Ernest F. Campbell Selected Sermons

  Proper 17 C Be True to the Truth About Yourself September 3, 1989 By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell It must be obvious that in today’s Gospel , Our Lord is not simply talking about our behavior at banquets and dinner parties. As children, we no doubt thought; that sounds just like my mother teaching me about good manners.  Many in this congregation, including myself, have attended numerous dinner parties where nothing like the presumptuous behavior of the Pharisees ever happened. At least in my experience, dinner guests are polite; they sit where directed, and are happy and honored wherever that place might be located. In fact, our polite behavior at banquets might prove the effectiveness of today’s Gospel teaching. My dad used to say, “it doesn’t cost anything to be polite.”  When I first heard this parable , I thought to myself, how prideful can you be? I would never for one moment presume to take a seat at the head table unless I was invited to do so. Then I would thank G...

Proper 16 C Systems and Common Sense August 22, 2010 By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell I believe that something truly exciting happens in today’s Gospel story. A woman of faith (she had not given up on God) who had been all bent over for 18 years, is by the healing touch of Jesus , free to stand up straight. Can any of us imagine how wonderful that would feel? It seemed that the entire synagogue joined together in a communal “Ahhhh” of relief. (We have all observed that when something is “out of kilter” we try to adjust it with remote body English). **Demonstration) Notice how you feel when I create a distraction by making my stole crooked. You can’t look away, and that’s all you can think about. When this poor woman was finally able to stand up and look around it was a healing moment of relief for everyone present. EXCEPT …. the leader of the synagogue! He was indignant because Jesus had performed a healing work on the Sabbath day of rest. In another translation it says that the leader wa...

  Proper 15 C Am I Any Further On? August 15, 2010 By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell A wise man offered this as a reliable pathway to success: Have a goal and keep a clear head. I must admit that growing up in Winnetka as a chauffer’s kid, I used to envy my friends who would say, “When I finish college, I am going to be an attorney, or a doctor, or a teacher, or own my own business.” And in many cases, that is just the way it turned out. Experience tells us that if you want to get something accomplished…. then set a goal. Make a list of what will be required, and then begin. My wife Margaret is a much better goal-setter than I am. I tend to be more random, which (I have learned) is not the way to a list-maker’s heart. If you really want something to happen, set a goal, make a plan, and begin.  What would we say is our goal as Christians ? In today’s reading the author of Hebrews believes that our goal is to be moving our lives towards the likeness of Christ . He says: “Let us lay a...

  Proper 14 C What Would It Look Like If… August 11, 2013 By the Rev. Ernest F. Campbell Our son Dave uses an inviting question as a discussion starter when he is trying to get people to consider a new vision, or a different way to approach a problem situation. “What would it look like,” Dave would say, “If we all tried to put a dash of loving kindness in our words and actions today?” If you are like me you didn’t stop outside the church this morning and say to yourself; don’t forget… “loving kindness.” Loving kindness is either a mark of who we are, or its not. Normally, genuine loving kindness does not pop on and off like a mask. Kids can spot a phony mask of “loving kindness” in less than twenty seconds.  I recalled Miss Krenwinkel . She was a teacher back at Skokie School in my home town of Winnetka . She had a BIG fake smile that she turned on or off like a light switch. We would say, “Good morning, Miss Krenwinkel” and she would flash her smile and say, “Good morning, ...