All Recordings from The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
Dec 19, 2021 |
We can do this
| The Rev. Melanie W. J. Slane![The Rev. Melanie W. J. Slane](https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/uploads/images/melanie-slane_755_small.jpg)
We can do this
God gives to Mary and Elizabeth, something that they were
each lacking. God gives to Mary and Elizabeth community and connection. God
removes their isolation and helps them understand themselves more fully as part
of something larger than their individual lives. Elizabeth pronounces blessings
on Mary and the child in her womb, giving voice to the joy of knowing that the
world will never be the same now that they're together. The world will never be
the same. These women's actions turn the world upside down. Two marginalized,
pregnant women carry the future of what God is doing in the world. The prophetic reality of God with us here on this earth to
make the world look like what God intended it to look like.
I can do this. You can do this. We can do this. The unimaginable joy in that space brings forth singing. They sing of the greatness of God. The one who changes I into We. The one who flips the script on the ways of the world of this false assertion that our individualistic efforts are all that counts? No, in her song, she smashes social hierarchy. The lowly are raised to places of honor and this bold and dangerous proclamation is made first by her and carried on forever in the life of the church.
The bold and dangerous proclamation that she makes in the Magnificat is her song then and it is our song now. This story is not the sweet, buttoned-up version of birth that we are often presented in Silent Nights and cushy stables. It's the raw and beautiful, real bringing forth of life into community that we've all been waiting for. It's the bringing about, of a new way of being with people who recognize the blessings of God to be unlike the world that is built by just a few, just a proud and just the powerful
I can do this. You can do this. We can do this. The unimaginable joy in that space brings forth singing. They sing of the greatness of God. The one who changes I into We. The one who flips the script on the ways of the world of this false assertion that our individualistic efforts are all that counts? No, in her song, she smashes social hierarchy. The lowly are raised to places of honor and this bold and dangerous proclamation is made first by her and carried on forever in the life of the church.
The bold and dangerous proclamation that she makes in the Magnificat is her song then and it is our song now. This story is not the sweet, buttoned-up version of birth that we are often presented in Silent Nights and cushy stables. It's the raw and beautiful, real bringing forth of life into community that we've all been waiting for. It's the bringing about, of a new way of being with people who recognize the blessings of God to be unlike the world that is built by just a few, just a proud and just the powerful
Dec 19, 2021 |
Sunday, December 19, 2021 Baptism + Rite II Holy Eucharist
| The Rev. Melanie W. J. Slane![The Rev. Melanie W. J. Slane](https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/uploads/images/melanie-slane_755_small.jpg)
Sunday, December 19, 2021 Baptism + Rite II Holy Eucharist
Join us for worship this Sunday, December 19, Baptism and Holy Eucharist, Rite II with music. The Rev. Philip DeVaul, Celebrant and The Rev. Melanie Slane, Preacher.
Connie Golden on the organ and piano and additional music provided by the Church of the Redeemer Choir.
This worship service is also available live at 9:00 am on Sunday, and as a video following that at https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/online-worship/
Connie Golden on the organ and piano and additional music provided by the Church of the Redeemer Choir.
This worship service is also available live at 9:00 am on Sunday, and as a video following that at https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/online-worship/
Dec 17, 2021 |
Hoping for Peace
| The Rev. Philip DeVaul![The Rev. Philip DeVaul](https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/uploads/images/philip-devaul_215_small.jpg)
Hoping for Peace
"Christians often refer to Jesus as the Prince of Peace. Paul simply calls Jesus himself Peace - the way John calls God Love. And yet Jesus rarely makes people like us comfortable or unbothered. Jesus doesn’t strive to create a happy and content middle, but heads to the margins of our lives and communities in order to reveal God’s presence and blessing in the places most unlike us.
“Blessed are the peacemakers,” Jesus declares, and then lives the rest of his life as an exclamation point to that declaration. Jesus makes peace, and he doesn’t do it by creating false binaries or forcing others into his way of seeing things. Jesus shows up. Jesus makes himself present. Jesus listens. Jesus recognizes faith and beauty and holiness and humanity in lives that look nothing like his own."
