The Birth Notice Luke 2.1-7
- Details
- Written by: Dale
- Category: Christmas and Epiphany
{podcast id=54}
The Birth Notice Luke 2.1-7
Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on 16 December 2012
Just the birth story without angels, prophets, shepherds or Kings. A human family story.
What are you shy of? 23 Dec 12
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
What are you shy of?
Some people are shy and don’t want attention focussed on them. Some of these feel bad about themselves. Others know they can stand up to scrutiny but just don’t want the attention. Some only want the attention when they are happy with the way they look.
When we come to the birth of Jesus, it is as though there are great searchlights focussed on him. Angelic announcers, a huge army of angels, all sorts of visitors, and interested investigators. And what do they see? No PR advisor.
A low class presentation. Not properly prepared for by the looks of it. Bunking down with a bunch of other visitors. Not even a decent bassinet for the baby. Certainly no private room.
Was this like your birth? 16 Dec 12
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
Was this like your birth?
Is it difficult to imagine Mary and Joseph giving birth to their first baby all alone in a stable? Not difficult if we accept the legendary story. Quite difficult if we think of it in terms of family and relatives and travellers needing hospitality.
Of course the traditional legend has a sub-theme of inhospitality. But it is pretty unlikely. Joseph is returning to his home town. He is related to many others who live there, and others who, like him, are visiting. There will be some clever relatives who will be able to plot the whole family tree to several generations, and then repeat it backwards.
Joseph is visiting among relatives. He is visiting in a society that set great store by family and hospitality. There is no way any relative would have allowed Joseph’s pregnant wife to stay anywhere than in one of their homes.
Getting the Mother Ready Luke 1 26-38
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Christmas and Epiphany
{podcast id=55}
Getting the Mother Ready Luke 1.26-38
Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on 9 December 2012
What Mary was told and what it means
The cleanup King 9 Dec 12
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
The cleanup King
At the time of writing the Duchess of Cambridge was in hospital with really bad morning sickness. And some of the eager press think this indicates twins. And twins has implications for the succession. And what if one is a girl and one is a boy? And what if the Commonwealth countries don’t all change their laws at the same time so that a firstborn girl can have precedence over a second born boy?
Maybe they both will be Kings and Queens of different parts of the Commonwealth, a bit like Narnia maybe? For the rest of us getting ready for a baby doesn’t seem as complicated as that. Although, choosing names, clothes, painting the baby’s room, equipment, finding an obstetrician, seem to soak up a fair bit of energy, not to mention any morning sickness.
Another future King gave his mother a bit of angst as well. No doubt she also had morning sickness.
Ready? 2 Dec 12
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
Ready?
For reasons that are shrouded in mystery we begin a new church year today. Advent Sunday begins the story all over again. And also turns our attention to the end of the story. The Bible story also ends where it begins, although in a dramatically heightened way.
Advent means ‘coming’. The story starts with an anticipated coming, and ends with an anticipated coming. The first coming took a long time coming. Lots of preparation went into getting the people ready to know who to welcome. And in helping them know who he was and why he was coming?
Who was the coming one? God, the Lord, David, David’s descendant, a powerful King, a servant, a despised outcast, a Spirit endowed agent, a commissioner for justice and poor relief, a shepherd, a victim ready for killing. A bit of a paradox in fact. Confusing in a way until you met him. Then you realise that your confusion was only half of it.
9. Getting Ready for the King Luke 19.11-27
- Details
- Written by: Dale
- Category: Luke
{podcast id=51}
Getting Ready for the King Luke 19.11-27
Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on 18 November 2012
If the King is coming, what do we need to know and do in the meantime?
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