Brenda Clark (UCC pulpit substitute) - Sermon: Matthew 2:13-23

Today at St. John's UCC, Niles, Michigan the preacher of the day was Rev. Brenda Clark; her texts were Isaiah 63:7-9 and Matthew 2:13-23.  She began with a proverb/wisdom saying about "power" and shared a quite meaningful discourse about those who had been corrupted absolutely (for example, Herod the Great).  He actually has no claim to kingly glory and out of jealousy/avarice sought to kill the Innocents of Bethlehem on his way to dispose of a rival to authority and kingship.  The ancient holder of absolute power of life and death (he could dispatch a hit-squad to kill babes in arms under two years old) was himself a mere "puppet of Rome."
Rev. Clark also pointed out how the narrative is in parallel and contrast, showing how Jesus is a greater "Prophet and Priest" than the Moses of the OT Book of Exodus.  Both were sheltered and saved from bloodthirsty killers -- both are linked at Egypt.  It is by way of dreams/angelic visitations that the security and safety of Jesus is secured according to Matthew, chapter 2.
Rev. Clark was also tuneful in breaking into the 1960s song "What the World Needs Now" -- her other choices of music from the hymnal was traditional - "Once in royal David's city" and "We Three Kings".  The chorus of the month (a 1976 composition) was "Emmanuel by Bob McGee.
This sermon made you think and perhaps shudder of all the dictators and murderous figures across history who have slaughtered the innocents -- Genghis Khan, Stalin, Hitler, among many others. . .It may have been a "low" Sunday attendance-wise but it was an utterly worthwhile time to meet and give prayerful thanks and seek God's resolution of many folks' lives and struggles with health conditions and problems.
I mentioned the Amber Alert for the missing children from Morenci, Michigan: Andrew, Alexander, Tanner [see other posted blog material during late Nov. / December 2010].