Dec 16, 2021 |
Thursday, December 16, Morning Prayer, Rite II
| The Rev. Melanie W. J. Slane![The Rev. Melanie W. J. Slane](https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/uploads/images/melanie-slane_755_small.jpg)
Thursday, December 16, Morning Prayer, Rite II
Join us this morning, Thursday, December 16, for online Morning Prayer led by the Rev. Melanie Slane.
To assist you in following along you may use your Book of Common Prayer (BCP) beginning on page 80. If you do not have a BCP at home, use the buttons below to use the online version or download a pdf version.
Our worship services are all available here and in our Online Worship podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify or ask Alexa, Google, or Siri to play the podcast “The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer Online Worship
To assist you in following along you may use your Book of Common Prayer (BCP) beginning on page 80. If you do not have a BCP at home, use the buttons below to use the online version or download a pdf version.
Our worship services are all available here and in our Online Worship podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify or ask Alexa, Google, or Siri to play the podcast “The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer Online Worship
Dec 15, 2021 |
Episode 2 - Mission Minded - Homeless in a Foreign Land
| The Rev. Melanie W. J. Slane![The Rev. Melanie W. J. Slane](https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/uploads/images/melanie-slane_755_small.jpg)
Episode 2 - Mission Minded - Homeless in a Foreign Land
Wednesday, December 15, 2021, 6:30 PM
Homeless in a Foreign Land, an interview with Rev. Melanie Slane and Alan Yarborough, Church Relations Officer with The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations.
Links mentioned in today's episode:
Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations
Episcopal Migration Ministries
Homeless in a Foreign Land, an interview with Rev. Melanie Slane and Alan Yarborough, Church Relations Officer with The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations.
Links mentioned in today's episode:
Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations
Episcopal Migration Ministries
Dec 15, 2021 |
Wednesday, December 15, A Devotion for Early Evening
| The Rev. Gary Lubin![The Rev. Gary Lubin](https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/uploads/images/dsc08258-edit-edit_242_small.jpg)
Wednesday, December 15, A Devotion for Early Evening
Join us today, Wednesday, December 15, for a Devotion for Early Evening, led by the Rev. Gary Lubin
Music
Carol of the Bells
Connie and Dale Golden, duo-piano.
Noel Nouvelet
Connie Golden, piano
Dale Golden, organ
This worship service is available here and through our Online Worship podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify or simply ask your smart speaker to play the podcast “The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer Online Worship."
Music
Carol of the Bells
Connie and Dale Golden, duo-piano.
Noel Nouvelet
Connie Golden, piano
Dale Golden, organ
This worship service is available here and through our Online Worship podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify or simply ask your smart speaker to play the podcast “The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer Online Worship."
Dec 14, 2021 |
Tuesday, December 14, Morning Prayer, Rite II
| The Rev. Philip DeVaul![The Rev. Philip DeVaul](https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/uploads/images/philip-devaul_215_small.jpg)
Tuesday, December 14, Morning Prayer, Rite II
Join us this morning, Tuesday, December 14, for online Morning Prayer led by the Rev. Philip DeVaul.
To assist you in following along you may use your Book of Common Prayer (BCP) beginning on page 80. If you do not have a BCP at home, use the buttons below to use the online version or download a pdf version.
Our worship services are all available here and in our Online Worship podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify or ask Alexa, Google, or Siri to play the podcast “The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer Online Worship.
To assist you in following along you may use your Book of Common Prayer (BCP) beginning on page 80. If you do not have a BCP at home, use the buttons below to use the online version or download a pdf version.
Our worship services are all available here and in our Online Worship podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify or ask Alexa, Google, or Siri to play the podcast “The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer Online Worship.
