Ascension 2021 -The sermon interprets the Ascension story in the context of the Jewish Exodus and liberation, as well as looking through the lens of imperialism. The recent violence between Arab and Israeli forces grounds the Ascension story (that happened at the site of the Al Aqsa Mosque) is a reminder to the church and St Paul’s of our work in the world today -the continued presence of the ascended Jesus.
Older sermons
Do you remember the first time you were ever lost? What on earth has that got to do with success and adventure?
Author: Albert J. Ogle
Albert Ogle was born in Belfast, N. Ireland and studied theology, education and art in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. He was ordained in the Anglican Church of Ireland where he served in two parishes and got heavily involved in the reconciliation movement. Exiled in 1980 for being in a gay relationship, he eventually moved to Los Angeles where he began ministry with high risk street youth through he Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. During this time, he became very active in AIDS related ministry and designed the first AIDS plans for Los Angeles and California in the mid 1980's. The AIDS Service Center in Pasadena was the model envisioned and it served an eighth of LA county for over 25 years. Ogle became one of the first openly gay clergy in the Episcopal church and served in parishes in LA, Orange County, San Diego, new York and Philadelphia, where he now lives with his husband. He returned to Trinity College Dublin to complete a masters degree in international Peace Studies where a thesis on World Heritage Sites and reconciliation was later published (Returning to Places of Wounded Memory). He consulted for UNESCO's World Heritage Program and became interested in the sites associated with St Paul, founding the St. Paul's Reconciliation program that ended up working with the World Bank and US State Department on LGBT economic and human rights issues. He worked in several African and Caribbean countries where homosexuality is criminalized and the church remains one of the most critical forces of oppression. Ogle was made an honorary Canon of Los Angeles in 2002 for his international work and later in the Diocese of San Diego. He enjoys writing, travelling and painting and retired from active ministry in August 2021.
View all posts by Albert J. Ogle
