Preachrblog

Rev. 21:1-7 Easter 5 May 19, 2019 “All Things New” I think most of us can appreciate when things are “new”.   A new baby is a joy like nothing else.   A brand new article of clothing.   That new car smell.   A new job.   A new home.   A new store.   Even a new friendship.   There’s an excitement when something is new. A whole new set of possibilities is opened up.   But also, in contrast to something old, there’s no baggage.   That new baby hasn’t made the mistakes of life we have.   The new car hasn’t had anyone spill coffee all over it yet.   I like the new Walmart where everything is still relatively clean and fresh.   The new friend doesn’t know all your flaws and failings, and wasn’t around all those times you did something embarrassing. And in spiritual terms, it is much the same.   When God made the world, when everything was new and fresh – it was perfect.   Creation was without a flaw. ...

Revelation 5: (1-7) 8-14 Easter 3 – Early Service May 5, 2019 “Worthy Is the Lamb” Our appointed readings in the Easter Season bump out the regular Epistle selection for a sampling of the book of Revelation.  I’ve heard many Christians over the years express discomfort with this last book of the Bible – not knowing what exactly to make of it.  And I can understand that – it’s a different type of literature.  It’s apocalyptic.  It is, for the most part, a written version of a vision that St. John had when he was “in the Spirit”.  The voice told him, “John, write what you see!” and he did so.  And the things that John saw were, frankly, spectacular.  They are fantastic and otherworldly.  They are at times frightening.  But most of all, they are just so different from what we are used to seeing in the pages of Holy Scripture.  And that leaves you and I to ask the question, what does it all mean? Well, I certainly can’t, in one sermon...