Dec 12, 2021 |
Living into our baptismal covenant
| The Rev. Joyce Keeshin![The Rev. Joyce Keeshin](https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/uploads/images/joyce-keeshin_250_small.jpg)
Living into our baptismal covenant
"To the tax collectors who asked the same question, he says, collect no more than the amount prescribed for you. And to the soldiers who ask He says, do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusations; be satisfied with your wages. In other words, John is responding share what you have, share what you have with those in need. Be fair in your business dealings. Be honest. Do not misuse your power. And John's guidance is not about some abstract concept or some religious discipline or some complex construct of laws. John's guidance is not about big gestures, the bold dramatic actions. It's guidance for folks in the crowd from different walks of life, for people like you and me. It's guidance to care for each other to act with fairness, justice, and honesty in all that we do. Sounds a lot like our baptismal covenant in many ways. John is giving the simplest examples of the actions, reflective of our commandments to love God and our neighbors as ourselves.
John the Baptist urges us to shift our focus from it all being about us to, it's not all about us. It's not so important that we have stuff, it's what we do with it, it's how we share it. It's not so important that we have power, it’s how we handle it. It's how we restrain ourselves. How we act ethically with it. It's important that our stories in our lives are not strictly about our lives, but about all the lives around us..."
John the Baptist urges us to shift our focus from it all being about us to, it's not all about us. It's not so important that we have stuff, it's what we do with it, it's how we share it. It's not so important that we have power, it’s how we handle it. It's how we restrain ourselves. How we act ethically with it. It's important that our stories in our lives are not strictly about our lives, but about all the lives around us..."
Dec 12, 2021 |
Sunday, December 12, 2021 Rite II Holy Eucharist
| The Rev. Joyce Keeshin![The Rev. Joyce Keeshin](https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/uploads/images/joyce-keeshin_250_small.jpg)
Sunday, December 12, 2021 Rite II Holy Eucharist
Join us for worship this Sunday, December 12, Holy Eucharist, Rite II with music. The Rev. Melanie Slane, Celebrant and The Rev. Joyce Keeshin, preacher.
Connie Golden on the organ and piano and additional music provided by the Church of the Redeemer Choir.
This worship service is also available live at 9:00 am on Sunday, and as a video following that at https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/online-worship/
Connie Golden on the organ and piano and additional music provided by the Church of the Redeemer Choir.
This worship service is also available live at 9:00 am on Sunday, and as a video following that at https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/online-worship/
Dec 10, 2021 |
Hoping for Company
| The Rev. Philip DeVaul![The Rev. Philip DeVaul](https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/uploads/images/philip-devaul_215_small.jpg)
Hoping for Company
"We humans are built for relationship and connection, and not just with one or two people. Our bodies and souls actually want to feel the sense of sharing life with a host of people. But for many of us – myself included – it took a pandemic and months of isolation to realize just how deeply we needed simply to be among people, how important it was for us on a daily basis that we weren’t really alone. I took so much for granted. I definitely did not realize how connected to community I was. I thought I was alone a lot while surrounded by beautiful people living connected, intersecting, and interweaving lives.
It occurs to me that I have spent the majority of my life thinking similarly about faith. I long believed that Christianity was about me and my beliefs and my faith - my relationship with God and what I would need to think or do or believe so that I could be the right kind of person and go to the right place when I die. I did not understand that faith is something shared with others, that belief is something we live into together. For God and the saints, eternity is happening right here and right now – I don’t have to wait until I die – I am already participating in eternal life now, already experiencing the company of Heaven."
Dec 09, 2021 |
Thursday, December 9, Morning Prayer, Rite II
| The Rev. Gary Lubin![The Rev. Gary Lubin](https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/uploads/images/dsc08258-edit-edit_242_small.jpg)
Thursday, December 9, Morning Prayer, Rite II
Join us this morning, Thursday, December 9, for online Morning Prayer led by the Rev. Gary Lubin.
To assist you in following along you may use your Book of Common Prayer (BCP) beginning on page 80. If you do not have a BCP at home, use the buttons below to use the online version or download a pdf version.
