REMINDER: Worship at Bishop O'Connell High School this week

The Easter morning experience of Mary, Peter, and the others makes perfect sense as they walked the four steps toward faith in the risen Lord. To believe having see is good; to believe without having seen is even better.

The person who lives into God's purposes must temper justice with mercy, learn to wait if he isn't certain, and then act when God speaks, even if God's guidance makes little sense.

What are the Ten Commandments for? Just to obey a demanding God? No, they show us how to live in grace - the grace God gave the Israelites by bringing them to Himself out of Egypt on eagles' wings. The Law is a mirror that shows us our hearts and a path for us to walk on.

When all other options are exhausted in the wilderness, God will provide. The wilderness is where miracles happen.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Isaiah 42:1-9. This sermon also touched on the recent court ruling regarding ownership of church property.

In the face of utter calamity, such as the calamity the world felt when the United States was attacked on September 11, 2001, how can we respond? When the foundations are destroyed, when not only physical things are disintegrating, but when a nation's moral, ethical and religious moorings are dissolving, what can the follower of Jesus Christ do? The Psalmist in Psalm 11 teaches us how the righteous can respond. The righteous woman or man is to 1) remain righteous; 2) trust in the Lord; and 3) preach the Gospel.

What’s the secret to being content in all circumstances? Paul tells us, and it’s at the same time comforting and challenging.

Along our Lenten way, looking ahead to the great drama of our redemption which we will shortly be celebrating at Holy Week and the Easter feast, we pause to sing a song of ascents which paradoxically begins “out of the depths.” How can that be? By waiting for the Lord. Why? Because he is God and we are not. Yes, but how? First, we wait actively, as St. Paul directs us in our capacity to set our minds on the Spirit and not on the flesh. Secondly, in our incapacity, we wait passively, like Lazarus. His contribution? It was twofold: he was dead and he stunk.

God loves me and has designed me to draw life from him as I remain connected to the vine which is Jesus Christ. As a loving Father, he prunes back areas of my life that may potentially become the things from which I draw my ultimate satisfaction, security and fulfillment. And he does this so that we can draw more deeply from Him and be more fruitful, reflecting the character of Jesus Christ.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Acts 1:1-11, sharing that God sometimes uses circumstances that seem disadvantageous to actually achieve his purposes.

When Jesus looked at the crowd he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus tells us that the way to address these needs is to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers for the harvest. May we follow Jesus’ example and (1) be people who see and people who care, (2) be people who asks God to send out workers for the harvest, and (3) be the people who uses us to answer our prayer and make us disciples who make disciples!

We live in an age where God is expanding His kingdom one person at a time. Jesus chooses to use us to expand His kingdom by our actions and with our words. Three things to do to effectively tell others about the gospel of heaven: (1) Make time in your life to hang around with people that don’t know Jesus. (2) Think through your testimony and what your life was like before you met Christ, how you met Christ and what’s your life like since you met Christ. (3) Learn a simple illustration to explain the good news of the gospel of the kingdom of heaven.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from 1 Peter 3:8-17. Jesus set the example of how to bear suffering: without fear or being troubled, ready to explain yourself without being defensive, and with gentleness, respect, a good conscience, and good behavior.

The Rev. Wright Wall speaks to The Falls Church from 1 Peter 3:8-18. Jesus set the example of how to bear suffering: without fear or being troubled, ready to explain yourself without being defensive, and with gentleness, respect, a good conscience, and good behavior.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 13:18-25, in the conclusion to the church's eight-month study of the book of Hebrews. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. service, the Sunday 9 a.m. service, and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 13:1-6. This message was given at the 9 a.m. and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 12:1-2. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. John Yates and six parishioners, Abby Deatherage, Mike Brunner, Judy Stokes, Eldon Stoffel, Mike Bruce, and Joyce McCarten, speak to The Falls Church and give testimony about how they live out their faith in the workplaces to which God has called them. This message was given at the 9 a.m. and large 11:00 a.m. informal service.

The Rev. James Swynford speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 11:32-40. This message was given at the Sunday 11 a.m. Rite II Holy Communion service held in the Historic Church. The Falls Church regrets that this recording does not capture the first couple minutes of James's message.

The Rev. Dean Miller speaks to The Falls Church from Jeremiah 2:11-18, 15:16-21, and 17:13. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Rick Wright speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 11:29-30. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Deuteronomy 34:1-8. This message was given at the 9 a.m. and large 11:00 a.m. informal service.

The Rev. James Swynford speaks to The Falls Church from Deuteronomy 34:1-8. This message was given at the Sunday 11 a.m. Rite II Holy Communion service held in the Historic Church.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 11:23-28. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Kathleen Christopher speaks to The Falls Church from Genesis 18:9-15 and Hebrews 11:11. This message was given at the 9 a.m. and large 11:00 a.m. informal service.

The Rev. Wright Wall speaks to The Falls Church from Genesis 18:9-15 and Hebrews 11:11. This message was given at the Sunday 11 a.m. Rite II Holy Communion service held in the Historic Church.

The Rev. Dean Miller speaks to The Falls Church about Moses. This message was given at a Thursday night Hungry for God meeting.

The Rev. Dean Miller speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 11:17-22. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Bill Mugford speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 11:17-22. This message was given at the Sunday 9:30 a.m. Summer Family Service held in the Historic Church.

The Rev. Wright Wall speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 11:17-22. This message was given at the Sunday 5:30 p.m. service.

