Q. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet? A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by His Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation. —Westminster Shorter Catechism Have you ever noticed how many Advent hymns and carols are based on texts from the Old Testament prophets? This morning, we’ll sing…
Foolish hearts why will ye wander from a love so true and deep? Here at the beginning of Galatians 1, Paul wastes no time expressing his dismay that the churches he has nurtured in the faith have drifted from the doctrines of grace back into man-centered religion. The temptation to rely upon works of the law or human goodness for…
Much like today’s sermon text from Ecclesiastes 3, many of the hymns we sing this morning mention aspects of God’s sovereignty over time. His truth has “at all times firmly stood, and shall from age to age endure” (All People That On Earth Do Dwell—Psalm 100). We are not to “fear the trying hour” (Incarnate God!—Psalm 91), but instead wait…
This week, Pastor Grant begins a new sermon series working through the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, with its troubling refrain of “all is vanity and a striving after wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:14, 1:17, 2:11, 2:17, 2:26, 4:4, 4:6, 4:16, 6:9). Paired with this meditation on the folly of human striving apart from the grace of God, we’ll read scriptures from…
The feast of Epiphany (literally “appearance,” or “manifestation”) is a festival which commemorates the visit of the wise men to the infant Jesus, and more broadly the revelation of Christ to the gentiles as a “light to the nations” (Isaiah 49:6; 60:3). Light is a consistent theme in traditional celebrations of Epiphany, and you’ll find that this morning’s service follows…
Often called Childermas, Kindermord, or the Feast of the Holy Innocents, this day solemnizes the slaughter of the children of Judea by Herod the Great following the birth of Christ. It has always been the focus of the Christian’s commitment to protect and preserve the sanctity of human life—thus serving as a prophetic warning against the practitioners of abandonment and…
“Fear not, then,” said the angel, “let nothing you affright; This day is born a Savior of a pure virgin bright, To save all those who trust in Him from Satan’s power and might.” O tidings of comfort and joy! The hymn that frames our service this morning, God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, is one of the most beloved Christmas…
Come, then, banish all your sadness, one and all, great and small; come with songs of gladness Love Him who with love is glowing, hail the star, from afar, light with joy bestowing. —Paul Gerhardt In this morning’s sermon text from Matthew 2, we find the story of the “wise men from the east” and the star they observed…
During Advent, you may notice several changes to our typical Sunday liturgy which are designed to set this season of the church year apart. The portion of our service dedicated to confession contains two musical responses (“Lord, have mercy,” and a sung “Amen”), as well as a time of silent prayer, to emphasize this aspect of worship during a penitential…
Advent is a season of preparation. For centuries, Christians have used the month prior to the celebration of Christ’s incarnation to ready their hearts and their homes for the great festival. While we moderns tend to do a good bit of bustling about in the crowded hours between Thanksgiving and Christmas, that hardly constitutes the kind of preparation Advent calls…