Our worship services are all available here and in our Online Worship podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify or ask Alexa, Google, or Siri to play the podcast “The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer Online Worship
To assist you in following along you may use your Book of Common Prayer (BCP) beginning on page 80. If you do not have a BCP at home, use the buttons below to use the online version or download a pdf version.
Our worship services are all available here and in our Online Worship podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify or ask Alexa, Google, or Siri to play the podcast “The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer Online Worship
Dec 08, 2021 |
Wednesday, December 8, A Devotion for Early Evening
| The Rev. Gary Lubin![The Rev. Gary Lubin](https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/uploads/images/dsc08258-edit-edit_242_small.jpg)
Wednesday, December 8, A Devotion for Early Evening
Join us today, Wednesday, December 8, for a Devotion for Early Evening, led by the Rev. Gary Lubin
Music, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," and "Sleepers, Awake" by Organist, Dr. Connie Golden.
This worship service is available here and through our Online Worship podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify or simply ask your smart speaker to play the podcast “The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer Online Worship."
Music, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," and "Sleepers, Awake" by Organist, Dr. Connie Golden.
This worship service is available here and through our Online Worship podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify or simply ask your smart speaker to play the podcast “The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer Online Worship."
Dec 07, 2021 |
Tuesday, December 7, Morning Prayer, Rite II
| The Rev. Melanie W. J. Slane![The Rev. Melanie W. J. Slane](https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/uploads/images/melanie-slane_755_small.jpg)
Tuesday, December 7, Morning Prayer, Rite II
Join us this morning, Tuesday, December 7, for online Morning Prayer led by the Rev. Melanie Slane.
To assist you in following along you may use your Book of Common Prayer (BCP) beginning on page 80. If you do not have a BCP at home, use the buttons below to use the online version or download a pdf version.
Our worship services are all available here and in our Online Worship podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify or ask Alexa, Google, or Siri to play the podcast “The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer Online Worship
To assist you in following along you may use your Book of Common Prayer (BCP) beginning on page 80. If you do not have a BCP at home, use the buttons below to use the online version or download a pdf version.
Our worship services are all available here and in our Online Worship podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify or ask Alexa, Google, or Siri to play the podcast “The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer Online Worship
Dec 05, 2021 |
Already Here
| The Rev. Philip DeVaul![The Rev. Philip DeVaul](https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/uploads/images/philip-devaul_215_small.jpg)
Already Here
I want to be clear, I don't actually have a problem with New
Year's resolutions. I think they're great if they work for you and if they
don't, that's also fine. Some of us, we're going to actually try to do things
to make ourselves better and some of us are just going to be like, yeah, that’s
just not going to happen. I just want to say that this text is for you, because
the presence of God that John the Baptist is proclaiming, is not actually about
you, it's about God. It's not about you making it happen. At first, it sounds
like that because he says prepare the way of the Lord, make his path straight.
And you're like, ah, good, I needed some duties. Thank you for giving me some
clear concrete steps that I'll avoid. But then we start to think if I don't
make the world exactly what it's supposed to be, God's not going to show up.
We begin to think that it's on us to improve ourselves and improve this world
or else this won't be the kind of world that Jesus wants any part of.
Like, somehow, we have to make ourselves our hearts, our souls, our lives, our communities, perfect or else God will not love us. But we know the story of Jesus, right? Like when he shows up, does he show up and go, oh man, you guys have been preparing such a great way for me, thank you so much. And everyone's like, see the road we made it straight for you. Is that what happens or does Jesus show up into an absolute bloody mess? Jesus shows up into deeply complicated lives and impossible situations, into the uncertainty of occupied Israel in a place where everything is falling apart. That's where Jesus shows up. And the prophets tell us this, both John the Baptist, and Isaiah, whom he quotes. Every valley shall be filled in every mountain and hill shall be made low; we heard it in our reading from Baruch as well today. And guess who does the leveling out? Guess who makes things just in this world. You? No, God. Guess who is at work to make love apparent, manifest, obvious, clear in this world, God.
