Category: Sermons

Isaiah 58:1-12
Psalm 103:8-14
2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
Matthew 6:1-6,16-21

Collect:

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgave the sins
of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we,
worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you,
the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Isn’t it appropriate that Spring is in the air and Lent is here?
The word lent comes from the English word, Lente…” Spring” also Lengthen, “to
lengthen (daylight)”

We have been blessed with so much rain and we are all anticipating a beautiful spring
of wild flowers in the desert and especially in Death Valley. Is it possible we could get another Supper Bloom?

I have heard it only happens every 10 years. God may have other plans. We can anticipate a beautiful spring. Work in our yards and gardens to clean out the old underbrush that has accumulated
this past year. And trim off all the old branches that no longer nourish the plants.

Lent is a time that we do the same with ourselves and get rid of the old thoughts that
has hardened our hearts and minds. Start new by asking for forgiveness and nourishing our bodies with a new life in Christ.

Ash Wednesday begins our Lenten observance and is one of two days that we in the Episcopal Church fast (the other day is Good Friday). The Prophet Isaiah, “Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?” Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high.
Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble myself? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?

Share your bread with the hungry. Fasting is about humbling ourselves before God it is what will make us acceptable before God. It is “also” a time of prayer and reflection, confession and self-denial. We are reminded of our mortality and the fragility of life. Ash Wednesday is a day that we are marked with Ashes and a day to remember that We are dust and dust we shall return.

And

as we have the Ashes marked on the outside of our foreheads, “it is what’s marked on our hearts that matter.” Lent is a time when everything matters. Every word we speak, every action we take, and every choice we make matters. Every person we meet and every person in our life matters. Not only to us but to God.
What we do during the season of Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, “but” it doesn’t stop there after Lent, is should continue as our daily practice.

Gospel: (Matthew: 6:1-6, 16-21)

In the Gospel today, Jesus reminds us that God sees everything we do, we do not have to let everyone around us know what we are doing. We do not need trumpets sounding when we do something for someone. We do not need others to praise us. We do not have to pray in front of others to be noticed.

We do not walk around boasting about what we are giving up for lent or what we’re going to do in lent. All of this… should be done in secret with only your Father, who sees and in secret will reward you. We must go to that secret place of ourselves!! and “not” just open and slam the door shut again, but stay there and pray to the Father. It is a time I want to share my bread with someone. Not literally bread, but to extend my hand to someone that might need something, Even a kind word or a prayer. Every year I take a moment and walked around the stations…thinking about the life of Jesus.

Thinking about the 40 days he spent in the desert and then the walk to Jerusalem for his final days. I thought of him praying…always praying.

As I start my Lent season and I prepare my walk for 40 days with my lord, I want it to be a time that I deliberately spend time before God in a way that is different from the rest of the Church Year.

Prayer Support us, O Lord, with your gracious favor through the fast we have begun; that as we observe it by self-denial, so we may fulfill it with inner sincerity of heart; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God, for ever and ever.

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath

Last Sunday after the Epiphany

Year A
February 19, 2023

First Reading: Exodus 24:12-18
Psalm 99 
Second Reading: 2 Peter 1:16-21
Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9

Collect:

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; though Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Be Changed into His Likeness

Imagine Jesus on a normal day, walking with three of his disciples, Peter, James, and John.

Jesus had led three disciples with him, Peter, James, and John, high on a mountain while he prayed.

Jesus appears to them to be normal… when he asked them to come with him, but this was far from an ordinary morning, or an ordinary walk, because, as he prayed a light that appeared was so bright, it was almost blinding.

We all at one point in our lives have looked at a light, so bright, that we had to look away or close our eyes, because, it was so bright.

For the disciples right before their eyes, and while he prayed, the appearance of his face changed, it shone like the sun and his clothes became dazzling white. Jesus was transformed right before his disciples.

Suddenly they see Elijah and Moses talking to Jesus…they were so terrified by this, that Peter, not really knowing what else to say…says, Master or “Rabbi, maybe we shouldn’t be here, do you want us to go and prepare three dwelling places, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”? 

