MAC KIRK

  Sunday after the Ascension June 1. Hebrews 4:14-5:10 ( Ev.Prayer 1928 BCP) Fit in between the end of Easter celebration and  Pentecost June 8 is the dramatic festival of the Ascension of our Lord into heaven after His Resurrection , seen by many for 40 days.  ( last Thursday May 29) " Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16 1.  All of the Jewish sacraments and ordinances are now fulfilled in Christ, our High Priest.  His High Priesthood is eternal as shown in Heb 5, after Melchizedek, the high Priest in Genesis.  In other words there is no need for any other sacrifices ....

John 16:33  "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: ; I have overcome the world."     I suppose if we were truthful and we were asked what is one thing we desire in this life more than anything else it would be " peace."    I think this is something we really need. On Friday mornings my schedule is to prepare the Sunday sermon , and this is one I wish I could study all day ,as I have meditated on it all week ---it does not seem to fill my cup yet totally.   When I was in the service I tried to bring a little peace to the married couples and single Soldiers in our units.  I would bring them to various places to give them a break from the hum drum of the routine of military life.  We traveled to various places such as the redwoods of California, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin area, and to the Carmel beach near Monterey , CA.  The Koreans had a retreat ...

  Easter 5/ Easter 4 ( traditional readings mostly -Job 19:21-27a; Revelation 19:1-9; Gospel John 16:5-15)  Sermon- " The Comforter according to Jesus" "A junior high music teacher had just organized a band in her school. The principal was so proud of the music teacher's efforts that without consulting her he decided that the band should give a concert for the entire school. The music teacher wasn't so sure her young musicians were ready to give a concert, so she tried to talk the principal out of holding the concert, to no avail. Just before the concert was ready to begin, as the music teacher stood on the podium, she leaned forward and whispered to her nervous musicians, "If you're not sure of your part, just pretend to play." And with that, she stepped back, lifted her baton and with a great flourish brought it down. Lo and behold, nothing happened! The band brought forth a resounding silence. Sometimes we in the church are like that junior high ...

 The Fourth Sunday of Easter Good Shepherd Acts 13:14b-16, 26-39 or Num 27:12-23 Ps 100 Rev 7:9-17 John 10:22-30 ---As we begin, we celebrate our mothers..... Today is Mother's Day, a day when we honor our Moms. We learn many things from our Moms. My mother taught me religion. She used to say things like, "You better pray that comes out of the carpet." My mother taught me medicine: "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they're going to freeze that way." My mother taught me how to be a contortionist: "Will you look at the dirt on the back of your neck!" My mother taught me to appreciate a job well done: "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning!" My mother taught me about genetics: "You are just like your father!" My mother taught me logic: "Because I said so, that's why." (1) I don't know if any of you had mothers like that. Maybe we all had a mother like that. But ...

  Third Sunday of Easter- " A Fish Fry with the LORD" Acts 9:1-19a or Jer 32:36-41 Ps 33 or 33:1-11v Rev 5:(1-5)6-14 John 21:1-14    Of all of the Easter appearances by Jesus this one in John 21 is not only well-known but treasured by many. It certainly is remarkable in its beauty---the sea/ Lake of Tiberias.  This made me again thankful for my sea experiences, one fishing off the pier in California with my grandfather on my father's side, and of course being at sea for a year with the Merchant Marine. Also, while in the Army in California , one of the SR Chaplains made us breakfast cooked on a grill after our run .He said He had a surprise for us after our run when he met us, and then we were so amazed when we go there, and saw the meal.    It was the most delicious fish we ever had . We thank God for His beautiful creation! John tells us this was the third Resurrection appearance by Jesus to the Disciples, here only 7.  It was somewhat the earlier sc...