“Joseph, Did You Know?” (Matthew 1:18-25)

Fourth Sunday in Advent
December 18, 2022

“Joseph, Did You Know?” (Matthew 1:18-25)

If you’ve listened to one of those radio stations that play Christmas songs for about two months before Christmas, then you’ve probably heard a song called “Mary, Did You Know?” You’ve heard that song, right? The lyrics involve asking Mary a series of rhetorical questions about whether she knew what her son would grow up to do: “Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?” “Mary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?” That sort of thing.

Well, today I’m wondering about the man who would become Mary’s husband. Joseph–what did he know? And so our message today will take up that question, under the theme: “Joseph, Did You Know?”

(more…)

Published in: on December 17, 2022 at 1:25 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , ,

“St. John the Baptist, the Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness” (Matthew 3:1-12)

Midweek Advent Evening Prayer
Wednesday, December 14, 2022

“St. John the Baptist, the Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness” (Matthew 3:1-12)

Today’s midweek service is the last in our series called, “Three Saints of Advent.” We began on November 30 with St. Andrew, Apostle, since his festival falls on that date. Last week, on December 7, we remembered St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, since his commemoration falls on that date. Now today, December 14, is nobody’s festival or commemoration, but since the last two Sundays the Gospel readings have featured John the Baptist, that’s the saint we’ll go with today.

Now there’s quite a lot in the Bible about John the Baptist, more than what you might think. For instance, there’s the account of the angel Gabriel announcing to Zechariah that he and his wife Elizabeth would have a son and they were to name him John. Then Elizabeth, pregnant with John, is visited by Mary, pregnant with Jesus, and even in the womb John leaps to greet his Lord. John grows up and begins his ministry, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. John baptizes Jesus in the Jordan. John points his own disciples to Jesus, saying, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John stands up to Herod the tetrarch, calling him out on his adultery, and for that John gets thrown in prison and beheaded. So there’s lots to choose from when talking about John. Today we’ll focus on this aspect of his life and ministry: “St. John the Baptist, the Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness.”

(more…)

Published in: on December 14, 2022 at 1:12 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , ,

“He Will Come and Save You” (Isaiah 35:1-10)

Third Sunday in Advent
December 11, 2022

“He Will Come and Save You” (Isaiah 35:1-10)

Do you ever feel weak, like you’re not strong enough to handle what life is throwing at you? Do you ever feel like your faith is feeble, that it’s not firm enough to face the future? Are you ever anxious or worried, afraid that there are forces or people out to get you, and it feels like they’re winning? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then I’ve got a word for you today. Actually, God has a word for you today, and I’m here to deliver it to you. It goes like this: “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.’”

“He Will Come and Save You”: This is the theme for our message today. And this word of God, this promise of God, will strengthen your weakness, firm up your faith, and relieve your fears and anxieties. For God always keeps his promises. He is faithful to his word.

(more…)

Published in: on December 10, 2022 at 10:11 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , ,

“Three Saints of Advent: St. Ambrose of Milan, Pastor and Hymnwriter”

Midweek Advent Evening Prayer
Wednesday, December 7, 2022

“Three Saints of Advent: St. Ambrose of Milan, Pastor and Hymnwriter”

For our midweek Advent services this year, we’re doing a series I’m calling “Three Saints of Advent: Andrew, Ambrose, and John the Baptist.” Now how did I come up with that idea? By looking at the calendar. The first Wednesday in Advent this year was November 30, and that date is set aside in the church calendar as the Feast of St. Andrew, one of the twelve apostles. The second Wednesday in Advent is today, December 7, and this date is listed in the church year as the Commemoration of St. Ambrose of Milan, Pastor and Hymnwriter. Next Wednesday will be December 14, and while that date in itself is nothing noteworthy, we’re going to remember St. John the Baptist, who is featured prominently in the Gospel readings for the Second and Third Sundays in Advent. Thus the theme for these three midweek Advent services.

Andrew, Ambrose, and John the Baptist: Andrew you’ve heard about. John the Baptist you know. But who is this fellow Ambrose? Why do we commemorate him? And why on December 7? Today you’ll find out. And in his story, you will be reminded again how well God provides for his church.

(more…)

Published in: on December 7, 2022 at 5:35 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , ,

“A Shoot from the Stump of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1-10)

Second Sunday in Advent
December 4, 2022

“A Shoot from the Stump of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1-10)

Maybe when you heard today’s Old Testament Reading, from Isaiah, you were thinking: “Shoot? Fruit? Root? What in the world is Isaiah talking about? And who is this Jesse fellow? And what could all this possibly have to do with me?” Well, it has everything to do with you, so let’s listen now as Isaiah tells us about “A Shoot from the Stump of Jesse.”

