St. Mark's New Canaan

The Second Sunday of EasterWhat does it really mean to be alive? On a baptism Sunday, Fr. Peter explores the staggering gift of existence itself, the difference between merely existing and truly living, and the divine life Christ offers to the world. From peace that outlasts chaos to forgiveness that breaks cycles of harm, you're invited beyond survival and into something deeper, brighter, and eternal.

Easter DayWhat if Easter isn't just about finding Jesus…but about being found? In this imaginative and deeply moving sermon, Fr. Peter reframes the resurrection story as a kind of “Where's Waldo” search—except the real surprise is who finds whom. Through Mary Magdalene's grief, Peter's reasoning, and the beloved disciple's love, we're invited into a different way of knowing: not through proof, but through love.

The Great Vigil of EasterWhat if Holy Saturday is not empty at all, but charged with holy mystery? Rev. Elizabeth explores the great silence between crucifixion and resurrection, the strange, sacred in-between where God is already at work. This is a message about liminal space, baptism, awakening, and the fierce hope that Christ still calls us out of every tomb.

Good FridayWhat if the cross isn't just something that happened… but something still happening? Fr. John invites us into a deeper, more unsettling truth: the suffering of Christ is not confined to the past, but woven through the pain of the world today. From ancient prophecy to modern heartbreak, from personal wounds to global crises, we are asked not to look away—but to face it. And in doing so, something unexpected happens.

Maundy ThursdayOn Maundy Thursday, Jesus does not leave his disciples with abstract ideas. He leaves them with actions: wash, share, stay awake, love. What does it mean to become the body of Christ in a hurting world? What does love look like when it must take on flesh? Rev. Elizabeth invites us beyond admiration of Jesus and into imitation.

The Sunday of the Passion: Palm SundayOn Palm Sunday, Jesus doesn't just ride into Jerusalem...he confronts everything we think power, kingship, and strength should look like. This is a kingdom turned inside out. A King who empties himself. A God who steps directly into the world's deepest wounds. Fr. Peter invites us into the heart of Holy Week—not as spectators, but as participants. Not casually, but fully. Because this week… is different.

The Fifth Sunday in LentWhat if eternal life isn't something waiting for you someday… but something breaking in right now? Rev. Elizabeth challenges us to rethink resurrection entirely. Not as a future miracle, but as a daily awakening. A letting go. A coming alive. What if the real question isn't how long we live… but how fully?

The Fourth Sunday in LentWhat does it mean to truly see? In the powerful story of the man born blind in John's Gospel, what begins as a miraculous healing becomes something much deeper: a journey from spiritual blindness to spiritual sight. Learn how this story mirrors the Christian path of transformation that moves from awakening to illumination and ultimately into union with God.

The Third Sunday in Lent.Water runs like a hidden current through this week's scriptures as Fr. John explores the surprising spiritual model we find in the Samaritan woman. While overlooked in much of Western Christianity, she becomes one of the first evangelists in the Gospel of John. Her story reminds us of a paradox of faith: the things that give us status in the world can sometimes make it harder to receive the grace of God.

The Second Sunday in Lent.The world feels uncertain. War, upheaval, and shifting ground can leave us feeling unmoored. But what if the deeper problem isn't a lack of information, but a lack of wisdom? Explore the nighttime encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus. Through this encounter, we discover that faith is not about mastering certainty, but about entering the holy mystery where transformation begins.

The First Sunday in LentBefore Jesus preached a sermon, healed a body, or called a disciple… he was famished. In the wilderness between baptism and ministry, Jesus faced testing that revealed not only who he was — but who we are called to be. What happens when Scripture is bent? What does it mean to be “led into the wilderness”? And how do we live as little Jesus people in a world obsessed with power grabs? This week, Fr. Peter invites us into the desert — and into the prayer that carries us through trial.