This may have been his way to honor them, by putting up three dwelling areas of worship for them. While he was still speaking, a great cloud overshadowed them…and a voice came from the cloud.

“This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” Jesus is completely, thoroughly, and fully loved by God.

Let us go back, they climb this mountain and are separated from the other disciples, then Jesus is transformed before them in a bright light, and two of God’s greatest, are there talking to Jesus about his own departure, his own exodus, the new exodus, that leads to his death, resurrection and ascension.

Next comes the shadow of heavy clouds and a Thundering voice out of the clouds….” This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him.

After this, Jesus was found alone, how do you think he was feeling? Did he feel any different? This was an important moment, it is set on the mountain, where the human meets God, and Jesus is the connection.

They start down the mountain and when they reach everyone else…they say nothing, they kept silent.

I think they talked coming down and they agreed to this, who would believe them and how would they explain it…after all Jesus is still there and they do not really know what is going on! 

But it is a key to the fact, that the identity of Jesus as the Son of God is reviled to some of his disciples.

Peter, James, and John have experienced the past, the present, and the future all in an instant.  

Conclusion:

I wonder how we would find that experience. I would hope we would be transformed in our own lives.

It is possible, that some of us have had different experiences in life, maybe not as clear and involved as the three disciples, but we… all have had our own time on the mountain of life. 

We all have connected to God in different ways, through experiences of our own, and through our faith.

And there are people still waiting for that one experience in life, that will help transform their lives, and believe more than they do. 

We will have times in our lives when our faith is being tested and challenged. It is not until we faced our own mountain to climb, the challenges and struggles, that we can discover our courage and then we are able to understand, that we will always rely on the Lord’s strength to give us confidence.

Jesus will always be there to help us transform ourselves, we cannot just have one experience and then say, okay, I made it, and I can stop there. 

No, we must come down the mountain with him and turn around and go back up again and again.

There is plenty of growing to do, and we must be ready for that invitation from Jesus to go. 

Keeping a strong spiritual life will help us to be ready when he says, come, we have another mountain to climb.

God spoke twice, when Jesus was baptized and, in this scripture, God says, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him.

Listen to him in Sunday worship, listen to him when reading the scriptures, and listen to him when you are in personal prayer.

Say to yourself every morning: Lord I am Listening! Let yourself be transformed. Be changed into his likeness. God, I too want to be your Beloved!

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath

Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany

Year A
February 12, 2023

First Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Psalm 119:1-8
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Gospel: Matthew 5:21-37

Collect:

O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

O God, The Strength of All Who Put Their Trust in You

In our first reading of Deuteronomy, God is telling the Hebrew people that Here, I have set before you, life and prosperity, death, and adversity, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments. Then you will have life and your God will bless you in this land.

The whole point of these laws for humanity that God lays out in the first five books of the Bible, the Torah, is that, we can choose life and the way to live now. 

Deuteronomy is not talking about everlasting life as we are taught in the New Testament, but it was about right now, here, with each other.

God wants to give us life and the best way to do that is, to follow His commandments. He says, “Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God.”

In the Gospel of (Matthew 5:21-37) A couple of weeks ago we had the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus, was giving us a list of how to live our lives in a positive way, that would benefit everyone. 

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. And Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Today’s scripture, can be terrifying, instead of reading a list of things that can help us choose life together, we read a list of different ways that can feel like, we can get kicked out of God’s family. I am sure every preacher hesitates in doing a sermon that deals with divorce or adultery and plucking eyes out, cutting off hands. Reminds me of some of the crime dramas we watch. 😊

In Matthew, Jesus is talking to the Jewish people that have become Christians. Jesus did not put aside the Laws, but has come to explain them. He quotes the Law and then comments on them. He quotes the commandment on murder, the commandment on adultery, the commandment of bearing witness. 

It is not good enough that one does not bear false witness, just when under oath, but always a person’s word must be truthful so that no oath is ever necessary.

