Author: admin
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I have called you by name, you are mine
First Sunday after Epiphany, The Baptism of our Lord: Isaiah 43:1-7; Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22; Psalm 29 Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;…
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Jesus as a child
Second Sunday after Christmas, January 5, 2025: Jeremiah 31:7-14; Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a; Matthew 2:13-15,19-23 or Luke 2:41-52; or Matthew 2:1-12; Psalm 84 or 84:1-8 This Sunday, the lectionary offers three choices for the Gospel: two phases of the story of the Wise Men, and the story of Jesus in the temple. These are among the few…
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The Word became flesh
First Sunday after Christmas, 29 December 2024: Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7; John 1:1-18; Psalm 147 or 147:13-21 Today’s Gospel is one that I love to listen to, but never fully understand. I will think I understand one sentence, and then the next sentence leaves me baffled. In some ways the center of it is…
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A child has been born to us
Christmas, December 25: Isaiah 9:2-7; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14(15-20); Psalm 96 When the angels show up for the shepherds, with “the glory of the Lord” shining around them, the shepherds were (rightly) terrified. Terror was the appropriate response to seeing the glory of the Lord. Moses felt it too, when he saw the burning bush.…
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Blessed is she who believed
Fourth Sunday in Advent, 22 December 2024: Micah 5:2-5a; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45, (46-55); Canticle 15 (or 3). The beginning of Micah’s prophecy for Bethlehem “You, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah” is a reminder that Bethlehem was probably not where you expected a Messiah to be born.…
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Rejoice in the Lord Always
Third Sunday of Advent, 15 December 2024: Zephaniah 3:14-20; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18; Canticle 9 “Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!”! Thus Zephaniah calls us. Why should we rejoice? “The Lord has taken away the judgments against you”. Not only that, but he has turned away enemies. And he will deal…
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Walk safely in the glory of God
Second Sunday of Advent, December 8, 2024: Baruch 5:1-9 or Malachi 3:1-4; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6; Canticle 16 “Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God.” So begins the passage from Baruch we read today. As Baruch continues with his prophecy,…
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Fig leaves
First Sunday of Advent, December 1, 2024: Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36; Psalm 25:1-9 Today we begin the new church year: our readings are now in year C of the common lectionary, not year B; they will be dominated by the Gospel of Luke, not Mark as in year B. So we will…
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The Alpha and Omega
Last Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 29, November 24, 2024: 2 Samuel 23:1-7; Psalm 132:1-13 (14-19); Revelation 1:4b-8; John 18:33-37 This Sunday is the last in the Church year: we begin the liturgical year next week, with the beginning of advent. For many years it was called Christ the King Sunday, though now it is more…
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Hospitality
Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 27, 10 November 2024: Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17; Psalm 127; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44 Last week we heard Ruth declare that she would follow Naomi back to Naomi’s home in Bethlehem. This was a risky decision: support depended on being part of a household headed by a man, and Naomi and…