As I write, it is two days from the annual celebration of “The Annunciation,” so I bring you a children’s sermon on Luke 1:26-38. “The what?” you ask. “What’s an Annunciation?” you ask. Well not many Protestant congregations mark the festive day, but it’s actually a big deal. “Annunciation” means “announcement” — meaning the day […]
A Children’s Sermon on Matthew 1:18-25 — Advent 4
Writing a children’s sermon on Matthew 1:18-25 is challenging in a different way than usual. The challenge? This text is such a simple, straightforward story that it seems like we should just read it to the kids and ask some wondering questions. But no. You want a children’s sermon on Matthew 1:18-25, and you shall […]
A Children’s Sermon on Luke 1:39-55–Mary and Elizabeth
Here you go: a children’s sermon on Luke 1:39-55 for the 4th Sunday of Advent. (You can find my regular Monday Meditation on this text here. One of my better efforts, actually, so check it out.) The lectionary has just the initial encounter of Mary with Elizabeth as the text for Sunday. Mary’s song is […]
The Annunciation — Luke 1:26-38 on Advent 4
On the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year B of the Revised Common Lectionary gives us Luke 1:26-38. It is the story of “the Annunciation,” nine months before Christmas. But we are in December, chronologically only a week-and-a-half before Mary will give birth. It’s all good. Advent is an excellent time to think about the promise […]
Monday Meditation: RCL Year A, Advent 4, Matthew 1:18-25
On the Fourth Sunday of Advent we finally seem to find what we thought the season was for: We are anticipating the birth of Jesus. This is the week of his first “advent,” or “arrival,” among us. The lectionary Gospel readings brought us here through a hurky-jerky journey. It is “Year A,” when the texts […]