For over thirty years Alan Neale has spoken with passion, relevance, authenticity and humor of themes that are profound and pressing; the profound he makes simple and accessible, the pressing he makes immediate and welcoming. All these years past have provided little time for Alan to write extensively and so now he begins a long-postponed desire and there are many themes waiting to be translated into books; the task is daunting and enthralling and he longs to begin in 2015
Over many years I have been nourished and strengthened by what used to be named as “Process Theology”. In part, this theological dynamic finds its energy in the opening verses of Genesis as we see beauty and order, diversity and richness created out of chaos, disorder and mess. This has become important for me in… Continue reading
Thinking deliberately about those “Christmas shepherds” makes me envy their boldness and readiness to listen, to move and to return! The sermon text follows the sermon video. Click here for sermon video: https://zionepiscopal.com/Sermon%20Videos/first-sunday-after-christmas-12-31-2023-neale.html Sermon Preached at Zion Episcopal Church, Washington NC; Sunday December 31st 2023 The Reverend Alan Neale “The Shepherds’ Shepherd” Luke 2:8 And… Continue reading
“Only connect” – oh in this partisan life and partisan landscape, may the Lord God grant a desire and experience to “only connect” that we all, we each, may be transformed. The sermon text is below the sermon video. Click here for sermon video: https://zionepiscopal.com/Sermon%20Videos/christmas-eve-12-24-2023-neale.html Sermon preached at Zion Episcopal Church, Washington NC Christmas Eve… Continue reading
It seems to me that this Christmas, I am reflecting on the interminable and inhuman march towards darkness; towards a place where words, actions, thoughts of “light” are dispelled and have no place. Lord, visit us. And yes, I am almost transfixed, by the way in which “an ancient joke often told” has such widespread… Continue reading
If John is part of your sermon journey (orator or auditor), you will have fun and challenge! And this week, such confidence given by the special collect for the Third Sunday in Advent. Yesterday, meandering through google-land, I came across a folk song written by Bob Franke; based on the collect. By a miracle, I… Continue reading
Oh this has been a tremendous task… maybe it was the tension between the good news of the Advent message in the face of so much to the contrary? The sermon text is below the sermon video. Click here for Gospel and Sermon Video: https://zionepiscopal.com/Sermon%20Videos/first-sunday-in-advent-year-b-12-3-2023-neale.html Sermon preached at Zion Episcopal, Washington NC Sunday December 3rd 2023… Continue reading
Lord, I want, I need a revival of holiness to be complete and whole, ready for service and ready for heaven. The sermon text is below the sermon video. Click Here for Video: https://zionepiscopal.com/Sermon%20Videos/twenty-third-sunday-after-pentecost-all-saints-day-observed-11-5-2023-neale.html Sermon preached at Zion Episcopal, Washington NC; Sunday November 5th 2023 The Reverend Alan Neale; “What is Holiness?” Today we celebrate,… Continue reading
I found preparing the sermon for this Sunday a peculiar and rare challenge. In my mind’s eye, I could see the innocent twins that I would baptize but I also could see the horrific images of babies burned by Hamas terrorists. In this war between Israel and Hamas (as in many wars), we are confronted… Continue reading
Friends – this is at the very heart, the crux, of our Christian faith and life. Yes, it makes our faith unique… forgive your enemies from your heart! The sermon text follows the sermon video. Click here for sermon video: https://www.zionepiscopal.com/Sermon%20Videos/sixteenth-sunday-after-pentecost-9-17-2023.html Sermon Preached at Zion Episcopal Church, Washington NC Sunday September 17 2023 The Reverend… Continue reading
The theme of this sermon has been on my heart these past days; I want the courage and faith of Moses to say to the Lord, “Here I am” – accepting where I am, who I am and what I am doing. The sermon text is below the sermon video – they are not quite… Continue reading