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

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

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

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

4 John the baptizer appeared[e] in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 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. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 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. 8 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.

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

4 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.
5 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 6 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.
7 Deep calls to deep
    at the thunder of your cataracts;
all your waves and your billows
    have gone over me.
8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
    and at night his song is with me,
    a prayer to the God of my life.

9 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