Dean Brendan Barnicle, recorded live at the 10:00 am service on Sunday, October 26, 2025.

"Prayer can feel a lot like wrestling with God." Sermon by Canon for Intergenerational Ministry Charissa Simmons,recorded live at the 10:00 am service on Sunday, October 19, 2025.

"How do we express our gratitude?" Sermon by the Very Rev'd Julia McCray-Goldsmith, retired Dean of Trinity Cathedral in San Jose, California. Recorded live at the 10:00 am service on Sunday, October 12, 2025.

"Is it wrong to live in comfort while surrounded by poverty?" Sermon by the Rev'd VJ Sathyaraj, Canon Associate, recorded live at the 10:00 am service on Sunday, September 28 2025.

"In God's kingdom, the world is turned upside down."   Sermon by the Rev'd Canon Michael Spencer, Head of School at Oregon Epicopal School, recorded live at the 10:00 am service on Sunday, September 21, 2025.

"God's agenda is eternal: the last is always first."   Sermon by the Rev'd Canon Shana McCauley, Subdean, recorded live at the 10:00 am service on Sunday, September 24, 2025.

"The work of welcoming can change the world." Sermon by the Very Rev'd Dr. Brendan Barnicle, Interim Dean, recorded live at the 10:00 am service on Transfiguration Sunday, September 7, 2025.

"Productivity is not a measure of our value." Sermon by Charissa Simmons, Canon for Intergenerational Ministry, recorded live at the 10:00 am service on Sunday, August 31, 2025.

"When we pray for unity, we must be ready for transformation." Sermon by Liz Harlan-Ferlo, Canon for Spirituality Education & Arts, recorded live at the 10:00 am service on Sunday, August 24, 2025.

"Tension is inevitable when God's truth is revealed." Sermon by the Rev'd VJ Sathyaraj, Canon Associate, recorded live at the 10:00 am service on Sunday, August 17, 2025.  

"Transformation starts with us but expands to the world." Sermon by the Very Rev'd Dr. Brendan Barnicle, Interim Dean, recorded live at the 10:00 am service on Transfiguration Sunday, August 10, 2025.

"What reservoirs of privilege have we collected?" Sermon by Liz Harlan-Ferlo, Canon for Spirituality Education & Arts, recorded live at the 10:00 am service on Sunday, August 3, 2025.

"We are called to challenge the fears in our midst." Sermon by the Rev'd Dr. Brendan Barnicle, Interim Dean, recorded live at the 10:00 am service on Sunday, July 13, 2025.

"God made the pearly gates rainbow for you."   Sermon by the Rev'd Christopher Craun, Canon to the Ordinary for the Episcopal Church in Western Oregon, recorded live at the 10:00 am service on Pride Sunday, July 20, 2025. 

"Freedom isn't complicated – but it's really hard."   Sermon by Acting Dean Shana McCauley, recorded live at the 10:00 am service on Sunday, June 22, 2025. 

"If you are a follower of Jesus, every day is No Kings Day." Sermon by the Rt. Rev'd Diana Akiyama, Bishop of Western Oregon, recorded live at the 10:00am service on Trinity Sunday, June 15, 2025.

"How did the survivors of oppression grow into an unstoppable movement?"   Sermon by Priest Associate Vijendran Sathyaraj, recorded live at the 10:00am service on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, 2025.

"Who tells us the uncomfortable truths?" Sermon by Canon for Spirituality Education & Arts Liz Harlan-Ferlo, recorded live at the 10:00am service on Sunday, June 1, 2025.

"The Holy Spirit is pretty amazing to walk beside." Sermon by Acting Dean Shana McCauley, recorded live at the 10:00am service on Sunday, May 25 2025.

"Identity is complicated." Sermon by Acting Dean Shana McCauley, recorded live at the 10:00am service on Sunday, May 18, 2025.

"I like you just the way you are."  Sermon by Canon for Intergenerational Ministry Charissa Simmons, recorded live at the 10:00 am service on Sunday, May 11, 2025.

"Being one body in Christ requires constant work: the work of welcoming and ministering to each other and the world." Sermon by Priest Associate Vijendran Sathyaraj, recorded live at the 10:00 am service on Sunday, May 4, 2025.

"The resurrection is both an imminent reality and a transcendent reality."  Sermon by the Rt. Rev'd Diana Akiyama, recorded live at the 9:00 am service on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025.

"The fruit of the spirit is love and joy." Sermon by Priest Associate Vijendran Sathyaraj, recorded live at the 7:00 pm Easter Vigil service, Saturday, April 19, 2025.

"It is an extraordinary thing to love as Jesus loved." Sermon by Canon for Intergenerational Ministry Charissa Simmons, recorded live at the 7:00 pm service on Maundy Thursday, April 17, 2025.

"Jesus is not great news for the privileged." Sermon by Acting Dean Shana McCauley, recorded live at the 10:00am service on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025.

"Love so great knows no bounds." Sermon by Priest Associate Vijendran Sathyaraj, recorded live at the 10:00am service on the Sunday, April 6, 2025.

"God's economy isn't about earning." Sermon by Acting Dean Shana McCauley, recorded live at the 10:00am service on the Sunday, March 30, 2025.

"A garden is not a transactional exchange."   Sermon by Canon for Spirituality Education & Arts Liz Harlan-Ferlo, recorded live at the 10:00am service on the First Sunday of Lent, March 23, 2025.

"They'll know we are Christians by our love." Sermon by the Rev'd Canon Linda Potter, recorded live at the 10:00am service on Sunday, March 16, 2025.

Nikki Grimes reads her poem "Fuel for the Journey," commissioned by Trinity Arts, on the First Sunday of Lent, March 9, 2025.

"Jesus shows us how to refuse to be trapped by evil that would use our values against us."   Sermon by Canon for Spirituality Education & Arts Liz Harlan-Ferlo, recorded live at the 10:00am service on the First Sunday of Lent, March 9, 2025.

"Ashes are much more than a reminder of our mortality." Sermon by Priest Associate VJ Sathyaraj, recorded live at the 7:00 pm service on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

"Love is a transfiguring truth." Sermon by Canon Vicar Shana McCauley, recorded live at the 10:00am service on Sunday, March 2, 2025.

"Loving your enemies can be complicated." Sermon by Canon for Intergenerational Ministry Charissa Simmons, recorded live at the 10:00am service on Sunday, February 23, 2025.

"The trouble is already here." Sermon by Canon for Spirituality Education & Arts Liz Harlan-Ferlo, recorded live at the 10:00am service on the Sunday, February 16, 2025.

"These days, I worry for my immigrant mom." Sermon by Canon Vicar Shana McCauley, recorded live at the 10:00am service on the Sunday, February 9, 2025.

"God intervenes in the world through individuals, not cosmic events." Sermon by the Rev'd Vijendran Sathyaraj, Priest Associate, recorded live at the 10:00am service on the Sunday, February 2, 2025.

"Trinity does not exist without all of us." Sermon by Canon Vicar Shana McCauley, recorded live at the 10:00am service on the Sunday, January 26, 2025.

"John was writing to a devastated community." Sermon by the Rev'd Vijendran Sathyaraj, Assisting Priest, recorded live at the 10:00am service on the Sunday, January 19, 2025.