Sermons from December 2016

Luke 2:1-20 -- The Faith of the Shepherds

Posted by: Rev. Richard Bodini - December 25, 2016

This morning we journey with the shepherds who were the first to hear the good news of the birth of the Christ child. Of all the people to inform first, it was to these folks. The next to the outcasts of society. The field and animal workers. The stinky folks. Yet, to these people, the heavenly angel hosts bring the good news. These people are the first to arrive at the stable. These people are the first to worship. These people are the first to tell the story. Will you be joining the shepherds?

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Matthew 1:1-17 -- Skeletons in the Closet... A History of Jesus' Family

Posted by: Rev. Richard Bodini - December 18, 2016

This morning’s text isn’t the go to text for Christmas. Yet it is an important part of Jesus’ story. Each of us has a family history. Each of us has a “skeleton in the closet,” which means a secret or embarrassing fact about our past. Jesus’ has a past through His adopted, earthly father and through His birth mother. It is for that very family history that Jesus came to save us. This morning’s text isn’t the go to text for Christmas. Yet it is an important part of Jesus’ story. Each of us has a family history. Each of us has a “skeleton in the closet,” which means a secret or embarrassing fact about our past. Jesus’ has a past through His adopted, earthly father and through His birth mother. It is for that very family history that Jesus came to save us.

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Luke 1:26-38 - Faithful Mary's Story

Posted by: Rev. Richard Bodini - December 11, 2016

This morning’s candle lighting theme is “Rejoice.” Finding joy during this season can be difficult. Even in the most challenging of times, we need to find and exercise joy… jubilation, triumph, elation, gladness… because God continues to do wonderful things for us and this world in the midst of sadness and brokenness. Mary’s story is filled with joy and underlined with potential pain and embarrassment.

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Luke 1:5-25, 39-45, 57-80 -- The Faith Story of Elizabeth and Zechariah

Posted by: Rev. Richard Bodini - December 4, 2016

The theme for the second candle of Advent is “prepare.” We all get ready for something… school, work, dinner, party, birth of a child. Preparations take time and are done in advance. Elizabeth and Zechariah had a little more than 9 months to prepare for the birth of their son John. This morning we enter into the faith story of Elizabeth along with Zechariah. A trying, trusting, blessed story. One we can relate to.

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