In Jesus, teaching, he does want his followers to expand their knowledge and not only observe the laws, but expand on them in their lives, and inwardly (what is in their hearts) as well as outward observance.

We are called as Christians to grow according to the teachings of Christ. As Paul put it in the Epistle reading, God gave the growth, “The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive. For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

Living a life in Christ, walking in love with Christ, but also let your heart be in Christ.

Our calling is to be transformed daily in the way we live inwardly and outwardly in order to show the world that we can live together.

Conclusion:

We can make peace with our brothers and sisters if we wronged them. We can forgive those who have wronged us.  Sometimes we think it is not possible to reconcile with each other when there is so much pain that stands in our way. We believe in the risen Christ who not only suffers with us in the darkest of places but leads us out of darkness into light.

We can go to the Altar and give knowing we are living as we have been taught through the old prophets and through the teaching of Jesus Christ.

We are marked and transformed a little at a time by the grace of God. And above all, we have been shown a way of living, through the Beatitudes, the Sermon on the Mount, and the Ten Commandments, and it was made possible only through the Grace of God, who loves us, who has redeemed us from sin and who has made us Holy.

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath

The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple

Year A
February 5, 2023

First Reading: Malachi 3:1-4
Psalm 84 or 84: 1-6
Second Reading: Hebrews 2:14-18
Gospel: Luke 2:22-44
My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation

As the Christmas season is ending and on the Feast of the Presentation, also marks the end of the Epiphany season. …. 

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, is to officially, to induct him into Judaism, and that is celebrated by many Christian Churches with the Candlemas…like we had this morning.

Malachi 3:1-4

I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to the temple.

Gospel: Luke 2:22-44

Following the Commands of God:  

The Holy Family has come to Jerusalem, the big city of many people. 

The law says, that the first male is sacred. Jesus is to be presented in the Temple, an important tradition in Judaism. 

Mary has given birth 40 days ago and she has to wait to go to the temple for purification.

I close my eyes and imagine the sights, the smells, the sounds of Jerusalem. They are selling and trading goods, the markets are busy! As this family moves through the city… do you think there is just…

Maybe…. a little excitement on their part, because they know their son is special and they want to follow what God’s Word has commanded them to do, they bring the Child to be presented in the Temple, in obedience to the Torah. 

I think of it today… when a family is preparing their child for baptism or their first communion. How excited the entire family would be.

Along the way, they need to pick up a couple of turtledoves or two young pigeons, as an offer of a sacrifice, according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, and the turtledoves or young pigeons is all they could afford.

Two Prophets:

In the temple, we have two prophets……. waiting patiently for the Israel’s people to be restored and looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

As they enter Jerusalem, there is a very old man there, name Simeon. The scriptures tell us, this man was righteous and devout, and he is looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit…rest on him.

The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah and The Holy Spirit led this righteous man, to the temple; where he waited years.

Also, in the temple is Anna, she is very old herself, and for years she has never left the temple, she worshiped there fasting and praying night and day.

The Holy Family is met by Simeon first, who see’s them 

“Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; 

“for my eyes have seen your salvation” 

which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people of Israel.”   

Simeon has been promised that he will see the Messiah, the Christ, whose name means salvation and promise. 

He has waited decades with hope and trust and the fulfillment of God’s promise.

I don’t think it was because he could finely die and be set free to go in peace,

but the promise of salvation for all God’s people. 

Anna, at the moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Holy Family is faithful to the Law of Moses.

And…the two prophets, devoted and dedicated to God’s promise.  

Conclusion:

In our ancient biblical days having occurred a long time ago, they wanted and waited for the messenger of God to come into the temple.

They waited for years, decades and when you go by biblical years maybe centuries.  

We can’t wait 10 minutes in lines at the store or bank. We want fast food, faster service, faster internet…. can you imagine if we had to wait, so “our” world and lives could be restored?

The New Year is well on its way, we are looking to the promises of God to bless us with a new and healthy new year, because we have a loving heavenly Father who wants only good things for us, and a Lord and Savior who is with us in our good times and in bad times too. 

