Posted by dwhetter |
It is not often that we get to celebrate the 7th Sunday after Epiphany. Most years, because of the calendar and where Easter falls, we only get 5-6 weeks to celebrate Epiphany and so we do not often get to talk about these texts we hear today. In years like this we actually get to hear the entire reading of what theologians call the “Six Antithesis.” That is the “You have…
Posted by dwhetter |
Sometimes we have to make choices in our lives that are fairly easy and not really life changing decisions. Decisions like what to eat for breakfast and what to wear in the morning. We make choices like this all the time. Sometimes making choices in our lives is not so easy, is it? Sometimes we have to choose between two good choices. I recently spoke to man whose daughter has received…
Posted by dwhetter |
Last week we talked about being that lighthouse that shines our light on Christ in this darkened world. The season of Epiphany is truly a season that focuses on mission and that mission is one of sharing with the world who Jesus is and how Jesus is in each of our lives. The missional emphasis of this season is intended to shine like a beacon of light and hope in the dead of winter. We are…
I know there are a few of you who like to look ahead in the lectionary. So, for those of you who like to do that, as we read the texts this morning you might be thinking, oh, we’re not reading from the lectionary this morning, but we actually are. You see today is the fourth Sunday after Epiphany in the church calendar, so had we followed the lectionary for the fourth Sunday after Epiphany…
It was an absolutely gorgeous day. It was sunny with just a few clouds in the sky and the temperature was about 80°. There were about 35 of us on a very large catamaran just off the coast of the island of Roatan in the Caribbean Sea. We had arrived at the area we would go snorkeling and I was excited. The water was the most incredible blue I had ever seen and it was crystal clear. As…
Posted by dwhetter |
Grace and peace to you from God our Creator, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, who abides in which of us. Amen
Have you ever met someone that was so incredible or interesting that you had to tell someone else about that person? After my first date with my wife, Jill, I was only 17 years old and I can remember telling my mom, this is the girl I’ll marry. I/s…
Posted by dwhetter |
Grace and peace to you from God our Creator, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, who abides in which of us. Amen
On Christmas Eve, we read the story of Jesus’ birth from the Gospel of Luke and according to Luke “While [Mary and Joseph] were [in Bethlehem for the census], the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped…
Posted by dwhetter |
Grace and peace to you from God, our Creator and Sustainer, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit that abides in each of us. Amen.
Well, it is finally here! After weeks of shopping, buying, planning, baking, cooking, partying, celebrating, decorating, and for some of us, traveling, Christmas is finally here. Christmas carols have been playing on all the radio stations,…
Posted by dwhetter |
Grace and peace to you from God, our Creator and Sustainer, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit that abides in each of us. Amen.
One of my favorite Christmas songs is “What Child is This.” Do you know that song?
What child is this, who,
laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are…
Posted by dwhetter |
Grace and peace to you from God, our Creator and Sustainer, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit that abides in each of us. Amen.
Repent, repent, repent! Like a broken record, we here this word all year long, don’t we? As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our LORD, Jesus Christ, we hear, Repent! In Lent, when we will prepare for the death and resurrection of…