Sermon for Christmas 1 (Year B), December 27, 2020 (Luke 2:22-40)

"St. Simeon with the Christ Child" (2014) by Andrey N. Mironov. Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. This sermon originally preached at Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church, East Setauket, New York. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, this first Sunday of Christmas. A few … Continue reading Sermon for Christmas 1 (Year B), December 27, 2020 (Luke 2:22-40)

Sermon for Christmas Day, December 25, 2020 (John 1:1-18)

"Adoration of the Shepherds," Matthias Stomer (1632) My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Today we are witnesses to a wondrous mystery, the likes of which has never happened before, and will never happen again.  A moment when the divine and the human realms have merged, when God steps down from the heavenly realms to … Continue reading Sermon for Christmas Day, December 25, 2020 (John 1:1-18)

Sermon for Advent 4 (Year B), December 20, 2020 (Luke 1:26-38)

"The Annunciation" (1898) by Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937). The Philadelphia Museum of Art. Public Domain. https://open.spotify.com/episode/1aMBhG9k1ZvMn11L9TrJfG?si=2c77719fb4b441b3 Originally preached at Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church, East Setauket, New York. Perhaps it happened in the courtyard of the house while she was doing her chores, sweeping up leaves and dust to clean the cobblestones.  Perhaps she was in … Continue reading Sermon for Advent 4 (Year B), December 20, 2020 (Luke 1:26-38)

Homily for Advent Midweek Service, December 9, 2020 (Isaiah 9:6-7)

"Babushka" (2020) by Myra Niemeier. Originally preached at Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church in East Setauket, New York. Tonight, I'd like to share a story with you, one that I've often read many times since I was a child.  It's an old Russian folktale that takes place at this time of year. On the night Christ … Continue reading Homily for Advent Midweek Service, December 9, 2020 (Isaiah 9:6-7)