Sermon, 3rd Sunday in Advent, 2024
The story of Israel, and of Christ as the True Israel, and of each of our lives as well, is marked by the pattern of exile and return. This is especially seen in Psalm 107. The ordained ministry is crucial to preparing the people for return back to the land of promise and blessing. They are the heralds calling to the people to repent and return to the Lord. They who minister to God’s people are not judged by the people or even by their own consciences. But as St. Paul says, “he that judgeth me is the Lord.” Ministers will be held accountable by God, and thus they must…
Sermon, 2nd Sunday in Advent, 2024
Once per year during Advent, we are called upon to consider the gift of the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God. God has graciously revealed Himself to us in the pages of the Bible. Thus, the reading of Holy Scripture is a sacrament for in them Christ gives Himself to us. They are not easy to understand, but we, like the patriarch Joseph, are called upon to wrestle with scripture, to conform our precepts to the precept that we find there, and to study them so that we may apprehend God more fully. In doing so in the company of our fellow believers in the Church throughout time, we find…
Holy Communion, First Sunday of Advent, Dec. 1, 2024
What is Advent about? There are two core themes that we find in the readings. First is the sense of urgency. Christ is coming, and therefore there is no time for procrastination! Second is the theme of preparation. Christ is coming so we must prepare to receive Him. Let us therefore repent of our sins and embrace holiness. “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” Here is the time code for the video below: 3:10 Litany 10:49 Processional Hymn 15:46 Morning Prayer 26:48 Ante-Communion 47:50 Homily 1:15:31 Comfortable Words/Sursum…
Sermon, Sunday Next Before Advent, 2024
The Sunday Next Before Advent is coloquially called, “Stir Up Sunday,” from the first words of this day’s collect. “Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people.” In reading the lessons, we note the theme of “in-gathering” for the Kingdom of God is a harvest of those who have previously been dispersed throughout the whole world. Yet in the Kingdom, we are not only the object of the verb “to gather in”, but we are the subject as well. We have been gathered in, and we are called to gather in others as well. This, therefore, is the reason that we are to be stirred…
2024, Christmastide and Epiphanytide Worship and Events at Christ the King
This is a great season at Christ the King. Come join us for worship and feasting! Dec 21, Saturday, 10:30 am, Eucharist for the Feast of St. Thomas Dec 22 After our Sunday morning worship (12:15 pm): Greening of the Church After our worship for the 4th Sunday in Advent, we break out the decorations and put up the Tree while enjoying lunch, festive music, and seasonal treats. Stop by and lend a hand hanging ornaments! Dec 24, Tuesday, Christmas Eve. 5 pm: Christmas Lessons and Carols. This is a worship service of scripture readings, carols, and special music. You are invited to join us for this special and beautiful…
Upcoming Men’s Fellowship Night, 12/13/2024
Calling all gentlemen! Come out for a night of fellowship and encouragement and maybe a scotch and/or a cigar on Friday, December 13th at the vicarage. We will be starting around 6 pm. Bring friends, side dishes, other food and drinks to share, and did I mention to bring friends? Highly recommended to dress warmly as cigars are more of an outside activity.
Page Turners, Women’s book club for December
The ladies will be reading and discussing J.R.R. Tolkien’s Letters from Father Christmas on Dec. 10 at 6:45 pm at Heather White’s house. This is a fun read and copies of the book can be purchased at the links below: Abebooks Amazon Audiobooks.com
Photos from Our Hymn Workshop, 11/15-11/17
We all had a really great time learning about music, being encouraged to sing out, and practicing singing some of our great hymns better. Again – special thanks to our guest instructor, Andrew Dittman, from Chapel of the Cross, in Dallas, Texas! Did you know that the tune from God the Omnipotent is the bass line from Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture? Practicing Chanting on Saturday Afternoon Saturday Night Dinner at the Johansens! Good Food! Good Fellowship! Sunday After Church – Great Singing this Weekend!
Sermon, 25th Sunday after Trinity, 2024
For the 25th Sunday after Epiphany, we almost always use the readings and collect from the 6th Sunday after Epiphany. The theme of the Epiphany season is Christ’s manifestation to the Gentiles, and these propers focus not only upon the fact of His manifestation, but also the reasons for His manifestation – “… that he might destroy the works of the devil, and make us the sons of God, and heirs of eternal life” (see 1 John 3). In our readings we are not only reminded of the things that Christ has done for us already, but also that His work in us of purifying and completing our salvation is…
Holy Communion, 24th Sunday after Trinity, 2024
God is good even though life is hard, even though He allows us to struggle. It is in the struggle and the trials that we are purified, that we become more like Christ. Our purification and sanctification is a life-long project, but, thanks be to God, He is faithful. Hold on to Jesus. When life is challenging and difficult, hold on to Him all the more. You will grow. In the pain, through the pain, you will know healing, joy, and peace. Propers Manuscript Sermon Archive