RoboPreacher

thank god you are here with me a sermon on Isaiah's prophetic sermon of the "suffering servant" Today, in case you didn’t know, is “ Gaudete Sunday.” Gaudete Sunday is an occasion in the church year. It’s often marked by a pink Advent candle.   Perhaps some of you recall such a Sunday from years past .   Now we’ll talk about what Gaudete means in a bit . We’ll discuss the translation, origin, and purpose of this day. For now , though, suffice it to say that, practically speaking, this moment in the church year marks the make-or- break moment for all your Christmas preparations. Truthfully, it actually marks the moment the make-or-break moment has come and gone . Just as Christ the King represents the day you need to prepare your Christmas pudding, so Gaudete Sunday represents the instance it has become too late to alter how your Christmas plans will shake out.   I know. That’s not what you wanted to hear. But it’s true . And I do you no favors by pretending otherw...

only at christmas time A sermon on Isaiah 42:1-9 : Okay, I’ll admit to an unpopular opinion… I like a proper cold & snowy winter. In fact, remember watching that show “Full House” as a boy. It takes place in San Francisco, and all the characters have these charmed lives. BUT I remember the Christmas episodes, when things were especially charming, but I could only feel bad for them; they never got a proper winter snow !   I didn’t realize it back then, but I’ve come to understand part of the reason I like a proper winter is, it makes Christmas all that more powerful . Now, I don’t mean the way we all imagine Christmas with white, beautiful snow. I mean, the way the promises of Christmas CLASH with crummy winter weather! Our bishop noted that for us in the Northern hemisphere, Christmas comes at a down time. When the year is winding down. The weather’s getting colder , and the days are getting shorter .   Which is the ...