Gospel Reading – Luke 2:21-35, 39-40

Jesus Is Named
21  When the eighth day came, it was time to circumcise the child, [a]  and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Jesus Is Presented in the Temple
22  When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord  23  (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”),  24  and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” 25  Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him.  26  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. [b]   27  Guided by the Spirit, Simeon [c]  came into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the law,  28  Simeon [d]  took him in his arms and praised God, saying, 29  “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word, 30  for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32  a light for revelation to the gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” 33  And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.  34  Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed  35  so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul, too.”

The Return to Nazareth
39  When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.  40  The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him. Amen.

Gospel Reading – Luke 1:39-45

³⁹ In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, ⁴⁰ where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit ⁴² and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. ⁴³ And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? ⁴⁴ For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ And blessed is she who believed that there would be^[a] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

Gospel Reading – Mark 4:35-41

Jesus Stills a Storm

^35 “On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” ³⁶ And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. ³⁷ A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. ³⁸ But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” ³⁹ He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea,

“Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. ⁴⁰ He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” ⁴¹ And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Affirmation of Faith                                                           

We believe that God has come to us; that God brought us into being, that this God gave us breath and purpose, that we have been blessed to be a blessing to others, that we have fallen short of this commandment, but that God has nevertheless loved us despite our brokenness. Thanks be to God.

Gospel Reading – Mark 13:24-37

The Coming of the Son of Man

24  “But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,
25  and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26  “Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory.  27  Then he will send out the angels and gather the [a]  elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
The Lesson of the Fig Tree 28  “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender
and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.  29  So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he [b]  is near, at the very gates.  30  Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.  31  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words
will not pass away.

The Necessity for Watchfulness

32  “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father.  33  Beware, keep alert, [c]  for you do not know when the time will come.  34  It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and
commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.  35  Therefore, keep awake, for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening or at midnight or at cockcrow or at dawn,  36  or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly.  37  And what I say to you I say to all: Keep
awake.”