Lessons: Jeremiah 31:7-14 Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a Matthew 2:13-15,19-23 Psalm 84 or 84:1-8 My public school career began a handful of years before the video cassette became commonplace. And so my early experience with watching films in a classroom featured a member of the AV Club rolling a cart with a projector on it into the room.Continue reading “Second Sunday after Christmas by The Rev. Martin Elfert”
Tag Archives: Christmas
The Second Sunday after Christmas by The Rev. Martin Elfert
Lessons: Jeremiah 31:7-14 Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a Matthew 2:13-15,19-23 Psalm 84 A remarkable number of Christmas carols and Christmas songs and Christmas hymns have a wistful, melancholic, plain-old sad side to them. In the Bleak Midwinter and The Little Drummer Boy are both sung in the voice of one who knows poverty: What can I give him,Continue reading “The Second Sunday after Christmas by The Rev. Martin Elfert”
The First Sunday after Christmas Day by The Rev. Jeanne Kaliszewski
Lessons: Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 John 1:1-18 Psalm 147 When our first child, Gwen, had just turned 4, I asked her to take her plate to the sink after dinner. We have this built in nook in our kitchen with a bench, and she stood up on the upholstered green cushion with her plateContinue reading “The First Sunday after Christmas Day by The Rev. Jeanne Kaliszewski”
First Sunday after Christmas by The Rev. Martin Elfert
Lessons: Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 John 1:1-18 Psalm 147 At the Yule Be Merry concert the week before last, there was an amazing moment. (Actually, there were multiple amazing moments – it was a glorious concert – but there is one amazing moment on which I am going to concentrate.) The model of theContinue reading “First Sunday after Christmas by The Rev. Martin Elfert”
Christmas Day by Holly Puckett
Lessons: Isaiah 52:7-10 Hebrews 1:1-4,(5-12) John 1:1-14 Psalm 98 Christmas brings us joy, but is anyone else tired right now? The demands of visiting, travel, and gift-giving associated with Christmas, combined with the ordinary obligations of life, can drain the wonder and meaning from the season and leave you weary. Christmas Day may start to feelContinue reading “Christmas Day by Holly Puckett”
Christmas Eve by The Rev. Martin Elfert
Lessons: Isaiah 9:2-7 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14(15-20) Psalm 96 It is Christmas Eve and I would like to risk doing something with you. I would like to risk entering into what might be a heady or an intellectual exercise. Although it is a heady exercise with a purpose. I’d like to wonder with you tonightContinue reading “Christmas Eve by The Rev. Martin Elfert”
First Sunday after Christmas by Matthew David Morris
Lessons: Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 John 1:1-18 Psalm 147 Why does it matter? Why does the story of Christmas matter? If you braved the ice for the late service on Christmas Eve, you may have heard Fr. Martin pose a similar question. I, myself, did not make that treacherous drive through the icyContinue reading “First Sunday after Christmas by Matthew David Morris”
Christmas Eve by The Rev. Martin Elfert
Lessons: Isaiah 9:2-7 Psalm 96 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-20 Jesus just keeps on asking you and me questions. After telling us the story that we know as The Good Samaritan, Jesus asks us, “Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”Continue reading “Christmas Eve by The Rev. Martin Elfert”
Second Sunday after Christmas by The Rev. Martin Elfert
Lessons: Jeremiah 31:7-14 Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a Luke 2:41-52 Psalm 84
First Sunday after Christmas by The Rev. Martin Elfert
Lessons: Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 John 1:1-18 Psalm 147 A Cushion For Your Head Just sit there right now Don’t do a thing Just rest. For you separation from God, From love, Is the hardest work In this World. Let me bring you trays of food And something That you like toContinue reading “First Sunday after Christmas by The Rev. Martin Elfert”