Preaching the Scriptures

  The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson I Samuel 16:1-13   A New Beginning   This is a story of new beginnings: a new beginning for a young shepherd boy; a new beginning for a nation; a new beginning for an old weathered prophet; even a new beginning for God.   But in this story, like in most stories, new beginnings don’t come easy.   They are shadowed by endings.   And they rarely emerge from anything other than at least a touch of grief.   It was Samuel who had, years earlier, anointed a gangly kid from the tribe of Benjamin.   Saul was tall and handsome – so he had the look – but he was from a poor family, and a bit awkward, certainly not the most obvious royal choice.   But he was the one God chose.   And Samuel was in the business of hearing and doing God’s word and so he anointing him as king – the first king of Israel.   And so you can perhaps understand that the prophet, Samuel, was invested.   Long before he m...

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Genesis 1:1-5 & Mark 1:4-11 Origin Stories There is just something about the beginning of a story.   My son, Oscar, has a book called Marvel Super Heroes Storybook Collection.   The book is comprised of twenty super hero origin stories.   Every story is a beginning.   There is the story of Peter Parker and the Hall of Science and the radioactive spider bite that imbued him with his spidey senses.   There is the story of Bruce Banner becoming the Incredible Hulk after being exposed to gamma rays.   There is the story of how Norrin is transformed into the Silver Surfer by Galactus, devourer of worlds. The stories, these origin stories, are great stories.   They are stories of outcasts and underdogs entrusted with great power and, therefore, great responsibility.   They are stories of unlikely courage and strength.   They are modern myths that give us creative lenses through which to view ourse...