The season of the year that immediately follows Christ the King Sunday (usually in late November); this season prepares Christians for the birth of Jesus.
Scripture – Jeremiah 1:5 Theme: When my older relatives would forget my name, I would just tell them to call me “Carl” (which was a very common name in my mom’s family). It was a running joke I had with …
Scripture – 1st Samuel 9:1 – 10:8 Theme: When the people of Israel demanded a king “so they could be like other nations,” God told Samuel to give them a king. Then God led Samuel to Saul: a tall, handsome, …
2nd Sunday of Advent December 5, 2021 Scripture reading – Luke 3: 1-18 In the ancient days of kings and kingdoms, there was always a threat that came from outside. Insider threats were also a problem, but it was the unknown that …
Scripture – Malachi 3: 1-7 Theme: Malachi is the last of the Old Testament prophets to appear; after him, the prophets are silent for 400 years until John the Baptist suddenly appears. So what was so important that Malachi needed …
First Sunday of Advent November 28, 2021 Scripture readings: Jeremiah 33: 14-16 and Luke 21: 25-36 In the summer of 1983, my wife and I got married in New Jersey where virtually her entire family lived. After the ceremony and the reception …
Scripture – Luke 2:8 Theme: Christmas Day, December 25th, is celebrated by most Christians as the birthday of Jesus. But one phrase in Luke’s Gospel points to a different time of year than December…
Sunday, December 20, 2020 Fourth Sunday of Advent – Love Special presentation by our choir Scripture readings: from Isaiah 40 and Luke 1-2
Scripture – 2nd Samuel 7: 1-11 Theme: King David was POSITIVE that building a new temple for the Ark of the Covenant would please the Lord. His friend and prophet, Nathan, told him to go ahead with his plans. All …
December 13, 2020 Third Sunday of Advent Scripture reading – Luke 1: 26-38 For the first two Sundays of Advent, I have begun a sermon series I call “Second Fiddles.” In these messages, I describe the various people that were involved …