Ash Wednesday.What if Ash Wednesday is less about guilt… and more about getting real? Are we living for God — or for applause? Ash Wednesday invites us into a reality check. The ashes remind us that we are dust. The cross reminds us who our true center is. This Lent, it may be time to give up more than chocolate. It may be time to give up the act.

The Last Sunday after the Epiphany.What does a death-defying skyscraper climb have to do with the Transfiguration of Jesus? Explore what it means to be fully alive, what it means to shine with Christ's light, and how Lent calls us to become who we were created to be.

The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany. It's Super Bowl Sunday and the Winter Olympics have begun. What if faith requires the same grit and discipline as elite athletics? Learn how Jesus' Sermon on the Mount becomes our playbook for life. This isn't about winning. It's about practicing love. And we do it together.

The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany. What does a healthy church really look like in 2026? In Fr. Peter's State of the Parish Address, we hear why this moment matters, how momentum has been built over decades, and what it means to be strong, steady, and ready for what God is calling next. 

The Third Sunday after the Epiphany. Jesus didn't come with credentials, connections, or clout. He came with a look that changed lives. What happens when a “nobody from nowhere” sees you and calls you anyway? In this sermon, Fr. John invites us to drop our nets and discover the freedom found in being truly seen.

The Second Sunday after the Epiphany. What does it mean to be on the Jesus side of history? On MLK weekend, the question before the church is not whether injustice exists, but whether Christians will align their lives, policies, and daily habits with the eternal law of love taught by Jesus of Nazareth.

The First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord. What if God hides cosmic truth in the smallest, most ordinary things?  Explore how water, oil, bread, and wine shape us into people of love, courage, and justice. In a world driven by fear and force, this sermon invites us to rediscover a quieter, embodied way forward, one practiced daily at the table and in the world.

The Second Sunday after Christmas. What if faith isn't about believing a fairy tale, but about recognizing a signal that keeps calling us home? In this Epiphany sermon, Fr. John explores the power of sacred storytelling, doubt and devotion, and the moments of clarity that quietly guide us through darkness toward light. Like the Magi following a star, we reflect on how faith often unfolds not as certainty, but as a journey shaped by memory, longing, and grace.

The First Sunday after Christmas. At Christmas, the Gospel of John proclaims a profound paradox: the Word who created the world enters it unable to speak. This sermon reflects on the Word made flesh, present among us in vulnerability and silence, from the manger to the cross. In a world that often feels anything but peaceful, Christmas insists that peace has already been given, not by escaping suffering, but by moving toward it.

Christmas Day. What if the most powerful disruption in history came not with force, but as a newborn baby? In this Christmas Day sermon, Fr. Peter reflects on the birth of Jesus as a divine interruption that still reshapes lives 2,000 years later. Through stories of parenthood, wonder, and love, we're invited to see how the Christ child gently reorients our hearts, our priorities, and our lives.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent. What if God doesn't come through perfection, but through protection? On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, we encounter the often-overlooked courage of Joseph, a man who chose mercy over fear and sanctuary over shame. As Mary and Joseph face public judgment and social risk, we discover a God who enters the world not through moral policing, but through brave compassion. In a culture still addicted to shaming, Advent reminds us that Emmanuel means God is with us, offering shelter, not condemnation.

The Third Sunday of Advent. We're good at hustling. We're bad at waiting. But what if waiting is exactly where God is at work? Fr. John invites us to slow down, resist instant gratification, and trust the unfinished work of God.

The Second Sunday of Advent. Advent begins with a call not just to repent, but to metanoia — a lifelong turning of heart, mind, and spirit toward new life. Fr. Peter invites us to pray maranatha (“Come, Lord Jesus”) as a daily Advent mantra that quiets the soul and makes room for transformation.

The First Sunday of Advent. What happens when the life we're living starts to feel like “all there is”? On the first Sunday of Advent, Fr. John invites us to hear Jesus' urgent call—“Keep awake”—and to wake up to the deeper life God is offering now.

