Category: Christmas
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And the Word Continues to Become Flesh – A Christmas Day Sermon on John 1:1-14
John 1:1-14 Sometimes when my wife, Cyndy, and I have been really busy, and there’s been a flurry of activity, and life seems chaotic, she’ll say to me, “We need to stop and regroup.” It’s her way of saying that we need to slow down and take a look at what’s happening, what we are Read more
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What Will You Bring to the Manger? – A Christmas Eve Sermon on Luke 2:1-20
Luke 2:1-20 I come to this Christmas Eve with mixed feelings. This has been one of those years when it seemed as if Christmas just couldn’t get here soon enough. I’ve felt an urgency and necessity about Christmas this year that I haven’t in recent years. And yet, I also find Christmas this year to Read more
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The Ethics of Christmas – The Nativity Sermon of Isaac the Syrian
This Christmas night bestowed peace on the whole world; So let no one threaten; This is the night of the Most Gentle One – Let no one be cruel; This is the night of the Humble One – Let no one be proud. Now is the day of joy – Let us not revenge; Now Read more
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The Proclamation of the Birth of Christ
The Christmas Proclamation as it is sometimes called comes from the Roman Martyrology. It is usually read on Christmas Eve before the Midnight Mass. The proclamation sets the birth of Jesus in relationship to events of the Old Testament as well as the Greek and Roman worlds. It is a way of dating Jesus’ birth Read more
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Retelling the Flight to Egypt – A Sermon on Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
“Flee to Egypt.” With those words echoing in his ears Joseph got up, took Jesus and Mary by night and went to Egypt. Regardless of whether this story really happened the way Matthew tells it, it’s not hard to know that it’s true. The names and faces might change but it’s a story that continues Read more
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“The Flight” by Richard Causton and George Szirtes
One option for this coming Sunday’s gospel is the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23). I can no longer hear this story without also hearing the words of poet George Szirtes and the music of Richard Causton. Richard Causton is the composer of the 2015 commissioned Christmas Carol, “The Flight,” performed by King’s Read more
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What Is Your Christmas Story? – A Christmas Sermon on Luke 2:1-20
“Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place.” That’s what the shepherds said after the angels had left them and gone into heaven. It wasn’t enough to just hear the good news. It wasn’t enough to just receive the birth announcement. Somewhere deep within they wanted to be a Read more
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The Proclamation of the Birth of Christ
Most years our Christmas liturgy at St. Philip’s begins with the processional hymn, O Come All Ye Faithful. Along the way the procession stops at the creche to place Jesus in the manger and offer prayers. This year we will first hear The Proclamation of the Birth of Christ and then begin the processional hymn. The Read more
Interrupting the Silence 