Pastor Sullivan's Blog

In the Name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. The first Sunday in Advent focuses our attention on Christ’s first advent in the flesh when He came in humility and meekness to win salvation for sinful humanity. This Sunday draws our attention to His Second Advent when He will descend from heaven in glory. Before He returns, “ there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. ” These aren’t specific signs that each only happen once. These are signs that we see in every generation since the Lord’s ascension. We see signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars. Just last summer when we witnessed the solar eclipse. Because we live in a world where information races across the globe via the internet, we are acutely away of the dis...

Grace and peace be unto you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 1)         “ Behold, your king is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. ” You might ask why the season of Advent, and the beginning of a new church year for that matter, begins with such a text. It does seem curious that the season before our celebration of Christ’s birth starts with the account of Jesus’ arrival into the Jerusalem the week of His suffering and death. This text makes perfect sense on Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, since the events in the Gospel lesson happened on the actual Sunday before Christ’s suffering and death. But three weeks before Christmas? At the beginning of a new church year? On the first Sunday in the season of Advent? But in that one word lies the answer. The season which we enter today is called Advent, meaning “coming” or “arrival.” It is not so much a season of preparation for Chris...

Order of Holy Communion - Pg. 15 Hymn # 90 Come, Your Hearts and Voices Raising Hymn # 73 Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates Hymn # 95 Saviors of the Nations, Come Introit - Pg. 54   Daughter of Zion, Behold, surely your salvation is coming. The Lord will cause His glorious voice to be heard, and you shall have gladness of heart. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Jacob like a flock. Readings Micah 4:1-7 Romans 15:4-13 Luke 21:25-36 Collect for the Second Sunday in Advent Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Thine Only-Begotten Son, so that by His coming we may be enabled to serve Thee with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. Sermon on Luke 21:25-36 Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 1)          When a ...