by Shelly | Dec 16, 2023 | Sermons
Preparing for God’s party! 3rd Sunday of Advent “Rejoice always,” begins the reading from 1 Thessalonians. Isaiah and the psalmist make clear that God is turning our mourning into laughter and shouts of joy. “All God’s children got a robe,” go the words of a...
by Shelly | Dec 8, 2023 | Sermons
Remove barriers to bringing God’s kingdom John calls people to repent, to clear the decks, to completely reorder their lives so that nothing gets in the way of the Lord’s coming. The reading from Isaiah gives the context for this radical call: the assurance of...
by Shelly | Nov 30, 2023 | Sermons
Eager for God’s power to burst through Stir up your power, and come! The psalmist’s plea in Psalm 80:2 has become familiar to us in the Advent prayers. Isaiah wants God to rip the heavens open. Both cry out for an apparently distant, angry God to show up, to...
by Shelly | Nov 24, 2023 | Sermons
Christ rules as shepherd to serve and teach On this final Sunday of the church year our gospel is Jesus’ great story of judgment. In the end, the faithful are those who served Christ by ministering to those who are poor, hungry, naked, sick, or estranged. In the first...
by Shelly | Nov 18, 2023 | Sermons
Create signs of hope by using gifts for common good Our readings during November speak of the end times. Zephaniah proclaims that the coming day of the Lord will be filled with wrath and distress. Paul says it will come like a thief in the night and urges us to be...
by Shelly | Nov 9, 2023 | Sermons
Encourage one another with Christ’s promises Today the prophet Amos calls for justice to roll down like waters. Paul urges us to encourage one another with the promised coming of the Lord. Jesus tells the parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids. Surrounded...
