Pastor Sullivan's Blog

In the Name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. This is the testimony of John. A ll men should repent of their sins and receive baptism for the remission of sins. John was something new. He was less like his father Zacharias, a Levite and priest, offering sacrifices, and more of a prophet, prophesying that the Messiah who was to come was near. That’s why “ Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him ” (Matt. 3:5). Many went out to confess their sins and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins. But not everyone. The Temple folk from Jerusalem sent a delegation of Levites to the wilderness, to Bethabara where John was baptizing, to figure out who John was. “ Who are you? ” they ask, to which John responds bluntly, “ I am not the Christ. ” Apparently some were of the mind that John himself was the Messiah. You can see why. He appears in the desert, preaching repentance and baptizing as if he were sent by directly by God Him...

Rorate Coeli, the 4th Sunday in Advent John 1:19-28 December 24, 2017 Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. John is in the business of preparing hearts for the coming Christ. Not much else matters to him, not even the glamour of being approached by an envoy from the Jews in Jerusalem. These men come to interrogate John. The Sanhedrin, the ruling council of the Jews, want to know just who John thinks he is. Countless others had gone into the wilderness to see a prophet, indeed, more than a prophet, the messenger who would go before and herald the Christ. But these priests and Levites aren’t interested in the message. They don’t come to hear and repent. They don’t come to be baptized by John. They come to ask, “ Who are you? ” There must’ve been buzz that John was the Christ because that is what first comes out of his mouth, “ I am not the Christ. ” Are you Elijah? They were asking this because Lord said in Malachi 4:5, “ I will send y...

Order of Holy Communion - pg. 15 Hymn # 75 Ye Sons of Men, Oh, Hearken Hymn # 272 When All The World Was Cursed Hymn # 55 Come, Thou Precious Ransom, Come Introit - Pg. 55 Rain down, you heavens, from above, And let the skies pour down the Righteous One; Let the earth open her womb, And bring forth Salvation. (Isaiah 45:8)   The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Their line is gone out into all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In the heavens He has set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber. Its rising is from one end of the heaven, And its circuit to the other end. (Psalm 19:1, 4–6) Readings Isaiah 40:1-8 Philippians 4:4-7 John 1:19-28 Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Advent Stir up, O Lord, we beseech Thee, Thy power, and come and help us with Thy great might, that by Thy grace whatsoever is hindered by our sins may be speedily accomplished through ...