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In the Dark
Like our Celtic ancestors, we gather in the dark, in our greatest darkness to be present to the light–because this is how light is best known. Christmas II | Luke 2:(1-7) 8-20 Tonight we gather like our Celtic ancestors did long, long ago. On the third day after the winter solstice, they’d gather for the…
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From the Darkness Comes a Great Light
In the sharing the Christmas story, we’re invited to begin with what we’d avoid. We begin in darkness so we can see how bright the light is. preparing the whole story Christmas I | Luke 2:1-14(15-20) Tonight we gather at the setting sun like our Celtic ancestors did long, long ago. They would gather at…
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Magnifying God
There’s a way we turn Mary into a stock character for the plot rather than the key to understanding who Jesus is supposed to be for us. How Mary helps us better see what God is doing Advent 4B | Luke 1:26-38 This morning I remind you that it isn’t yet Christmas! The sun has…
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The Last Jedi – The Age of the Force
‘The Last Jedi’ is both a radical departure and totally orthodox Star Wars movie. And if we’re honest with ourselves, it reveals what we always wanted. [There are Spoilers. Of course. But mild. So proceed with caution.] When I was 5, I wanted to be a Jedi. Jeff was Luke Skywalker for Halloween that year…
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Rethink the Gospel for Advent 4B – Who is Mary?
Advent 4B | Luke 1:26-38 Who is Mary? This time of year, everybody’s talking about her. Countless pieces are written, diagnosing her history and declaring her purpose. Many are bent on defending her virginity and others exposing her age. And much like the priests and Levites last week, we’re all trying to figure out how…
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Standing Among Us
John the Baptist returns for Advent 3B (John 1:6-8,19-28). But do we handicap the truth by expecting honesty in response to a dishonest question? Advent 3B | John 1:6-8,19-28 Who are you? This is the question the priests and Levites were sent to ask. Sent. By whom? The Pharisees. So why are the Pharisees sending the…
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Rethink the Gospel for Advent 3B – Who are you?
Advent 3B | John 1:6-8,19-28 Two weeks in a row, the preacher gets to deal with John the Baptizer. And some of the elements sound repetitive. The quote from Isaiah, the preaching and preparing of the way, for instance. It is a subtle switch from Mark to John. And yet, while we might have the…
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Repentance–Turning Toward Love
In preaching repentance, John reveals the surprising truth about the mission of Jesus. That we are first called to admit that we were wrong. Advent 2B | Mark 1:1-8 Reading the opening verses of Mark, we’re often struck by what’s not there. There’s no Mary and Joseph. No trip to Bethlehem, to David’s city. We…
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