Gospel of John

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Gifts Accepted and Given

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Today’s reading from Isaiah speaks of rejoicing. The reading is taken from two consecutive chapters. If you don’t have the text in front of you, it’s hard for you to realize that, just from hearing the reading. In Chapter 61, verses 10 and 11, Isaiah rejoices in the Lord, for the Lord has clothed him with garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness, like a bridegroom decked with garlands or a bride adorned with jewels. A garden springs up, and praise springs up from the nations. The Word of God, Jesus, is like those gifts, as fine as jewels, as fine as a beautiful garden, and worthy of our praise and rejoicing. We can acknowledge with gratitude that we have been given a wonderful gift from God. End of Chapter 61.

Click “Read More” to read or listen to Deacon Nancy Crawford’s entire sermon.

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Repentance: Preparing Our Hearts for Jesus

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It’s Advent, that wonderful, delightful time to prepare for Christmas. And there are all kinds of ways we do that: we might light candles on an Advent wreath, put up a tree, decorate the home, hang some boughs, put up some lights outside to light up the world, baking, shopping for presents, shipping gifts, sending Christmas cards. But who among you reflects on the fact that you are a “brood of vipers?” I don’t see a single hand going up. It’s not the usual Advent preparation we think about, but it is the one that John the Baptist calls us to today. We usually think about repentance as part of our Lenten preparations for Easter, but it is a part of these Advent preparations. It is a minor note, but it is here: “You brood of vipers. Bear fruit worthy of repentance.”

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