Tag: Christmas

  • Grace Upon Grace – A Sermon On John 1:1-18

    Grace Upon Grace – A Sermon On John 1:1-18

    Pecan pie. That’s what I thought about as I was reading today’s gospel (John 1:1-18) and preparing for this sermon. I thought about pecan pie. I know, it’s a strange connection but stick with me. It’s not as much of a half-baked idea as it sounds. A couple days before Christmas Cyndy and I were Read more

  • It’s Just Us And The Baby – A Christmas Day Sermon On Luke 2:8-20

    It’s Just Us And The Baby – A Christmas Day Sermon On Luke 2:8-20

    Today’s sermon is going to be pretty low key. I think that’s what this day calls for. This day always feels to me more like a day for reflection than proclamation. I’m taking my cue here from Mary. It’s so quiet this morning, so calm, so empty and, yet, so overflowing. This is always one Read more

  • Tonight It Is Filled – A Christmas Eve Sermon On Luke 2:1-20

    Tonight It Is Filled – A Christmas Eve Sermon On Luke 2:1-20

    When I was kid I loved the “then and there” Christmas story. You know it. It’s the one we just heard from the gospel according to St. Luke (Luke 2:1-20). It begins, “In those days …” and it happened “in that region.”  “In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus ….”“In that region Read more

  • “The Work Of Christmas” – A Sermon On John 1:1-18

    “The Work Of Christmas” – A Sermon On John 1:1-18

    I think most of us hear about the Word becoming flesh and living among us and we immediately assume it’s about Jesus. I don’t disagree with that. We see him enfleshing the Word of God throughout his life; enfleshing forgiveness, love, mercy, peace, gentleness, nonviolence, wisdom, compassion, generosity. That was his way of being and… Read more

  • Now What? So What? – A Christmas Day Sermon On Luke 2:8-20

    Now What? So What? – A Christmas Day Sermon On Luke 2:8-20

    It’s so quiet this morning, so calm, so empty. Christmas Day is one of my favorite services every year. It’s just us and the baby. Most years I come to Christmas morning with two questions: Now what? So what? I never seem to have a final and lasting answer. So, once again, I come to… Read more

  • By Way Of The Interruptions – A Christmas Sermon On Luke 2:1-20

    By Way Of The Interruptions – A Christmas Sermon On Luke 2:1-20

    It began about nine months ago. Life was interrupted when the unexpected and unimaginable happened. And I wondered, “How can this be?” Life was changing and things were getting too real too quick. The government made travel decrees. Some family, friends, and businesses closed to us and said, “No, you can’t come in.” Things just… Read more

  • The Christmas Proclamation

    The Christmas Proclamation

    Throughout the season of Advent, the Church has reflected on God’s promises, so often spoken by the prophets, to send a savior to the people of Israel who would be Emmanuel, that is, God with us. In the fullness of time those promises were fulfilled. With hearts full of joy let us hear the proclamation… Read more

  • The Word Is Still Becoming Flesh – A Sermon On John 1:1-18

    The Word Is Still Becoming Flesh – A Sermon On John 1:1-18

    The incarnation of God, the embodiment of God in human life, the Word become flesh, is not limited to Jesus. Jesus is the picture, the pattern, the archetype of what the Word become flesh looks like. And we look at that picture so that we can recognize it in ourselves and one another. Read more

  • Your Christmas Life – A Sermon On Luke 2:1-20

    Your Christmas Life – A Sermon On Luke 2:1-20

    Christmas Eve – Luke 2:1-20 Look around. Look how many of us showed up tonight – family, friends, people you know, and people you’ve never seen before. It’s like this every year. Christmas is one of the two best attended days in the year.  Some of you are here because you really want to be Read more