Recordings

On this page you’ll find our recently recorded services and sermons, along with occasional special productions featuring the many talents of our St. Andrew’s congregation.

To see our full collection of video recordings, visit our YouTube channel.

The Scripture Is Alive With What We Bring to It

December 25, 2021

John’s Gospel prologue invites us back to the beginning of creation; the Word that spoke the world into being continues to speak. As Seminarian Brandon Nonnemaker notes, every week we tell and hear stories of God’s relationship with God’s creation. As we bring ourselves to scripture again and again, we can be encouraged and inspired. It is Good News that “God pitched a tent among us, in a lowly stable.”

See John 1:1-14.

Consenting to God’s Work in Us

December 19, 2021

Mary’s consent recognizes the co-creation needed to fulfill God’s promise. Elizabeth prophetically knows and encourages her by celebrating her faith and her role as mother. Seminarian Brandon Nonnemaker asks us to consider what would happen if the messengers of God’s new possibilities showed up on our doorstep? Would we act? Would we sing? Like Elizabeth, let us welcome and amplify those silenced voices among us.

See Luke:1 46-55.

Lyrics to Brandon's Hymn

Flesh of my flesh, but Divine, what to call Thee?
O, this confused tongue of mine, don’t deceive me.
From above and yet within, I did grow Thee;
Here on earth though, not in heav’n, I will raise Thee.

“He made Himself in the womb,” I did bear Thee;
We embrace, O sweet perfume, overtakes me.
If You thirst, then I am blessed, I console Thee;
Thou who nurses from my breast, I do love Thee.

The Creator’s only Son, light shines on Thee;
In my arms, Your life began, John will see Thee.
Entered in the Ancient One, He grew through me;
My Beloved—God and man, I extol thee.

What, Then, Should We Do?

December 12, 2021

John the Baptist told the crowds not to rely on their religious heritage for salvation, but instead to “bear fruits worthy of repentance,” and he gave them specific examples. We’re called to do the work God gives us to do, in the places where we already find ourselves, with the tools we already have, and to take care of each other in specific, concrete, daily ways.

See Luke:3 7-18.

God’s Qualities: Wear Them Until You Embody Them

December 5, 2021

To bolster hope in the people of Israel, the author of Baruch uses clothing as a metaphor for how we can put on an attitude and a posture of faith. Rev. Dorota Wright-Pruski points out that by “wearing” qualities of God, we begin to radiate qualities of God. By acting generously, or by showing mercy, we become more generous or merciful. And ultimately, as we patiently await God’s coming, we can try on hope, and trust that all really shall be well.

See Baruch 5:1-9.

Advent Week One: On Patience and Waiting

November 28, 2021

Our Gospel reading on the first Sunday of Advent is about watching and waiting for signs. With pandemic lockdowns and restrictions, the past few years have drawn down our supply of patience. As Seminarian Annie Jung notes, observing what’s going on in our world can be unnerving. We can lose our courage to light even one candle. But as Christians, we know how the story ends. We prepare for the coming of Emmanuel with joyful hearts, knowing that the greatest gift is on the way.

See Luke 21:25-36.

Following Jesus vs. “Getting Back to Normal”

November 21, 2021

As we celebrate St. Andrew’s Day, seminarian Brandon Nonnemaker points out that Andrew and the early disciples joined Jesus without hesitation, disrupting their lives by leaving their jobs, families and relationships. We often say, “I can’t wait for things to get back to normal.” Familiarity and routine give us comfort. But they also take away the elements of surprise and wonder. Jesus invites us to see things in a new way, and respond in a new way.

See Matthew 4:18-22.

We Are Called To Change the World, One Lunchroom at a Time

November 14, 2021

The Rt. Rev. Porter Taylor, Assisting Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia, reveals that faith, hope and love are the qualities we need to be followers of Jesus, and they are qualities of the heart, not of the mind. Without God’s help, we are seeing a distorted picture of each other. And like Auggie’s classmates in the film “Wonder,” we are called to cross the divide that separates us from others. Every person is a wonder, and we can only learn to truly see them with the help of faith, hope and love.

See Hebrews 10:11-25.

