MAC KIRK

  1st Sunday after Epiphany. Isa 42:1-9 Ps 89:1-29 or 89:20-29 Acts 10:34-38 Luke 3:15-22  ; " Epiphany Living"   The first thing I do in preparing the message for the Sunday is to look at the season, and the lessons.  The hymn we will sing at the end of the service is a seasonal hymn in that it talks about this in one of the stanzas left out in the hymnal. "Oh, lead me, Lord, that I may lead The wand’ring and the wav’ring feet; Oh, feed me, Lord, that I may feed Thy hung’ring ones with manna sweet."   That is the point of Epiphany.  The Gospel is for all, not just for us here. Another vs left out " Oh, give Thine own sweet rest to me, That I may speak with soothing pow’r A word in season, as from Thee, To weary ones in needful hour."  Epiphany is manifesting and showing God's power and love to others , so that they too would be fed with God's manna. This is the example of the Wise men in Matthew 2 that we read last week..."there came wise men...

  A Beginning to the New Year Message. Second Sunday after Christmas Day:Jeremiah 31:7-14; Ps 84; Eph 1:3-14 ;Luke 2:22-40 or Matt 2:1-12 "Living without Christ Fred Craddock once told a parable about a man who moved into a cottage equipped with a stove and simple furnishings. As the sharp edge of winter cut across the landscape, the cottage grew cold as did its occupant. He went out back and pulled a few boards off the house to kindle the fire. The fire was warm, but the house seemed as cold as before. More boards came off for a larger fire to warm the now even colder house, which in return required an even larger fire, demanding more boards. In a few days the man cursed the weather, cursed the house, cursed the stove, and moved away. The futility that man felt is the futility of those who try to live the Christian life without Christ. He is the Word that was in the beginning with God and was God. And he is alive today. To those of us who are drowning he is someone we can hold on...

  Galatians 3:23-4:7  1st Sunday After Christmas Day  Adoption is?  ..... " For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine sonship , might become a son of God."  Irenaeus, 2nd century. Adoption means lit in greek to place a son. Galatians 4:3-7  KJV,"  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." Here is a story I thought said it well.  God has room for us by adoption, but do we have room...

 Third Sunday in Advent Zeph 3:14-20 Ps 85 Phil 4:4-9 Luke 3:7-20         Philippians 4 Have you been anxious about anything lately? Do you feel peaceful? Or are you being torn apart by things, people and events? What is disturbing your peace? How can you recover your Christian assurance and peace in this life and for the life to come? Is the Christmas hustle and bustle getting you in the fast lane? What I like about the church's observance of Advent is that it is a slowing down and a renewal of our vows, our faith, and our lives should be in harmony with His will and His Spirit instead of ...well you can fill in the blank! Interesting , and I think I may have touched on this issue before, since it is the same Epistle , but the background of Rejoice, the peace of God which passes all understanding, and do not be anxious ( be careful for nothing in the KJV) is a situation in the church at Philippi. We can see it in 4:2 where Paul says, " I beseech Euodias,...

  Luke 1:26-56; Isaiah 55.  Advent II ( Readings are from 1928 Book of Common Prayer- Morning Prayer )  Mary and Elizabeth   C. S. Lewis said, "  There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind." Mary and the Angels Luke 1:26-38 What a Gospel for today! It is full of great news and Divine Announcements and the appearance of the Angel Gabriel. To all who are struggling with the life here in so many ways we are all surrounded by such love and mystery that it is overwhelming wonderful! It saddens me at some level, but gives me hope that people who normally do not have any spiritual interest at most times of the year, come to this account in Luke with angels and have interest and wonder. First, What is this " Gabriel"? A man in Daniel who comes to Daniel touching him, perhaps flying to assure him that God would give him understanding. Daniel 9:21 The Angel Gabriel, lit. Geber el = man of God. He is called an angel in Luke 1. This is angelos in Greek....

  Advent I.  Dec 1. How Do We Begin Again? Jeremiah 33:14-16;1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36 I saw this the other day and I have been thinking about it...." Forgiveness is re-gifting the grace that God gave you."  Some how we are stuck.  If the truth be told, we are locked into where we are and what we are doing without hope of getting any light.  We should take advantage of the new season we are in today to ask, " How do we start?"   When I use the lawnmower, I check the oil religiously, and try and see how the air filter is doing by taking it out. I may even turn the lawnmower slightly on its side to see what is going beneath it.  Any grass from last time still in there?  Does the blade turn?  On another way of looking I have a fitbit watch and I wondered why it was not charging.---  Seems the back is magnetic.  It had a paper clip stuck there, and when I plugged the charger in I could not figure out why it was not char...