Today, right now, we have received Jesus in the Temple of our “hearts”. 

He dwells within each of us, we give thanks today that we have our salvation, because God allowed Jesus into our lives.

We do not have to wait for Jesus to come…but we have to show up! 

“In order for our eyes to see our salvation”, given to us!

Amen
Rev. Lola Culbreath

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Year A
January 29, 2023

First Reading: Micah 6:1-8
Psalm 15
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

Collect:

Almighty and Everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who loves and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, for ever and ever. Amen

Do Justice, and to love Kindness, and to walk humbly with God. (Micah 6-8)

Today our gospel reading is one that many of us grew up loving. We love and find comfort in His words; Blessed means happy or satisfied. Matthew emphasizes the moral teachings, of Jesus.

It is titled the Sermon on the Mount or the Beatitudes, I personally like them both. The Beatitudes proclaim that which is true and holy for those who choose to follow Jesus in living in “the kingdom of heaven.” 

Last Sunday we talked about how Jesus was starting to gather his disciples. He is now on a mission, God’s mission to teach, heal, and to give us guidelines on how we are to live. 

A few verses before in chapter (4:23-25) Jesus has gone throughout Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom. He is curing every disease and sickness among all the people. They are bringing him various illness, people with demons, epileptics, and paralytics and He cures them.

This brought great crowds that followed him for Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. Jesus is becoming known especially among the Gentiles.

Like many great prophets, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, and Elijah, Jesus went up to a mountain. The scripture says, when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. It was not until he sat down, that his disciples came to him.

Here they are overlooking a beautiful breathtaking view of the area. 

A large crowd also followed Jesus and his disciples. Many times, in the scriptures Jesus sits down to give His message. 

People during this time were accustomed to sitting on their limbs. Here they are, listening to this message from a great Teacher, respecting the Kingdom of God.

Jesus starts with Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Those that are poor in spirit, realize that nothing they can do can get them into heaven. 

They are powerless and helpless, which sounds grim, but they are blessed because Jesus has not forgotten them, and they are promised the kingdom of heaven. 

All the beatitudes are to help these people and us to know that there is hope in the world and Blessed are those who recognize their dire need for God, for God will bring them into his Kingdom. 

Jesus is saying that this honor, this blessing he speaks of, comes from the only one who can really give honor and blessing, the Lord God Almighty.

These 9 beatitudes, are Jesus offering alternatives, Jesus says there is greater happiness and joy to be had.

He says that there are other ways to become blessed and honorable, and merciful… counts for more than just about anything.

Many years ago, after listening to Jesus, I am sure people walked away and told others about this blessing of God, and because of that, we are blessed.

Back to Micah 6:8, 

What does the Lord require of you but to do Justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God.

Amen
The Rev. Lola Culbreath

Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Year A
January 15, 2023

First Reading: Isaiah 49:1-7
Psalm 40: 1-12
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Gospel: John: 1:29-42

Collect:

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, on God, now and for ever. Amen

The readings today are filled with promises of light, deliverance, of Thanksgiving and Grace.

I Saw Your Face for The First Time! 

When I read the first line of the Gospel today….” John saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

John is so excited, it was, as though, he sees Jesus’ face for the very first time!

I remembered something I had seen on the news years ago, a story on ABC News about a baby boy named Leo whose life changed when a pair of eyeglasses was placed on his little face. He has a rare visual disorder since birth.

They place his new glasses on his face and you should have seen his face… when he sees his mom. 

Up until then his vision had been blurry and he never had a clear view of the world, everything was fuzzy and out of focus. 

And then the video shows the moment they first put these little round glasses on and he looks at his mother’s face and that smile, “oh” that sweet smile, when he sees her face “clearly” for the first time.

There is no drought in his mind about who she is!!  No longer a blurry view, but it became clear to him that day, mom.

The Gospel:

Earlier in the chapters of (John: 19-23), the Jews, the Temple religious authorities; send priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask John,

“Who are you?” John confesses I am not the Messiah! And they asked him.

“What then? Are you Elijah?”

