Author Archives: stjohn

Second Sunday after Christmas

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK:

First reading

Jeremiah 31:7-14 or Sirach 24:1-12

Psalm

Psalm 147:12-20 or Wisdom of Solomon 10:15-21

Second reading

Ephesians 1:3-14

Gospel

John 1:(1-9), 10-18

The gospel from John
God with us
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

(John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahe ad of me because he was before me.'”) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

No one has ever seen God. It is the only Son, himself God, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

First Sunday after Christmas Day

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK:

First Reading

1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26

Psalm

Psalm 148

Second reading

Colossians 3:12-17

Gospel

Luke 2:41-52

The gospel from Luke:
Jesus increased in favor with all

Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents were unaware of this. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

When his parents saw him they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously looking for you.” He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them.

Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them, and his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years and in divine and human favor.

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The sermon:
This is lectionary Year C in which our gospel readings are from Luke, the third of four gospels in the New Testament. Luke reads like history. It unfolds the story of Jesus. It is commonly believed that Luke also wrote the book of Acts. Luke contains the Parables. It does not moralize the stories. In several places it refers to the Old Testament. Luke was obviously an educated man. Our first reading is from Samuel. Sanuel was turned over to Eli at a yound age. Both Jesus and Samuel knew what roles they would play as adults. Pastor Stevensen continues
with more on the education of Jesus and how it has affected our lives.

Fourth Sunday in Advent

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK:

First reading

Micah 5:2-5a

Psalm

Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80:1-7

Second reading

Hebrews 10:5-10

Gospel

Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)

The gospel from Luke
Blessed are you among women.

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant. Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name 50indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. He has come to the aid of his child Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

Sermon:
In our gospel reading from Luke, Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant.” She said “My soul magnifies the Lord”, The word “magnifies” comes from the Latin word meaning praises or extols. Mary admits her lowly state. Why did God choose Mary? Pastor Stevenson helps us understand why.

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Third Sunday of Advent

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK:

First Reading

Zephaniah 3:14-20

Psalm

Isaiah 12:2-6

Second reading

Philippians 4:4-7

Gospel

Luke 3:7-18

The gospel from Luke:
One more powerful is coming

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” And the crowds asked him, “What, then, should we do?”

In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none, and whoever has food must do likewise.”

Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.”

Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah. John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” So with many other exhortations he proclaimed the good news to the people.

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Second Sunday after Advent

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK:

First reading

Baruch 5:1-9 or Malachi 3:1-4

Psalm

Luke 1:68-79

Second reading

Philippians 1:3-11

Gospel

Luke 3:1-6

Prepare the way of the Lord

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.

Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'”Prepare the way of the Lord

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'”

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First Sunday of Advent

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK:

First reading

Jeremiah 33:14-16

Psalm

Psalm 25:1-10

Second reading

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Gospel

Luke 21:25-36

The gospel from Luke:
Watch for the coming of the Son of Man

Jesus said “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Reign of Christ

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK:

First reading and Psalm

2 Samuel 23:1-7 Psalm 132:1-12, (13-18)

Alternate First reading and Psalm

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 Psalm 93

Second reading

Revelation 1:4b-8

Gospel

John 18:33-37

The gospel from John:
The kingdom of Christ
Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?”

Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?”

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

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Twenty Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK:

First reading and Psalm

1 Samuel 1:4-20 1 Samuel 2:1-10

Alternate First reading and Psalm

Daniel 12:1-3 Psalm 16

Second reading

Hebrews 10:11-14, (15-18), 19-25

Gospel

Mark 13:1-8

The gospel from Mark:
The end and the coming of the Son

As Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!”Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”

When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?”

Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

Twenty Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK:

Alternate First reading and Psalm

1 Kings 17:8-16 Psalm 146

Second reading

Hebrews 9:24-28

Gospel

Mark 12:38-44

The psalm:

Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!

I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help.

When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish.

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God,

who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever;

who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free;

the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.

The LORD watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD!

The gospel from Mark
A widow’s generosity

As Jesus taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny.

Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

The sermon:
Pastor Stevenson’s message today is on both the psalm and the gospel. Psalm 146 begins with verses that read “Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.” This psalm is a lectionary reading every four years – election year in which there is a winner and a loser. We are in the season of several festivals ending with Christ the King Sunday. And it is these when we make our financial pledges. Money raised can be wasteful, but not at St John, The pastor is expected to raise money, but not our pastor, even though we will be needing a new furnace boiler. In our gospel lesson Jesus observes a poor widow donating one cent in the temple. At St John giving what we can is enough. Pastor Stevenson continues with his remarks on the psalm and gospel…………

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All Saints Day

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK:

• Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 or Isaiah 25:6-9 and Psalm 24
• Revelation 21:1-6a
• John 11:32-44

The gospel from John:

The raising of Lazarus
When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 3When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved.He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus began to weep

So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”d But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.

Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.”

When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him and let him go.”

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