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Sermons by The Rev Ken Wratten

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Third Sunday of Advent Yr A: 12/15/2019

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12/15/2019
Advent 3: Yr A

John had his own idea of what the Christ, the anointed one, would be like. He expected a Messiah who would protect the righteous and punish the unrighteous. He saw Jesus eat with sinners, and assemble students rather than an army.
Instead of preaching hell-fire, Jesus preached grace.
Instead of punishing sinners, Jesus reached out to them.
Instead of building up a political kingdom, he preached about a heavenly kingdom.

John asked, ‘Jesus, are you the one, or should we wait for another?’

First Sunday of Advent Yr A: 12/01/2019

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12/01/2019
Advent 1: Yr A

Today we begin the holy season of Advent. And in this season of lengthening nights; of cold, wet weather; the change from fall colors in the trees to a grayish cast to everything; all of this darkness starts being overtaken with colored light bulbs, strings of sparkly garland, joyful music, warm memories of our time as children at this time of year, and by the glow of candlelight – all of these images of ‘light’ are represented by the first candle of Advent that we lit this morning.

Pentecost Last YrC Proper 29: 11/24/2019

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11/24/2019
Pentecost Last; Yr C

Herod was afraid that Jesus would be a rival to his kingship over Judea. Pilate could not understand how this itinerant preacher, without crown or scepter or throne could be considered a king by anybody. Only a small gathering who followed him, listened to him preach, and saw him active in his ministry, could see that he was a very different kind of leader: he was their spiritual king.

So today we honor the reign of our spiritual king.

Pentecost 23C Proper 28: 11/17/2019

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11/17/2019
Pentecost 23; Yr C

The reading from Luke’s Gospel today can be divided into three parts: Jesus’ prediction that the Jerusalem Temple would be destroyed; giving some signs to tell when the time is coming for the full arrival of God’s Kingdom on the earth; and warning that there would be a time when his followers would be persecuted.

2019 All Saints Sunday: 11/03/2019

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11/03/2019
All Saints Sunday; Yr C

Recognizing today as All Saints’ Sunday is an optional observance on our church’s liturgical calendar. We could choose to still have green vestments and hangings, and this would just be the 21st Sunday after Pentecost, part of the long green season in the church. In most protestant churches, this day goes quietly unnoticed. But to me it is one of the most important and meaningful services of the year. And so we use the liturgical color white – the color used to honor saints; and our music and lessons and prayers today focus on those who have come before us.

Pentecost 20C Proper 25: 10/27/2019

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10/27/2019
Pentecost 20; Yr C

In today’s Gospel reading from Luke the Pharisee in Jesus’ parable said, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people.”  This parable is not about the Pharisee showing off, or lacking in humility. He really believes that his good, virtuous deeds, following and even exceeding the letter of the law, is enough to please God. He believes that if everybody lived like he did, all would be right with the world. What God says through the teaching of Jesus Christ is that human goodness is not enough. Human goodness by itself cannot fix this broken world.

Pentecost 19C Proper 24: 10/20/2019

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10/20/2019
Pentecost 19; Yr C

In the Gospel lesson today, Jesus told the story of the Unjust Judge and the Persistent Widow to illustrate our need for persistence in prayer. The woman would not give up from pleading for justice.

I understand the feelings of the persistent widow; the feeling that nobody was listening to her.