Blessings to you all from fall-like Chuckatuck. The 3rd Sunday of Advent broke bright and temperate, a nice counterpoint to the increased restrictions on gathering in Virginia. We were limited to 3 for worship but had quite a few joining us on video. True confession: I pulled a first today when I started my sermon twice – because I forgot to start my recorder. Another true confession: today was the last Sunday before my 10th anniversary at St. John’s, something I hadn’t envisioned when I answered my call to be ordained. It has been and, I pray, will continue to be an enriching place.
In worship today we asked that God would stir up the power that will help us overcome the sin of our life, the things that separate us from living fully into the life we are called to live in God and Christ. Our psalmist invited us to remember the Lord’s action that restored the fortunes of God’s chosen people. And that we would realize that the pain we feel in this life is not the end, rather a temporary occurrence. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians reminds us that we are called to emulate the prophets and to do all we can to make ourselves sound and blameless in God’s sight, even when we are subjected to our sins. Paul reminds us to hold fast to good and spurn evil. Our gospel was John’s introduction to John the Baptist. John the Baptist reminds us that we are only responsible for what God calls us to be and do. We are not the messiah, just the messenger; and that is sufficient and important. Our sermon focused on the prophet Isaiah and his admonition to do the things God wants us to do: proclaim liberty, release, good news, and provide assistance and love for all. These are the things that God calls all believers to do, our common mission.
I invite your comments,
Les+
Readings: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28
Video of worship: https://youtu.be/fpkk0WeaNMc
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