To the Jews, Elijah was the one they expected to come and prepare the way.

John, “I am not.” Are you the prophet? “He again answered “No” So they then said to him “Who are you?

This is when John lets them know, in chapter 23. 

“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”  

John has thousands of followers coming to see… “what it is he has to say!”

He also has disciples following him. 

What he (John) is doing is not recognized by the religious authorities and he is engaged in a ritual not sanctioned by them.  

“But,” what better timing?

All this is taking place in Bethany across the Jordan where John is baptizing.

Imagine, it was a beautiful sunny day, midafternoon by the river Jordan. 

And then:

“JOHN SAW JESUS” coming towards him and one of the greatest scriptures we have heard all our lives is said now!

“Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” 

John’s announcement! says it all, that the Son of God, is here for all, the world, all people, and not just the Jewish people.

John also testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

This is important…like the little baby Leo, who sees his mom’s face for the first time,

it was not blurry or fuzzy!

it became clear to the baby, that this was his mom with this loving face.

And it becomes clear to John, that when he saw the dove and it remained on Jesus,

it was no longer just a talking point, it was not blurry or fuzzy, but it was very clear…

this is, “The Son of God”.

The next day was becoming clear to everyone and many were still hanging around,

they wanted to see him again and perhaps get more information. 

John’s disciples are hanging around with him, just then Jesus walks by and he again….

” Look, here is the Lamb of God!” 

Today, we know sheep or a lamb, as someplace we get wool, in some cases, they provide for families all over the world, milk, meat and income.

In the days of Jesus, that was also the case, but in the scripture,

The lamb is more like innocence and purity, much like the image of the suffering servant which we read about in the prophet (Isaiah 52:7)

Or the lamb was also the image of God’s delivering his people from their bondage in Egypt. Where an event is in the celebration of Passover and the slaughter of a lamb.

Two of John’s disciples heard him say, here is the Lamb of God, and they followed Jesus.

“What are you looking for?”

Jesus said to them!

They said to him, “Rabbi” “where are you staying?” 

He said to them, “Come and see.” 

They stayed with him and later, about 4:00, John brings other disciples with him to see the Messiah and one being Peter.

Conclusion:

In all the Gospels, John the Baptist is the prophet who announced that when Jesus comes, the present evil age and finally and fully bring the realm of God, a new world,

is which all things would live forever in love, peace, and justice.

 What a dove suggests to Jesus…. purity, meekness, innocence.

It is not majestic like an eagle or fierce like a hawk or flamboyant like a cardinal, it was simple, common, innocent, the kind of bird the poor people could relate to. 

Jesus said “Come and See” They want to be like Jesus and to receive what gifts he has to offer, so they can be like him.

As Christians we do not want to impose on others, but! as Christians, we do what to invite people to come and see.

We have here at St. Martin’s, a worship life, as small as we are, we have a worship life that enriches and strengthens those who come.

We want to give people a sense of belonging and a feeling of a community that loves one another, just as God loved us and sacrificed his Lamb for us.

John’s announcement says it all, that the Son of God, is here for all, the world, all people

“Come and See”

Amen
The Rev. Lola Culbreath 

First Sunday after the Epiphany-The Baptism of our Lord
Year A
January 8, 2022

First Reading: Isaiah 42:1-91
Psalm 29
Second Reading: Acts 10:34-43
Gospel: Matthew 3: 13-17

Collect:

Father in Heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

“Let It Be So Now”

Epiphany Sunday is the Sunday between Jan 2 and Jan. 8, on which the Christian church celebrates the Feast of Epiphany. It recognizes the revelation of Jesus Christ to the entire world as represented by the coming of the magi to worship the Christ child.

Epiphany is the season of growing light, the season of the Magi and the revelation of Christ to all the nations, and the celebration of Christ’s baptism.

Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17

Jesus traveled about 40 miles from Galilee to the River Jordan where his cousin, John the Baptist is and Jesus will join the crowd of followers and be baptized. 

John says “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me? Yes, Jesus wants John to baptize him.

