St. John's Episcopal Church Montclair

St. John's Episcopal Church Montclair

di The Rev. Carrie Cabush

Stagione 2026

Living Our One Life for Others (Children's Sermon) | October 4, 2026

Recently I was talking to someone who said their weekends revolve around their dogs; taking them to new parks; having them smell new smells and see new sights. They’re always looking for something new for the dogs to experience. And they said something that stuck with me: “My dogs only get one life, so I’m going to make sure it’s the best life I can give them.” Hm. That’s different.

Holy Work of Dreaming | September 27, 2026

This morning I want to talk about dreaming. One of the gifts of the spirit I personally believe Paul left out. One of the characteristics that reminds us we are created in God’s image. But dreaming is hard. I’ll never forget I was in a rough space in my life, watching one of those international house hunters shows and one of my friends said how they’d love to live in a house like the one on the screen. My response? “Those floor to ceiling windows would be a pain to clean.” So much for dreaming.

What Is the Reward? | Sunday, September 20, 2026

If you heard today’s parable and thought “that’s just not fair,” you are not alone. Science tells us we are hardwired to look for and seek out fairness. In 2003, Sarah Brosnan and Frans de Waal published a study titled “Monkeys reject unequal pay.”

Walking in Love | September 6, 2026

In Paul’s letter to the Romans there is this piece that says “let us live honorably.” Except, in the Greek, it is more like “let us walk honorably.” What do you think it means to walk honorably? I think, when Paul asks us to walk honorably, he is asking us to love our neighbors. Like we say in our services “walk in love, as Christ loved us.” Essentially: follow in the loving footsteps of Jesus.

Shake Us Loose | August 30, 2026

This week, I am going to suggest that we adopt Dolly’s prayer. God, turn us upside down. Shake loose our fear, our self-doubt, our need for comfort; shake loose whatever keeps us from following you. And when our hands are finally open, show us what you would have us do.

Midwives of Hope | August 23, 2026

When Pharaoh calls Shiphrah and Puah into his court and gives them a direct order to kill all the infant Hebrew boys as a form of population control and oppression, Shiphrah and Puah refuse to conform. In her book, Womanist Midrash, Wilda Gafney imagines Shiphrah and Puah going back to the rest of the Hebrew midwives and laying the groundwork for a resistance movement. After all, who better to do this work than midwives? Midwives are uniquely trained and practiced in welcoming and facilitating new life coming into the world. They know how to protect the vulnerable. They know how to stay calm in the midst of danger. In many ways, they had been born and equipped for a time such as this.

Divine Interruptions | August 16, 2026

Not every interruption is holy. Especially not in the age of smart phones. But when real people, with real needs are involved, every interruption is an opportunity to experience something new about God’s grace and discover just how far it extends.

Difference Doesn’t Have To Be Dangerous | August 9, 2026

Researcher and author Brené Brown writes about the connection between dehumanization and violence. Before people can commit extraordinary violence, they first have to stop seeing other people as fully human. They become labels, threats, problems, or enemies instead of people. The Bible tells us the same thing, through story. Genesis, and the Bible as a whole, begins by telling us that every person is created in the image of God. So violence doesn't begin with the first punch or the first weapon - that’s just when we finally recognize it has arrived. Violence begins when we stop recognizing God's image in the person standing before us. And that's exactly what happens in Joseph's family.

Breaking the Cycle of Revenge (Children's Sermon) | August 2, 2026

We may not get to choose what happens to us, but with God's help, we can choose what happens next. Every time we choose kindness instead of getting even, every time we choose forgiveness instead of revenge, every time we choose to feed instead of fight, we help stop the chain of hurt and make room for God's kingdom to grow. So the next time someone knocks over one of your dominoes, remember: you don't have to be the next domino to fall.

The Kingdom is Like Camp | July 26, 2026

This week, I cannot help but think that the kingdom of heaven is like summer camp. Not because camp is heaven on earth. Camp has all the same stuff the regular world has - sunburn and mosquito bites, cliques and drama. But at camp, some of the things that are usually hidden become visible. After all, Jesus’ parables are about everyday things: seeds, yeast, fishing. Small things that can quietly change everything.

1 di 11