"The Gifts of Christmas" December Sermon Series 2024

In Advent we celebrate that Jesus' kingdom has already come while we acknowledge that it has not yet come in fullness.  Between the tension of "already" and "not yet," our focus in Advent is often on the "not yet" as we look forward to Christ's return.  But as Karl Rahner reminds us ("The Divine Dawning"), Christ could hardly approach any nearer than he did when he "adopted our ordinary little ways so thoroughly that it's almost hard for us to distinguish him from the rest of fallen humanity."  After all, he "promised to come, and actually made good on the promise."  And still in this season of Advent we pray, "Come, Lord Jesus!"  As Rahner says, "It won't really be 'another' coming, because you have never really gone away. ...you have never left us."

This year our Advent sermon series will take a cue from Reformed Worship and focus on the "already" side of the equation--the very real implications of the incarnation for our here and now--the gifts of hope, love, joy, and peace.

December 1, First Sunday of Advent
Romans 4:16-25, Luke 1:5-25
The Gift of Hope

December 8, 2nd Sunday of Advent
A Service of Nine Lessons and Carols & Children's Pageant

December 15, 3rd Sunday of Advent
Romans 5:12-21 and 6:1-14; Luke 1:26-38 and Luke 1:46-56
The Gifts of Love and Joy
Including a Blue Christmas Liturgy of Prayers for Healing and Wholeness

December 22, 4th Sunday of Advent
Romans 5:1-11, Luke 2:8-14
The Gift of Peace

Tuesday, December 24, Christmas Eve (6:00 pm)
Romans 8:14-17; Luke 2:1-7, 8-20
The Gift of Jesus

December 29, First Sunday after Christmas
Romans 6:15-23, Luke 2:41-52
The Results of the Gifts