Why did Jesus need to be baptized? He had not sinned, he had no sin to repent, but he had come to earth to die on behalf of the sins of humanity.

Jesus being baptized was showing his solidarity with his community, and his willingness to be counted by all these other people of God. 

The Gospel tells us, by doing this, Jesus was fulfilling all righteousness. He was made like us in all things, sin only except for which he was clearly void, both in his flesh and in his spirit.

Baptism is initiation and the forgiveness of sins it is only part of the grace of baptism. The outward sign of Baptism signifies an inward cleansing of the soul, and the appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

More importantly, Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as children and makes us members of Christ’s body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God. (BCP 858)

In baptism, sins are forgiven and the baptized person receives the gift of the Holy Spirit. Sin is so deeply entrenched in human life that we cannot so easily be rid of it. So, what happens after you are baptized? We believe that you are baptized once but were called again and again to repent and ask forgiveness. 

“Just as Jesus came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.” And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

The dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, and a sign of peace. God is well pleased with Jesus and so he was baptized and anointed with the power of the spirit.

He and John were showing the crowds, and sharing a common message calling for the cleansing of public life, urging their followers to live a life worthy of the kingdom of God. 

Conclusion:

Today we remember that as baptized Christians we are showing the world that we are united with Jesus Christ and John the Baptist, we have a new life in Christ. It entails the whole of the Christian life, beginning with the denial of self, the willingness to deny oneself, “take up the cross and follow Christ. 

Jesus came into the world for all people, it sounds pretty fitting to me. God manifests himself through his son Jesus Christ, he comes here not as a King, but as one of us. And, His Kingdom is not of this world, but of the spiritual world. 

The Good news:

On this First Sunday in Epiphany, where Christians celebrate the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ.

There can be no life as we know it without water and Christians see the waters of baptism, as the spreadsheet of our new life in Christ.

The Dove functions is several biblical stories as a symbol of the presence of God’s Holy Spirit.

We are reminded that He brings us Hope, Joy, Love, and the promise of our Salvation.

As we renew our baptismal vows, we are following the way of Jesus Christ by those who are united with him by faith. 

It is our commitment of one’s self to God in Christ and living fully according to Christ’s will for our life.

As I leave you today, a reminder that we are called to follow the bright light of Christ Jesus. 

Jesus said to John “Let it be Now” I say to you today “Let it be Now” 

God is pleased with us and God loves us.

Amen
The Rev. Lola Culbreath

THE HOLY NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Year A

First Reading: Numbers 6:22-27
Psalm 8
Second Reading: Philippians: 2:5-11
Gospel: Luke 2:15-21

Collect:

Eternal Father, you gave to your incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus to be the sign of our salvation: Plant in every heart, we pray, the love of him who is the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, in glory everlasting. Amen

The Power of Jesus’s Name

Today is another long been celebrated as another principal feast day of our Lord: what today we call the Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. In ancient Jewish tradition, a child was circumcised and named on the eight days of life. The ritual was and is considered a sign of the covenant between God and his people, dating back to Abraham, about 1800 years before Christ, documented in the seventeenth chapter of Genesis.

In the New Testament, we have been told that God is the one who will give Jesus his name. Because God is giving Jesus his name, we can expect… this is very important about Jesus’s

          and the story of God’s love for the world.

In the gospel lesson for today, we hear that “after eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was to be called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.”

Earlier in the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel, God tells Mary that she will conceive and bear a son that she will call him Jesus. 

         He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High.

God is telling us who Jesus is, the name “Jesus” is a Greek form of the Hebrew name “Joshua,” which means “the Lord helps” or “the Lord saves”

So, this means today, we are celebrating Jesus, 

            the one through who the Lord helps or saves his people.

Names are still given in baptism, it tells us who we are, we are beloved children of God, members of Christ, and yes there are many of us who are given ordinary names.

I was always proud of my two names, because it was my two grandmothers’ names. 

I am sure you all have a story about your names and what they mean to you. 

All names our parents choose are important to us, because of our culture, religion, and individual choices.

