NextSunday Worship


Archive for December, 2019

  • January 26, 2020

    The Kingdom of Heaven is like . . .

    Year A - Third Sunday after the Epiphany

    “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” “The  Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?” From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” “The kingdom of heaven” is Matthew’s choice for the new creation the other evangelists call “the […]

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  • January 19, 2020

    "Being Known and Being Called”

    Year A: Second Sunday after the Epiphany

    In both Testament lessons and in the gospel of this second Sunday in Epiphany we sense a strong line running through them, like a rope that pulls us up to the realization that God calls us. We surface to the light of Epiphany and pray that this light will assist us in understanding the meaning […]

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  • January 12, 2020

    "To Be God’s Chosen"

    Year A - Baptism of the Lord - First Sunday after the Epiphany

    Listen to the words from Isaiah: (Isaiah 42:1-9) “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.” And now listen to the words of Matthew at Jesus’ baptism: (Matthew 3:12-17) “And when Jesus had been […]

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  • January 5, 2020

    “In the beginning was the Word”

    Year A - Second Sunday after Christmas Day

    There may be more famous beginnings in literature but none can compare to the beauty and meaning found in the opening of St John’s gospel. No truth can equal its significance, no message can balance its weight. In both my native Greek and in its English translation I hear the awe in the voice of […]

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  • December 29, 2019

    “Herod’s Song”

    Year A - First Sunday after Christmas Day

    13Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14Then Joseph got up, took the child […]

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  • December 22, 2019

    “Joseph’s Song”

    Fourth Sunday of Advent Year A

    Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah* took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. […]

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  • December 15, 2019

    “Mary’s Song”

    Third Sunday of Advent - Year A

    Many Protestants don’t quite know what to do with Mary.  If we get too close or talk about her too much some fear we’re being too Catholic.  I grew up hearing, “Catholics worship Mary,” Actually, that is not true at all.  Catholics and many Protestants honor Mary and find in her a model for Christian […]

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