Year: 2018

December 30, 2018 Christmastide

INTRODUCTION

In this week’s Scripture readings we’re already down the road from the manger in Bethlehem. In two of the lessons we get a glimpse of the nurturing power of parental love. And the other lessons invite us to weave robes of that healing love to help heal a hurting world.

In the Hebrew Scripture reading we have Hannah patiently making a new priestly robe for her son Samuel, each year, as he continues to serve in the temple. In the Epistle reading Paul encourages us to clothe ourselves in robes of love, suggesting a variety of things that might be woven into those robes.…

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December 24, 2018

It is sometimes hard to remember how challenging the story of Christmas must have been for those who were actual participants.  As I reread this powerful but familiar story I was struck by three things that each of the participants in this story had to face:  First, something very unexpected happened, which then caused them to have to face their fears, and as a result they had to journey from what was known and safe to a place of vulnerability and unfamiliarity.

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December 23, 2018

The Fourth Sunday of  Advent

In Advent, the future and the past crash into one another as we approach the coming of Christ into the world. In the first week, Jesus warned us of great trials and tribulations, saying, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven” [Luke 21:10-11]  before the eventual coming of God’s eternal righteousness and peace.

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December 16, 2018

The Third Sunday of  Advent

This morning, several children and adults participated in a dramatic reading of a script written by John Morris and ably directed by Elizabeth Gelfeld. The script of Nunc Dimittis: An Elder’s Advent, based on Luke 2:25-38, follows.

Setting: The Temple.  ANNA is standing alone, head bowed, lips moving in prayer.  SIMEON enters, carrying a ledger.

ANNA: Oh, you startled me.  (Squinting)  Is that you, Simeon?  My eyesight isn’t so good anymore.

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December 9, 2018

The Second Sunday of  Advent

When I read the scripture texts for this week I saw that they were all about John the Baptist preparing for Jesus. it’s an important part of the Christian story but I’m not going to talk about that. I’m reminded of the tenor in Handel’s Messiah shouting in the wilderness; can you hear him in your mental ears? I’m not going to talk about him either.

As I continued to read, the word salvation seemed to rise into focus. The idea of salvation meant a lot to folks in the Baptist church where I grew up but somehow I didn’t get it.…

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