Charles Hoffacker
The Rev. Charles Hoffacker lives in Greenbelt, Maryland, with his wife, Helena Mirtova. He is the author of A Matter of Life and Death: Preaching at Funerals from Cowley Publications. Many of his sermons appear on sermonwriter.com.
Sermons and Bible Studies
How Joseph Became a Gift-Giving Man, Epiphany 7 (C) – 2019
Today let’s look at one of the major stories in the Old Testament, and consider how its principal character, whose name is Joseph, changes from a man full of himself […]
Enough to Raise the Dead, Proper 14 (B) – 2018
Travel to the city of Rome and go to the basilica named for St. Peter. Near the main entrance, you will find one of the most celebrated sculptures in the […]
This Sacred Discontinuity, Day of Pentecost (B) – 2018
The Bible and the church year commemorate many moments of grace. One of these moments of grace is what we celebrate here on this day of Pentecost: how the Holy […]
Wait. Pray., Ascension Day – 2018
Today’s first reading and gospel form an unusual pair. They both come from the two-volume work attributed to Luke the Evangelist. One is from the end of the first volume, the book […]
Corpses in the Corridor, Proper 19 (A) 2017
As you heard today’s gospel, did it make you uncomfortable, so that you shifted your weight from one foot to another, or perhaps gazed awkwardly into space?That parable Jesus tells […]
Give Alms! Ash Wednesday – 2017
On this day, may we consider together just what sort of gift we ask for when we pray in the Collect for “new and contrite hearts.” Just what sort of […]
Passionate Spirituality, Proper 11 (C) – 2016
It’s a brief story, and Jesus delivers the punch line: “Martha, Martha,” he tells his hostess. “You are worried and distracted about many things; there is need of only one […]
Becoming a Place of Resurrection, Ash Wednesday – 2016
Jesus warns us to practice our piety in secret. We are not to give alms, to pray, or to fast in a way that plays to an audience of other people. Instead, […]
Hearts of Flesh, Proper 22 (B) – 2015
Today’s gospel leaves many of us uncomfortable for one reason or another. It doesn’t come across as good news. First, we have what sounds for all the world like Jesus’ […]
Welcome His Folly into Our Lives, Palm Sunday (B) – 2015
The story just proclaimed presents Jesus as mocked three times, by three different groups: first, the religious authorities; then the secular authorities; and finally, the ordinary people, the crowd. These […]
Zigs and Zags, Christmas 2 – 2015
The start of this new year invites us to take out the map of our life and look at it carefully. This is a time to recognize where we have […]
The Perfect Christmas and the Real Christmas, Christmas Day (II) – 2014
Crossing the minds of almost everyone around this time of year is the fantasy of the perfect Christmas. This fantasy appears in many versions, but a standard one goes something […]
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