Intro This evening, we leave the world behind, and we travel together on a long journey. It is a journey that leads beyond Santa Claus, Christmas trees, and gift giving. This journey leads us to the quiet, sleepy town of Bethlehem. We stand with the shepherds, huddled around the manger. We stand, straining our […]
Advent 4
December 19, 2010 by
Intro Like all kings, our Lord Jesus does not simply show up unannounced. A long line of prophets: Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others first prophesied of the Messiah. Then, the angel Gabriel spoke to the Blessed Virgin. And last, the last of the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptizer, blazed the path of the Messiah […]
Midweek Advent 3
December 15, 2010 by
Intro Advent is a time of preparation and anticipation. The word Advent means “coming,” not “it’s already here.” So, this is a time when we prepare ourselves to celebrate the coming of Jesus as the Messiah. Yet, we in the Church–even within ourselves–have to contend against the secular Christmas, which has looked like Christmas since […]
Advent 3
December 12, 2010 by
Gaudete Sunday was a day of bitter cold and biting wind. If you missed the service because of the weather, here is the sermon that was preached. Intro “All flesh is grass,” proclaims the Prophet. And like our flesh, the grass is not always coursing with life. When we see a field of grass, we see areas […]
Midweek Advent 2
December 8, 2010 by
Intro This was no ordinary word. Of course, words from God never are. Such an extraordinary Word was spoken through the Angel Gabriel into the Virgin’s ear. He said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. For you have found favor with God. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name […]
Advent 2 Confessional Address and Sermon
December 5, 2010 by
On December 5th, the Service consisted of the Confessional Service (pg 47-49 in The Lutheran Hymnal), which is a preparatory service to receive the Lord’s Supper. Following the Lord’s Supper and the Benediction, we had our annual hanging of the Greens Ceremony. The Confessional Service does not have a sermon but a confessional address. Immediately […]
Midweek Advent 1
November 30, 2010 by
Intro Not all invitations are glorious! It’s true, not all invitations are what they seem to be. Left to our own sinful ways, we would throw away an invitation that we consider beneath us. That’s because the tempting lies of the devil have had their way with us. The devil’s lies have beguiled us. And […]
Advent 1
November 29, 2010 by
Intro They are nearly gone. The leaves, that is. Rich in the green of spring, they are even more stunning in autumn: gold, auburn, red as if on fire. Then follows the falling leaves and the blowing wind. Finally, only the muted-brown pallor of death remains. This death is followed by cold, biting wind, and […]
