Third Sunday of Advent (December 17, 2023) Almost twenty years ago, in my first year as an honors college dean, we were having a dinner of our Advisory Board. During the drinks and hors d’oeuvres, I saw a board member that I had not yet met and went up and […]
Advent
10 posts
Second Sunday of Advent (December 10, 2023) “Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.” In the name of … We come to religion for answers. There may be […]
Advent 1 – New Life First Sunday of Advent (December 3, 2023) “Restore us, O God of hosts; show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.” (Ps. 80:7) In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost… This morning is the first Sunday of Advent. […]
“Put the apocalypse back into Advent” is a phrase that has been making the rounds of the internet for the last few years, a riff on the “kept Christ in Christmas,” no doubt. For many Christians it is a curious concept, what can the apocalypse possible have to do with […]
Third Sunday of Advent (December 15, 2019) – Audio A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; … it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. Isa. 35:8 During my academic sabbatical, three years ago now, I was interim […]
This was my reflection for Eucharist Wednesday morning (14 December 2016) at St. B’s. The Gospel reading for morning prayer was Mark 1:1-7. They are familiar words to anyone who has ever been to a Christmas service, citing Mal. 3:1 and Isa. 40:3. Mark 1:1 The beginning of the good news of […]
My sermon from this past Sunday, Advent 3 (Yr. A). The audio can be heard on St. B’s site, where you can subscribe to all our sermons. Third Sunday of Advent (December 11, 2016) Gospel Matthew 11:2-11 What are you expecting for Christmas? The season of Advent is a time of […]
This past Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent. I had meant to add to the sermon the lyrics of a song that just happened to come on while I was finishing writing the sermon. I was listening to Johnny Cash’s At Fulsom Prison and he closed out the concert with […]
[This is sort of a “rough cut,” intended as a detailed outline rather than a full narrative exposition. Still, feel free to read and comment!] Second Sunday of AdventYear BRCL Isaiah 40:1-11Psalm 85:1-2, 8-132 Peter 3:8-15aMark 1:1-8 Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare […]
Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the (western) Christian year, and it was also my first opportunity to perform a baptism. It was a wonderful event made even more special because the baby is the child of some good friends of ours. Advent is a curious […]