The Last Sunday after Pentecost: Christ the King. Christ the King Sunday asks us to take a final look back before Advent begins. But the King we celebrate is nothing like the rulers of this world. In Luke's Gospel, Jesus is crowned not with gold but with suffering love — serving, healing, reconciling, and welcoming all as friends and children of God. His Kingdom isn't a place we wait for; it's a way of living the love already within us.

As Advent approaches, The Rev. Dr. Maggi Dawn invites us to step out of panic and polarization and into faithful presence. Jesus warns of falling stones—but promises we will not be overcome. What does it mean to live with courage, mercy, and justice in uncertain times?The Twenty-Third Sunday after PentecostQuestions for Discussion & Reflection:1. Jesus shifts attention away from disaster and toward justice, mercy, and humility.Which of these three practices feels most challenging in today's polarized climate? Why?2. What modern “false prophecies” or fear narratives tend to shape your thinking?How might we discern truth with humility and prayer?3. Julian of Norwich said, “You will not be overcome.”What does that promise mean in concrete terms for your life?4. Jesus warns that listening to panic-driven predictions distorts our faith.How does doomscrolling impact your capacity to live in hope and compassion?

Many of us wonder what happens after we die…so what Jesus meant when he said we “will be like angels.” Fr. Peter takes us beyond the grave, into the mystery of divine life that never ends — and shows how living with angelic love today prepares us for eternity.The Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost

The Golden Rule seems like common sense. But Jesus takes it further. In this sermon, Rev. Elizabeth explores how Christ calls us into Golden Love — a divine, grace-filled love that expects nothing in return and loves even our enemies. How do we live this love in a world that rewards self-interest?All Saints' Sunday

In a world divided by judgment and contempt, what does Jesus teach us about the posture of our hearts? Fr.John reflects on the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, and how humility, honesty, and love—not self-righteousness—lead us to true healing. Discover how the way of Christ can mend hearts and communities, starting from within.The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Fr. Peter explores Jesus' parable of the persistent widow — a story that reveals what real faith looks like when life gets hard. When we're weary, anxious, or unsure, Jesus calls us to pray always and never lose heart, reminding us that the strength of our faith is not in perfection, but in perseverance.The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost. The Rev. Elizabeth Garnsey explores how gratitude is more than good manners—it's medicine for the soul. Modern neuroscience confirms what Jesus taught centuries ago: gratitude heals us and makes us whole. When we live with thankful hearts, we shift from isolation to interdependence, from scarcity to abundance, and from fear to love. Discover how daily gratitude can rewire your heart and reconnect you to God, others, and the gift of life itself.

The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. What if faith as small as a mustard seed could move more than mountains — what if it could move your ego? In a world obsessed with image and achievement, Fr. John invites us to rediscover who we really are — not our false selves shaped by comparison and pride, but our true selves, alive in God.

The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Eternal life is not a far-off promise, but a way of living here and now. Drawing on the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Rev. Elizabeth reminds us that God's kingdom begins in the present moment. Eternal life is lived when we open our eyes to those in need, bridge the chasms of injustice, and embody daily acts of kindness, mercy, and love.

The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost.. What happens when we've never truly experienced God's love? The Rev. Peter Walsh unpacks one of the hardest parables in the New Testament to reveal a God whose mercy is shocking, unreasonable, and outrageously generous—and what that means for our lives.

The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost. In a world that so often looks for someone to blame, exclude, or sacrifice, Jesus offers a radically different way. Christ calls us to resist the divisions of our age, especially the scapegoating fueled by political and cultural hostilities, and instead embody the church's mission: embracing all people with the love that saves and heals.

The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost. What happens when a runaway slave is welcomed back, not as property, but as a beloved brother in Christ? Paul's radical life and death letter to Philemon shows us the shocking power of the gospel—and how we are called to live it today.

The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost. We spend so much of life climbing ladders—seeking recognition, approval, and a better “seat at the table.” But what if true freedom and joy are found not in climbing higher, but in stepping lower? Take a closer look at Jesus' upside-down way of humility.

