This sermon reflects on Elizabeth’s poignant question in Luke’s Gospel—“Why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?”—as a mirror for our own moments of doubt, fear, and self-questioning. Through the lens of a joyful pageant and the familiar nativity story, the message explores how God often calls us into moments and roles that feel overwhelming or ill-fitting, and how we, like Elizabeth, may respond with uncertainty: Why me, God? Yet, as Elizabeth discovers through the leaping of her child and the presence of Mary, God’s promises are not only trustworthy—they are transformative.

Rev. Kamakura challenges us to recognize the blessings within our callings, even when they come wrapped in stress, surprise, or self-doubt. In a season often filled with pressure and high expectations, we are invited to embrace our identity as beloved and chosen people of God.

As we move from Advent into Christmas, we are encouraged to let go of “Why me?” and hold fast to “Blessed are we who believe.” We are reminded that God's promises are alive within us, and that in welcoming others, in offering support, and in accepting our sacred roles, we encounter joy, courage, and above all, love.

This sermon centers on Elizabeth’s poignant question in the Gospel of Luke: “Why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?” Traditionally viewed as a statement of honor, the sermon invites us to hear her words instead as a cry of vulnerability—echoing our own moments of doubt and overwhelm: “Why me? Why now?”

It draws from biblical commentary, healing liturgies, and personal reflection to explore the human experience of feeling unprepared, unworthy, or simply exhausted in the face of life’s demands. Rather than offering neat solutions, the sermon points to God’s quiet responses—signs of joy stirring within us, sacred visits, and moments of grace. It proclaims that true blessing comes not from having everything figured out, but from believing in God's promises despite uncertainty.

As Advent gives way to Christmas, we are called to release the burden of “Why me?” and instead embrace Elizabeth’s declaration: “Blessed is she who believed.” In doing so, we find ourselves held not by certainty, but by divine mercy and love made flesh in Jesus Christ.

This sermon explores the theme of forgiveness—what it is, what it is not, and how we can practice it as a path toward peace in our lives and relationships.

Drawing from personal experiences and spiritual reflection, the speaker challenges the simplistic idea that forgiveness means forgetting or pretending that harm never occurred. Instead, true forgiveness is presented as a process of release: releasing the power and control that past hurts have over us. Through acknowledgment of pain, emotional honesty, prayer, and symbolic acts of letting go, we can begin to heal.

Forgiveness is not about changing others but about freeing ourselves to live in closer relationship with God and community. Even when forgiveness is hard, God remains present—“not just seven times, but seventy times seven”—offering mercy, light, and peace.

Rev. Kamakura explores the biblical story of Naomi and Ruth through the lens of welcome, belonging, and neighborly love, inviting both children and adults to reflect on what it means to embrace those who are different from us.

Through questions and storytelling, the children are encouraged to think about their own experiences of moving, meeting new people, and learning to love neighbors—even those who speak, look, or believe differently.

For adults, the message deepens: who are our neighbors in a divided world, and how do we show them love? By connecting the story of Ruth and Naomi to Jesus’ commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves, the homily reminds us that while loving others isn’t always easy, God gives us one another—and God’s own love—to help us do it.

Offered on the feast of St. Luke, this sermon honors the evangelist and physician whose legacy reminds us that healing is both personal and communal. Grounded in Jesus’ proclamation from Isaiah in the Gospel of Luke, the message emphasizes that the “good news” is a call to action—liberation for the oppressed, sight for the blind, and justice for all. Rev. Kamakura weaves reflections from a recent civil rights pilgrimage into the sermon, drawing connections between the gospel's message and the enduring struggle for racial justice. Through the story of Hattie, a young woman shaped by the nonviolent resistance of the civil rights movement, the sermon illustrates how transformation happens slowly—through relationship, courage, and the willingness to be changed. The sermon ends with a pastoral call to embody the gospel not through argument but through radical welcome, humility, and nonviolent love—living as signs of God’s justice and healing in a fractured world.

Delivered on the Feast of St. Luke, this sermon honors the evangelist and physician who uniquely bridges healing and proclamation in Scripture. Highlighting Luke’s distinctive use of medical language and attention to both physical and spiritual wellness, the message reflects on the holistic nature of healing at the heart of his Gospel. 

Drawing a powerful parallel between medicine and music, the sermon explores music’s scientifically recognized capacity to reduce pain, anxiety, and stress—supported by personal experiences in hospital chaplaincy and poignant examples like Tony Bennett’s sustained musical abilities despite Alzheimer’s, and Lady Gaga’s emotional healing through their collaboration. 

Music is presented not merely as art but as sacred medicine, resonating with Luke’s vision of healing that encompasses body, mind, and soul.

