Dean Stone Gives Sermon at 2025 Feast of Beginnings Worship Service

Feast of Beginnings Worship Service Marks Start of Academic Year at Perkins

Prayer and worship have always punctuated the rhythm of the school year at Perkins School of Theology. This year was no different, with the Feast of Beginnings marking the start of the new academic year on August 28 in Perkins Chapel.  

Gathering students, faculty and staff, the service marked the occasion with communion, music, worship and a sermon by Perkins’ new dean, Bryan P. Stone. For many in attendance, the service was the first opportunity to hear from Stone, who arrived on campus in June.  

Stone’s sermon revealed him as a thoughtful theologian, unafraid to challenge his audience with prophetic words, but balanced with a quick wit. His 13-minute message drew more than a dozen bursts of laughter and even occasional applause from the congregation. Stone preached from the week’s Revised Common Lectionary text, Hebrews 13:1-3: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers. For by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.”  

The call to entertain angels unawares, Stone said, poses a “delightful and mysterious” reminder. 

“Sometimes when we welcome a stranger, it turns out we’re welcoming angels,” he said. “We’re welcoming heaven itself.”  

But angels never fit the Hallmark image, he cautioned. More often, they are terrifying to those who encounter them. And they often go unrecognized. 

“My wife Cheryl and I have hosted quite a few folks in our home over the years—students, friends … in-laws,” he said. “I can say with confidence that if any of them were angels, it wasn’t always obvious to me. It’s all fun and games until an angel breaks the toilet.” 

Hospitality, Stone said, “is not about coziness. It’s about disruption. Angels arrive to shake things up. And if Jesus is to be believed, they show up most often in the faces of the hungry, the sick, the prisoner and the stranger at the border.”  

This biblical call to hospitality, Stone added, speaks directly to contemporary issues.  

“If we really believe in angels, and if we believe that when you welcome a stranger, you might be entertaining angels without knowing it, then why do we refuse their presence, deport and imprison them when they’ve committed no crimes?” he said. “Why do we torture angels in detention centers like Alligator Alcatraz?” 

It's often said, Stone added, that a society can be judged by how well it treats those most vulnerable, including its strangers.  

“If the stranger might be an angel, then hospitality demands more of us than just being polite,” he said. “It demands that our politics, our policies and our allegiances must reflect the sacredness of every person.” 

Stone concluded with words of challenge to Perkins students.  

“I hope you learn to better understand the Bible and to articulate a grace-filled theology,” he said. “But I also hope that together we’ll learn more about how to practice hospitality. So, here’s the challenge: This semester, entertain a few angels, not in some mystical winged sense, but in the daily discipline of making space for others. Opening your table, allowing an interruption, listening longer than your patience wants to, extending grace when you’d rather not.” 

Geoffrey C. Moore, curator of community worship, served as presider for Holy Communion. The service also included a recognition and installation of the newly elected Perkins Student Association leaders. Assistant Dean of Students, Alum and Community Engagement Tracy Anne Allred introduced President Calyn Donaldson, Vice President Chuck Norcross, Treasurer Rich Dudley, Secretary Abbey Adcox, Justice in Action Chair Beth Webb, Chaplain Carolyn Barker, Houston/Galveston Representative Brandon Sikes, Spanish M.Div. Representative Karla LaConcha, Hybrid Representative Paula Garrett, and Second/Middle Year Representatives Matthew Peters (Dallas) and James “JT” LaRue (Houston.)  

Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Hugo Magallanes recognized new and recent additions to the Perkins faculty, administration and staff: Alicia Greene, Assistant Director of Academic Affairs; Kathleen “Kate” Hanch, Director of the Baptist House of Studies; Josey Jones, Exhibits Designer and Collections Manager, Bridwell Library; Michelle Killian, Coordinator, Office of External Programs and Church Relations; Joshua “Josh” Kuker, Financial Business Manager; Nakoya Loucks, Assistant Dean of Marketing and Communications; Roxanne Paulson, Instructional Learning Technologist; Avery Pryer, Executive Assistant to the Dean; Dean Stone; Kaylee Vida, Associate Director of Lifelong Learning in the Office of External Programs; Fahiym Webber, Communications Coordinator; and Pam White, Director of the Intern Program.