Timeless God, Ancient of Days, You have bowed and pierced time and space and have personally entered into our human realm and dared to live among us. The Angel Gabriel reminds us that there is nothing that is impossible with the Lord Almighty, and we tenaciously grasp to that hope with both hands. In the flurries of our anxious world, we look for the peace that only the babe of Mary can provide. Help us to let go of what occupies our minds and hearts, enable us to still the noises of the world and the negative self-talk in our heads so that we can hear the coos of the sweet baby’s breath. For little Aubrey’s baptism today that reminds us you stand and eagerly await for your children to become part of the family, we thank you! For those of us new on this walk with Christ, be born in our hearts this day. For those of us who have journeyed long on this pilgrimage of faith, be reborn in our hearts. For the Church you have set in the midst of a broken and shadowy world, be reborn in us today!  For nothing is impossible with You!

Jesus, we celebrate the respite of joy the last few days as we have celebrated your birth. We acknowledge that for some, joy may have been elusive due to illness, the death of a loved-one, or the lingering memories of a deceased husband, wife, son or daughter who are no longer at the dinner table and whose stocking, although hung with care, is no longer filled. We are mindful of those families who are on a death-watch for a loved-one who is about to enter Easter. We pray for the elderly whose minds are tormented with dementia and for their caregivers who are exhausted and show unintentional  impatience. We come and pray for all our medical personnel – doctors, nurses, technicians, lab workers, and paramedics – all who are placing their lives on the line as this pandemic seems to burn unchecked through our nation and world. We humbly ask, Jesus, that you would be reborn in the hearts, lives and minds of our national, state, and local leaders in the form of justice and mercy for the ones struggling to pay rent, eat, and educate their children today; replace rancorous politics with broken hearts for the least of these our brothers and sisters among us. For Lord, nothing is impossible with you!

© 2020 Patrick H. Wrisley, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, 401 SE 15^th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL. 33301.  Sermon manuscripts are available for the edification of members and friends of First Presbyterian Church, Fort Lauderdale, Florida and may not be altered, re-purposed, published or preached without permission. All rights reserved.