Sunday Services

Sunday School - 9:30 am

Holy Communion - 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays, 10:30 am

Morning Prayer - 2nd and 4th Sundays, 10:30 am

Thursday Services

No Evening Prayer

Thursday January 1st

Reaching out to the least, the lonely, and the lost

Holy Communion Service at Friendship South

2nd and 4th Sundays, 2:30 pm

Thoughts from the Lectionary: The Second Sunday after Christmas

From the Gospel Lesson: St. Matthew 2:19-23

We note earlier in the chapter that Joseph had been warned by an angel of the Lord in a dream to flee into Egypt as Herod the Great wanted to kill the infant Jesus. Joseph obeyed the voice of God and fled to the saving of his family. Having resided for some time in Egypt, Joseph is again visited by an angel of the Lord in a dream and is again told to move his family. This time back into Israel since Herod was dead. As Joseph did so he learned that Archelaus was now ruling was ruling in his father Herod’s place. Again fearing for the lives of his family Joseph, having again been warned in a dream, settled in Nazareth as a fulfillment of prophecy that Christ would be despised and considered of no account. (His growing up in an unassuming place like Nazareth would not seem so impressive to the people He would later preach to)

There are some striking things we as Christians can see in this passage. Primarily the Hand of God as, in His providence, He fulfills every word He has spoken. Secondly we have the glaring example of Joseph’s obedience to the word of God when it came to him. Acting and moving when the Lord told him to in the way he was told. Oh that we who are in Jesus would heed God’s message so readily when we are bidden to do so and see our Lord’s sovereign work in our lives.

Blessings,

Fr. Duane+