Woodlawn CC

Woodlawn CC

Thursday, December 10, 2020

2nd Sunday of Advent, 2020 - December 6, 2020 - Lighting the Candle of Peace - Mark 1:1-8

 

Photo by Christian Begeman




Mark 1:1-8 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Proclamation of John the Baptist

The beginning of the good news[a] of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.[b]

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,[c]

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,[d]
    who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
    ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
    make his paths straight,’”

John the baptizer appeared[e] in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with[f] water; but he will baptize you with[g] the Holy Spirit.”

Footnotes:

  1. Mark 1:1 Or gospel
  2. Mark 1:1 Other ancient authorities lack the Son of God
  3. Mark 1:2 Other ancient authorities read in the prophets
  4. Mark 1:2 Gk before your face
  5. Mark 1:4 Other ancient authorities read John was baptizing
  6. Mark 1:8 Or in
  7. Mark 1:8 Or in

Luke 12:49-53 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Jesus the Cause of Division

49 “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 52 From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53 they will be divided:

father against son
    and son against father,
mother against daughter
    and daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
    and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”




Thursday, December 3, 2020

First Sunday of Advent 2020 - The 'Hope' Candle - Psalm 42

 


This past Sunday (Nov 29th) was the 'First Sunday of Advent', which in our faith tradition means it is the Sunday when we light the candle of 'Hope'.  I chose to preach the message of 'hope' from the words of the 42nd Psalm.  Please take a listen and I hope this message brings you some comfort in these crazy days that we find ourselves embroiled within.

God bless and...

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His Love,

Roy


Psalm 42 NRSV

Longing for God and His Help in Distress

To the leader. A Maskil of the Korahites.

As a deer longs for flowing streams,
    so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
    for the living God.
When shall I come and behold
    the face of God?
My tears have been my food
    day and night,
while people say to me continually,
    “Where is your God?”

These things I remember,
    as I pour out my soul:
how I went with the throng,[a]
    and led them in procession to the house of God,
with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving,
    a multitude keeping festival.
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my help and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;
    therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
    from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep
    at the thunder of your cataracts;
all your waves and your billows
    have gone over me.
By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
    and at night his song is with me,
    a prayer to the God of my life.

I say to God, my rock,
    “Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I walk about mournfully
    because the enemy oppresses me?”
10 As with a deadly wound in my body,
    my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me continually,
    “Where is your God?”

11 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my help and my God.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 42:4 Meaning of Heb uncertain