We know the Messiah of which Handel’s oratorio speaks. It’s Jesus. The Christ. Born to Mary, in Bethlehem. Yet in the whole work – 53 movements, and roughly 3 hours in its entirety, we never hear Jesus’ voice. The text tells us of the promise of the Messiah and the...
Isaiah 2:1-5 and Matthew 24:36-44 In Greensboro, we give you a week, but then the endless rush of seasonal traditions begins. Just this weekend there was the Candle Tea, the Festival of Lights, Parades, Concerts, countless Breakfasts with the Big Guy, and the list...
“Where’s the baby?” A pastor friend of mine is asked this question every Advent and Christmas season by a playful older gentleman in his church. It starts the first Sunday in Advent and continues leading up to Christmas Eve. “Fine sermon, Pastor,” he’ll say as he...
Luke 2:25-35 Last night – Christmas Eve – we gathered beneath the star. As I shared a homily, I held my 5 month old baby, Elizabeth Bea, because at first, that’s what the story is about: holding a baby. My friend Ashley-Anne recalled this a few years back when...
Matthew 2:1-12 It was only a matter of time, but it turned out to be this year’s holiday road trip when the timeless question started to come from the back of the minivan: “How much farther?” This time last week we were getting packed to return from a week in...
