Father Dave Ivester

• Also, Jerry Leckie and Mark De Spain

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 *Dec 15 (Matt 11:2) – The Third Sunday in Advent

• Theme: John the Baptist has completed his mission, and the events of the gospel point to the transition from the covenant of God to Abraham to the new covenant through Jesus Christ and sanctification through the Spirit rather than the law of Moses. While the imprisonment of John is tragic and will soon lead to this murder at the hand of Herod. Jesus seems unconcerned with the fate of John. Indeed, scripture indicates the Jesus never mourned the death of any person, but most often expressed compassion for the survivors or distress over the lack of faith of those who should know better. There are three people that Christ raised from the dead. Raising the dead brings to mind the original creation of man as relayed in Genesis and the first chapter of John in which we learn that Christ, as the Word, was the light of men. Physical light is interesting because science tells us that all things are held together because of the action of light, both visible and invisible, that energizes the bonding of atoms to form physical structures. In the book of Colossians we learn that “…all things hold together” in Christ, and elsewhere we learn that God is light. Taken at face value, light is the very presence of God in the universe, though God is much, much more than light. The bottom line: there is only one truth that encompasses both spiritual and physical reality. In fact there are not two realities, only one, which is in Christ.

 *Dec 8 (Luke 21:25) – The Second Sunday in Advent

• Theme: The Second Sunday in Advent is a message of peace between God and man, but the reading speaks of the second coming of Christ at a time when “…men’s hearts failing them for fear…” and “…the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” This hardly seems a time of peace. However, the called will be filled with joy when “…they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” The world is now troubled by uncertainty and conflict. Revelation chapter 12 speaks of warfare in heaven. Believers are told to put on all the armor of God in Ephesians. But it is God that fights the battles, and in Revelations 12 we are told that Satan, the accuser, has been thrown down from heaven and now is our time for rejoicing.

 *Dec 1 (Matt 21:1) – The First Sunday in Advent

• Theme: The First Sunday in Advent highlights the hope that believers have in the coming of Christ. The triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem, that Matthew recounts in today’s gospel message, calls attention to our hope that Christ will soon return and establish his kingdom here on a new, restored earth in which all will live in peace in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. When Christ paid the price for all the sins of the world by dying on the cross he transformed how God the Father views those who believe. When Job was on the earth, Satan would accuse the faithful of terrible failures and sins, but Satan can no longer stand before God and accuse the faithful, because we are covered by the righteousness of Christ. Amen!

 *Nov 24 (John 6:5) – Sunday Next Before Advent

• Theme: Advent is a time of preparation for the appearing of our Lord on this earth. It is not just a time of expectation, but an opportunity to prepare our hearts to receive the blessing of salvation. There are many ways to prepare our hearts, but most especially we should expect that Jesus might return again at any time. Like the ten virgins who were focused on the return of their Lord, and always had oil in their lamps ready for his sudden appearing. The oil represents the preparation of their hearts and devotion to the work their master had laid out before them. Each must look after their own hearts and spiritual welfare. No one can do the work for another, but all can encourage and lift one another up in prayer and grace.

 *Nov 17 (Matt. 24:23) – Mark De Spain – Twenty Fifth Sunday after Trinity

• Theme: The gospel reading is part of a long sequence of events in which Jesus is preparing his disciples for the events affecting Israel and the Church after he ascends into heaven. Beginning in chapter 22 Jesus challenges the Jews to explain how the Christ can be both the son of David and his Lord. They are speechless, but Jesus is not done with them. In chapter 23 he condemns the Pharisees with the seven Woes and effectively vacates Israel as the seat of God’s love and salvation to the world. Hence forth, only Christ will properly represent the Father to the world. In 24 he sets the stage for the “end times” which stretch from his ascension until his return in the clouds. In the interim we are to be ready for his return by doing the work of the Kingdom and multiplying our talents. We are not to give any credence to those who claim to be Christ, but who are of this earth. We are called to be prepared and devoted to the Kingdom until his appearing in the clouds.