Ellen Burany speaks to The Falls Church about Abraham's wife Sarah. This message was given at a Thursday night Hungry for God meeting.

The Rev. Dean Miller speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 11:8-16. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Kathleen Christopher speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 11:8-16. This message was given at the Sunday 9:30 a.m. Summer Family Service held in the Historic Church.

The Rev. James Swynford speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 11:8-16. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. service and the Sunday 5:30 p.m. service.

The Rev. Dean Miller speaks to The Falls Church about Abraham. This message was given at a Thursday night Hungry for God meeting. [We regret that, due to technical difficulties, this recording starts one or two minutes into the talk.]

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 11:1-7. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. James Swynford speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 11:1-7. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. service and the Sunday 5:30 p.m. service.

The Rev. Bill Mugford speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 11:1-7. This message was given at the Sunday 9:30 a.m. Summer Family Service held in the Historic Church.

The Rev. Dean Miller speaks to The Falls Church about Noah. This message was given at a Thursday night Hungry for God meeting.

The Rev. Dean Miller speaks to The Falls Church about the book of Genesis. This message was given at a Thursday night Hungry for God meeting.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 9:27-28. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 7:1-28. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 6:13-20. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. Wright Wall speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 6:13-20. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. service.

The Rev. Wright Wall speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 5:11-14. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. service.

The Rev. Jim Byrne, Director of TFC Student Ministries, speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 4:11-13. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. service, the Sunday 9 a.m. service, and the large 11:00 a.m. informal service.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 4:14-5:10. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Right Rev. David Bena, Suffragan Bishop, speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 4:1-13. This message was given at the large 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Confirmation services.

The Rev. Kristen Yates, Deacon, speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 4:1-13. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. service.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 3:7-19. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Hebrews 1:1-4, in the first message in the church's series on the book of Hebrews. This message was given at the 9 a.m. service and both 11:00 a.m. services.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from John 20-19-23.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Luke 2:1-20 during the Christmas Eve service.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 6:10-24 and describes the spiritual battle that Christians have with Satan.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 5:3-20.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 4:1-16.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 3:14-21.

The Rev. Bill Haley speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 2:11-20.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 2:1-10. NOTE: This message followed a reading from John 3:1-8.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 1:15-23.

The Rev. Chris Hancock speaks to The Falls Church from Ephesians 1:1-14.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Acts 19, setting the stage for the fall series on the book of Ephesians.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Luke 16:19-31, the parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus, about generosity as a check for materialism.

The Right Rev. Martyn Minns, missionary bishop for the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, speaks to The Falls Church on the Sunday of Pentecost, at a service of Confirmation. He speaks from Romans 8, about God's Holy Spirit as an "power source" for living.

The Rev. Bob Koth speaks to The Falls Church from Romans 8:9-17, on the eve of the feast of Pentecost, about God sending his Holy Spirit to dwell within believers.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from 2 Corinthians 5:1-10. He speaks about what God has in store for the faithful after the resurrection.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 about how to overcome discouragement when living out the Christian faith and ministering to others.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 about the meaning of suffering in light of the resurrection. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. family service.

The Rev. Justyn Terry speaks to The Falls Church from Romans 6:1-11 about the nature of our renewal in Christ, and our freedom from sin in light of the Resurrection.

The Rev. Kathleen Christopher speaks to The Falls Church from Romans 6:1-11. This message was given at the Rite II Holy Eucharist held at 11 a.m. in the Historic Church.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from Romans 6:1-11 about living in light of being a New Creation in Christ. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. family service.

The Rev. Bill Haley, pastor of TFC daughter congregation St. Brendan's, Washington DC, speaks to The Falls Church from 1 Corinthians 15:50-58. This message talks about the real rewards waiting in Heaven -- and on the New Earth -- for the Faithful.

The Rev. Bobb Fickley speaks to The Falls Church from 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 about the implications of the Resurrection on the life of Christians in Eternity. This message was given at both the Saturday 5pm service and the Sunday 11 a.m. Rite II Holy Eucharist held in the Historic Church.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 about the real-ness of the resurrection and the implications for eternity.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 about enjoying life to the fullest, in light of the resurrection. This message was given at the Saturday 5 p.m. family service.

The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from 1 Corinthians 15:12-28. This message was given at the Rite II Holy Eucharist held at 11 a.m. in the Historic Church.

The Rev. Jim Byrne, Director of Student Ministries, speaks to The Falls Church from 1 Corinthians 15:12-28 about the reality and essentiality of the resurrection.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church on Easter Sunday from 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. He talks about the reality of the Resurrection, its accompanying gospel message, and its implications on our lives.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Mark 4:1-9, about God's call that we listen to him, and the practical way in which this call is lived out.

Is this statement true: We come to faith by grace, but we remain in faith by discipline and determination? The Rev. John Kurcina speaks to The Falls Church from Galatians 2:15 - 3:14. This message was given at both the Saturday 5 p.m. family service and the Sunday 11 a.m. Rite II Holy Eucharist held in the Historic Church.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church about the call of Christ to His Church.

The Rev. John Yates speaks to The Falls Church from Luke 2:1-20, the story of the Nativity.

John Yates speaks to The Falls Church about the future life of the church and Christ's Kingship.

A sermon given to the Falls Church by the Rev. Dr. Rick Wright on April 6th, 2008 about Esther and prayer.