The World Doesn't Need a Polite Church

"The World Doesn't Need a Polite Church"

Sermon by The Rev. Kelley Hudlow

September 21, 2025

My grandmother told me never to talk about religion, politics, or money, but Jesus of Nazareth did not grow up in Mobile, Alabama. The gospels don’t give us a polite Jesus, and today’s parable talks about all three at once. In the story of the shrewd manager, Jesus makes us wrestle with money, power, and allegiance—whether to God or to the world. This parable leaves no place to hide, because all of us know what it is to have resources, debt, fear, dishonesty, or reputation to protect. The dishonest manager used resources to create community built on forgiveness and care; how much more can we, followers of Jesus, do if we do it on purpose? The world doesn’t need a polite church—it needs a bold church, shrewd in choosing God, sharing resources, forgiving, and building the kingdom of God.

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June Vestry Meeting Updates

June 30, 2026

These are the highlights from the Vestry Meeting on June 28th. You can watch the entire meeting by clicking the button below. Takeaways: We have received a designated gift of $180,000 to pay off our long-term debt. Our stewardship theme this year is Rooted in Abundance, and pledge cards will be available beginning September 13, with our in-gathering on November 1. Our Parish Profile has been posted, and the Search Committee is receiving names and beginning to consider candidates. We will start our program year with a “Blast Off” celebration on August 16. We will return to two morning services that day and host a ministry fair between them. We will begin our Christian Formation program with a special intergenerational formation offering in the Great Hall. Join us for the Theology & Science of Project Hail Mary on August 23, 30, and September 9. We will add a Sunday morning Adult Formation class called “Cross Examined Faith.” This class will be led by Kelley and will begin with a discussion of Christians and Artificial Intelligence. Begins September 13. We will offer Wednesday night programs beginning mid-September. (See below) We will have a new, streamlined Atrium schedule on Sunday mornings and will expand to offer a Toddler Atrium. (See below) Staff Updates: Elena Moreno has joined the staff as the part-time Interim Director of the Choir School. Davis Haines and Emily Wolfe will serve as part-time Co-Directors for our Fiddlesticks Music program Kathleen Busbee will rejoin the staff in the newly created position of Parish Engagement Coordinator. She will begin in July.