 *Nov 10 (Matt. 9:18) – Twenty Fourth Sunday after Trinity

• Theme: Faith that is true will endure through all trials because our faith is in Christ who is in heaven. Our treasure in heaven is our faith and there it is incorruptible, that will not decay nor fail. Those who live this life for themselves or have faith in anything other than Christ have a foundation of sand, but those who believe in Christ cannot be moved because they are rooted in the rock that is Christ. Those who try to control their own lives, often “draw a line in the sand” but they are standing on sand which will not last and their line will be washed away by the storms of life.

 *Nov 3 (Rev. 7:2) – Twenty Third Sunday after Trinity

• Theme: All Saints Day.

 *Oct 20 (Eph. 6:10-20) – Mark De Spain – Twenty First Sunday after Trinity

• Theme: In Ephesians Paul tells us to “Put on the whole armor of God.” Is he telling us to prepare for battle, because a war is coming? There is a war, but Paul’s objective in his message is for us to be at peace. Surprisingly, Paul tells us that the conflict is not with people, even though our disagreements always seem to be with people. However, the real problem is the evil we embrace because of our fallen natures. We often react to others out of fear for ourselves and our future. The most common command of God in scripture is “Fear not,” which also includes a promise that he is always with us. The armor of God protects us and equips us to deal with the flaming darts of the evil one. With the armor we are able to withstand in the day of evil, and we are to stand firm.

 *Oct 13 (Eph. 5:15-21) – Twentieth Sunday after Trinity

• Theme: Paul tells us that the “days are evil.” While evil has always been with us, there has never before been the present condition where evil can spread so quickly to so many. Christ told us that this condition would happen, and we are living in this unfortunate situation. While these times are challenging, they are also ripe with opportunity to live out a life of faith in the Spirit, to the glory of God and to the benefit of those around us. Paul encourages us to submit one to another, and to give thanks for all things, even the difficulties we encounter in these troubled times. By doing so, we submit to the will of God and to his grace in all things.

 *Sept 22 (Eph. 4:1-6) – Mark De Spain – Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity

• Theme: We are called of Christ with a vocation to be like Christ in this world. Specifically, we are to walk worthily of being called, to deny ourselves and our own sense of righteousness. Rather we are to walk in lowliness and meekness, treating one another with kindness and forbearance, being patient in the Spirit in a bond of peace.

 *Sept 15 (Eph. 3:13-21) – Mark De Spain – Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity

• Theme: Why is there confusion regarding predestination and free will? It is because there is confusion about the timeless nature of God’s existence. The most important event in history is the life of Christ. All of history depends on Christ coming into the world. Therefore, all of history and the future, from the first promise of God to send a savior in the Garden to the final trumpet that ushers in the eternal kingdom of God is dependent on the life of Christ. Without Christ on this earth, and without the faith of those who believed God from the time of the first promise, there would be no history.

 *Sept 8 (Matt 6:24-34) – Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity

• Theme: God is faithful to provide our every need even, or perhaps, especially when we have nothing or very little. Besides the necessities, God will always provide an excess of the Spirit to guide us through the difficult times. God tells us not to worry about the stuff we cannot take with us, but to trust him day by day for what is necessary. Christ did not say, “don’t plan for tomorrow,” but he did say “don’t worry about tomorrow.” Jesus never said we would have not have sorrow, or difficulties, or dark days, but he did say that he has overcome the darkness, and when we turn to him he gives us comfort to enable us to get through the dark days.