(more…)

Published in: on December 3, 2022 at 3:03 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , ,

“Three Saints of Advent: St. Andrew, Apostle” (John 1:35-42a; Matthew 4:18-20)

Midweek Advent Evening Prayer
Wednesday, November 30, 2022

“Three Saints of Advent: St. Andrew, Apostle” (John 1:35-42a; Matthew 4:18-20)

When churches have midweek Advent or Lenten services, usually the pastor tries to come up with a theme that will tie the services together. This year, in looking at the calendar for Advent, I noticed something about the dates for our midweek services. The first three Wednesdays are November 30, December 7, and December 14. Which got me to thinking: November 30 is the Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle. December 7 is the Commemoration of St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan and one of the great Church Fathers. December 14 is . . . well, December 14 isn’t anything special, but it does occur right after the Second and Third Sundays in Advent, when St. John the Baptist is featured prominently. So there you go. Thus our theme for this year’s midweek Advent services: “Three Saints of Advent: Andrew, Ambrose, and John the Baptist.”

(more…)

Published in: on November 30, 2022 at 6:40 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , ,

“Come, Let Us Go Up to the Mountain of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:1-5)

First Sunday in Advent
November 27, 2022

“Come, Let Us Go Up to the Mountain of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:1-5)

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD.” The prophet Isaiah says that this is what many peoples, many nations, will say in the latter days. “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob.” And this is what we say–yes, you and I–this is what we say in these latter days, because this is equivalent to saying, “Come, let us go to church.” Really? Yes, really! Because this now–this place, the church–this is the mountain and the house that Isaiah had prophesied. This is God’s house, the place where God’s word goes forth. And this is why we gladly say: “Come, Let Us Go Up to the Mountain of the Lord.”

(more…)

Published in: on November 26, 2022 at 8:08 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , ,

“The Miracle Moms and Their Baby Boys” (Luke 1:39-45)

Fourth Sunday in Advent
December 19, 2021

“The Miracle Moms and Their Baby Boys” (Luke 1:39-45)

Two expectant mothers–two miracle mothers, moms who shouldn’t have been–the two mothers meet, and they rejoice in their good fortune. They praise God for the wonderful work he is doing for them and through them. The Holy Spirit has given them faith to believe what God has spoken and what God is doing. And what God is doing will be done by the two babies they are carrying in their womb. Those two boys are going to change the world! They will change your world and turn it right-side up! And so our theme this morning: “The Miracle Moms and Their Baby Boys.”

(more…)

Published in: on December 17, 2021 at 11:01 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , ,

“A Birth and a Benedictus” (Luke 1:57-80)

Midweek Advent Vespers
Wednesday, December 15, 2021

“A Birth and a Benedictus” (Luke 1:57-80)

In this Advent series, we’re looking at the events leading up to the birth of Christ, as they are recorded in the first chapter of Luke. Two weeks ago, we started with the angel Gabriel announcing to Zechariah that he and his wife Elizabeth would have a son, that he’s to be named John, and that this son of theirs would go before the Lord to prepare his way. Then last week, Gabriel went to a virgin named Mary and announced that she would give birth to the Messiah, the Christ, and that he is to be named Jesus. Luke chapter 1 then continues with Mary going to visit Elizabeth, and we will get that reading this Sunday. But today we go to the last part of Luke 1, and we read about “A Birth and a Benedictus.” The birth is the birth of John; the Benedictus is the song of praise that Zechariah sings when he gives the child that name.

(more…)

Published in: on December 15, 2021 at 11:28 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , ,

“What Do You Expect?” (Luke 7:18-28)

Third Sunday in Advent
December 12, 2021

“What Do You Expect?” (Luke 7:18-28)

What you expect and when you expect it will make you either satisfied or disappointed. For example, suppose that for Christmas your true love has promised to give you twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords a’leaping, all the way down to three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree. But at the end of the day on December 25 all you’ve received is the partridge. You’re disappointed. You ask yourself, “Did my true love forget about the other stuff? Where are the geese and the maids and so on? Maybe my true love doesn’t love me, after all.”

But then, over December 26, 27, and 28, you start getting FedEx shipments of various calling and non-calling birds. By December 31 you’re up to seven swans a-swimming. Now you’re starting to catch on. Your true love’s word is good. Your true love does truly love you. The promise will be kept, in full. You remember that there are twelve days of Christmas, and you can expect that the rest of the stuff is on the way. It will arrive on time. Even though you have not yet seen any dancing ladies, you’re satisfied that you will. In this case, you really can count your chickens before they’re dispatched.

What you expect and when you expect it will determine whether you’re satisfied or disappointed. That’s true of Christmas presents, and it’s true of Christ himself. What do you expect of Christ? And when do you expect it? This is the question that comes to us, just as it came to John the Baptist: “What Do You Expect?”

(more…)

Published in: on December 11, 2021 at 11:42 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , ,
« Older Entries