Category: December 2022

THE WAY GOD SPEAKS

12/25/2022

GOSPEL — JOHN 1:1-14
The Nativity of Our Lord, Christmas Day

It all begins with a word. The author of John’s gospel invites us to step back in time, all the way back to the very beginning, to the space before and beyond the binary poles of night and day, sea and sky, flying birds and swimming fish. When all creation was yet a formless void, God coaxed order and beauty into being with just the sound of a word. By a word, the world was created, and by the Word, the world is reconciled and restored.

TELLING THE NEW, OLD STORY

12/24/2022

GOSPEL — LUKE 2:1-14
The Nativity of Our Lord, Christmas Eve

The author of Luke is a self-proclaimed historian. The name-dropping in this Christmas Eve gospel is Luke’s effort to ground Jesus’ birth in history. But make no mistake: Luke does not believe that this world-changing story should remain in history.

MESSENGER IN THE NIGHT

12/18/2022

GOSPEL — MATTHEW 1:18-25
Fourth Sunday in Advent

What did you dream about last night? Is there really any meaning in these vivid storylines that our brains assemble while we sleep? If you think dreams are essentially random firings of our neurons, you might just laugh them off. If you think they do tap into something real, you might try to unpack them. But almost no one makes important life decisions based solely on their dreams, right?

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS

12/11/2022

GOSPEL — MATTHEW 11:2-11
Third Sunday in Advent

Last week John the Baptist was full of religious fervor, certain in his convictions, and bold in his proclamation about the role of the coming Messiah: “Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 3:10).

AN IMPOSSIBLE VISION?

12/4/2022

GOSPEL — MATTHEW 3:1-12
Second Sunday in Advent

Today’s image from the Old Testament reading of a world at peace—a peace so full and universal that it extends to every living creature—may feel as comforting as it does unbelievable, at least by our logic (Isaiah 11:1-10). Wolves and lambs aren’t friends. Lions don’t eat straw. Children should not play with snakes. In the animal kingdom—and we are animals—there are predators and prey. Whether we take it literally or metaphorically, “Eat or be eaten” is how we’ve been taught to survive in the wilderness.

GOSPEL MESSAGES

THE WAY GOD SPEAKS

GOSPEL — JOHN 1:1-14
The Nativity of Our Lord, Christmas Day

TELLING THE NEW, OLD STORY

GOSPEL — LUKE 2:1-14
The Nativity of Our Lord, Christmas Eve

MESSENGER IN THE NIGHT

GOSPEL — MATTHEW 1:18-25
Fourth Sunday in Advent

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS

GOSPEL — MATTHEW 11:2-11
Third Sunday in Advent

AN IMPOSSIBLE VISION?

GOSPEL — MATTHEW 3:1-12
Second Sunday in Advent

2022/2023 — YEAR A

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GOSPEL MESSAGES

THE WAY GOD SPEAKS

GOSPEL — JOHN 1:1-14The Nativity of Our Lord, Christmas Day

TELLING THE NEW, OLD STORY

GOSPEL — LUKE 2:1-14The Nativity of Our Lord, Christmas Eve

MESSENGER IN THE NIGHT

GOSPEL — MATTHEW 1:18-25Fourth Sunday in Advent

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS

GOSPEL — MATTHEW 11:2-11Third Sunday in Advent

AN IMPOSSIBLE VISION?

GOSPEL — MATTHEW 3:1-12Second Sunday in Advent

2022/2023 — YEAR A

ARCHIVE​

Stay connected with us!

Telephone

Saint John's Lutheran Church

EMAIL

GOSPEL — JOHN 1:1-14
The Nativity of Our Lord, Christmas Day

GOSPEL — LUKE 2:1-14
The Nativity of Our Lord, Christmas Eve

GOSPEL — MATTHEW 1:18-25
Fourth Sunday in Advent

GOSPEL — MATTHEW 11:2-11
Third Sunday in Advent

GOSPEL — MATTHEW 3:1-12
Second Sunday in Advent

ARCHIVE