Category: Advent
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Third Sunday of Advent
Readings: Isaiah 35:1-10 | James 5:7-11 | Matthew 11:2-15 Text: Matthew 11:2-15 The theme for this Sunday is JOY – Historically the first word heard was “Gaudete!” (Latin for Rejoice) – “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4) But in the Gospel we have a picture of persecution and uncertainty. …
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Second Sunday in Advent
Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10 | Romans 15:4-13 | Matthew 3:1-12 Text: Matthew 3:1-12 Saint John the Baptizer’s appearance is jarring. There’s no getting comfortable around a man who wears camel fur and eats nothing but bugs and honey. But why? John is uncomfortable because of what his appearance brings up combined with what he preaches. He…
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First Sunday in Advent
Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5 | Romans 13:(8-10) 11-14 | Matthew 21:1-11 Text: Matthew 21:1-11 This time of looking forward to Christmas is called Advent (from the Latin for arrival). It’s called that because it’s about Jesus’ coming. He came in lowliness in the manger at Bethlehem, just as was promised. “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and…
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The Eve of the Nativity of Our Lord
Readings: Isaiah 11:1-5 | Galatians 4:1-7 | Luke 20:22-40 Text: Matthew 1:18-25 18Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19And her husband Joseph, being a just man…
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Fourth Sunday in Advent
~ Rorate Coeli ~ Readings: Deuteronomy 18:15-19 | Philippians 4:4-7 | Luke 1:39-56 Text: Philippians 4:4-7 No doubt this week, we will be hearing the phrase, “Merry Christmas.” Take a moment to think about it: Is this a statement or a command? I mean, what should you do when there’s nothing to be merry about? When…
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Third Sunday in Advent
~ Gaudete ~ Readings: Isaiah 40:1-11 | 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 | Matthew 11:2-11 Text: Isaiah 40:1-8 It’s important to understand that Isaiah was not preaching at a time of peace in Israel. Not many chapters (chapters 36-37) before this, Isaiah has the job of announcing to the starving, besieged inhabitants of Jerusalem that the Assyrian…
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Second Sunday of Advent
~ Populus Zion ~ Readings: Malachi 4:1-6 | Romans 15:4-13 | Luke 21:25-36 Text: Luke 21:25-36 The return of Christ is utterly inconvenient. It ruins our plans for the future. It ruins all of our imagining that life will just continue as is has been. Most of all, it completely obliterates our delusion that we…
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First Sunday in Advent
~ Ad Te Levavi ~ Readings: Jeremiah 23:5-8 | Romans 13:(8-10) 11-14 | Matthew 21:1-9 Text: Matthew 21:1-9 Christ, our Lord, is the promised King who reigns on the throne of David forever. So it is that, as He rode into the City of Peace to be executed as the King of the Jews,…
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The Nativity of our Lord
Readings: Exodus 40:17-21, 34-38 | Titus 3:4-7 | John 1:1-14 Text: John 1:1-14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Those few words describe the most important event in all creation. You would think that the universe being created out of nothing by the Lord simply speaking His Word would, by default, be the…
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Eve of the Nativity of Our Lord
Text: Titus 2:11-14 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave…