Words of Welcome

"The Adoration of the Child" by Gerrit van Honthorst, 1590-1656 Hebrews 1:1-4 The time has come to celebrate the birth of a child born in a nondescript village on the margins of a great and powerful empire. Many children probably were born that very night. The Monty Python movie Life of Brian even tells the story of another child born that very night in the same town as Jesus. The question that tonight holds, is what makes this child so special? If, as any parent will tell you, their child is the most important or special child ever born, why should we pay attention this child among all the children  born that night?

The Visitation  Luke 1:46-55                 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that God had chosen her to bear a child, saying:        “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  31  And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.    He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David.    He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”   ( Luke 1:31-33 ). After Mary heard Gabriel’s message, she had a choice. She could accept this mission, or she could turn it down. You see, God gives us choices. Although Mary could have said no, she said yes, even though she did raise some good questions about how this was going to work out. It might have been with fear and trepidation, but she chose to take on this vocation of being the mother of Jesus, who w

Philippians 4:4-7 Back in my teen years we sang a song based on Philippians 4:4. It goes like this: “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice. (2x) Rejoice! Rejoice! Again I say Rejoice (2x)”  Then continue repeating with clapping and hand motions for as long as you like. It was a simple song and probably didn’t fully incorporate Paul’s message to the Philippians, but it was memorable and very singable! The season of Advent takes us from hope to peace and now to joy. But, what it does it mean to rejoice in the Lord always? And how does this message fit with the season of Advent that invites to hear John crying in the wilderness, calling the people to repent and be baptized and “produce fruit” that  “shows you have changed your hearts and lives.” John’ ministry was designed to prepare the people to hear the message of Jesus and receive him as Lord and Christ ( Lk. 3:7-18 CEB). So, it’s with John’s reminder that Jesus comes baptizing with Spirit and fire, tha

Philippians 1:3-11 We entered Advent last Sunday with the choir leading us through the Christmas story in narrative and song. They did us a favor by connecting the biblical story with our contemporary story. They reminded us that the Holy Family ended up as refugees, guided by angels to safety. With that broader story in mind, both ancient and modern, we hear the Advent invitation to prepare ourselves for the Advent that took place some two thousand years in the past and the Advent that is yet to come. The path we are taking will lead to that moment on Christmas Eve when we will hear the message that  Jesus is the reflection of God’s glory, and the one who sustains all things by his word ( Heb. 1:1-4 ). Hearing that message we can join the angels in singing “ Gloria in excelsis Deo ”; “Glory to God in the highest.” Christmas Eve will come soon enough, but there is still more to do before we get there. Last Sunday, we lit the candle of hope, and today we lit the Peace