Advent begins at Sundown

A Bidding Prayer Traditional

Beloved in Christ, in this season of Advent, let it be our care and delight to prepare ourselves to hear again the message of the Angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem, to see the Babe lying in a manger.

Let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious Redemption brought us by his holy Child; and let us look forward to the yearly remembrance of his birth with hymns and songs of praise.

But first, let us pray for the needs of his whole world; for peace and goodwill over all the earth; for the mission and unity of the Church for which he died, and especially in this country and within this city.

And because this of all things would rejoice his heart, let us at this time remember in his name the poor and the helpless; the hungry and the oppressed; the sick and those who mourn; the lonely and the unloved; the aged and the little children; and all those who know not the Lord Jesus, or who love him not, or who by sin have grieved his heart of love.

Lastly, let us remember before God his pure and lowly Mother, and all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore and in a greater light, that multitude which no one can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom, in this Lord Jesus, we for evermore are one.

These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the throne of heaven, in the words which Christ himself hath taught us:

Our Father . . . .

The Almighty God bless us with his grace; Christ give us the joys of everlasting life; and unto the fellowship of the citizens above may the King of Angels bring us all. Amen.

Christ the King

Luke 23:33-43

When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. The people stood by, watching Jesus on the cross; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

Sermon

Invocation

Welcome

Today is:

The Great Feast and Solemnity of

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

With a title like this, you just know that this celebration stretches back in the mists of history. Right?

Back to the days of chivalry, of knights & squires & ladies fair?

All the way back to, would you believe… 1925?

No kidding. 1925.

Why would the Church set up a feast for Christ the King in modern times, when most countries had either gotten rid of kings altogether or had shelved them in a ceremonial role?

Exactly!

Did you know that Christians did not use pictures or carvings of the Cross for the first 300 years?

They didn’t need to.

Because everybody knew what a crucified man looked like. They saw them every day. It was only when the practice of crucifixion of criminals died out that we needed to paint or carve crosses and crucifixes to show what Christ had done for us.

In this way, we had no need to set aside a Sunday to teach what in means that Christ is King, when we had free-range human kings running around making laws and giving judgments.

But, by 1925, human kings were getting thin on the ground, so the last day of the Church year was set aside as a Feast to the Reign of Christ.

But instead of reading a passage, like: the Transfiguration – showing Christ in Glory attended by Moses and Elijah; or the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday with the crowd shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David!”  - Instead we read today the mocking tablet, affixed to the horrible cross, “King of the Jews.”

What kind of king is this?

A king should be lifted up on a golden throne.

He is lifted up on a horrible cross.

A king should have an honor guard of soldiers to protect him.

          He has a detail of prison guards to punish him.

A king should have wise counselors on either side to advise him.

          He has common thieves mocking and pleading.

A king gives judgments from his high seat. Ruling on war & peace, life & death.

          Ah, here we are.

Hear the judgment of Christ the King, pronounced from the highest throne in all creation, words not of death in that place of death, but words  of life, of life eternal:

“Today you will be with me in Paradise.”

This week we will be reminded many times to give thanks. As we gather at our tables. As we gather with friends and families. We lift our eyes to the horrible throne of our bloody murdered King and say, with a heart full to breaking.

Thank You Lord Christ.

Amen.

Multiple Choice: America's 4 Gods

the authors to identify four conceptions of God among the American religious public: (1) the authoritative God, who both judges and is closely engaged in the world; (2) the benevolent God, who is "engaged but nonjudgmental"; (3) the critical God, who happens to be judgmental but disengaged; and (4) the distant God, who is neither engaged nor judgmental, and could care less about how humans muck about.


http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/november/21.65.html

Why are you an Episcopalian?

Complete the following:

(extra credit for short answers using only terms a seeker would understand in their ordinary every-day sense.)

"This unique Episcopal witness is articulated through the words of our Baptismal Covenant:"

• our particular manner of Sacramental ministry is:

• our understanding of Mission is:

• our fellowship is:

• our reading of scripture is:

• in worship, throughout the day, and at home we:

• our understanding of the importance of our monastic inheritance and spiritual formation is:

• our proclamation of the Gospel is:

• our treatment of every human being is:

• our particular gift for reconciliation and peace is:

• our work in social and cultural advocacy and just action is:

• our understanding of creation and the work of sustainable stewardship is:

• our understanding of service and virtuous citizenship is:

This list was extracted from a Christian Formation Presentation by Bishop Doyle, THe entire text is available http://texasbishop.blogspot.com/2010/10/uniqueness-of-christ.html  

Improve your Connection

Me______god

What do you need to improve the connection?

Rank 1-5 with 1 being the most urgent need and 5 the least.

_____ I need to learn how to better share my faith with those I love.

_____ I need to find a better way to help those who are in need.

_____ I need to learn more about the Bible.

_____ I need a richer prayer life.

_____ I need to take my worship to the next level.

In order to get what I need, I can commit to (circle one) 0 - ½ - 1 – 1+ hours per week, in addition to the Sunday Service.

My best time is (check all that apply)

_____ Weekday morning

_____ Weekday afternoon

_____ Weekday evening

_____ Saturday morning

_____ Saturday evening

_____ Sunday before worship

_____Sunday after worship

_____Sunday evening

Pharisee or Tax Collector - Who are You? Who is St. Paul?

The theme of Sunday's Lectionary is (supposed to be) humility and penitence. But apparently nobody told the editors of the RCL.

Luke 18:9-14

Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, `God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.'

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, `God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'

I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."

OK - Who are you? Pharisee? Tax Collector?

Now read this:
2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18

I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Who is St. Paul more like? Pharisee? Tax Collector?
And the lesson we should learn here is....?

Yes, I know. There is an extremely good distinction to be made about the context and target of the two passages. But do we really need to make the subtle point of distinction? Why? Just incase we happen to have an unsure Apostle in the pew?

With all of the NT writings to choose from the RCL Editors could not have found a better fit?

We are coming to the end of our first 3 years with the RCL which was supposed to be a preacher's delight and all I can say is "Please don't do me any more favors!"

Do you Sweat when you Pray?

Genesis 32:22-31

The same night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me." So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." Then the man said, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved." The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.

Wrestling, especially the ancient - naked - type is more than sport, more than combat, it is the human activity of the greatest non-sexual physical intimacy.

Jacob's night-long-bout with God earns him, and his offspring the most blessed of all names, Israel. The "el" on any word or name is always a give away that God "El" is in the mix. Isra-el is Strives with God.


This is the example God has given us in Scripture. He wants us to grapple with Him on the most intimate basis.

If your prayer life isn't breaking a sweat, maybe it should.