And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
(Luke 2:21 ESV)
Dear Friends,
Christmas greetings!
Oh, what a sermon can be preached on this simple verse! Eight days after Christmas comes the Festival for the “Circumcision and Name of Jesus.” Luke 2: 21 is the Gospel reading for that occasion. While I’m focusing on New Year’s Day this Sunday, this verse can and should mean a lot to us.
God has come into our human flesh. Unfathomable! And yet, a mere eight days into it, He already begins to shed His blood for our salvation. He comes and fulfills the law – for us. Imagine, God, who is spirit, now in Christ has blood. God’s blood is spilt for us. For sure, we usually associate that truth with Jesus’ passion and death during Holy Week. But it is also true that Jesus’ whole life on earth from beginning to end is redemptive. Imagine, “the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7 ESV)
What it should mean for you and I is that God’s love is real. How could He make His love more clear than having His one and only Son come and live and suffer and die for our salvation?
Therefore, we worship and pray and live with confidence that God is for us and His love for us is real.
Happy New Year!
The Lord be with you!
Coming Up at Prince of Peace this weekend…
Sunday, January 1, 2017
10:30 Holy Communion
Sermon: “Facing the Future with Faithful Fortitude” based on Romans 8:31–39
PoP News …
Sunday Schedule for New Year’s Day: There will be NO Sunday School classes and NO early worship service on January 1. Sunday School and the early service option will resume on January 8 at 9:00 a.m.
January 3: There will be no Bible study or Confirmation Class this coming week. Confirmation and Busy Bees will resume on January 10.
Martin Luther’s Sermons: Throughout the year of 2017, as part of our observance of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, 12 sermons from Luther on the various appointed Scripture Readings (one for each month) will be available for the pastors and congregations of the East District. Thanks to the six pastors in our district who have agreed to undertake this rather onerous task of editing a sermon of an hour or so in length down to 12 to 15 minutes and still retain the essence of the sermon.
Online News …
Sacred Music for the Christmas Season you can still hear online at Lutheran Public Radio. Simply click here and then click play.
In your prayers, please remember:
- Those in mourning
- Those in hospital
- The Year of our Lord 2017 as we seek the Lord’s blessings personally and congregationally
- Eternal God, we commit to Your mercy and forgiveness the year now ending and commend to Your blessing and love the times yet to come. In the new year, abide among us with Your Holy Spirit that we may always trust in the saving name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever
The Lord be with you.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Pastor Kevin Walrath