Like, somehow, we have to make ourselves our hearts, our souls, our lives, our communities, perfect or else God will not love us. But we know the story of Jesus, right? Like when he shows up, does he show up and go, oh man, you guys have been preparing such a great way for me, thank you so much. And everyone's like, see the road we made it straight for you. Is that what happens or does Jesus show up into an absolute bloody mess? Jesus shows up into deeply complicated lives and impossible situations, into the uncertainty of occupied Israel in a place where everything is falling apart. That's where Jesus shows up. And the prophets tell us this, both John the Baptist, and Isaiah, whom he quotes. Every valley shall be filled in every mountain and hill shall be made low; we heard it in our reading from Baruch as well today. And guess who does the leveling out? Guess who makes things just in this world. You? No, God. Guess who is at work to make love apparent, manifest, obvious, clear in this world, God.
Dec 05, 2021 |
Sunday, December 5, 2021 Rite II Holy Eucharist
| The Rev. Philip DeVaul![The Rev. Philip DeVaul](https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/uploads/images/philip-devaul_215_small.jpg)
Sunday, December 5, 2021 Rite II Holy Eucharist
Join us for worship this Sunday, December 5, Holy Eucharist, Rite II with music. The Rev. Joyce Keeshin, Celebrant and The Rev. Philip DeVaul, preacher.
Connie Golden on the organ and piano and additional music provided by the Church of the Redeemer Choir.
This worship service is also available live at 9:00 am on Sunday, and as a video following that at https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/online-worship/
Connie Golden on the organ and piano and additional music provided by the Church of the Redeemer Choir.
This worship service is also available live at 9:00 am on Sunday, and as a video following that at https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/online-worship/
Dec 03, 2021 |
Hoping for Normal
| The Rev. Philip DeVaul![The Rev. Philip DeVaul](https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/uploads/images/philip-devaul_215_small.jpg)
Hoping for Normal
"Perhaps the sadness and yearning I hear articulated the most by others in my life and in my job is how badly we wish things could get back to normal. But what are we really asking for? I wonder. I think I know some piece of this: I think, in the case of the church, people can’t wait until we can safely take off our masks, hug one another, sing loudly and just be together in ways that have made sense to us for most of our lives. I will not criticize that or disagree with it. I want that too. But I don’t think we’re actually saying we want normal. We’re scratching at the surface of something deeper.
In the church we call this season Advent. It is a time of preparation for Christmas. Jesus’ birth. We acknowledge our desire for the deliverance that is found in the coming of Jesus. Are we really just hoping Jesus will come back and restore normality? Is that our goal? Do we think salvation looks like getting back to the way things were?
I’m going to go out on a limb here. The things I listed above – the connectedness, the physical closeness, the singing and hand-holding and hugging and gathering in shared love and respect – I don’t think these things were ever normal. These were and are the transcendent things. We don’t miss normal. We miss the things that help us transcend beyond the normal and see the true presence of divine Love active in our midst."
Dec 02, 2021 |
Thursday, December 2, Morning Prayer, Rite II
| The Rev. Philip DeVaul![The Rev. Philip DeVaul](https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/uploads/images/philip-devaul_215_small.jpg)
Thursday, December 2, Morning Prayer, Rite II
Join us this morning, Thursday, December 2, for online Morning Prayer led by the Rev. Philip DeVaul.
To assist you in following along you may use your Book of Common Prayer (BCP) beginning on page 80. If you do not have a BCP at home, use the buttons below to use the online version or download a pdf version.
Our worship services are all available here and in our Online Worship podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify or ask Alexa, Google, or Siri to play the podcast “The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer Online Worship.
To assist you in following along you may use your Book of Common Prayer (BCP) beginning on page 80. If you do not have a BCP at home, use the buttons below to use the online version or download a pdf version.
Our worship services are all available here and in our Online Worship podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify or ask Alexa, Google, or Siri to play the podcast “The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer Online Worship.
