Sermon: “Tamar’s Gift”, Genesis 38:6-7, 11-20, 24-26 (December 1, 2024 - Advent 1)

It’s Advent-tide once more, my friends, and once again we’ll be spending the next four weeks preparing our hearts to receive the coming Messiah. But while many churches use this time to recall the events immediately preceding Jesus’ birth, it’s important for us to remember that Jesus’ story doesn’t begin in the gospels. In fact, the impact of the incarnation is severely diminished without understanding everything that came before it. So while we’ll definitely still spend Christmas Eve with the beloved stories of the angels, the shepherds, the manger, and the magi, these next four weeks will be devoted to things that came long before all that.

Liturgy: Advent I, Genesis 38:6-26 (December 1, 2024)

This liturgy is based on our Advent Theme this year, "The Gifts of Women", based on the women in Matthew's account of Jesus' genealogy.

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Hymns

Hymn GTG #88, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” [vv. 1, 4, 7]

Hymn GTG #324, “For All the Faithful Women" [v. 1 + New Verse:]

We thank you, Lord, for Tamar, a woman tossed aside,

Demanding to be noticed, confronting Judah’s pride.

When called out as a sinner, she turned the tables ‘round,

Her steadfast perseverance a path to Christ’s renown.

Hymn GTG #105 “People Look East”