Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Reading – Hosea 1: 2-10; Psalm 85; Colossians 2: 6-19; Luke 11: 1-13 Let’s return to our appointed collect for today. O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whomnothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply uponus your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we mayso pass…

Readings – Micah 5: 2-5a; Psalm 80: 1-7; Hebrews 10: 5-10; Luke 1: 39-55 People of faith make space for light shining brightly. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…. And God said, Let there be light; and there was light.  And God saw that the light was good, and God separated…

Readings – Numbers 21: 4-9; Psalm 107: 1-3,17-22; Ephesians 2: 1-10; John 3: 14-21 Today’s reading from Numbers 21 is a challenge. The Egypt-fleeing tribes of Hebrews were thoroughly discouraged.  Aaron, their high priest, had died.  The kings of Edom and Arad had rejected Moses’ request for travel through their kingdoms.  And they were tired…

Readings – I Kings 2: 10-12; 3: 3-14; Psalm 111; Ephesians 5: 15-20; John 6: 51-58 St. Paul wrote: …be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns andspiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melodyto the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father atall times and for everything in…

Reading — Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7,18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12 As we enter this second week of Advent, we are confronted with the words of John the Baptist. You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrathto come?  Bear fruit worthy of repentance.  … [he has] hiswinnowing fork in his hand, and…