Today, there are so many things to consider as we dive into the readings for during this time of proclamation and exhortation. That is particularly true as we consider our Church community, as well as the neighborhoods about us. As news reports may have informed you, there continues to be lot of evil occurring even in the world that is directly around us.
Further, in this congregation, our sinful natures, inherited by all humans through Adam, have given us plenty of reasons for weeping. That remains true, even as our new natures in Christ continue to give us a multitude of reasons for rejoicing. After all, God has called us to gather as One Body, under One Head. When one of us weeps, as one, we are called to weep with them. As one among us rejoices, we are called to rejoice with them….For more, click on the title above.
Category: Sermons
Surely in temples made by hands, God the Most High is not dwelling
When we heard of the Magoi coming to worship the Christ during our Epiphany celebration we learned something about the flesh of Christ and the revelation of the mysteries of God. Here today we learn more about the flesh of Christ and God’s purpose in sending the Christ into our Cosmos as true God and true man….For more, click on the title above.
Epiphany’s Glorious and Beautiful Revelations of Christ
This year, God has again called us before this Altar Table to hear of the Epiphany Season’s glorious and beautiful revelations of Christ. To that end, the calendar has given us opportunity to move from one traditional Epiphany reading, that of the visit of the Magi, to another of the traditional readings for that High Feast. It is almost as if there was a cinematic “fade-to-black” after last night’s service so that this day’s readings could move our thoughts from King Jesus’ appearance to the nations to that which He came to do for people from all nations. …For more, click on the title above.
Children called home
A blessed feast of the Epiphany to you! Some feasts are easier to remember than others. The Nativity of Our Lord, The Baptism of our Lord, The Naming of our Lord all make it pretty easy to remember what exactly we’re celebrating. Epiphany, however, is one of those that are more difficult to have stick in our minds. Epiphany is named after the Greek word Epi- faino which means to “shine out.” What shines out in our text today is the star, yes, but more importantly, the identity of the baby these Magoi come to worship…For more, click on the title above.
Drinking the cup of the Lord
Our text today is going back in time, to the eighth day of our Lord’s life. His Circumcision, His naming, begins our New Year.
What is said about Christ is, necessarily, said about you, dear Christian. It must be this way for our salvation to be sure and complete. Beyond this, brothers and sisters, what must be said about Christ, for our salvation, is everything perfect. Christ, through His incarnation, is willingly locked up under the same Law that has confined us since its being given.
Jesus did not come to earth as an enemy of God’s Law. He did not chafe under the confines and strictures of God’s commands. Rather, He loved them because He loves the Father.
…For more, click on the title above
Watching in the Faith for Christ’s glorious return
This evening, the Word has again called us to continue watching in the faith for Christ’s glorious return. It has reminded us that no created entity has power to separate us, the faithful from the unconditional, sacrificial, enduring love of God. That He continues to pour out upon us in Christ Jesus.
This end-of-year service certainly reminds us of those realities. It comes each year to proclaim the Word that God continues to give to us to keep us in the Faith. It emphasizes that our confession remains that which was confessed by the Apostle Paul long ago in his letter to the Church at Rome.
…For more, click on the title above
At what do we marvel?
Joseph and Mary are following the ritual law of purification for the mother. According to the Law of Moses, every first-born child had to be presented to the Lord, and a sacrifice made so that the mother could be declared clean by the priest.
Before this ritual could take place, a man, presumably unknown to either of them, approaches and takes the child in his arms, blesses God, and begins to speak. All of this had taken place prior to our pericope for today where the first words we read are,
“And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.”
Which brings us to our first question of the day: “What was said that made Jesus’ parents marvel?” …For more, click on the title above
St John, Apostle and Evangelist
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The Tabernacle of our Lord
Today’s readings heard together have quite an impressive presence. Throughout mankind’s history, man has never truly been completely separated from the presence of our dear Lord. The narrative in the Old Testament is one of departure and return. The Epistle reading speaks of the birth from above which makes us children of God. John, in introducing God to the reader, calls Jesus the Word. Returning to the Old Testament, as our parents were cast out of the garden, God began to return them to himself. Time and time again, the actions of our Lord led our fallen race out of the darkness of our own creation and into His light.
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A journey to Salvation
Ah—Christmas Eve. The church is appropriately decorated. The candles are lit. The lights on the tree sparkle. It’s a brilliance, a special brilliance, because this is a night that is waited for, a night prepared for, a night longed for.
It is a celebration of an event more than 2,000 years old—one that has not been forgotten—nor will it ever be.
For more, click on the title above.