Advent

Doubting with Mary

Happy 4th Sunday of Advent to you! ¡Feliz cuarto domingo de Adviento a ustedes! I read that that this happens once every seven years. Fourth Sunday of Advent on Christmas Eve. Acabo de aprender que esto ocurre cada siete años. El curato domingo de adviento Y día de Nochebuena. Así que, ya CASI estamos a Navidad, ¡pero todavía no! So we are ALMOST to Christmas, but not quite there yet!

Read Ryan’s entire sermon for the 4th Sunday of Advent by clicking “Read More.”

Gentle Power

Comfort, O comfort my people. YES please! What a time, what a need for comfort we all have in our world today. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, the prophet Isaiah says. Speak tenderly to these United States and to this world we live in as we approach the new year, two thousand twenty-four. Cry to her that her time of suffering, pain, and violence have been served, the penalty paid, enough. Enough bad news, devastation and despair. We’ve already had a double portion. Into this darkness and pain a voice cries out:

Listen to or read Ryan’s entire sermon by clicking “Read More.”

Rejoice in the Lord Always

Rejoice in the Lord always! Again, I say, rejoice! We rejoice, as our collect says, in the bountiful grace and mercy with which our God comes among us to speedily help us and deliver us. And we rejoice in the powerful imagery of restoration provided by the prophet Isaiah.

Listen to or read Ryan’s entire sermon by clicking “Read More.”

So That We Might Have Hope

What Paul reminds us of today is that these stories, and our traditions at this dreary and cold time of the year, are meant as lights for us, guiding, encouraging, reminding us of what is to come, offering hope. The coming of God into our world in the form of a human baby, the Creator of the Universe incarnate, dwelling here among us, as one of us, has ENORMOUS and everlasting implications.

Listen to or read Ryan’s entire sermon by clicking “Read More.”

God's Promise

Today’s gospel story of two women coming together in their expectancy, of John the Baptist’s mighty in-utero kick at the sound of Mary’s voice, of the Holy Spirit filling Elizabeth inspiring her prophesy, is an amazing tale of two women realizing how God is at work in their lives. In this meeting, the older, much older Elizabeth finds herself in the same pregnant state as the younger, much younger, Mary. They are both, through miraculous means, pregnant. What could, what does this mean?

Listen to or read the Rev. Ryan Baker Fones’ entire sermon for the 4th Sunday of Advent by clicking “Read More.”