At the end of his second letter Timothy, Paul writes to his protege: "The Lord be with your spirit; grace be with you." With this blessing we enter 2023, in our questions and difficulties and in our joys and accomplishments.

For Christmas this year we observe the story of Mary and Joseph from two vantage points: on the ground and from above. What did their story look like without the Divine perspective? and what did that Divine perspective add to the story?

Today we read the famous passage Isaiah 9:6-7 and think together about what it means that Jesus is called the "Prince of Peace", the one who establishes a kingdom of peace forever.

Today we read Isaiah 61, written after the Jews had returned from exile, while things were still broken. We learn from Fleming Rutledge that Advent is not darkness: Advent is Light in darkness. And therein lies the possibility of joy.

Today we read Zephaniah 3:17: God proclaims His love over and for us. But the background is no sentimental Christmas scene - it is judgment and exile. Only with that background can we understand God's love for us and move out in love to our world.

On this first Sunday of Advent we explore the theme of "Hope", from Isaiah 40, written while Israel was in exile, captivity and despair in Babylon. 

Today we look at two healings done by Jesus: the son of an official and a man who had been lame for 38 years. The Age of Life breaks into the Age of Death and healing happens. That is the good news. 

Jesus speaks with Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman. He speaks to both of them of "eternal life". What did he mean to convey to them, and what did they understand? Most likely it was not about "how to get to heaven when you die". Listen to find out what it might have been.

Today we look at two very different people Jesus spoke with: the Pharisee Nicodemus and the anonymous Samaritan woman. In this sermon we will explore the differences and similarities between them, next week we will explore what Jesus actually said to them.

Last week we looked at the first thing God did when He showed up in the person of Jesus. This week we look at the second thing God in Jesus did: he took a whip to the Gentile Court of the temple and cleared it out. Quite a different thing!