01062021 – The Epiphany of Our Lord It was purely out of a sense of curiosity that I wondered about the word, “xenophobia.” Here is what I found: “Xenophobia” (from Ancient Greek meaning “stranger” or “foreigner”, and “fear”) is the fear or hatred of that which is perceived to be “foreign or strange.” It is an […]
01062021 – The Epiphany of Our Lord It was purely out of a sense of curiosity that I wondered about the word, “xenophobia.” Here is what I found: “Xenophobia” (from Ancient Greek meaning “stranger” or “foreigner”, and “fear”) is the fear or hatred of that which is perceived to be “foreign or strange.” It is an […]
01022021 – John 1. 10-18 The author of the FOURTH Gospel, whom we call “JOHN” (merely out of a sense of convenience,) provides his DOCTORAL “THESIS STATEMENT” boldly at the END (rather than at the beginning) of his gospel: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which ARE NOT written […]
12302020A – Luke 2 – “The Prophetess Anna” Sure! Everyone knows Simeon. He sings one little song, and immediately it goes viral…he gets like a million likes every other day. People flock to him. Facebook, YouTube, WeChat, Instagram,TikTok they all adore him. It seems like every single day his popularity is increased. WHY he even […]
12302020 – Luke 2. 22-40 “The Presentation” Luke knew exactly WHAT he was DOING…and exactly WHAT he was SAYING. A “little creativity” being used HERE to meet his needs and purposes. CIRCUMCISION always took place on the 8th day. PURIFICATION offerings for the mother of a MALE child always took place on […]
12262020 – Christmas I – Luke 2. 22-40 Another Christmas has passed – for some – it is over and done with…for all intents and purposes it maybe even packed away. The tree maybe already at the curb…or back in its box. But for others of us…the glow of the season lingers on. We […]
12252020 – 10 A.M. Christmas Morning… I have always believed it is “A BLESSING” to be in worship on CHRISTMAS MORNING. It is DIFFERENT. There is a different “AIR.” A different “FEEL.” “PEOPLE” are different. For me, it is always “SERENE,” “PEACEFUL,” “QUIET,” and “VERY RESPECTFUL…” WORSHIPFUL! People speak in HUSHED and […]
12242020 – Luke 2. 1-20 Christmas Eve – 11:00 P.M. Candlelight SO FAR, we have survived “a hellacious year” and it HAS BEEN “an exhaustive and strange one, at that.” Different… “totally and completely different.” A year filled with unprecedented changes… “WE ARE HERE,” some of us, for the FIRST time, some— as an […]
12232020 – Luke 1. 26-38 Advent 4B Biblically speaking, WHEN a messenger from God SHOWS UP, you know things are about to change in a BIG way. Yikes! Get SCARED. Get VERY scared! Going back in the Hebrew Bible, we KNOW of stories about other Biblical women. Women like Sara or Rachel or Rebecca or […]
12202020 – Luke 1. 26-38 Advent 4B This is all about setting the stage, as it were. Reminding us of the proper context…to read and to understand this passage. To begin with, we are talking about the Gospel according to Luke, also written anonymously…like those that have preceded it. Luke is the third gospel […]