Sermons

BAPTISM OF JESUS + MARK 1:4-12 Bible Background: John the Baptist appears and acts like one of the prophets. He attracts people from all over. John issues a call to serious repentance. People respond! Maybe John has tapped into a hungering for God; a hunger that people have for new beginnings

LUKE 2: SIMEON AND ANNA Bible Background: Luke has started his gospel with pairs of people: Zechariah & Elizabeth, Mary & Joseph, and now Simeon & Anna. He’s also included a series of ‘songs’ or poems that celebrate what God is doing: The Magnificat by Mary, the

MARY: FAVORED AND FAITHFUL + LUKE 1 Bible Background: The Narrative Lectionary leads us into the Gospel of Luke now through Easter! Luke’s gospel starts out with the angel Gabriel visiting old Zechariah, and announcing that he will father a son who is to be named John. In Scene 2, Gabriel

ISAIAH 61= COMFORT AND JOY! Bible Background: This is one of the ‘servant poems’ of 2nd Isaiah, commissioning God’s servant to be a bearer of good news. Christians will think of Jesus when we read these words. In fact, Jesus’ applied these words to himself and his