Epiphany

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✠ Psalmody: Psalm 2:7b; 1; Psalm 110:3, 1; Wisdom 7:26; Psalm 93:1b–2; Psalm 110:3b ✠ Lection: Exodus 34:29–35; 2 Peter 1:16–21; Matthew 17:1–9 In the Name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. On this day when we remember the bright glory of Christ shining upon the mount, we first consider the darkness shrouding the Lord at Sinai. Indeed, when Moses entered into the Divine Presence in the Tent of Meeting, he would come out with face all aglow. The elements of light stand in contrast to the conclusion of the first giving of the Ten Commandments when “the peopleRead More →

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✠ Psalmody: Psalm 48:9-10, 1; Psalm 48:9-10a, 48:8a;Psalm 45:2b; Luke 2:26 ✠ Lection: Malachi 3:1–4; Hebrews 2:14–18; Luke 2:22-32 In the Name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. We think, on this 40th Day of Christmas, upon the infant Lord Jesus again and the precious life that God gives from the point of conception. It was at that point in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary that the Holy Son of God entered into Creation unlike ever before. Indeed, there were theophanies throughout the Old Testament, that is, instances of God revealing Himself as He walked with ourRead More →

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✠ Psalmody: Psalm 97:7b-8a, 1; Psalm 102:15–16; Psalm 148:2; Psalm 118:16-17; Luke 4:22b ✠ Lection: 2 Kings 5:1-15b; Romans 12:16b-21; Matthew 8:1-13 In the Name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Unless you are a member of the polar plunge club, who likes to subject your body to extremely cold water for who knows why, you’re likely not to be dipping yourself in Lake Erie right about now. The waters are not appealing in their rough frigidity and you wisely understand there’s no real sense in going down into them, regardless of how anyone tries to convince you. Now,Read More →

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✠ Psalmody: Psalm 66:4, 1-2; Psalm 107:20–21; Psalm 97:1; Psalm 66:1-2a, 16; John 2:7a, 8b, 9a, 10b, 11a ✠ Lection: Amos 9:11-15; Romans 12:6–16a; John 2:1–11 In the Name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. In the highlands of southwest Tanzania is a town in which we lived a number of years, Mbeya. Even though its population is reported to be 270,000, being in such a large place doesn’t exempt its residents from the country’s widespread poverty, for even the daily need of water requires much work. Our househelp, Mama Ima, told us of her children getting up veryRead More →

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✠ Psalmody: Psalm 72:1;Isaiah 60:6b, 1;Matthew 2:2b;Psalm 72:10–11 ✠ Lection: Isaiah 25:1;26:11a;28:5a;35:1a, 2b, 10a;41:18a, c;52:13b;12:3–5; Ephesians 1:13b–18;St. John 1:29–34 In the Name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. It is more than fitting to celebrate the Baptism of Jesus on the octave of the Epiphany, that is, on the eighth day after observing that feast as we did last Sunday. Such is true because He Who was revealed to the world, Jew and Gentile alike, as both God and Man, is shown on this day how the full counsel and intention of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and HolyRead More →

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✠ Psalmody: Malachi 3:1;1 Chronicles 29:12;Psalm 72:1;Isaiah 60:6b, 1;St. Matthew 2:2;Psalm 72:10–11;St. Matthew 2:2 ✠ Lection: Isaiah 60:1-6;Ephesians 3:2b-12;St. Matthew 2:1-12  In the Name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. In the midst of an ever-increasingly tumultuous world, when you come to church, you may be tempted to feel like you’re avoiding what’s going on around you by living in a bubble, by burying your head in the sand of religion, by being here this morning, in a place that is intentionally different than the ways of the world. Yet, you do no wrong to seek Christ’s ‘bubble’ whereRead More →

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The Transfiguration of Our Lord – Sunday 21 January A✠D 2024 ✠ Psalmody: Psalm 77:18b;84:1–2a, 4, 10–11;45:2a;110:1;96:2–3 ✠ Lection: Exodus 34:29–35;2 Peter 1:16–21;St. Matthew 17:1–9 In the Name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. As with Saints Peter, James, and John, the Lord has been showing and teaching us much as He’s brought us to His Transfiguration. Our flight up to the top of this mountain of remembrance has been swift, being that it was still but a month ago that we were preparing to celebrate the Nativity of our Lord. And here we are today closing out EpiphanyRead More →

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The Epiphany of Our Lord – Sunday 7 January A✠D 2024 ✠ Psalmody: Psalm 72:1, 2, 10-11;Isaiah 60:6b, 1;St. Matthew 2:2b ✠ Lection: Isaiah 60:1–6;Ephesians 3:2-12;St. Matthew 2:1–12 In the Name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Behold, the LORD and the Ruler is come: and the kingdom is in His hand, and power, and dominion. Now, for more than a month, we have begun this new Church Year by the preparation of Advent leading into the joys of Christmastide, praising our coming King Jesus at His birth, wrestling with the signs that He brings, especially within our ownRead More →