2023 December

Hope in Egypt

Hope in Egypt

This sermon concludes our Advent teaching series and is based on Matthew 2:13-18. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: My wife, Jo, can spell anything (and, as you can plainly see, anything has an “h” in it). Me, definitely not. I don’t know if it is because I never had the opportunity to study phonics or if my muddled Boston accent derailed my best efforts, but spelling is not one of my strengths. But my mediocre spelling has nothing to do with my contention that “Advent” is spelled with an “h.” See, “advent” and “hope” are so intertwined that you can’t spell one without the other (in fact, you can’t even talk about “advent” without talking about “hope”). And “hope,” as you can plainly see, has a really big “h” in it. This Christmas, we want to look at how hope

What Is This Christmas-Week of Which You Speak?

What Is This Christmas-Week of Which You Speak?

First things first; we are not late. Yes, I know that, traditionally, the seventh antiphon is prayed on December 23 and that you are not reading this until the 29th (at the earliest), but does that delay hold any real significance? Absolutely not. Yes, the first antiphon, O Wisdom, is meant to be prayed on December 17; and then, each day leading up to Christmas, we are to add another antiphon until we reach Christmas Eve where we pray the last antiphon, O Emmanuel. But tradition is not law. In fact, praying this last antiphon during the week of Christmas makes good sense to me and for three really good reasons. First, the rush leading up to Christmas leaves little time for true contemplation. But then, Christmas is over and we have a short lull before we start to ramp up for New Year’s, a lull that allows us some

Hope in Bethlehem

Hope in Bethlehem

This sermon on Christmas Eve morning is part of our Advent teaching series and is based on Luke 2:8-20. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: My wife, Jo, can spell anything (and, as you can plainly see, anything has an “h” in it). Me, definitely not. I don’t know if it is because I never had the opportunity to study phonics or if my muddled Boston accent derailed my best efforts, but spelling is not one of my strengths. But my mediocre spelling has nothing to do with my contention that “Advent” is spelled with an “h.” See, “advent” and “hope” are so intertwined that you can’t spell one without the other (in fact, you can’t even talk about “advent” without talking about “hope”). And “hope,” as you can plainly see, has a really big “h” in it. This Christmas, we

Two Antiphons; No Bah-Humbug

Two Antiphons; No Bah-Humbug

Bah-humbug! Of all the words associated with Christmas, “bah-humbug” is hands-down my favorite, not because I like the sentiment, but because the word is just plain fun. It even has an interesting history. “Bah” first came on the scene in the year 1600 (as did the words: barky, batty, and beachy). It was used, as it is used today, to express disdain or contempt. “Hum,” in Old English, meant “to deceive.” Now, we could have guessed that. What do you do when you don’t know the words? You pretend you know them by humming. That’s right, humming, besides being extremely annoying, is a form of deception. And the word “bug” seems to be related to the same word from which we get the term “bogeyman.” Put it together and “bah-humbug” referred to some sort of contemptuous fake bogeyman or some unfavorable commotion that was pure hooey, hokum, humbuggery. But that’s

Hope in Israel

Hope in Israel

This sermon is part of our Advent teaching series and is based on Luke 1:67-79. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: My wife, Jo, can spell anything (and, as you can plainly see, anything has an “h” in it). Me, definitely not. I don’t know if it is because I never had the opportunity to study phonics or if my muddled Boston accent derailed my best efforts, but spelling is not one of my strengths. But my mediocre spelling has nothing to do with my contention that “Advent” is spelled with an “h.” See, “advent” and “hope” are so intertwined that you can’t spell one without the other (in fact, you can’t even talk about “advent” without talking about “hope”). And “hope,” as you can plainly see, has a really big “h” in it. This Christmas, we want to look at

The Antiphon with a Mustache

The Antiphon with a Mustache

It’s not a great movie. It’s not even in my top fifty, but if it is on TV, I’m probably going to watch it. Here’s my favorite scene. There is this middle-aged Frenchman sitting at the dinner table eating soup with his elderly mother. They are listening to scratchy radio that is spouting off all sorts of strange messages. He is only half-listening because the messages all sound ridiculous. “Molasses tomorrow will bring forth cognac,” and “There is a fire at the travel agency,” and “Daphne and Monique are taking a trip.” It is pretty boring stuff, but then our friend hears the message, “John has a long mustache.” He immediately jumps up, drops his spoon in his soup, and begins to repeat the message over and over again excitedly. And each time he says it, his enthusiasm for the line grows dramatically. His mother has no idea what is

Hope in Nazareth

Hope in Nazareth

This sermon is part of our Advent teaching series and is based on Matthew 1:18-28. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: My wife, Jo, can spell anything (and, as you can plainly see, anything has an “h” in it). Me, definitely not. I don’t know if it is because I never had the opportunity to study phonics or if my muddled Boston accent derailed my best efforts, but spelling is not one of my strengths. But my mediocre spelling has nothing to do with my contention that “Advent” is spelled with an “h.” See, “advent” and “hope” are so intertwined that you can’t spell one without the other (in fact, you can’t even talk about “advent” without talking about “hope”). And “hope,” as you can plainly see, has a really big “h” in it. This Christmas, we want to look at

O to Pray Like This

O to Pray Like This

If you are at Camden Yards, you don’t sing it the way he wrote it. You have a tradition to uphold. While he wrote, “O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,” you sing, “O!!!!!!!!!!!!!! say. . . .” And that is a tradition that is well worth upholding and enjoying. But Baltimore is not alone. When the Predator’s goalie, Juuse Saros, is in net for a home game, Nashville fans hijack the anthem and shout “Juuse” instead of “O say can you see. . . .” The Washington Capitals stress the word “red,” when they sing the line “and the rocket’s red glare” since their uniforms are red. They also emphasize the “O,” stealing the Camden Yards experience in a sacrilegious attempt to honor Alex Ovechkin; but I never bought into the “better red than dead” propaganda. Winnipeg Jets fans honor their ownership group (True North Sports and Entertainment)

Hope in the Hills of Judea

Hope in the Hills of Judea

This sermon begins our Advent teaching series and is based on Luke 1:39-45. You can also view each week's sermon/worship service on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ncsq_QNvCv61bIwKUpP5A SERIES OVERVIEW: My wife, Jo, can spell anything (and, as you can plainly see, anything has an “h” in it). Me, definitely not. I don’t know if it is because I never had the opportunity to study phonics or if my muddled Boston accent derailed my best efforts, but spelling is not one of my strengths. But my mediocre spelling has nothing to do with my contention that “Advent” is spelled with an “h.” See, “advent” and “hope” are so intertwined that you can’t spell one without the other (in fact, you can’t even talk about “advent” without talking about “hope”). And “hope,” as you can plainly see, has a really big “h” in it. This Christmas, we want to look at how hope

An Anti-Prayer for Wisdom

An Anti-Prayer for Wisdom

Beware of the root fallacy, my son! The root that bites; the core that catches. For instance, consider the root “anti.” It means to be “opposed to” or “against.” And if you read that meaning into the word “antiphon” (since it most clearly contains the word “anti”), then you are going to hear this song being sung throughout this entire series. Take it away, Professor Quincy Adams Wagstaff: I don't know what they have to say; It makes no difference anyway; Whatever it is, I'm against it. No matter what it is or who commenced it. . . . I'm against it. Your proposition may be good; But let's have one thing understood: Whatever it is, I'm against it. And even when you've changed it or condensed it. . . . I'm against it. Ah, but beware of the root fallacy, for the “anti” in antiphon has nothing to do