When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” – Luke 3:21-22

With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. – Luke 1:3-4

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. – John 15:16

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. – Luke 10:1-4 

“All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” 1 Peter 1 24,25

Christmas Eve 2011

I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. 2 Samuel 7:9

…Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab… Matthew 1:5

Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron… Matthew 1:2-3

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. … For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” – Matthew 9:12,13

Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” – John 21:19

They also will answer, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?‚’ He will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.‚’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.‚” ‚ Matthew 25:44-46

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matthew 16:18

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 5:15

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14

And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. ‚Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won‚’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, “This person began to build and wasn‚’t able to finish.‚’‚” Luke 14:27-30

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, ‚This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?‚” John 6:60

I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Colossians 4:18

9/11 Remembrance Service. Featuring Maureen Becker and Ed Greene