Gift of God – Substitute and Sacrifice is the theme for the first Sunday in the Christmas season. The reality of the incarnation confronts us today. Gone are the stable animals and the angel.
Come see the trees! Can you smell Christmas? Part of what gives the season meaning and power are the memories and traditions that we have burned into our memories from childhood. Smells are a big part of that! Like the smell of a freshly cut evergreen.
Come and see the mountain! Now you might be thinking – this is all happening too fast! This morning did you open up your bulletin and think, is it Advent already? It isn’t even December yet!
What? Old victories CRUSHED?! Why? The nation of Israel was finally free. They were leaving Egypt, actually they were being expelled with money in their pockets!