MAC KIRK

 Jan 1. Holy Name of Jesus Numbers 6:22-27  2nd Sunday After Christmas Galatians 4:4-7 or Philippians 2:5-11/ Philippian 2: 9-13 Luke 2:15-21 Psalm 8 Names are important, and titles as well. They have meaning and significance. Luke records that the child born to Mary would be called, “Jesus” which means literally savior (1:31). Of course during Advent and Christmas Eve we heard the reading from Isaiah 7 . “ the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Vs 14 ---literally “ God with us.” Today we read from Luke 2 paying special attention to vs. 21, “ on the 8th day , when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.” Genesis 17 says this was an obligation of covenantal that is believing families, “ every male among you shall be circumcised.” 17:10 We remember from last week’s meditation that Jesus was born in a manger for there was no room in the house /inn. His mothe...

 Christmas ---" What I Wish You Knew" I wonder if we can relate to the real Christmas story. Somehow it becomes a far off event with a Star, a Manger, an Inn, a baby ( the Christ child) , Mary, Joseph, ( even though we try with the Mangers and the real animals and all the celebrations..) etc... our world does not seem any different at all. We have the same things happening, crisis at the border; crisis in our lives with ill health; people who are lonely ( loss of loved ones due to something even separation or death). We see the manger from afar . Christmas is to us somewhat of a story that does not come down to our daily struggles. There are angels. They are saying," Glory to God to in the highest and peace on earth to men. "This is a rare event in our world ---such a wonderful event. People have problems today. They have always had them, haven't they? A casual friend of mine who took a church I did not retired recently. His wife for some reason ( which he never...

  1928 Prayer Book Alliance ADVENT SEASON   The Fourth Sunday in Advent December 19, 2021 Advent -- Joyous Anticipation, Self-Renewal The Fourth Sunday in Advent. The Collect. O LORD, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honour and glory, world without end.  Amen -- page 95, The 1928 Book of Common Prayer With the Fourth Sunday in Advent, we draw closer to the day of his coming, the day foretold approximately 7 centuries earlier by the prophet Esaias. John the Baptist spoke of this prophecy, made an astonishing length of time before it was to come true. The Baptist's words are recounted by St. John in The Gospel reading for Advent IV: ". . . I am the voice of one cry...

  Stress for " 4th Sunday in Advent"   Stress     Who was one of the best generals of the Civil war?   Without a doubt it was Stonewall Jackson of the Confederacy.   One time though even he did not accomplish the mission in time.   When he was supposed to come to the aid of Lee in 1862 to defend Richmond   , he was oddly late.   " He did not try and fail.   He simply made no effort...He spent the 29th of June in camp in disregard of Lee's instructions, and he spent the 30th in equal idleness   at White Oak Swamp .   His 25,000 infantry practically did not fire a shot in the two days." Best little Stories from the Civil war. Kelly.   Apparently according to one civil war historian Jackson had was totally exhausted from the previous ten days of his "whirlwind Shenandoah Valley campaign."   Medical finding in 1960 said this was the effect of stress .      All of us are subject to this. ...

 Rejoice “ Always rejoice” I Thess. 5:16 ---3rd Sunday of Advent O LORD Jesus Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee; Grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.   The First Sunday in Advent (to be said throughout Advent) ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with ...