Isaiah 9:1-4 9 But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. You have multiplied exultation; you have increased its joy; they rejoic

I spent Friday in Minneapolis. I prayed at the site of Renee Good’s murder. I prayed at the George Floyd Memorial. I marched with 40,000 plus people in -10-degree weather (-22 with windchill). I spent the morning with a good friend who is a Disciples of Christ pastor and one of the active faith community organizers.   But let me start with Thursday. I arrived in Minneapolis Thursday evening. I intentionally stayed in Eden Prairie (outer ring suburb). Even there, the effects o

John 1:29-42   The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  30  This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’  31  I myself did not know him, but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.”  32  And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.  33  I myself did no

Matthew 3:13-17  Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.  14  John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”  15  But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.  16  And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw God’s Spirit descending like a

Matthew 2:1-12   2  In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem,  2  asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.”  3  When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him,  4  and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.  5 

Sermon   They sat in the silence of the night. Suddenly a song drifted on the breeze.   Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, Alles schläft; einsam wacht   They looked up from their trenches across the no man’s land to the German side. There, lights were flickering – small Christmas trees, complete with candles, adorned the front edge of the trenches. Families and hometowns of the German soldier had sent care packages and small trees to their loved ones off fighting during Christmas 1

Matthew 11: 2 - 11   When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, ”Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” As they went away, Jesus beg

Matthew 3:1-12 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming,  2  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” [ a ]   3  This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:‘Prepare the way of the Lord;    make his paths straight.’” 4  Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.  5  Then Jerusalem and all

Matthew 24:36-44 “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, [ h ]  but only the Father.  37  For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.  38  For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark,  39  and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so, too, will be the coming of the Son of Man.  40  Then tw

2 Thessalonians 3:5-13 Now we command you, beloved, [ c ]  in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are [ d ]  living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they [ e ]  received from us.  7  For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you,  8  and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you.  9