Jazzy Bostock
The Rev. Jazzy Bostock is a strong, proud, kanaka maoli woman. She serves two small parishes on the west side of Oahu, one Episcopal and one Lutheran. She and her wife tend to a small garden together, delighting in the way food grows. She loves to laugh, walk barefoot, cook, and feel the sun on her skin.
Sermons and Bible Studies
What’s in a Name?, Pentecost 2 (C) – June 19, 2022
[RCL] 1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a; Psalm 42 and 43; Galatians 3:23-29; Luke 8:26-39 In the 1590s, William Shakespeare penned the line, “What’s in a name?” as part of a longer soliloquy that Juliet speaks to herself. She discovers Romeo’s family name and is dismayed – the Montagues and the Capulets have been feuding for […]
Our Refuge, Tuesday in Holy Week – April 12, 2022
[RCL] Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 71:1-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; John 12:20-36 There’s a song by Michael Joncas called On Eagle’s Wings. Part of the lyrics read: “You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,who abide in His shadow for life,say to the Lord, “My refuge, my rock in whom I trust!”And He will raise you […]
Green Thumbs, Proper 6 (B) – 2021
RCL: 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13; Psalm 20; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, [11-13],14-17; Mark 4:26-34 Have you ever known one of those people with eternally green thumbs? You know, the person who seems to walk by, and plants just naturally perk up? The person whose yard is an explosion of color; whose orchid is perpetually in bloom; whose […]
Closeness, Monday in Holy Week – 2021
RCL: Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 36:5-11; Hebrews 9:11-15; John 12:1-11 This story of anointing, fragrance, intimacy, and risk – it’s a hard story not to love. And, this year, it seems particularly poignant – a reminder to hold those you love close, for we do not know how much time we have together. This year has […]
Bible Study: Christmas Day (II) – December 25, 2020
RCL: Isaiah 62:6-12; Psalm 97; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:(1-7) 8-20 The Shepherds Dear people of God – Happy Christmas! After a long Advent, here we are – hearing the well-worn story of Jesus coming into the world. Hearing, again, the hope of the light which breaks into the least likely of places. And, no matter […]
The Shepherds, Christmas Day (II) – 2020
[RCL] Isaiah 62:6-12; Psalm 97; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:(1-7)8-20 Dear people of God – Happy Christmas! After a long Advent, here we are – hearing the well-worn story of Jesus coming into the world. Hearing, again, the hope of the light which breaks into the least likely of places. And, no matter how many times […]
Shame, Tuesday in Holy Week – 2020
Brené Brown’s TED talk, The Power of Vulnerability, has, as of this sermon, over 12 million views on a single recording on YouTube. That should tell us something. Part of what it tells us is how hungry we are to make connections with one another – and yet how much shame and fear stand in […]
Motivations, Feast of the Epiphany – 2020
[RCL]: Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7,10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12 Perhaps some of you are familiar with pantomimes – a type of stage play that engages the audience, by encouraging either loud shouts of “Hooray!” for the good guy, or exclamations of “Booo!” for the obvious bad guy. Pantomimes have simple plots and simple characters who […]
No One Knows, Advent 1 (A) – December 1, 2019
Download our 2019 compilation of Advent and Christmas sermons here. [RCL]: Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44 Note: Eschatological is pronounced “ES-cat-uh-lodg-i-cul”. Eschaton is pronounced “ES-cah-tahn”. There is a word that seminary students tend to love – maybe because it’s a big word and makes people feel intelligent: “eschatological”. You can use all […]
Bible Study: All Saints’ Day (C) – 2019
Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 Visions and dreams in the Bible are fascinating, perhaps because they are often considered sacred. At the time that Daniel was living, these visions were interpreted to be about politics, foretelling a possible future. Daniel decided to write down his dream and also to seek out someone else to help him make […]
The Healing of Naaman, Proper 9 (C) – 2019
[RCL]: 2 Kings 5:1-14; Psalm 30; Galatians 6:(1-6)7-16; Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 There are many stories in the Old Testament which may make little sense to us – stories which are difficult to understand, or confusing, or maybe even offensive. So, when we have a story like the one this morning, full of interesting characters and […]
The Lord Is My Shepherd, Easter 4 (C) – 2019
Before I went to seminary, I spent a year working with my mom on her organic farm on the Big Island of Hawaii. We cared for goats, cows, sheep, chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, and pigs – as well as tending to vegetable crops and fruit trees. We didn’t have very much of any single thing […]
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