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
The written text is below the sermon audio… Sermon Preached at Zion Episcopal Church; Sunday February 20th 2022 The Reverend Alan Neale; “Love Your Enemies” Luke 6:27 “Jesus said, ‘I say to you that listen, love your enemies’”. “To you that listen… that’s interesting, yes? There are those people, there are those statements to… Continue reading
There are times when I whine a little (well, maybe more than little) about gifts/talents I have not been given but… in all the years of my relationship with God in Christ and through the church (57 years!) I have never doubted that God’s towards me. I realize now, maybe because of this sermon, I… Continue reading
I truly approached this sermon text with much concern and a little alarm. Surely, of all Biblical texts, this one just speaks for itself… and yet, maybe after forty years, I had to be brave and trusting enough to see how I could speak of this text’s primal truth and perfect beauty. The sermon text… Continue reading
This glorious and wonderful story is just replete with inspirational truths about the way in which the very presence of Jesus transforms our lives… if only we let Him! The text is below the audio sermon. Sermon Preached at Zion Church, Washington NC. Sunday January 16 2022. The Reverend Alan Neale Our Gospel story for… Continue reading
The sermon text is below the sermon audio. Sermon preached at Zion Episcopal; Washington NC; Sunday December19th 2021 The Reverend Alan Neale; “Kindling” So this is definitely not the way I intended to share the season of Advent with you, my new family here at Zion; the first three weeks in hospital. I love and… Continue reading
Despite reading some commentators’ contrary words, I still sense that as I read and consider John 11:35 so I stand at a precipice that bestows the most generous and expansive view of God whose heart beats with and for us all. I have not finished Charles Spurgeon’s sermon “Jesus Wept” but it is monumental! –… Continue reading
This was a struggle… but then to be true to the theme is a life-time struggle anyway! The sermon text is below the sermon video (and I am sure the text will be enhanced at church tomorrow!). Sermon Preached at Zion Episcopal, Washington NC Sunday October 17th 2021 The Reverend Alan Neale “The Power of… Continue reading
So… another phase of parish ministry begins today as I begin to serve the parish and community of Zion Episcopal Church, Washington, NC. I have known bigger parishes in terms of buildings, people etc. but I have never know a parish with a bigger heart to know Jesus and make Jesus known. Zion Episcopal Church… Continue reading
The sermon text is below the sermon audio… Sermon Preached at St. Stephen’s Church, Goldsboro NC Sunday July 25th 2021 The Reverend Alan Neale “Precious in His Sight” Many years ago, one Sunday afternoon, I was telephoned by a member of the parish I was serving in Rhode Island. Katie, then a young mother of… Continue reading
The goal of all clergy – to be a good shepherd; to yearning of all churches – to receive a good shepherd! The sermon text follows the sermon audio… Sermon preached at St. Stephen’s, Goldsboro Sunday July 18 2021 The Reverend Alan Neale “Someone who’ll watch over me” In the early 1990’s I served in… Continue reading