Sermon: Lent 2 (Reminiscere).2012

Matthew 15.21-28

3 March 2012

In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The present course of things / is deterioration. Just leave an orange out on your table (well, perhaps your picnic table outside would be a better option), just leave it there for a few days, maybe a week and you begin to see what I mean.

This is not natural. I didn't say, the natural course of things is deterioration, but rather the present course of things is deterioration. Deterioration, destruction, even death, these things aren't natural. Life was created immortal, eternal, after the image of its Creator. Man was not created to die, neither was the orange created to deteriorate.

Sermon: Lent 1 (Invocabit).2012

Today's sermon was preached without a manuscript.  Please see pastor or elder for a copy of the service.

Sermon: Ash Wednesday.2012

The Ash Wednesday sermon did not have a manuscript.  Please email pastor or talk with one of the elders for an audio copy of the service.

Sermon: Quinquagesima.2012

Quinquagesima (Pre-Lent)
Luke 18.31-43
2.19.2012

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit

Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!

The cry of the blind man is the cry of the Christian Church on the eve of Lent and throughout out life. And it is a constant cry: as we see in the Gospel, not even the polite rebukes of other people are able to silence it. The blind man, and the Church continue: “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Sermon: Sexagesima.2012

Sexagesima (Pre-Lent)
Luke 8.4-15
2.12.2012

In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Seed / is the Word of God.

Brethren, Lent is fast approaching. The Church has given us these three “Gesima” Sundays to ready our hearts, or at least our minds. And what a gift it is! / This is our tendency as humans / to overlook things. Lent should not be overlooked. The Church is waking us up, so that when the time comes (Ash Wednesday is just a week and a half away), when that day comes, / we will be ready for it. The Church offers that blessing, and you, this morning are hearing the wake-up call.

Sermon: Transfiguration.2012

Transfiguration
Matthew 17.1-9
1.29.2012

In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Father speaks His booming voice from heaven: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” This really goes without saying, though, right? After all, who is Jesus but the Word made flesh. And what do we do with words? We listen to them.

Sermon: Epiphany 2.2012

Epiphany 2
John 2.1-11
1.15.2012

In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In Cana of Galilee, Jesus began to manifest Himself in signs, / and His disciples began to believe in Him.

Before this incident at the wedding in Cana, Jesus' true divine identity was revealed by others. // At His birth, the angels announced to the Shepherds. / When He and Mary were presented in the Temple 40 days after His birth, it was Simeon who calls Him “Salvation,” and Anna “spoke of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” When He was only a bit older, while still in Bethlehem, the star in the east revealed Him to the Magi; and then the Magi themselves reveal Him as they brought gifts and worshiped Him. Later, when He was a young teenager, the teachers in the temple reveal Him to His parents as all were astonished of His wisdom. And on and on, throughout His childhood, probably many other instances that were not recorded in Sacred Scripture, Jesus was revealed / by others.