 *Sept 1 (Luke 17:11-19) – Jerry Leckie – Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity

• Theme: In Luke’s account of the ten lepers who cry out to Jesus to heal them, he relates a story of hope for mankind in a setting that is packed full of symbolism, history and Jewish law. The ten lepers represents the number symbolizing the perfection and completion of God’s plan, which included the Ten Commandments, the ten plagues on Egypt, and the story of the ten virgins warning mankind to always be prepared for the return of Christ. Jesus told the ten lepers to go and show themselves to the priests, and they were cured on their way, but only the Samaritan returned to worship Christ. They all demonstrated belief in the power of Christ by departing before they were healed, but only the Samaritan expressed the faith that would make him whole.

 *Aug 25 (Gal. 3:16-22) – Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity

• Theme: The promise God made to Abraham, that he would be the father of a multitude and that all nations would be blessed through him, is still in effect. As Paul discusses, the promise was not nullified by the Law. The Law was given because of transgression until the time of Christ to clearly put all mankind into awareness of their sinful nature until the one who can release us from bondage to sin should come.

 *Aug 18 (Mark 7:31-37) – Mark De Spain – Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

• Theme: In the 7th chapter of Mark, the ministry of Jesus takes an unexpected direction when Jesus heads into gentile controlled areas, first to Tyre and Sidon were he exorcised a demon from a gentile woman, and then into the Decapolis where he healed a deaf/mute man. Here the gentiles turned to Christ as a prophet of the one, true God who heals the sick and ministers to those in need, with words of eternal truth and with acts of mercy. Jesus fed 4000 gentiles in the Decapolis after they gathered to hear the words of Christ, and were with him three days even though they had nothing to eat. The faith and worship of the gentiles was in stark contrast with the arrogance of the ruling Jews who questioned Christ and challenged him to provide a sign from heaven.

 *Aug 11 (1 Cor. 15:1-11) – Eleventh Sunday after Trinity

• Theme: How often do you consider the significance of the resurrection in your daily life. In the very next verses after our epistle reading, Paul says: “…how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.” Paul goes on to say that if Christ is not raised our faith is futile, and you are still in your sins. In other words there is no hope of any newness of life and certainly no hope of any life after this one. The resurrection of Christ is our hope not only of eternal life, but also freedom from sin.

 *Aug 4 (Luke 9:28-36) – Jerry Leckie – Transfiguration Sunday

• Theme: The Transfiguration of Christ is one of those events that the apostles, specifically Peter, James and John, would not understand until after the resurrection. Apparently, the apostles thought that Jesus would begin his earthly reign with Moses, representing the Law, and Elijah, representing the prophets, at his side. Impetuous Peter was prepared to build the three shelters while they worked out the details of the Kingdom of God on earth. Little did they know that the Kingdom would reign in their hearts through the Spirit, and the Transfiguration was that final interlude between the Father and Son prior to the final sacrifice and obedience of the Son to the ultimate purposes and will of the Father.

 *July 28 (Luke 15:11-32) – Ninth Sunday after Trinity

• Theme: Temptation is always at our door, but Jesus through the Holy Spirit can guide us through if we depend on him. In the temptation of Christ, our Lord showed us how to resist Satan and our own natures through scripture and prayer. Adam and Eve had every blessing, but they did not have the scripture, and they did not know to pray when Eve was deceived by Satan and Adam sinned.

 *July 21 (Rom. 8:12-17) – Mark De Spain – Eighth Sunday after Trinity

• Theme: The 17th verse of Romans 8 is the central verse of that chapter. In a few words Paul describes our relationship to the Holy Spirit who testifies that, by the power and grace of God, we are accorded the same inheritance that his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, is accorded, and as we suffer with Christ we will also be glorified with him. This blessing defies our comprehension as mere mortals, but in the liturgy we encounter both the suffering and glory that is Christ’s. In the liturgy we are the “called out” ones (the “ekklesia,” i.e. the church) summoned by the grace of God to be his renewed image bearers to the world.

