St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Welland, Ontario, Canada

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT December 21, 2025

Intro to the Season and Day: Advent and Christmas don’t really work for people who like EVERYTHING neat, tidy and predictable. Today we hear about the upheaval one couple lives through—and we also hear that God’s disruptive ways are about to generate a whole new thing.

Prayer of the Day Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. With your abundant grace and might, free us from the sin that hinders our faith, that eagerly we may receive your promises, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Isaiah 7:10-110Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, 11Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. 12But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. 13Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? 14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. 15He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.

Matthew 1:18-25. 18Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” 24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Reflections— The life stirring inside Mary is from the Holy Spirit. Matthew tells us this. God’s messenger appears to Joseph in a dream to tell him that the child conceived in Mary is from the Holy Spirit.

Now is an opportune time to remember how God’s Spirit is imagined in the scripture—the word in the Hebrew scripture sounds breathy…ruah…and the word can mean “breath”. Some of us perform breathing exercises that can either calm us or energize us. Most of us are partial to regularly having air move in and out of the lungs. None of us neglects breathing; at least for very long. So we might imagine God’s Spirit as essential and as close as our own breath.

The scripture also imagines the Spirit of God as wind and the wod ruah can also mean wind. At creation the Spirit of God blows gale force knocking chaos and nothingness into the wondrous creation itself.

Spirit gusts into the lives of kings and prophets knocking their lives into trajectories they might not have ordinarily committed themselves to.

Now Joseph learns in a dream that the life Mary carries within her is from such a Holy Spirit. If Joseph felt as though life ways careening sidewise before he might have felt like he was in freefall now.

Joseph is called righteous; which is far more than being a nice guy or a mensch. Just treatment and ethical living are woven into his character. His betrothal to Mary is much more of a commitment than our modern engagements to be married. In fact, if someone’s betrothed died in that period, the surviving partner was considered widowed. Having sexual relations with another person during this betrothal was considered adultery. The social and moral code of the day and culture allowed for death sentences in cases of adultery.

Joseph’s intended course was merciful and just and not borne from a bruised ego. He tries to bring about the most workable resolution to a complicated and painful situation. Then God shows up and tells him that the very path Joseph thinks is a blind alley is actually God’s pathway to bringing wholeness and healing to the world.

Mary and Joseph’s story is all about disruption—the very thing most of us risk averse types fear most.

Now might be an opportune moment to imagine God as trickster. The notion is hardly original to me. Indigenous people believe that trickster’s schemes are meant to open new pathways to wholeness and living in the world as it is. Christian theologians like Lewis Hyde believe that God’s trickery is integral to a world that is being birthed; a world like the prophets envision where lion lies down with the lamb and humans finally come to their senses and work to feed people instead of displacing them or killing them.

Advent reminds us that life is full of disruption—we’re also reminded that once in a while the disruption isn’t the end. Words from Professor James Boyce as he quotes from Robert Smith’s respected commentary on the Gospels prove apt and may they be both comforting and challenging to us as a community of faith:

This Jesus is “pure gift, holy surprise, a fresh act of God, a new genesis, a new creation.” And all it comes about “from the Holy Spirit.” We live with the awareness that God’s power is among us and ready to lead us in ways that we can only imagine. Is that good news, or is the prospect a bit frightening? If we do not anticipate the Christmas event both with hope and with just a bit of anxious fear, then we are not sufficiently tuned to the implications of God’s presence among us. (From Working Preacher, an online resource from Luther Seminary St. Paul, MN USA-2007)

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Third Sunday of Advent December 14, 2025

Introduction to the Day and its themes:
The Third Sunday of Advent is known as ‘rejoicing’ Sunday; the word in Latin. is “Gaudete”. This is the Sunday we hear Mary’s joyous song that we call the Magnficat because God’s glory is magnified. The words of Frederick Buechner about come to mind. He says that happiness comes about when you expect it. Joy arrives at a most unexpected time. Much of Advent is about things that happen when we don’t expect them; like Gabriel appearing to the young Mary to tell her she was carrying with in her a baby who would be called “Emmanuel” God is with us. Today we hear her song as part of our liturgy and today might be a good day to think more about both the singer and the song.

