Sermons from December 2021

Christmas Eve 2021           I admit that I am weary, this virus has created a bit of chaos for our holiday gatherings yet again. But we are reminded on Christmas Eve of how Jesus was born as a tiny baby, in the darkness of a stable.  God’s love comes down to us, is born in us on Christmas. Jesus brings light and life and hope to a weary world. You all know this poetry, these lyrics:  “O Holy Night, the…

3 Advent – December 12, 2021 Luke 3:7-18           “You brood of vipers!” is how our gospel begins today. It sounds harsh, doesn’t it? Here is this crowd of people coming to John to be baptized and he calls them a ‘brood of vipers’.  And John also cautions against abusing the privilege of a family tree that has a long prior relationship with God: “Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor.’” If any of…

2 Advent – December 5, 2021 Luke 3:1-6          So, in our gospel this morning we start out with a litany. “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and on and on. We get a listing of 7 very powerful people — an emperor, a governor, three tetrarchs, and two high priests. Together they represent rulers of the known world, the regional lands, and the religious, political,…