What does the name of Jesus mean to you today? Is it the power of His love? Is it knowing that through him we are promised salvation?

In our second reading (Philippians: 2:5-11)

“The name of Jesus Christ is a powerful name that is above every other name.”

 It is the name that has the power of giving Christians whatever they need on earth.

Jesus, “God is salvation.”

God gave Jesus the “Name that is above every name” It is powerful, it is because of the sacrifice He made through living a perfect life, dying on the cross and being resurrected. 

Jesus’s name is powerful, because of Jesus Christ, the person, God incarnate, who made a way for our salvation.

Hearing the name of “Jesus” every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus is our savior and there is power in his Name!

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath

Nativity-The Birth of Jesus Christ
Year B
December 24, 2022

First Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7
Psalm 96
Titus: 2:11-14
Gospel: Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

Collect:

O God, you have caused this Holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of Light on earth, may also enjoy Him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen

Good News of Great Joy

Gospel: Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

Joseph and Mary have traveled 90 miles to the city of Joseph’s ancestors: south along the flatlands of the Jordan River, then west over the hills surrounding Jerusalem, and on into Bethlehem. 

Joseph was a descendant from the house of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged.  

While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn.

For hundreds and hundreds of years, they have been waiting for this very birth.

Isaiah 9:2-7

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; for those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them, light has shone. For a child has been born for us, a son is given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named…

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

I cannot tell you much about this miracle birth of the Messiah, that you have not already heard throughout the years, of being told repeatedly, how the “Great I AM” Jesus has come to live among us. A divine human and yet…. a fully human like you and I. 

We have heard the story before and like Mary, we have been waiting, praying, and hoping for this night. When the angel visited Mary and told her she would bear God’s Son and bring Him into this world, her answer to the angel was “Here am I” the servant of the Lord, let it be with me according to your word.”

This is how God intended it to be, a story that gets told for thousands of years, reminding us what a blessed birth it is, no matter… who tells the story about Jesus, the Kingdom of God will come on earth, as heaven.

We think of Jesus as “divine” at Christmas, but after Christmas, we focus on His teachings, the reason He came among us. He is the Jesus that cried with us, the Jesus that healed the crippled and made the blind see and the deaf to hear.” How His lessons and devotion changed the world.

“The Jesus who prayed and taught his disciples… how to pray.” “The Jesus who said “I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life! (John 14:6)” 

The baby born tonight! A baby wrapped in a white cloth, being held by His mother Mary as Joseph looks over them. 

And so, it is currently, when I, again see Him as divine Emmanuel “God is with us! 

The manifestation of God himself…as Jesus. 

He was not born in a temple, but in a wooden structure with a grass roof and surrounded by animals. Can you just picture how they must have felt…no place for them in the Inn? Because of the census, the town was full. They had a difficult long journey…tired, I am sure…they both knew the importance of this birth.

Was Joseph nervous? Did he say…but, my wife is having my baby, the Holy and Blessed one?  

I am sure Joseph and Mary were nervous, but they knew, that all had been planned out for them and this was how it was supposed to be told.

The Annunciation to Shepherds and Their Visit.

A star above, oh yes, the shepherds living in the fields…and the angel of the Lord stood before them, and startled them, by saying, “Do not be afraid; for see…I am bringing you good news of great Joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.  

The angels, God’s messengers are sent to the shepherds to give them the message, that the newborn Jesus has been born. It tells us that God sent his messengers to those who were the recipients of his promise—not kings, theologians, or even relatives, but those whom a grown-up Jesus would long to gather under his wings: 

Is it fitting that we have not seen the Christmas star for 800 years! And a couple of years ago it was here, for all of us to see and know that we are about to witness great joy for all people! It is a message for all of us and yes, we should have goose bumps.

What I can say is… what I feel still today and every year when I hear the Christmas story. That God meant it to be this way, that the birth of Jesus Christ was such a…wonderful gift to us. Jesus will always bring good news and great joy to all the people. 