 *July 14 (Mark 8:1-9) – Seventh Sunday after Trinity

• Theme: When Jesus blessed and gave thanks to the Father for the loaves and fishes and then had the apostles distribute the food, he trusted the Father to multiply what was offered and supply the needs of the people. Today, when we have an opportunity to meet the need of someone who is suffering or in doubt, we too can offer what we have and trust that God will multiply that gift to meet the greater need, especially to enable those we bless to bless others as well.

 *July 7 (Matt. 5:20-26) – Jerry Leckie – Sixth Sunday after Trinity

• Theme: To be righteous before God is to obey the laws of God. However, obedience is not according to the letter of the law–the Pharisees tried that and failed miserably. Rather, we are to obey according to the principles that underlie the law, that is from the heart out of love for God. It is not enough to say that we have not murdered, when we have been angry enough to want to murder we have committed that sin in our heart.

 *June 30 (Eccles. 2:1-23) – Fifth Sunday after Trinity

• Theme: Solomon had riches, fame, luxury and all his heart desired, but it was not enough because he had lost his way and discovered that all he had in this world was but vanity and loss. Finally, in his waning years he turned back to the Lord, and submitted his life to the only source of joy and freedom in total surrender to the mercy and grace of God.

 *June 23 (Rom. 8:18-23) – Fourth Sunday after Trinity

• Theme: The world, and all its people, suffer because of the sin of Adam and Eve, but what suffering we experience now does not begin to compare to the glory we have in Christ. Not only we, but all creation awaits relief from suffering and decay that will occur when the children of God enter into the liberty that is in Christ alone.

 *June 16 (Luke 15:1-10) – Mark De Spain – Third Sunday after Trinity

• Theme: Repentance is far more than regret. The Greek word translated as repentance is metanoia, which would be better understood as transformation or even conversion. True repentance is not an act, it is a way of life that involves taking on the mind of Christ who did, not his own will, but did all that his Father showed him. Repentance begins by waiting on the Lord with a quiet mind, depending on Christ for forgiveness and restoration.

 *June 9 (1st Cor. 18) – Jerry Leckie – Second Sunday after Trinity

• Theme: Paul’s dissertation on love is preceded in chapter 12 by his discussion of the church and the many spiritual gifts that provide for the health of the body. But as Paul highlights, all the spiritual gifts require the enlivening of love. Without the love of God in the lives of the people, all else is for naught. Faith and hope will fade after we enter heaven, but love alone will last forever.

 *June 2 (1st John 4:7-20) – First Sunday after Trinity

• Theme: “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God.” The love that is “of God” is vastly different from the love that is of the world. The world loves to indulge itself, and calls that “love.” But the love of God is first sacrificial, and desires that which is best for others, particularly those in the church. In this world, believers are confronted with a world that opposes God and condemns believers. When confronted with such challenges it is too easy to fall into a trap of anger, retaliation and condemnation. The best recourse for the believer in those situations is to turn to God and pray. Prayer softens the heart of the believer and opens up the possibility of reconciliation or at least patience with the offender.

 *May 26 (John 3:1-15) – Trinity Sunday

• Theme: Trinity Sunday highlights the work of the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In today’s gospel John depicts the night Nicodemus, an educated Pharisee, came to Jesus to find out who he was. Little did Nicodemus suspect that he would get a theological education regarding the never before revealed Trinity and that he, Nicodemus, was standing in the very presence of the second person of the Trinity, the only begotten Son of the Father, Jesus Christ. Here was a ruler in Israel that was about to learn that only those born of the Spirit would enter the kingdom of heaven.

 *May 19 (Acts 2:1 & John 14:15) – Mark De Spain – Whitsunday (Pentecost)

• Theme: Whitsunday (Pentecost) marks the entrance of the Holy Spirit into the hearts of Jesus’ disciples and the origin of the church, which is something the world had never seen before. The church is the intersection of heaven with the people on the earth with Christ as the bridge, as it says in Ephesians: “…he set forth in Christ…to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” And the church was unlike the world that divides people from people based on arbitrary “identities,” but in the church: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal.)

