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 toContinueContinue reading “First Sunday after Christmas by The Rev. Martin Elfert”
Tag Archives: The Rev. Martin Elfert
Christmas Eve by The Rev. Martin Elfert
Lessons: Isaiah 9:2-7 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-20 Psalm 96 To you is born this day a saviour. We are in a room with a dirt floor. Electric light will not be invented for almost two thousand years. And so we see by the flame of a single flickering candle. Furnaces will not beContinueContinue reading “Christmas Eve by The Rev. Martin Elfert”
Second Sunday of Advent by The Rev. Martin Elfert
Lessons: Malachi 3:1-4 Canticle 16 Philippians 1:3-11 Luke 3:1-6 Here are the words from Malachi: See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight – indeed, he is coming,ContinueContinue reading “Second Sunday of Advent by The Rev. Martin Elfert”
All Souls & All Saints by The Rev. Martin Elfert
Lessons: Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 Psalm 24 Revelation 21:1-6a John 11:32-44 It is July 1st in Victoria, British Columbia. The air is soft and warm, seagulls and geese are dancing in the blue and cloudless sky, and crowds are down by the waterfront, listening to live music and, in a mostly sedate and CanadianContinueContinue reading “All Souls & All Saints by The Rev. Martin Elfert”
Coming Out (National Coming Out Day) + Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert
Lessons: Job 23:1-9, 16-17 Psalm 22:1-15 Hebrews 4:12-16 Mark 10:17-31 Earlier this week, our Music Director, Susan Jensen, sent me an email in which she reminded me that today is National Coming Out Day. Established in 1988, the purpose of this day is to raise awareness about GLBTQ folks and their allies. (GLBTQContinueContinue reading “Coming Out (National Coming Out Day) + Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert”
St. Francis of Assisi + Blessing of the Animals + Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert
Lessons: Jeremiah 22:13-16 Psalm 148:7-14 Galatians 6:14-18 Matthew 11:25-30 To visit the town of Assisi is to step into a place which is equal parts awesome and ironic. Walking up the hill to the town’s enormous and ornate basilica, you will pass gelato stands, stores selling postcards and T-shirts, and restaurants which offer anContinueContinue reading “St. Francis of Assisi + Blessing of the Animals + Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert”
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert
Lessons: Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 Psalm 124 James 5:13-20 Mark 9:38-50 Listen to Sermon I’d like to begin this morning with a quiz. This is a spiritual quiz. And it was developed by my friend and teacher Albert Jennings. Some of the questions are my own but the structure is Albert’s. During theContinueContinue reading “Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert”
Keep your Eye on the Child + Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert
Lessons: Proverbs 31:10-31 Psalm 1 James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a Mark 9:30-37 The child whom Jesus invites into the midst of his disciples today is not a symbol. The child whom Jesus holds in his arms as he teaches is a child – she is a human being. Forgive me if what I have just said isContinueContinue reading “Keep your Eye on the Child + Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert”
The Surprise Truth + Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert
Lessons: Proverbs 1:20-33 Psalm 19 James 3:1-12 Mark 8:27-38 I’ve been watching a number of performances lately by the magicians Penn and Teller. I was fan of theirs back when I was in high school and, thanks to YouTube, I am rediscovering them now. I suppose that I am drawn to Penn and TellerContinueContinue reading “The Surprise Truth + Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert”
Confession, Repentance, and Commitment to End Racism Sunday + Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert
Lessons: Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 Psalm 125 James 2:1-17 Mark 7:24-37 The bicycle has been my primary means of transportation for pretty much all of my adult life. I love riding. It’s fabulous exercise, it’s a great way of saving on the costs of driving a car, and finding a parking spot is neverContinueContinue reading “Confession, Repentance, and Commitment to End Racism Sunday + Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost by The Rev. Martin Elfert”