The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost. Are our phones shaping us more than we realize? This week, The Rev. John Kennedy compares the story of a woman bent over for 18 years in Luke's Gospel with our 18-year love affair with smartphones. Learn how to reclaim attention, practice intentional discipleship, and consider “digital Sabbaths” so you can feed on Christ, not on endless scrolling.

Jesus said he came not to bring peace, but division. What could he mean? Discover how real peace sometimes requires conflict with the world's false peace.The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost. Fear is everywhere—our newsfeeds, our relationships, our inner thoughts. Yet Scripture tells us again and again: Do not be afraid. In this sermon, discover how faith—real, substantial, lived faith—can set you free.

The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost. What does it mean to follow Jesus while living in comfort in a world of staggering need? From $1 vitamins to $100 sight restorations, Fr. Peter Walsh challenges us to see how small actions can have an eternal impact. This is a message that will provoke, inspire, and perhaps unsettle—in the best way.You can view the letter sent to Fr. Peter at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/A-letter-to-Fr-Peter.pdf

The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost. Is prayer supposed to feel this hard? Fr. Peter Walsh explores why many of us struggle to pray—and what Jesus really teaches us through the Lord's Prayer. With help from golf pro wisdom and St. Paul, he offers a surprising invitation: prayer is not something you start, it's something you join.

The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost. What do neuroscience, baseball, and your morning to-do list have to do with following Jesus? Everything! Join Fr. Peter Walsh as he breaks open Luke's story of Mary and Martha—and reveals why true discipleship isn't about choosing between action or contemplation but embracing both.

The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost. In a world that often draws lines between "us" and "them," what does it mean to become the Good Samaritan? Fr. John Kennedy explores Jesus' radical call to love across boundaries—racial, political, religious—and what it means to be baptized into the heart of Christ. Whether you've heard the parable of the Good Samaritan a dozen times or are hearing it with fresh ears, this sermon will challenge and inspire you to live a bigger, bolder life—one not small and safe, but wide open with love.

The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost. In a world obsessed with speed and shortcuts, what does it really mean to follow Christ with patience, intention, and depth? Explore St. Paul's paradox: salvation is a free gift of grace—yet we still reap what we sow. What's the difference between cheap grace and the slow, transformative work of God?

As Americans prepare to celebrate freedom, St. Paul's words hit differently: “For freedom Christ has set us free.” But what kind of freedom is that, exactly? Is it just doing whatever we want? Or is it something deeper, more life-giving—and maybe even more demanding? The Rev. John Kennedy explores the surprising paradox at the heart of Christian freedom: a freedom that isn't about self-indulgence but about love, limits, and becoming fully alive.The Third Sunday after Pentecost.

The Second Sunday after Pentecost.Is it really possible to belong just as you are? Explores Paul's radical message: you don't have to earn your place—you already belong. In a world that pressures us to fit in, succeed, and prove ourselves, the gospel proclaims a freeing truth: accept that you are accepted.

This Trinity Sunday, The Rev. Elizabeth Garnsey takes us beyond doctrine into the mystery of divine love in motion. Explore how the Holy Trinity is not a puzzle to be solved—but a relationship to be lived. As she prepares for sabbatical after seven transformative years, Rev. Elizabeth invites us to find wonder, confront violence with love, and rediscover what it means to be the place where God happens.

The Feast of Pentecost.Bishop Jeff Mello delivers a sermon that speaks directly to our fear, our doubt, and our deepest longings for purpose. He reminds us that the Spirit comes not as a reward, but as an intervention—to break us free from fear and send us into the world with boldness and love. Whether you're seeking hope, courage, or just trying to find your place in the Church, this message is for you.

The Seventh Sunday of Easter (Youth Sunday). Eddie Harrison takes the pulpit to reflect on a lifetime at St. Mark's—and what it truly means to belong. From the joyful chaos of the Blessing of the Animals to handing out ride tickets at May Fair, Eddie shares how small moments helped him understand the heart of real community.