Rev. Kamakura culminates with a contemplative prayer from the church’s litany of healing, inviting the congregation to receive music as a channel of divine presence, peace, and restoration.

This sermon reflects on the Gospel moment when Jesus foretells his death and resurrection, only to be met with the disciples’ distracted debate about greatness. Their response—focusing on status rather than engaging with pain—mirrors our own tendency to avoid discomfort and seek control. Jesus, however, redirects them with compassion, teaching that true greatness lies in humility, service, and care for the vulnerable.

Using the image of a child, Jesus redefines leadership not as power but as welcome—an invitation to embody love through action, especially in uncertain times. The sermon urges listeners to reframe leadership as spiritual integrity rather than hierarchy, and to live faithfully even without full understanding.

Concluding with A Leader’s Prayer, the sermon affirms that in a world of transition, we are called to lead with justice, compassion, and love—trusting that purpose will emerge as we serve.

This Welcome Back Sunday sermon centers on the encounter between Jesus and the Syrophoenician woman, a bold and faithful mother who seeks healing for her daughter. When Jesus initially responds with an exclusionary metaphor, she responds with humility and hope, opening a transformative moment of grace. Her persistence challenges boundaries and reveals a deeper truth: God’s table is abundant, with enough—even holy crumbs—for all.

Drawing from this Gospel, the reflection calls the church to radical welcome, asking how we treat newcomers and whether we truly live out our belief in God’s abundance.

As the community regathers, Rev. Kamakura invites everyone—especially children—to become bearers of hospitality by joyfully proclaiming: “Welcome to St. Luke’s / Bienvenidos a San Lucas.”

This sermon examines the cost and commitment of discipleship through Jesus’ challenging words in the Gospel of John and the metaphor of the "armor of God" in Ephesians 6. Anchored in the prayer of St. Francis—"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace"—Rev. Kamakura explores how faith often invites discomfort, asking whether we are willing to hear and live out difficult truths.

Rather than weapons of defense, the armor of God is reimagined as a set of spiritual practices: truth that confronts injustice, righteousness that extends beyond personal virtue, peace that requires preparation, and faith that withstands fear. The Word of God becomes not a weapon, but a practiced, lived guide.

In a world of easy answers and deep division, this message calls for courageous discipleship—one rooted in love, honesty, and God’s unwavering presence.

This Transfiguration Sunday sermon departs from conventional exposition, adopting a Godly Play-inspired approach that invites wonder and reflection. Centered on Jesus’ mountaintop encounter with Peter, James, and John, the message highlights the disciples’ all-too-human reactions—exhaustion, fear, and Peter’s impulsive chatter—as reflections of our own discomfort with mystery and silence. In contrast, God’s clear command—“This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him”—calls the faithful into a deeper, quieter attentiveness. Rev. Kamakura introduces the practice of “making silence” as a sacred act that calms the spirit and opens us to divine presence.

Amid ongoing transitions and uncertainty in the life of the congregation, Rev. Kamakura encourages stillness over busyness, discernment over impulse, and listening over control. In this posture of quiet openness, transformation becomes possible—not only on the mountaintop, but in the heart of community life.

This sermon revisits the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand, reframing the miracle not solely as divine abundance but as an invitation to participatory grace. When a child offers a simple lunch, it becomes a catalyst for transformation—showing how small acts of generosity, aligned with faith, can ripple through a community.

Rev. Kamakura draws on a personal childhood story of humble giving and unexpected provision to underscore that God’s abundance often flows through human willingness, not wealth.

Echoing Teresa of Avila’s reminder that we are Christ’s hands and feet, the sermon closes with a call to offer what we have—trusting that, in doing so, we help make the kingdom of God visible in our midst.

This sermon reflects on David’s lament for Saul and Jonathan as a profound expression of grief, loyalty, and enduring love amidst conflict. Though Saul had pursued David as an enemy, David mourns both him and his beloved friend Jonathan with tenderness, modeling a love that transcends betrayal and complexity. Rev. Kamakura connects this ancient lament to the struggles of modern family life—both biological and chosen—emphasizing that love often requires grace in the face of disappointment and pain.

Rev. Kamakura challenges the church, as a spiritual family, to remain committed to one another not despite conflict, but through it. In a world where it’s easy to walk away, this sermon calls us to stay, love, and live out our appreciation now, trusting that God’s love sustains us even in our brokenness.

