Category: Advent
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Managing The Advent Crisis
In my previous post I suggested that Advent is less about a countdown to Christmas and more about a crisis. I’m not talking about our usual understanding of crisis as one of those “Aw, shhhiiioot!!” events in which something has gone wrong. I’m talking about the older, original understanding of the word. It comes from Read more
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The Crisis Of Advent
My post from a few days ago, Advent Truth, was the first in almost six months. During that time some of you may have wondered, “What happened to Mike?” A few of you emailed or left a comment asking that question. It’s a good question and one I’ve been asking myself. So, what happened? In Read more
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Advent Truth
These words from The Rev. Allan Boesak may be familiar to you. Over the years I have often posted them during Advent. There is a timeless quality about them in the way they speak to the realities of our lives today and the world in every generation. This year, however, they feel and sound to Read more
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Offering Without Expectation – An Advent Sermon On Luke 1:26-38
What are your plans for Christmas? That’s been a common question the last couple of weeks. It’s a question I’ve asked and been asked. Some are traveling, others are staying home. Some will have a big gathering of family and friends, others will have a more quiet low key Christmas. Food and gifts are parts Read more
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Make A Beginning Worthy Of Your Life – An Advent Sermon On Mark 1:1-8
I’m jealous of John the Baptizer. In today’s gospel (Mark 1:1-8) he experiences what every preacher dreams of. He has been “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” He’s been pushing the people to rethink, reevaluate, reconsider their lives. And darned if they Read more
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The Beginning Is Near – An Advent Sermon On Mark 13:24-37
After the start of the Israel-Hamas war I heard comments about the end of the world. A couple of people asked me if I thought the end was near. I heard the same kind of comments and questions after the Robb School shooting. I also heard them following the January 6 insurrection. And just a Read more
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Emmanuel And The Messiness of Life – A Sermon On Matthew 1:18-25
What do you make of today’s gospel? (Matthew 1:18-25) It’s a beautiful story but does it make sense to you? I doesn’t to me. I have some doubts about it. It doesn’t sound or feel real to me. Does it to you? I struggle with today’s gospel and wonder if that’s really how it happened. Read more
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Correcting My Mistake: Advent Credo By The Rev. Allan Boesak
It is not true that creation and the human family are doomed to destruction and loss — This is true: For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. It is not true that we must accept inhumanity and discrimination, hunger Read more
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Advent Credo Of Fr. Daniel Berrigan
It is not true that creation and the human family are doomed to destruction and loss — This is true: For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. It is not true that we must accept inhumanity and discrimination, Read more
Interrupting the Silence 