Mother Ann’s sermon preached on Dec. 12, 2021
In this morning’s Gospel from St Luke, we watch John the Baptist turn on his heel to challenge the crowds who are following him. “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” And thus John proceeds with many more such exhortations, which St Luke sums up as “John proclaiming the good news to the people.”
Read MoreMother Katherine’s sermon preached on Dec. 5, 2021
From a catalogue of all of the centers of might and wealth with their rulers of import, authority, and fame, it is John, son of Zechariah to whom God’s word is spoken. Spoken not in the temple or great mountaintop, but in the wilderness. God’s word calls him to go out among people to tell them about the one who is to come. Our Advent creche finds us looking at the empty manger awaiting the infant Messiah, though John’s call to prepare the way for the adult Jesus about to begin his ministry is not so different from our preparation for the birth of Christ.
Read MoreMother Katherine’s sermon preached on Nov. 28, 2021
This first week in Advent begins our season of waiting and anticipation of the coming of Christ, and rather than start at the beginning and work our way through a chronology, we begin this season with Jesus in his last days in Jerusalem before his arrest and crucifixion. He is teaching at the Temple, describing apocalyptic signs to expect before the second coming. We will reverse our way through Advent from these final days to the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth as they share their mutual joy in the two babies they carry who will change our world. Apocalyptic readings frustrate those who like scripture to sound perfectly rational and altogether possible, and Episcopalians aren’t known for watching the sky for signs or a Christ-bearing cloud.
Read MorePhotos: Advent Set 2021
A selection of photos from our Advent preparation and set on Saturday, November 27, 2021.
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