There is no better role to play among the great than that of jester.
‹Denis Diderot›
Atlantis: the domain of the Stingray
29Dec
2013
Sun
14:00
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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First Sunday after Christmas

Luke 2:22-40

Christmas I 2013 Wordle
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD.”

In this morning’s Gospel lesson, 40 days have passed since Wednesday. For Mary, it was the time appointed for mothers who have given birth to sons to purify themselves, according to the law, and when firstborn sons were presented to the LORD. (cf. Leviticus 12:2-6) Therefore, on this first observance of the Presentation of Our Lord this year, for 40 days after Wednesday falls on a Sunday this church year, we begin in Egypt, to the time just after the first Passover.

25Dec
2013
Wed
14:48
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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Nativity of Our Lord

John 1:1-18

Nativity of Our Lord 2013 Wordle

Note: This sermon is an update to this one.

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”

Is that not an interesting way to begin a Gospel? St. John points to the very beginning, using words that would have us look at the very beginning of our Scriptures—Genesis. More than that however, he tells you that your Savior was there when the heavens and the earth were created: “In the beginning was the Word...” Jesus is the Word! He was with God in the beginning, and He is God.

24Dec
2013
Tue
21:17
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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Eve of the Nativity of Our Lord

Matthew 1:18-25

Eve of the Nativity of Our Lord 2013 Wordle
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

What is a just man to do?

19:28
author: Stingray
category: My Ramblings
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Ahh...memories

Merry Christmas Eve

18Dec
2013
Wed
13:54
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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Mid-week Advent III

Philippians 4:4-7

Mid-Week Advent III 2013 Wordle
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

It’s quite a stark contrast. As chapter four of St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians begins, he urges the church in Philippi to help two sisters in Christ of the congregation to “be of the same mind in the Lord.” Euodia and Syntyche are at an impasse, it would seem. They are butting heads. They are at odds with each other. Paul never says what’s gotten between them, but these ladies are mad at each other. Paul implores them to get along. He points out that their names are written in the Book of Life. (cf. Philippians 4:1-3)

And then tonight’s pericope starts. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Wait, there’s quarreling going on...why rejoice? Because their names are written in the Book of Life. Because the Lord is at hand. Because the peace of God that passes all understanding will guard their hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

12:13
author: Stingray
category: My Ramblings
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Christ in Christmas

okay...let's try this

I find it interesting and not the least bit questionable that the rallying cry this time of year from the American Evangelicals is to "Keep Christ in Christmas." They are easily offended, and their offense at this time is toward the phrase "Happy Holidays." Some are offended at the term "X-mas." To them, it detracts from the "reason for the season."

15Dec
2013
Sun
13:46
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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Gaudete

Matthew 11:2-11

Gaudete 2013 Wordle
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

There are two questions of interest in today’s Gospel. The first is the question John sends his disciples to ask Jesus: “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” The second is the question Jesus asks of the crowds around Him: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see?” Both questions deal with perception and reality, desire and the truth, and set these in opposition to each other. And both can be asked today, as well.

11Dec
2013
Wed
11:41
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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Mid-week Advent II

Malachi 3:1-2; Philippians 1:6, 11; O Lord, How Shall I Meet Thee (TLH #58)

Mid-Week Advent II 2013 Wordle
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“’And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,’ Says the LORD of hosts. ‘But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears?’”

The prophet Malachi, the prophet who closed the Old Testament, at which time there was about 400 years of silence—no prophet appeared among the people of Israel (cf. 1 Maccabees 9:27) until the new Elijah, John the Baptist (cf. Malachi 4:5)—first tells of the coming of the Lord. YHWH would appear suddenly among His people, whom they seek and in whom they delight. He will come to his temple.

4Dec
2013
Wed
11:31
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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Mid-week Advent I

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

Mid-week Advent I 2013 Wordle
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.”

On Sunday, we marveled at the humble coming of Jesus in the flesh and into Jerusalem to die for the world. With an eye toward celebrating that first coming, that first appearing of Jesus in the flesh to man—to the shepherds outside of Bethlehem—we always do so with an eye to His coming again in the clouds with judgment—to the “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” For, as we confess, this same Jesus, “Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary...shall come [again] to judge the quick and the dead.”

On that great and dreadful day, we shall see Him as He is. “He is God, begotten from the substance of the Father before all ages; and He is man, born from the substance of His mother in this age” (Athanasian Creed)...”very God of very God,” (Nicene Creed) and true Man. And on the day of Resurrection, we shall be as He is: true Man—for on that day, He will wipe away every tear from our eyes (cf. Revelation 7:17), this corruption will put on incorruption, this mortality immortality (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:53-54), and we will be whole; no more Old Adam, no more sin, no more death—in a word, perfect!

But you get that way through no work of your own. In this corruption and mortality, you are powerless and weak to effect such perfection in yourself. No, the Lord makes you...

1Dec
2013
Sun
16:44
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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Ad Te Levavi

Matthew 21:1-9

Ad Te Levavi 2013 Wordle
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dear people of God, “Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.” Your King is coming to you humble.

On that first Palm Sunday, that is exactly how the King of kings entered into Jerusalem—humble. This is no way for a king to enter into the city. Of course, a week later, we find the King crowned in a way that no king should be crowned or enthroned in a way that no king should be enthroned. But here is the King of kings’ chariot: a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. And there is the King of kings’ crown: thorns. And there is the King of kings’ throne: a cross. This King is executed as a common criminal after He had entered into the city as a common peasant. His coming then was humble...lowly.