Fourth Sunday of Advent - A

For June 28, 2026:

• After These Things by Chris Keating. Our world clamors for the efficiency of Artificial Intelligence. But trusting in technology can be a challenge, as shown in the story of Abraham’s call to sacrifice Isaac.

As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes true, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet (Jeremiah 28:9)."

The prophet Jeremiah may have been a little skeptical when he spoke these words about a prophet who prophesies peace, for as he said earlier in the passage, the default setting for prophesy involves war, famine, and pestilence. Nevertheless, he suggests that if the words of the peace prophets come true then the Lord has truly sent them.

Contents
What's Up This Week
"The Borrowed Book" by Argile Smith
"The Tie" by Craig Kelly


What's Up This Week

Frank was against the plan from start. He hated the kids from the Baptist Sunday School, mostly because there were more of them and they always seemed to have such a good time. The Church of England Sunday School was OK, although Frank found it boring at times. But at least there were some other boys there, enough to form a reasonably good five-aside football team.

There are some recent studies on racism that offer important information about our thinking processes for all of us no matter to what race we belong. These studies challenge the older idea that racial prejudice is something we are born with -- something inherent in our makeup. They show that even when we have a negative gut reaction to someone based on race, we can override that reaction with our rational thought processes.1

Abraham was an experienced listener. Perhaps once or twice he had listened too well. In the matter of Sarah's servant woman, he listened to his wife on at least two occasions when his listening created some really serious problems. But let's leave that detail right there, and go on to things of greater importance.

If we took this chapter seriously, we would probably wish that Matthew had never written it. Or, if he did write it, he should have eliminated the first 39 verses, and included only the last three. When we examine it carefully, or not so carefully, we discover that it turns our usual thinking about discipleship upside down.

I

Our narrative begins with Jacob's sending his family across the Jabbok stream while staying behind to spend the night alone. Tomorrow he must face his brother, Esau, whom he has not seen since he escaped after stealing Esau's blessing and having fleeced him out of his birthright. Jacob does not know how his brother will receive him… but several possibilities have occurred to him -- none of them positive.

It should come as no surprise that Jacob got little sleep that night. Who could sleep well, knowing that one must stand in front of an angry brother and beg for forgiveness?

A misguided bird gets loose in the sanctuary and every eye in the congregation drifts toward the ceiling. Never mind that the choir is continuing to sing the anthem they have been working on for weeks just for this special occasion. The lost bird has totally interrupted the proceedings and besides, most would have to admit, its flight was much more entertaining. "I was so afraid that bird was going to land on your head -- but I'm sure the choir understands," is the comment heard from a number of people at the close of the service.

Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina sits on property that was once a large southern plantation. The land was given to the Roman Catholic Church and they built an abbey and college on the property. The monks found a huge granite stone on that property upon which men, women, and children stood centuries ago and were sold as slaves. The monks took the stone and hollowed out a hole in the top and carried it into the abbey's chapel, where to this day it serves as a baptismal font. The engraving on it reads: "Upon this rock men were once sold into slavery.

Did you hear about the farm boy who always wondered what would happen if he twisted the tail on the mule? One day he tried it. And now they say about him, he's not as pretty as he used to be, but he's a whole lot wiser.

When I was a young man, I wondered what my life would be like if I became a pastor in answer to God's call. Now, thirty years later, I'm not as pretty as I used to be, but I am a lot wiser.

Earlier this week somebody asked what the sermon was about. I said, "I'm preaching about slavery." That was a good way to stop a conversation.

Call To Worship
One: With joy and celebration,
God welcomes us to this place.
All: How good it is to gather in God's house!
One: With joy and celebration,
we welcome one another.
All: We greet each other by name;
we are equal in God's kingdom.
One: We open our hearts, to welcome God's love;
we open our arms, to welcome God's people.
All: Here, every single one of God's children is welcome.

Prayer Of The Day
You have invited us
to this place,
Accepting God,

Greeting Of Peace
P: From every land and nation,
every city and home,
C: whoever welcomes you welcomes me,
and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
P: From every family,
rich and poor, small and large,
C: whoever welcomes you welcomes me,
and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
P: From the barrios and the colonias,
from the neighborhoods of affluence,
C: whoever welcomes you welcomes me,
and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.

The children gather on the playground for a game: perhaps kickball, or basketball, or touch football. All the eligible players line up in front of the two captains, and then the great process begins: picking teams.

Perhaps some of the kids stand quietly, even shyly, waiting, hoping to be picked. Not the eager ones, though. They do not stand quietly. They raise and wave their hands! "Hey, over here! Pick me! Pick me!"

Nowadays it is hard for any television viewer to avoid the reality show genre where "real people" are forced into a variety of contests against each other in order to win the grand prize. I think it would be interesting to add this approach to a group of preachers to see what would happen. Who would be kicked off the island first? Who would be cut from the team? Who does not come back to compete next week?

Robert Maynard once told how he became a writer. The journey, he said, began when he was a young boy walking to school one morning. He came to a fresh patch of concrete in the sidewalk. Somebody had just finished troweling it smooth, and it was just waiting for him!

He bent over to write his name in the cement, when suddenly there was a hulking shadow engulfing him. Looking up in terror he saw the biggest construction mason he had ever seen in his life! The guy was holding a garbage can lid, ready to smash the first little kid who dared mess up his new sidewalk!

Parents and Teachers: This morning's lesson is about rewards. Focus your attention on how young children can feel that they make a contribution to their church. In this way, they may feel that their contribution is rewarding to all members.