The readings for that day are a trifle dark, combining anticipation with a little dread: "the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight--indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?"
Who indeed?
I have to admit, the minute I was invited to preach and looked up the readings, my favorite passage from Shakespeare popped into my mind:
If it be now,So that will be the leitmotif of my first sermon.
'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be
now; if it be not now, yet it will come: the
readiness is all.
Second, on Christmas Eve, I'll be participating in all the services (!), but preaching at the 12:00 p.m., with my good friend Rev. Lynn Sanders presiding. It's a tremendous honor to preach at the first of St. Barts' Christmas Eve services (followed by the pageant at 4, the Choral Eucharist (the Christ-mass) at 7 and then again, but with incense and extra brio, at 11 pm).
Keep me in your prayers and/or c'mon by!
Posts
2 comments:
Uh, John. I presume on Second Advent you're preaching at 9:00 AM, not PM. In any event, I'm going to try to make it to your 5:00 PM service, having done my duty to Grace Church Brooklyn at 11:00 AM.
EEP! Yes, 9:00 am--typos are my bane here, Claude. Would be lovely to se you if you can be there!
Post a Comment