Dec 01, 2021 |
Wednesday, December 1, A Devotion for Early Evening
| The Rev. Gary Lubin![The Rev. Gary Lubin](https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/uploads/images/dsc08258-edit-edit_242_small.jpg)
Wednesday, December 1, A Devotion for Early Evening
Join us today, Wednesday, December 1, for a Devotion for Early Evening, led by the Rev. Gary Lubin
Music, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," by Organist, Dr. Connie Golden.
This worship service is available here and through our Online Worship podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify or simply ask your smart speaker to play the podcast “The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer Online Worship."
Music, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," by Organist, Dr. Connie Golden.
This worship service is available here and through our Online Worship podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify or simply ask your smart speaker to play the podcast “The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer Online Worship."
Nov 30, 2021 |
Tuesday, November 30, Morning Prayer, Rite II
| The Rev. Gary Lubin![The Rev. Gary Lubin](https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/uploads/images/dsc08258-edit-edit_242_small.jpg)
Tuesday, November 30, Morning Prayer, Rite II
Join us this morning, Tuesday, November 30, for online Morning Prayer led by the Rev. Gary Lubin.
To assist you in following along you may use your Book of Common Prayer (BCP) beginning on page 80. If you do not have a BCP at home, use the buttons below to use the online version or download a pdf version.
Our worship services are all available here and in our Online Worship podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify or ask Alexa, Google, or Siri to play the podcast “The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer Online Worship
To assist you in following along you may use your Book of Common Prayer (BCP) beginning on page 80. If you do not have a BCP at home, use the buttons below to use the online version or download a pdf version.
Our worship services are all available here and in our Online Worship podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify or ask Alexa, Google, or Siri to play the podcast “The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer Online Worship
Nov 28, 2021 |
Why Wait?
| The Rev. Melanie W. J. Slane![The Rev. Melanie W. J. Slane](https://www.redeemer-cincy.org/uploads/images/melanie-slane_755_small.jpg)
Why Wait?
Why wait? I mean really, why wait? I saw a six-foot-tall
statue of Santa Claus, all decked out in crushed red velvet and a bell encrusted
cap before Halloween. We don't want to wait. Waiting
makes us uncomfortable. And I don't know why, but for some reason, right around
this time of year, we all revert to our toddler brain where we've got to have
it right now. Not in two minutes right now. I mean, why would I wait for my
groceries to be delivered in more than two hours when Amazon can do that for me?
Waiting has always been uncomfortable for people and waiting in an age of
instant gratification, well, that is almost unbearable.
Our reading for today asks us to lean into that discomfort. To embrace the Advent of the present age to sit in the discomfort and chaos and mess and see that the thing we are waiting for is already here. The Gospel lesson that we hear this morning positions us perfectly in a place of waiting that we don't want to be in. We don't want to be there in the fear and confusion and distress. The end of the world as we know it? The sea is roaring, the heavens are shaking, and I don't know about you, but the whole thing is so overwhelming. I'd rather just be unconscious for the whole ordeal. Apocalypse? No thanks. Armageddon? Come again? No, I'll take that little, tiny baby wrapped up like a burrito with all those little animals around and angels singing Silent Night. While stars glimmer in the sky shooting to and fro, Is Jesus here yet? Is it Christmas? Can we get it on the road?
Our reading for today asks us to lean into that discomfort. To embrace the Advent of the present age to sit in the discomfort and chaos and mess and see that the thing we are waiting for is already here. The Gospel lesson that we hear this morning positions us perfectly in a place of waiting that we don't want to be in. We don't want to be there in the fear and confusion and distress. The end of the world as we know it? The sea is roaring, the heavens are shaking, and I don't know about you, but the whole thing is so overwhelming. I'd rather just be unconscious for the whole ordeal. Apocalypse? No thanks. Armageddon? Come again? No, I'll take that little, tiny baby wrapped up like a burrito with all those little animals around and angels singing Silent Night. While stars glimmer in the sky shooting to and fro, Is Jesus here yet? Is it Christmas? Can we get it on the road?