With the Saints, We’re All in This Together

November 7, 2021

Today we read about the Communion of Saints, where the shroud of death has been replaced by God’s festive tablecloth, and all are seated together with abundant food and wine. At St. Andrew’s, we can be part of our church community because of the conviction and dedication of those who came before us. We are stewards of the gifts we have received from them. It’s up to us to sustain those gifts, add to them, and pass them on to the saints who will come after us.

See Isaiah 25:6-9.

Make the Greatest Decision: To Love, Today

October 31, 2021

The life we live in this world is short and precious. How will we treat the people whose paths cross ours? The greatest commandments, as we’re reminded in today’s Gospel, are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Love, as Jesus intends it, is an action, not an emotion. So loving our neighbor is a choice we make, and a practice we can improve upon over time. But we aren’t given unlimited time, so the time to get started is today.

See Mark 12:28-34.

The Way to Christ is with Empty Hands

October 24, 2021

The blind beggar Bartimaeus presents an unusual role model for us in today’s Gospel. As Rev. Rachel Rickenbaker notes, he calls out to Jesus for nothing but mercy, and has nothing to offer in return. Instead of pointing to our accomplishments and asking Jesus what more we can do to earn our way into heaven, we must acknowledge our brokenness and seek only his mercy and grace. And we can trust that he leads us on a path toward hope and eternal life.

See Mark 10:46-52.

What Do You Wish That I May Do For You?

October 17, 2021

In today’s Gospel reading, James and John ask Jesus for positions of power and privilege. Their request is selfish, but very human. They’ve made many sacrifices along the road to discipleship, and now seem to be asking, “What do I get in return?” In his response, Jesus reveals that power is not to be used for intimidation or oppression, but for service to others. Through his life, death and resurrection, he sets the example for how we should serve each other.

See Mark 10:35-45.

Doesn’t Jesus Just Want Us To Be Happy?

October 10, 2021

If only we could draw a straight line connecting our deeds and beliefs with our earthly success and happiness in this life. But like Job in today’s reading, we have no guarantee that obeying God’s commands will lead to earthly or material prosperity. Grief and lament are real, but they are not forever. Whatever we experience in this life will be redeemed as something far greater than we can imagine when we enter God’s kingdom. God is with us through it all.

See Job 23:1-9, 16-17 and Psalm 22:1-15

What God Has Joined Together, Let No One Separate

October 3, 2021

The Pharisees in today’s Gospel reading try to trap Jesus with a question about divorce laws. But he responds by reminding them of the original purpose of marriage. Rev. Rachel Rickenbaker acknowledges that marriage is hard work, but it’s a worldly reflection of God’s love. We can be encouraged that God cares about our earthly relationships and is present in them, in good times and bad.

See Mark 10:2-16.

Easter Sunday: A Joy Worth Slowing Down For

April 4, 2021

The Easter morning story from Mark’s Gospel is different from the other versions of this story. Rev. Dorota Wright-Pruski notes that the women who discovered the empty tomb “said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.” Like us, they needed time to allow a slow kind of joy to transform their grief. God’s work continues to unfurl in our world, and we will joyfully witness it, but we need to patiently tend to it, like a seedling.

See Mark 16:1-8.

Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem

— C.V. Stanford

Sung by the combined choirs of:

The Falls Church, Episcopal
St. Andrew’s, Arlington
St. Andrew’s, Burke
St. Mary’s, Arlington, and
The Church of the Epiphany, Oak Park, CA

Jay Wilcox, conductor

Aaron Goen, organist

A Year in the Life of St. Andrew’s: 2020

Jan. 31, 2021

Presented at the St. Andrew’s Parish Annual Meeting, this video looks back on the challenges and celebrations of our parish during a difficult year. Permission to reprint, podcast, and / or stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license # M-400520. All rights reserved.

Christmas Greetings from St. Andrew’s

Dec. 25, 2020

Families from St. Andrew’s share their holiday greetings virtually in a heartwarming montage of photos and videos.

Silent Night

Dec. 24, 2020

Families from St. Andrew’s lend their voices to a virtual ensemble performance of “Silent Night.”

Speaking in Tongues: The Pentecost

May 31, 2020

In this reading of Acts 2: 1-21, members of St. Andrew’s contribute their talents in terms of foreign languages and artwork.

“Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether”

May 31, 2020

A combined choral presentation featuring the choirs of Holy Cross in Dunn Loring, VA; St. Andrew’s in Arlington, VA; and St. Andrew’s in Burke, VA.