Holy Trinity Church Inwood

An Episcopal parish serving Inwood and northern Manhattan

This Week’s Sermon: God loves those the most who deserve it the least

“Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you” (Matt. 20:14).

Today’s reading from Matthew is talking about fairness when paying laborers for their work. Jesus is saying that fairness is not measured in terms of who-gets-how-much but in terms of how many are included.

For the early Jewish Christians this teaching meant that the kingdom of heaven was open to more people than just a chosen few, living exemplary lives. Even sinners who “got religion” late in life would still be welcome in God’s kingdom; in fact, they would be the first to enter it. In our own day, when life seems unfair, we must remember that those who deserve it least are the ones God loves the most.

Christ is the generous master who always pays a living wage, whether we’ve earned it or not. Since many are far from God, his love has to go that much farther to reach them. He must love them more. We must not be jealous when we see God loving others, but instead share abundantly in their joy when they finally discover how much (and by Whom) they are loved.

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Readings from 16 Pentecost, Proper 20, Year A, Track 2. Jonah 3:10—4:11; Philippians 1:21-30; Matthew 20:1-16.

Preached by the Rev. Jake Dell on September 24, 2017 at Holy Trinity Church Inwood.

This Week’s Sermon: All debts are owed to God

“Then Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times'” (Matt. 18:21-22).

Matthew talks about forgiveness in today’s reading. In it, Jesus says that forgiveness is not a question of how much to forgive but of who can forgive. The answer is: the One who forgives from his heart.

For the early Jewish Christians this teaching meant that they owed fellow members of the church forgiveness since each of them served the same all-forgiving Lord. In our own day, when we go to “settle accounts” with our neighbors, we must remember that all debts are owed to God.

Christ is the merciful king who forgives us from his heart. Knowing our neighbor’s debt has been forgiven we must forgive our neighbor, for we cannot remember what God has chosen to forget.

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Readings from 15 Pentecost, Proper 19, Year A, Track 2. Genesis 50:15-21; Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 18:21-35.

Preached by the Rev. Jake Dell on September 17, 2017 at Holy Trinity Church Inwood.

This Week’s Sermon: The debt to love

If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one” (Matt. 18:16).

Today’s reading from Matthew talks about handling cases of abuse and other wrongdoing among the followers of Jesus. It in Jesus is saying that it’s okay to apply the Law of Moses to resolve disputes, but that the assembly of believers has final authority to judge the matter.

For the early Jewish Christians this teaching liberated them from the authority of the Council (the Sanhedrin) establishing the rag-tag group of disciples headed by Peter as an autonomous “church,” and promising divine ratification of its judgments. In our own day, we must remember that justice is not finished until it achieves reconciliation.

Christ paid the just penalty for sin when he died on the cross, but the work of reconciliation continues. Our primary task as Christians is not to punish the wicked, but to seek reconciliation and healing from the effects of sin.

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Readings from 14 Pentecost, Proper 18, Year A, Track 2. Ezekiel 33:7-11; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 18:15-20.

Preached by the Rev. Jake Dell on September 10, 2017 at Holy Trinity Church Inwood.

This Week’s Sermon: God is still calling us good

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me (Matt 16:24).

Today’s reading from Matthew talks about Jesus’ looming death in Jerusalem (a death that somehow he plans to survive!) and his future return in glory to vindicate his followers. Matthew is telling us that Peter and the rest of the disciples must not “keep score” for Jesus and trust God to handle things.

The disciples (and Peter especially) were told not to hinder the progress of Jesus’ ministry as it moved towards death and failure. In our own day, we must learn to love and serve without any sign of success or gain.

Christ’s love and Christ’s ministry bring him to his cross, where he suffers and dies. Yet there he works a salvation that vindicates both him and us. Knowing this, we can find the courage to love when love fails and serve when our service comes to nought.

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Readings from 13 Pentecost, Proper 17, Year A, Track 2. Jeremiah 15:15-21; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28.

Preached by the Rev. Jake Dell on September 3, 2017 at Holy Trinity Church Inwood.

Sermon for 12 Pentecost: You have the keys, now open the kingdom

“On this rock I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18).

Today’s reading from Matthew talks about the identity of Jesus. Matthew is saying that there is a difference between who the world says Jesus is and who the disciples (specifically Peter) say Jesus is. The world says Jesus is a prophet come back from the dead. Peter says Jesus is the Son of the living God.

For Matthew’s readers, Peter’s confession is the threshold of a new era. Declaring that Jesus is not one of the prophets marks the moment when the Old Testament becomes “Old” and the kingdom of heaven begins. Peter is given the “keys” to this kingdom and told to start admitting people through its gates. In our own day, we must remember to keep those gates open if we want to build the Church.

Christ renews our minds, allowing us to know who he truly is and to live lives that are pleasing to God. Specifically, he asks us to build his Church — the only place of true refuge and welcome for all people this world has ever known — using the unique gifts he has given each one of us.

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Readings from 12 Pentecost, Proper 16, Year A, Track 2. Isaiah 51:1-6; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20.

Preached by the Rev. Jake Dell on August 27, 2017 at Holy Trinity Church Inwood.

Clergy, Staff, Vestry

Holy Trinity is served by the Rev. Jake Dell, Vicar & Priest-in-Charge.

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History

In 1868, just after the American Civil War, the parish of Holy Trinity was incorporated. The first church was located in Harlem on the prestigious corner of Fifth Avenue and 125th Street.

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The Episcopal Church

The Church of England, from which the Episcopal Church derives, dates to the second century, when merchants first brought Christianity to England.

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Getting to Holy Trinity

The church is located at 20 Cumming Street. Take the “A” train to Dyckman (200th) Street Station. Walk North one block on Broadway, then turn left on Cumming Street, walk West (up the hill half a block) the church is on the left.

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