Collect: Proper 3

Grant, O Lord, that the course of this world may be peaceably governed by your providence; and that your Church may joyfully serve you in confidence and serenity; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Isaiah 52:7-10

A time of great joy is when the Lord saves his people and brings deliverance to Jerusalem.  The Message: “God is leading you out of here;”  out of where? say “the prison guided by sin;” might that work?

Psalm 98

“O sing a new song, for Love has done marvelous things . . . Let Love reign over the world with truth and justice bring order and balance to all of creation.”

Hebrew 1:1-4,(5-12)

God has spoken byway of His Son.  Jesus is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. . . .  Christmas represents or symbolizes) to me, each year, an invitation for Zion to be likewise.  Allegorically speaking, I see myself as Zion.  Through the year God comes to Zion every Sunday and Saint Day service by way of the Eucharist.

John 1:1-14

“And the word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only /son, full of grace and truth.”

Christ’s Titles of Honor; His Coming: His Incarnation; and the Revelation of His Glory

A sermon on John 1:1-14, by Martin Luther from his Church Postil, 1521-1522

[The following sermon is taken from volume I:171-223 of The Sermons of Martin Luther, published by Baker Book House (Grand Rapids, MI). It was originally published in 1906 in english by Lutherans in All Lands Press (Minneapolis, MN), as The Precious and Sacred Writings of Martin Luther, vol. 11. The original title of this sermon appears below. The pagination from the Baker edition has been maintained for referencing. This e-text was scanned and edited by Richard Bucher, it is in the public domain and it may be copied and distributed without restriction.]

CHRIST’S TITLES OF HONOR AND HIS ATTRIBUTES

I. CHRIST’S FIRST TITLE OF HONOR AND ATTRIBUTE – – HE IS THE WORD

II. THE COMING OF CHRIST.

III. CHRIST’S INCARNATION.

IV. THE REVELATION OF CHRIST’S GLORY.

Wow, this is a lot!  The Death, Life, the Trinity, an invitation to an allegorical/unitive sense of scripture reading depth, and an invitation to the feast of which we are invited — all in one long sermon.  So the question is, how do we get comfortable with understanding and accepting the invitation?

Well, maybe some contemplation on this document might be a good place to start.  Perhaps a good project is to follow Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem in the path of Liturgical year “A.”  Ordinary time after the Epiphany feast is deciding time.  If we accept the invite, Ash Wednesday is begins the clock.   Let’s see where we are this time in Liturgical year “B.”

Martin Luther wrote this in the 16th century.  I can’t help but wonder how his message got lost.  Is it because we stopped wanting to know?

Collect: After Christmas Day(s)

Almighty God, you have poured upon me the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in my heart, may shine forth in my life; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

 

Collect: Proper 2

Almighty and merciful God, in your goodness keep us, we pray, from all things that may hurt us, that we, being ready both in mind and body, may accomplish with free hearts these things which belongs to your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen

Isaiah 62:6-12 . . . an expression of great expectation and rejoicing: salvation comes to Jerusalem

Psalm 97 . . . The awesome Lord and Ruler who brings judgement and light to the righteous.

Titus 3:4-7 . . . a summary of the story of our salvation.

Luke 2:1-20 . . .  the story of the birth  of Jesus amid humble circumstances.

A YouTube Sermon:  Jesus, what a Christmas Promise, by Scott UMC

The Angels’ Sermon is the Christian’s Song –  A documented Sermon by Pastor Rolf Preus

After Reading these Christmas sermons (day 1 and day 2), and having some idea about this Liturgical Season’s teaching and purpose, I hear  God’s voice inviting me to come consciously home. I heard it today and I heard it yesterday.  I’ll hear it tomorrow, and the rest of this Christmas season.   I feel I am hearing  John the Baptist, in the wilderness, asking me to bring my shadows to the fore.  I feel compelled to confess my sins and give thanks (The-general-thanksgiving prayer) and begin my personal purification process, anew.

 

 

 

Collect: Proper I

Remember, O Lord, what you have wrought in us ^{(what you intend us to be)} and not what we deserve; and, as you have called us to your service, make us worthy of our calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Isaiah 9:2-7 A hymn of thanksgiving. The prophet hails the one born to be ruler of his people.  His reign will end oppression and bring justice, righteousness, and lasting peace

Psalm 96 A song of praise to the Lord in which the whole heavens and earth are invited to join.

Titus 2:11-14 Two comings of Christ: first in his sacrificial ministry for all people and then the glory.  Disciples are enabled to free themselves from the ways of evil. Disciplined and eager to do good, they look forward to the fulfillment of the hope God has given to the world in Jesus.

Luke 2: 1-14 (15-20) The 1^st coming: birth amid very humble human circumstances.  An Angel announces the joyful news of the Saviors birth.

Sermon preached at 11pm on Christmas Eve 2014 at Zion Lutheran Church in McHenry, IL by the Reverend George F. Borghardt III. Merry Christmas!