What made John the Baptizer such a powerful witness? Well, you can’t be much of a witness if you don’t know what you’re witnessing about or what you’re supposed to do. John didn’t have that problem. He knew he was witnessing about the Messiah prophesied from of old. He knew that he was “sent from […]
Worship: A Matter of Preference?
December 8, 2011 by
This is our pastor’s latest article for the Stone County Gazette, the local paper for Kimberling City. The article is woefully short because of length restrictions. But it does get to the gist of the matter about how we worship. ——— Today, we think that personal preference shapes our worship of God. If I like […]
St. Nicholas, Bishop: Matthew 5:14-19
December 7, 2011 by
Matthew 5:14-19 [Jesus said,] “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be concealed. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, […]
2 Peter 3:8-14: Be spotless, blameless, and at peace with God
December 4, 2011 by
This is a confessional address, which is much shorter than a typical sermon. The service today was a confessional service in preparation to receive Christ’s Body and Blood in His holy Supper. Following the service was our Altar Guild’s “Hanging of the Greens” ceremony. ————- About 200 years after Jesus’ ascension into heaven, a man […]
St. Andrew, Apostle: John 1:35-42
November 30, 2011 by
Some of you may have grown up in families where you weren’t the one who always got the attention. A brother or a sister was better at sports than you. Or maybe in academics, he got the recognition and the approval. Perhaps, others sometimes introduced you as “so-and-so’s brother or sister.” It must have been […]
Midweek Advent Services Begin
November 29, 2011 by
As has been our tradition since we began as a congregation, our midweek Advent services are beginning. We will have four midweek services on each Wednesday of Advent: On November 30th, December 7th, December 14th, and December 21st. Our services times are 1:00 (the alternate time) and 7:00 PM. We will use Evening Prayer as […]
The Way of the Donkey: Mark 11:1-10
November 27, 2011 by
When fishes flew and forests walked and figs grew upon thorn, some moment when the moon was blood then surely I was born. With monstrous head and sickening cry and ears like errant wings, the devil’s walking parody on all four-footed things. The tattered outlaw of the earth, of ancient crooked will; starve, scourge, deride […]
Understanding Advent
November 25, 2011 by
The call of Advent is a call to slow down. It is not Christmas–at least not yet. Advent bids us patience, to slow down our urgent pace, even to trust in the Lord when dark is our road and confusing our path. Advent is a call, not to push the Lord along, but to wait […]
Giving Thanks Like a Samaritan: Luke 17:11-19
November 23, 2011 by
St. Luke wants you to be bowled over by the man who came back to thank Jesus. Ten lepers approached Jesus. Ten lepers cried out with a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” They all wanted healing. And Jesus was compassionate and merciful. He said, “Go and show yourselves to the priests!” And […]
New Phone Directories Are In!
November 13, 2011 by
The new pictorial phone directories for Shepherd of the Hills are now in. Get your copy in the narthex after the Divine Service.
