First Sunday in Advent,
December 2, 2018.
Jeremiah 33:14-16 [Jerusalem] will be called [the Holy One] is our righteousness.
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all.
Luke 21:25-36 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads because your redemption is drawing near.
O God, our righteousness: grant us the wisdom, the strength, and the courage to seek always and everywhere after truth, come when it may and cost what it will.
Good morning! Happy Advent! Happy Churchy New Year! Und fröhliche Leipzigerwoche! I’m so happy to be back with you after four months of time away. I’m eager to hear about how you’ve changed and grown while we’ve been apart. I hope you’ll find a time to talk with me so we can catch up; or if you’re new here, so that we can get to know one another. I have a lot to tell you about my adventures learning Quranic Arabic and learning grandmothering of a new granddaughter and a newer grandson. and my adventures in Queens, NY, Annapolis, MD, Roslindale, MA, as well as Istanbul, Vienna, southern Spain and Lisbon. I also have a lot to say about Advent and ways we might approach this season before Christmas. I have at least a dozen sermons that I want to deliver this morning, so I’m going to keep my time in this pulpit short because there really is too much to say!