Christmas, as I’m sure you know, is, for Christians, a celebration of the birth of Jesus. He was born a helpless baby, in poverty, on the road, and threatened by an evil empire. Next Tuesday we will celebrate Epiphany, the day when the Wise Ones arrived with gifts and named Jesus as King. This is the story that we tell …
Epiphany
This coming week marks the end of Christmastide, which culminates in Epiphany on Monday. In Advent, we anticipated the coming of the Incarnation, the Anointed One of God, who will make everything new and set everything right. There is a great mystery in Advent, wonder and awe at what might be. Then the baby is born. As many new parents …
Signs of the Times
Those who know me know I love a good apocalypse. That means this is my favorite time of the liturgical year. As we slide into Advent, the lectionary turns to signs and warnings of the inevitable end. Not really what we have come to expect as retailers have for weeks told us it is Christmas time. As much as we …
Advent Conspiracy: Worship Fully (in which the author takes issue, as is his way)
This year Church in the Cliff is participating in Advent Conspiracy, which seeks to turn Christmas upside down, to remind us of the meaning of God coming into the world. Advent Conspiracy asks us to reconsider the consumerism of the Christmas season, to avoid the stress of malls, the debt of buying things we can’t afford, and the downright silliness …
Mark: The Beginning Again
It is a pretty well accepted fact among scholars that Mark’s original gospel ended at verse 16:8. Verses 9-20 were added quite a bit later, possibly in an attempt to harmonize it with the other gospel stories. Or perhaps the original ending did not test well with focus groups. Some find it to be a bit of a downer, full …
Mark: The Beginning (Program and Sermon Outline
Program Sermon Outline (loosely followed) I. Background a. Author 1. Traditionally Mark, associated with Peter 2. Unknown b. Occasion 1. Fall of Temple 2. Sack of Jerusalem 3. Resolving relationship to two communities a) Jews (1) Rejection by priests and scribes (2) New temple b) Rome c. Community 1. Greek speaking 2. Gentile 3. Persecuted d. Style 1. Crude 2. …
Mark: The Beginning
For churches that follow the lectionary, this is the year of Mark. The lectionary years are designated A, B, and C, which correspond to following the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, respectively. So this is Year B, the year to read Mark. The purpose of the lectionary is to give people a complete view of the Bible every three …