Sermon Title: A Most Unlikely Messenger, A Most Unlikely King

Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10
Psalms: 146:5-10
Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11

Music: Arline Walters & Trinity Choir
Gathering Hymn: Savior of Nations, Come
Hymn if the Day: Christ, Be Our Light
Communion Hymn: He Came Down
Sending Hymn: People, Look East

Message from Pastor Starr
Our expectations can prepare us for extraordinary encounters and can have an equal capacity for hindering our way forward. Expectations are powerful allies, filling us with hope or they can be cunning enemies undermining us with fear. The popular acronym describing fear as ” false evidence appearing real” is intended to remind us that false evidence is not really evidence at all. False evidence is just that, false and nothing more. In this text, Jesus bears witness, gives testimony, that John the Baptizer is that long awaited prophetic voice, “the Elijah who was to come.” For many, neither John nor Jesus fit their expectations and for many others this John, in his strange attire, eating what others would reject and speaking the most uncomfortable truth, was the voice they had been waiting, wanting and needing to hear. In this Advent season may we all be so blessed as to be endowed with holy wonder and graced to meet for ourselves the evidence that frees us to each one say. ” Yahweh is My God”.