If Momma Ain’t Happy, Ain’t Nobody Happy!, John 2:1-11, Second Sunday after the Epiphany, January 20, 2019 ***************************************************************** A fifteen-year-old boy came bounding into the house for dinner and found his mom in bed. He asked if she was sick or something. He was truly concerned. Mom replied that, as a matter of fact, she didn’t […]

Dirty Water                                                                                             Luke 3:15-22, The Baptism of Our Lord, January 13, 2019 ************************************************************ As amazing as last week was when we traveled with the Wise Men to see the Christ Child, or the weeks before when we celebrated His incarnation as a Babe born in a Bethlehem manger. This morning our Scripture takes us to the […]

How Wise Were They, Matthew 2:1-13, The Epiphany of Our Lord, January 6, 2019 ***************************************************************** Today is Epiphany, for those of us that closely follow the Church year calendar; today we get a rare treat. This year the day of “The Epiphany of Our Lord” falls on a Sunday. We should take special note and enjoy […]

Christmas Eve Eve, Luke 1:39-56, Fourth Sunday in Advent, December 23, 2018 ***************************************************************** Today is Christmas Eve Eve. I know, it’s not an official part of the Church year calendar, but maybe it should be. It is the day before Christmas Eve, and it’s really easy to get distracted by all the things of this world, […]

Roaring Camp, Micah 5:2–5a, Third Sunday in Advent, December 16, 2018 ***************************************************************** It was nothing more than a collection of miners’ shacks, a general store, and a half dozen shanty saloons, where the rough-and-tumble men of the 1849 Gold Rush spent their leisure time. It was called Roaring Camp. Bret Harte wrote about it a hundred […]

Clean as Mud, Malachi 3:1-7, Philippians 1:2-11, Second Sunday in Advent, December 9, 2018 ***************************************************************** The name Malachi means “my messenger”. His name could also serve as a summary of what he wrote, since he speaks about God’s coming messenger. Malachi says this Messenger “will suddenly come to his temple: and the messenger of the covenant […]

Waiting for Springtime, Jeremiah 33:14–16; Luke 21:29–31 First Sunday in Advent, December 2, 2018 ************************************************************Around many parts of the country, winter is in full swing. In other parts of the country winter has just begun. In South Mississippi, this time of year you never know when you walk out the door, whether to dress for […]

Time, Talent, and Treasure, Colossians 4:3, 5-6; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; Matthew 25:14-30, Stewardship Sunday, November 25, 2018 ************************************************************ If a genie popped out of a bottle and offered to grant you one wish, would you wish for more treasure, more talent, or more time? Let’s do a quick survey to find out our answers. The three […]

A Lot to be Thankful For, Deuteronomy 8:1-10, Luke 17:11-19, Thanksgiving Eve, November 21, 2018 ************************************************************ It’s a pretty safe bet, that the Gospel reading for this evening is very familiar to all of us. It is the traditional lectionary Gospel reading every year for Thanksgiving. And tonight, like last year, and the year before that, […]

Endure to the End, Mark 13:1-13, Twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 28), November 18, 2018 ************************************************************ As we approach the end of the Church Year, we are pointed toward the future, the end, when our Lord returns visibly in glory to deliver His people. The Church eagerly awaits for Jesus’ public, visible return, praying fervently that […]