MAC KIRK

Merry Christmas. Christmas – I. Isaiah 9:2-7; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14 We pray the Christmas prayer (collect)” Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born [this day] of a pure virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.” We celebrate today , the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, lowly and without sin. Jesus was born of a human mother , a devout woman who served God just as you and I and yet was called by God to serve Him in a very special way. She was not without sin and yet herself bore the One who was eternal yet human and without sin. To her troubled spirit the angel Gabriel replied, “ The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to born wil

The Annunciation beginning from Luke 1:26 is given a special day in some churches, March 25. At the heart this is a record of Mary who hears a perplexing message from an angel. He is named Gabriel. Was he the same angel as in vs. 11 when “an angel of the LORD appeared to Zechariah” announcing the birth of John the Baptist? Apparently so. He identifies himself to Zechariah in vs. 19 ,” I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.” Gabriel is also mentioned by the way in the Book of Daniel 8:16 & 9:21. People that have trouble believing that a virgin could have a child also have to deal with angels. Mary at the heart of the message hears this encouraging word ,” For nothing is impossible with God.” 1:37. The same words are used in Genesis and Matthew. In Genesis 18:14 we hear said to Sarah who was well beyond child bearing years, “ Is anything too hard for the LORD?” Jesus uses the same words in speaking

“ Always rejoice” I Thess. 5:16 ---3rd Sunday of Advent These two little Greek words are in that order in the original language. They are to be our attitude and demeanor as Christians. The chapter begins with the Apostle’s discussion of the “ day of the Lord” and its coming will be “as a thief by night.” 5:2 This week I received a Christmas letter , thinking it was such , from a Pastor I worked together with 30 years ago . His wife who was younger than he was died. In the letter was a picture of the obituary and the service done. I did not think he would outlive his wife. She was a wonderful encouraging joyous person who had been a big help to him and to my wife and I. It was very unexpected. I thought it was a Christmas letter but it was a copy of her death. I did not know she was ill. The section of Scripture with these two words is about our Christian conduct in the light of the Advent ( coming ) of our Lord . For her this was early. Time is no more . She is in

MARK 1:1-8 Advent II “ The way of the Lord must be prepared within the heart; for great and spacious is the heart of man, as if it were a whole world. But see its greatness , not in bodily quantity, but in the power of the mind which enables it to encompass so great a knowledge of the truth. Prepare, therefore, in your hearts the way of the Lord, by a worthy manner of life. Keep straight the path of your life, so that the words of the Lord may enter in without hindrance.” Origen Today I want to talk about beginnings. Now we are in a time of preparation . The Candle of Hope has drawn us to the Candle of Preparation in today’s Gospel from Mark 1:1-8. Hope draws us to the light of Christ. In that Light we have life. We have Good News. “ The Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Son of God …” 1:1 Good News or Glad Tidings. The Greek word here describes the effect of Good News from a distance runner who has come to the battlefield to let the warriors know that the war is