 *May 12 (Acts 1:1-11) – Ascension Sunday

• Theme: What does the Ascension mean to you? Is it as important as Christmas, the crucifixion or Easter? What is significant about the Ascension? As Christ said, he goes to the Father to prepare a place for us to be with the Father and the Son. But perhaps of more immediate significance to us on this earth, without the Ascension there would be no Holy Spirit in the world and, thus, no Church. Without the Church, which is the body of Christ, the Holy Spirit could not lead the Church to do the work of Christ in the world.

 *May 5 (James 1:22-27) – Jerry Leckie – Fifth Sunday after Easter

• Theme: James, the brother of Christ, believed that the issue of faith vs. works was resolved naturally, because “works” are the natural result of faith. That is, our daily behavior mirrors the quality of our faith. James also cautioned us not to resent difficulties, but respond with prayer that the Holy Spirit, our power and comforter, would supply us with the strength, wisdom and grace to meet the need. James encouraged believers to be patient “…unto the coming of the Lord.”

 *April 14 (1 Peter 2:19) – Fourth Sunday after Easter

• Theme: Before his passion and crucifixion, Christ spent time with the disciples to prepare them for his departure from this world and his return to the Father. In today’s gospel Christ speaks of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who will convict the world of sin, because the world rejected Christ as Messiah; of righteousness, because Christ is returning to the Father having fulfilled the law; of judgement because the prince of this world, the devil, is judged, because the man Jesus defied the devil and lived a righteous life on this world.

 *April 21 (John 16:16) – Mark De Spain – Third Sunday after Easter

• Theme: The 16th chapter of John is part of a long discourse from chapters 14 through 17 where Christ is speaking privately with his disciples, preparing them for his departure and return to the Father. When Jesus returned to the Father he united all things in heaven and earth in him, because he was the first human person to enter into the presence of the Father, and the creation was transformed from being enslaved to the elemental principles of the world to being freed so that all could become adopted as sons and daughters of God. Alleluia!

 *April 14 (1 Peter 2:19) – Second Sunday after Easter

• Theme: Peter tells us that Christ left us an example, that when he was reviled, he did not revile; when he suffered, he threatened not. Fr. Dave shares the life testimony of his own grandfather, who lived out this example of Christ in his life.

 *April 7 (John 20:19-23) – Jerry Leckie – First Sunday after Easter

• Theme: After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples and breathed on them saying: “Receive the Holy Spirit.” With those words the apostles received the power to go and do God’s will on earth having received the fruit of the Spirit. Their legacy is still with us so that people can see God’s love in us through our Christian character.

 *Mar 31 (Mark 16:1-8) – Easter

• Theme: Jesus rises from the dead.

 *Mar 24 (Matthew 27:1-54) – Palm Sunday

• Theme: The Council of Religious Leaders condemns Jesus; Judas hangs himself; Jesus stands trial before Pilate; Pilate hands Jesus over to be crucified; Roman Soldiers mock Jesus; Jesus is Crucified.

 *Mar 17 (John 8:46 – 59) – Mark De Spain – Fifth Sunday in Lent

• Theme: Who is Jesus? He is the I AM, the eternal all-cause of the universe, the self-sufficient, all powerful, intelligence who always was. He created the perfect Earth in which to place his perfect beings, whose job it was and is to love and obey their creator. Glory be to God!

 *Mar 10 (John 6:1-14) – Fourth Sunday in Lent

• Theme: The miracle of Jesus feeding 5000 men grabs our attention, but the real story was Philip and Andrew. Philip is the practical, no-nonsense apostle who looks at the surface of a situation. When Jesus asked him where they would get bread for all these, Philip responded with the obvious that they did not have enough money to feed each even a little. Then Andrew pipes up and says there is a lad with five barley loaves and two fish. He says no more, but what little there is, he seems to suggest, is a start. Like us, we have little to offer to Christ, but it is a hopeful start that, when offered in faith, Christ can transform into an abundance.

