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Christmas Eve December 24, 2023

12/24/2023

Introduction: In winter’s deepest night, we welcome the light of the Christ child. Isaiah declares that the light of the long-promised king will illumine the world and bring endless peace and justice. Paul reminds us that the grace of God through Jesus Christ brings salvation to all people. The angels declare that Jesus’ birth is good and joyful news for everyone, including lowly shepherds. Filled with the light that shines in our lives, we go forth to share the light of Christ with the whole world.

Readings: Isaiah 9:2-7/ Psalm 96/ Titus 2:11-14/ Luke 2:1-14[15-20]

Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson

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Fourth Sunday of Advent December 24, 2023

12/24/2023

Introduction: God keeps the promise made to David to give him an everlasting throne. The angel tells Mary that God will give David’s throne to her son Jesus. She is perplexed by Gabriel’s greeting and by the news of her coming pregnancy, but she is able still to say, “Count me in.” We who know that Jesus is called king only as he is executed still find it a mystery hard to fathom, but with Mary today we hear the news of what God is up to and say, “Count us in.”

Readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 / Luke 1:46b-55 / Romans 16:25-27 / Luke 1:26-38

Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson

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Third Sunday of Advent December 17, 2023

12/17/2023

Introduction: “Rejoice always,” begins the reading from 1 Thessalonians. Isaiah and the psalmist make clear that God is turning our mourning into laughter and shouts of joy. “All God’s children got a robe,” go the words of a spiritual. It is not so much a stately, formal, pressed outfit as it is a set of party clothes, clothes we are happy to wear. We receive that robe in baptism, and in worship we gather for a foretaste of God’s party.

Readings: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 / Psalm 126 / John 1:6-8, 19-28

Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson

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Second Sunday of Advent December 10, 2023

12/10/2023

Introduction:
John calls people to repent, to clear the decks, to completely reorder their lives so that nothing gets in the way of the Lord’s coming. The reading from Isaiah gives the context for this radical call: the assurance of forgiveness that encourages us to repent; the promise that the coming one will be gentle with the little ones. Isaiah calls us all to be heralds with John, to lift up our voices fearlessly and say, “See, your God is coming!” We say it to one another in worship, in order to say it with our lives in a world in need of justice and peace.
Readings: Isaiah 40:1-11 / Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 / Mark 1:1-8
Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson

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First Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 3, 2023

12/3/2023

Introduction:
Festival Choir sings the story of the Christ child. The world’s deep night is shattered by the light of God’s new day. The glory of God is revealed to poor shepherds, who share the good news with others.

Readings: Psalm 96/ Luke 2:1-20