Sermons on Luke

Sunday, December 22 Traditions worship service. Immediately after Mary’s encounter with the Angel Gabriel and the announcement that she will bear a child who will be named Jesus and will be called the son of God, Luke tells us Mary “went with haste” to the Judean hillside to the home of Zachariah and Elizabeth. It was a journey of at least 70 miles, 100 miles when avoiding Samaria. It appears she traveled on foot and alone. Elizabeth greets Mary with blessings of welcome and joy, when other family members would have rejected Mary because of her circumstances. They spend a whole trimester together and we learn much about friendship and hospitality from Elizabeth and Mary. Luke 1:39-45, 46-56

Sunday, December 15 Traditions worship service. This week in our With-God Life in Advent we consider the Annunciation text from Luke 1: 26-38.  In preparation for Sunday, reflect on this story visually through the work of the Italian Renaissance artist Fra Filippo Lippi from the mid fifteenth century. Fra Lippi was a Carmelite friar who lived a complicated, troubled life but painted devotional subjects with understanding and clarity. The viewer is drawn into the intimate scene by the semicircular structure of the painting. The use of perspective communicates that this is a real event. Visual simplicity is achieved by placing the two kneeling figures opposite one another. On the right Mary is holding a book, symbolizing the Word of God become flesh. Gabriel, easily identified by his golden wings, is holding a lily, a symbol of purity. The diagonal rays of light extend from the dove toward Mary as she listens humbly as Gabriel declares, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” Enjoy our worship service on Sunday, December 15th with special musical guest harpist Anita Burroughs Price. There will be an extended Prelude of harp music beginning at 10:50am. Luke 1:26-38

Sunday, December 8 Traditions worship service. Of the four Gospels, only Luke begins with the story of the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah and Elizabeth—the story of a couple getting on in years, the wife thought to be barren, any hope of having children all but gone. Then comes the incredible promise of a child to be born to them. How would you describe yourself when required to wait? On pins and needles, itching to change your situation? Resigned to what may be a long trial? Impatient? Eager, yet willing to wait? What does your response to waiting reveal about your relationship with God? Luke 1:5-25, 57-80