Advent 4, Year B
December 21, 2008
Luke 1:26-38
First sermon preached as an ordained Lutheran pastor, and as Associate Pastor of Resurrection Evangelical Lutheran Church in Arlington, VA.
Grace, Mercy, and Peace be to you from God the Blessed Trinity. Amen.
It wasn’t quite what I had expected,
not really like what I had envisioned . . .
Years ago, when I first gave serious thought to becoming a pastor,
I would try to picture my ordination and the days immediately leading up to it.
I imagined that perhaps I’d go on a retreat to a monastery for prayer and reflection,
or perhaps take a few days away to a mountain retreat
for rest, prayer, and devotion prior to ordination.
I had these visions of setting myself apart,
of gearing up in a holy way for a holy thing,
of preparing for this ministry with a prelude of piety and prayer.
Well . . . . this week wasn’t quite like those prior visions of pious preparation.