Prayer of the Day
Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming, that, transformed by grace, we may walk in your way; through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Isaiah 35.1-10
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus 2it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. 3Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 4Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.” 5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; 7the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. 8A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. 9No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. 10And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Luke 1:46b-55
46b My soul proclaims the greatness | of the Lord, 47 my spirit rejoices in | God my Saviour, 48 for you, Lord, have looked with favour on your | lowly servant. From this day all generations will | call me blessed: 49 you, the Almighty, have done great | things for me and holy | is your name. 50 You have mercy on | those who fear you, from generation to | generation. R 51 You have shown strength | with your arm and scattered the proud in | their conceit, 52 casting down the mighty | from their thrones and lifting | up the lowly. 53 You have filled the hungry | with good things and sent the rich | away empty. 54 You have come to the aid of your | servant Israel, to remember the prom- | ise of mercy, 55 the promise made | to our forebears, to Abraham and his chil | dren forever.

Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11
2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin disease are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6 And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What, then, did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9 What, then, did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11 “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist, yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

Some Reflections Mary’s name in her language is Miriam, which literally means ‘she rebels’. You might remember another Miriam, sister to Moses. It was she who helped save her brother’s life and even arranged for him to be nursed and later adopted by the daughter of the the very ruler whose campaign of genocide was aimed at Miriam’s people. You might even recall a song Miriam sang when her people escaped Egypt via the Red Sea. Her song sings of military might, horse and rider pitched into the chaos of the churning waters. Miriam of the days of liberation sings just as Miriam, the one we call Mary sings of the deposing the powers that be and the poor being filled with good things. Mary’s song sounds very much like another…the song of Hannah. Hannah grieved not having children and when a miracle baby was born, Hannah sang.

“My heart exults in the Lord;
my strength is exalted in my God.[a]
My mouth derides my enemies
because I rejoice in your victory.

2 There is no Holy One like the Lord,
no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.

3 Talk no more so very proudly;
let not arrogance come from your mouth,
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.

4 The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble gird on strength.

5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry are fat with spoil.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.

6 The Lord kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.

7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low; he also exalts.

8 He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honour.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
and on them he has set the world.

9 He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
but the wicked will perish in darkness,
for not by might does one prevail.

10 The Lord! His adversaries will be shattered;
the Most High[b] will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king
and exalt the power of his anointed.” (1Samuel chapter 2)

Do you see the connections between the woman’s praise and her conviction that God upends things? It’s as if God’s thumb is on the scale, tipping it to restore justice for the poor and the victimized.

An frail old woman who inherits Hannah’s name. She lives in the Temple where the baby Jesus is brought to be dedicated—just as young Samuel of long ago was dedicated when his mother brought him to the Temple to be consecrated by Eli.

The Hannah (Anna) who held Jesus also sang and though her words aren’t written, we know she too sang of joy that comes unexpectedly and she sang of God’s relentlessness in tipping things upside down to set them right to bring about wholeness and healing…or in a word that Miriam and Hannah would know…’Shalom’.

Today’s attendance -> 12 –  last year -> 19

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SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT December 7, 2025

Prayer of the Day
Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming nurture our growth as people of repentance and peace; through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Isaiah 11:1-10 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; 4but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. 6The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. 7The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. 9They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Matthew 3:1-12 1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ” 4 Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance, 9 and do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Today’s attendance -> 15  –  last year -> 19

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This Sunday’s attendance  -> 10 – last year -> N/A

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Reign of Christ Sunday November 23, 2025

Prayer of the Day
O God, our true life, to serve you is freedom, and to know you is unending joy. We worship you, we glorify you, we give thanks to you for your great glory. Abide with us, reign in us, and make this world into a fit habitation for your divine majesty, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Gospel: Luke 23:33-43
33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 [[Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”]] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by watching, but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” 43 He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”