As we celebrate Christmas this holiday, lets focus on the future and the gift given to us year after year. We should remember what happened long ago on a cold night in Bethlehem, that we too can be like Mary and bring Christ into the hearts of everyone.

Yes, as we look in the rear-view mirror of 2022, we pray for cures and healing of our nation and world. We continue to pray for the victims of violence, for those who lost so much in natural disasters, for those caught in endless wars. 

We also see all the good that happen this year and all the people and organizations that step up to help those in need. All the donations of gifts, food, and kindness. This is what we are to be thankful for.

May the God of Hope fill you with Joy and Peace as you trust in him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of The Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)  

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath

Third Sunday of Advent
Year A
December 11, 2022

First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10
Canticle 15 (Luke 1:46-55)
Second Reading: James 5:7-10
Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11

Collect:

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.

A Message of Joy and Hope

In the last three Sunday’s our lessons have focused on being patient while waiting.

These lessons can speak to each one of us in different ways.

Isaiah 35, Being joyful, using nature to celebrate the coming of God as Christ the baby, the dry desert will be rejoicing and blooming and water will break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert turning the dry desert into pools of water. This passage, reminds me of our desert so close by, like Ash meadows. It is as if Isaiah was there when prophesied this.

It invites us to reflect on this Advent season not only as God’s coming in Christ, but also as our coming home. 

Canticle 15 The Magnificat: Canticle of Mary, as a message of hope, the Magnificat focuses on those who receive God’s word and cast themselves on the might of His arm to deliver them.

Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11 

In the past two Sundays of Advent, our attention is turned to John the Baptist in our Gospel readings.  

After paving the way for Jesus to come, John was arrested and is in prison, he has been there for quite some time, and he hears rumors about Jesus and his ministry.  

 I think of it as Gossip! 

John is not perfect and he begins to have doubt’s, is this! the Messiah, that he expected? Perhaps another Messiah was coming and he was mistaken.

“When John heard in prison, what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for anther?”(Matthew 11:2-3) 

John had been preaching and prophesying and waiting for Jesus the Messiah to come… with a fiery of judgment on the people and maybe just maybe, the possibility, Jesus would come over and get him released from prison. After all, look at what he had done, for Jesus.

He is puzzled, because he expected another King, like David, a King that would deliver Israel. But here he finds out that, Jesus is out in the county side, performing miracles, and preaching mercy and compassion and love.

Jesus answers them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleaned, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.”

Jesus turns to the crowd and speaks about John, explaining that he is the one written in the scriptures. ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’

John’s purpose was to prepare the people for the arrival of Jesus who would be coming.

Jesus… was not coming to destroy Rome, later they would do that all by themselves,

Jesus was coming here to establish the Kingdom of God. He first had to travel, to heal, to show compassion, love and to give the poor hope. 

He was sent so that we would have eternal salvation. As Christian’s our hope is to live with confidence in newness and fullness of life, and to wait the coming of Christ in glory, and the completion of God’s purpose for the world. (BCP)

Conclusion:

Be patient, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is nearby. (James 5:7-10)

We re-examine our lives, how are we doing? When we see others, do we treat them with love as if they are also members of God’s kingdom? Every time we partake in the Eucharist, the benefits we receive are the forgiveness of our sins, the strengthening of our union with Christ and one another, and the foretaste of the heavenly banquet which is our nourishment in eternal life. (BCP) 

In this Advent season we are reminded that, we are also called to be messengers for Jesus Christ the one who is coming. 

How will we receive him, like John with confusion? I do not think so, we look with anticipation of his coming, we are looking forward in fulfilling God’s mission in this world, in this town and in this state.

This Advent, we pray for forgiveness and we wait with patience’s, for the coming of Christ our Savior, who is the greatest gift that God has given us. 

Good News 

Through God’s Prophets, Isiah, and John the Baptist we have been provided with the knowledge of what God has planned for us with the coming of Jesus Christ.

Our role as Christians today is to, reflect on the presence of God in our world today. Bring the good news to those who need it. Share his love and give people hope in the world today.

May you be happy, joyful and in good spirits this Sunday in Advent.

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath