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The call to holiness

Commentary
First Sunday of Advent - C
Jeremiah 33:14-16
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Luke 21:25-36
Every year the church struggles with the same question. How can we honor the Advent season without the encroachment of Christmas? This is a question lost to the culture. Already in October, Christmas displays are up. Some communities celebrate "Christmas in July" with helping-neighbor activities. There are stores scattered around the nation that are totally devoted to Christmas all year, the largest being nestled in the quaint Germanic community of Frankenmuth, Michigan. The church has to recognize the dilemma it causes by hosting a season of waiting and watching before Christmas.

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
Ron Love
George Reed
Bethany Peerbolte
Dean Feldmeyer
Thomas Willadsen
For January 27, 2019:
  • What Are We Doing Here? by Mary Austin — In our fractured political climate, what could draw us all together, in a gathering like the one in Nehemiah’s Jerusalem? 
  • Second Thoughts by Bethany Peerbolte — Anticipation builds, the rumors of will they or won’t they spread. Every time they speak in public the expectation of a big announcement buzzes in the crowd....

CSSPlus

Arley K. Fadness
“Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (v. 21b)

Good morning boys and girls,

I'm practically bursting with joy to see you in this hour. Know why? I get to show my love for you by telling a good news story from the Bible.

But first, what do I have here? (show series of objects) I want to know what is the purpose of, for example, a fly swatter? (children answer)
What is the purpose of a cup? (children answer)

StoryShare

Keith Wagner
Contents
“The Challenge to be Humble” by Keith Wagner
“Forgiveness Without Limits” by Keith Wagner


The Challenge to be Humble
by Keith Wagner
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Sandra Herrmann
The word epiphany is from the Greek and refers to the experience of a sudden and amazing realization. Usually it’s applied to a scientific or philosophical/religious breakthrough, but it can apply in any situation in which a brilliant insight gives a person a different perspective on life or a problem s/he has been considering. For example, Archimedes’ famous shriek of “Eureka!” came as he was in the baths, contemplating yet again the difficulty of determining if a given mass would float.
Ron Love
Mark Ellingsen
Bob Ove
Bonnie Bates
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Imagine a worship service, a sharing of scripture and interpretation, that went on from dawn until midday. How would you respond? In many of our mainline churches a worship service that last more than an hour risks negative comments to the pastor. “Worship was too long.” “I have other things to do today.” “Can’t you try to keep worship to an hour?”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Some time ago there was a series of programmes on BBC 2 on the recent history of the Catholic Church. The series was called "Absolute Truth", and one programme looked at Catholicism in the developing parts of the world. It studied the work of liberation theologians in Latin America, particularly Leonardo Boff and Oscar Romero.

SermonStudio

Carlos Wilton
Theme For The Day
The church as the body of Christ is dynamic, unified, and organic.

Old Testament Lesson
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Ezra Reads The Law To The People

Special Occasion