This sermon examines Israel’s ancient request for a king in the time of Samuel as a reflection of human longing for security, power, and visible leadership—often at the expense of trust in God. Though Saul is chosen for his outward strength, his inner struggles reveal the limits of appearance-based leadership. As the congregation enters its own season of discernment in seeking a new rector, Rev. Kamakura urges a different path: one rooted in prayer, humility, and communal reflection. Rather than look for charisma or comparison, the church is called to seek a leader whose heart is aligned with God’s. The sermon emphasizes vulnerability, courage, and faithful listening as the way forward, reminding us that God works even through imperfect people—and that true leadership begins with spiritual alignment, not surface strength.

On Trinity Sunday, Rev. Kamakura reflects on the enduring challenge of understanding the doctrine of the Trinity, acknowledging the mystery that has puzzled theologians and laypeople alike for centuries. Rather than offering a concrete explanation, the sermon reframes the Trinity as a series of relational experiences with God, emphasizing the distinct roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in revealing God’s love, presence, and empowerment. Using the fable of the blind men and the elephant, the preacher illustrates how each perspective of the Trinity offers part of the full picture of the Divine. While the mystery of the Trinity remains beyond complete comprehension, the sermon encourages believers to prioritize relationship with God over resolution of doctrinal complexities. In embracing God’s love, presence, and invitation to communion, the faithful are called to live out God’s revealed love in their daily lives.

This Mother’s Day sermon offers an inclusive reimagining of motherhood, shifting the focus from traditional biological and cultural definitions to a spiritual calling rooted in Christ’s love. Rev. Kamakura reflects on the extremes of Mother's Day observances, proposing a thoughtful middle way that honors the essence of nurturing. Drawing from the Gospel where Jesus speaks of protecting and guarding his disciples, the sermon explores the verb form of mothering: to care, protect, and nurture others. This call transcends gender and circumstance, inviting all believers to embody mothering as an expression of Christian love. The congregation is encouraged to reflect with gratitude on those who have mothered them and to actively care for someone in need of nurturing. Through this perspective, Mother’s Day becomes not only a celebration but a holy opportunity to live out Christ’s love by mothering one another with grace and compassion.

Rev. Kamakura explores the parable of the Good Shepherd through a personal and contemporary lens, challenging the sentimental, peaceful imagery often associated with the scripture. Rather than depicting a tranquil pastoral scene, the preacher emphasizes the fierce, unrelenting love of the Good Shepherd—comparable to the heart-stopping fear and determination a parent feels when a child goes missing. Drawing from a personal experience of losing a daughter in a department store, the sermon highlights the deep emotional bond and protective instinct that mirrors God’s relentless search for us. The message calls listeners to reflect on how we, like wandering sheep, may stray not out of rebellion but out of distraction or ignorance, and how our choices impact not only others but also God. Ultimately, the sermon offers comfort and hope, assuring the congregation that God’s love will always seek to restore and carry us home, no matter how lost we may feel.

She concludes with a call to mindfulness, gratitude, and a deeper understanding of our relationship with the Divine Shepherd.

This sermon focuses on the profound message of John 3:16, often referred to as "the gospel in miniature," and challenges listeners to move beyond intellectual understanding to a lived experience of God’s radical love. While John 3:16 is widely quoted and recognized in pop culture, it is often treated as a memorized verse rather than a transformative truth to embody. Rev. Kamakura reflects on personal experiences, including a pivotal moment during a diplomatic encounter in Mexico where defending the dignity of a frightened detainee became an act of divine love. This experience illuminated the true meaning of John 3:16—not as a simple phrase, but as a call to live out God’s self-giving, inclusive love. The sermon also highlights the legacy of Mary McLeod Bethune, whose life and advocacy were shaped by the inclusive promise of “whosoever,” empowering her to challenge injustice. Rev. Kamakura calls for action: to let go of superficial familiarity with scripture and instead allow God's love to animate our lives. Until we embody this love, John 3:16 remains just words; when we live it, we become active participants in God’s saving work in the world.

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Rev. Kamakura explores the biblical concept of “righteousness of faith” as a path to healing broken relationships—in our world, our communities, and ourselves. Drawing from Paul’s letter to the Romans, she challenges traditional, rule-based understandings of righteousness and redefines it as relational restoration. Through poetry, scripture, and the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rev. Kamakura emphasizes faith not as blind belief, but as the hopeful conviction that empowers love, compassion, and repair in a divided world.

Rev. Kamakura reflects on the spiritual process of transition—how we respond to change—using both personal experience and the biblical story of Elijah and Elisha. Drawing from insights shared at a diocesan clergy conference, she explores the three stages of transition: endings, new beginnings, and the “neutral zone”—a liminal space between the two. Rev. Kamakura encourages listeners to resist the urge to rush through uncertainty and instead remain open to God’s guidance during these in-between times. Like Elisha, who stayed present and received the spirit of Elijah, we are invited to keep our eyes open and trust that God is working within us even in the freefall.

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