 *Mar 3 (Eph 5:1-14) – Jerry Leckie – Third Sunday in Lent

• Theme: “Awake thou that sleepest…, and Christ shall give thee light.” ‘Light’ is a metaphor that is used to explain something that is unknown by equating it to something that is known, as in the 23rd Psalm that opens with “The Lord is my shepherd.” Here ‘shepherd’ not only describes our Lord as one who watches over us, but also describes us as being watched over as a shepherd watches his sheep. ‘Light’ describes the work of the Spirit, as well as the love and truth of God that enlightens and inspires us as it dispels the darkness of ignorance, fear and loathing. To God be the glory.

 *Feb 25 (Matt 25:21-28) – Second Sunday in Lent

• Theme: When the Canaanite mother approaches Jesus to plead for her stricken daughter, it appears that Jesus ignores her desperate pleas, and the apostles attempt to dismiss this gentile woman. Then, after Jesus finally speaks to her, it sounds as though he attempts to dismiss her with an insult. But she persists and then Jesus commends her for her great faith and heals her daughter. There are many undercurrents of testimony in this brief exchange, but Jesus was not actually dismissing the gentile mother, rather he was showing the apostles, and the other Jews present, that the gentiles are just as worthy of God’s mercy as they. Jesus commends the woman’s deep, persistent and humble faith that puts to shame the lack of faith of the children of Abraham.

 *Feb 18 (Matt 4:1-11) – Mark De Spain – First Sunday in Lent

• Theme: The temptations of Christ represent a cosmic battle between Satan and Christ for the ultimate ownership of the cosmos. Satan attempted to dominate Christ by his will, but Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and the word of God. By his submission to the Spirit and his complete trust in God he completely dominated Satan. In the end, Jesus dismisses Satan for daring to suggest that any being other than God Almighty should be worshiped.

 *Feb 11 (1 Cor. 13:1-13) – Quinquagesima Sunday

• Theme: “…the greatest of these is charity.” That is, unconditional love. This is the love that only the Father can give and through the Spirit we can share with others, especially those that do not like us, that wish us ill will, and that persecute us without cause. How do we respond to those who hate us? If we hate in kind, what good have we done. What do we wish to leave behind when we depart this life? Our “valued” possessions of this world, or a legacy of love to all that God has created?

 *Feb 5 (Luke 8:4-15) – Jerry Leckie – Sexagesima Sunday

• Theme: The parable of the Sower and the Seed is an ideal metaphor for the ministry and preaching of Christ. His message went out to all without discrimination, but only those who were prepared to receive the message and be transformed through belief and the Spirit would understand and be renewed in their spirit and lives.

 *Jan 28 (Matt 20:1-16) – Septuagesima Sunday

• Theme: “So the last shall be first, and the first last.” The Messiah is always prepared to welcome those that turn to him in repentance and belief, no matter when in their life they come. But those who are first are often the means by which the Spirit penetrates the hearts of those who are last. Each brings their gifts and talents to the Lord equally, and all are given the same reward of eternal life and blessed relief.

 *Jan 21 (John 2:1-11) – Mark De Spain – Third Sunday after Epiphany

• Theme: In a few short verses John captures the breadth of Jesus’ ministry throughout history from creation to sacrifice and the revealing of the sons of God. But we also learn much about Jesus and Mary and their interaction as son and mother. The gospels have little to say about Jesus growing up to adulthood, but there are a few clues and they are most revealing.

 *Jan 14 Services canceled due to weather

 *Jan 7 (Matt 2:1-12) – Jerry Leckie – Epiphany Sunday

• Theme: Epiphany is the revelation of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, to the world whom God promised to send from the beginning of creation after Adam and Eve sinned. For God to speak is for God to act. We can trust God because he sent his only begotten son into the world to be a propitiation for the sins of the world.

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