here is my first post on Substack. Just click “Subscribe” to be notified of new content. It’s free. I may add some paid stuff at a later date and I am trying to figure out how to move all the posts from here to there, but meanwhile thanks for reading and I hope you will join me there!
https://substack.com/profile/64339763-david-knight/note/c-282136408
And here is the link to my Substack main page
For those of you who do not follow my Facebook page, or my wife Jennifer’s page, I wanted to update you on a big change for us.
Effective the end of June I will be retiring from full time ministry. My health continues to be a concern and I need to step back and dedicate my time and energy into becoming the best self I can be, especially in the area of health. My illness will be with me forever but there are things I can do to keep the worst at bay and to live a full life. This will require more time and energy than I can give as a full time Rector, and only clergy person, at a growing and thriving Parish. I will have finished ten years as Rector of St. Simon’s when I step away, and we have done great ministry together. This Parish has already proven they can step up to the plate in my absence, as they did last year when I was so sick and missed over three months. They are ready for their next Priest and ready to be the people God has called them to be, of that I am certain.
I will continue to work some. I will be part time Associate Rector at Christ Church in Pensacola. I was their Interim Rector before I came to St. Simon’s, and I am hopeful to be able to help out as needed on a part time basis, to continue to offer sacramental ministry, to preach and teach on occasion, and to help with pastoral care. This seemed to us an answer to prayer and a great fit for this next stage in my life.
I am hopeful to have much more time to write. To that end I may be moving this blog to another platform, please stay tuned and I will let you know when and how that will work soon.
God bless. Please pray for Jennifer and me in this transition time and for the good folks of St. Simon’s on the Sound.
Our word for December 24th is “ANGEL”, taken from the 4th Sunday of Advent Gospel reading from Matthew chapter 1: Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
An angel of the Lord, a messenger from the holy one, speaks to a troubled Joseph in a dream, a vision. Much like Gabriel in the Gospel of Luke explained to Mary what she had been chosen for, likewise this angel, in Matthew’s gospel, encourages Jopseph to accept what has happened and who this child is – Jesus, who will save the people from their sins. I cannot even imagine. God sends salvation through this most unlikely plan and it certainly took special people to be the earthly parents of the Messiah himself!
Have you ever received a message from an angel? Let us know in the comments.
Our word for December 23rd is Mother. It is taken from the gospel of Matthew chapter 1, the gospel reading for the 4th Sunday of Advent: Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Mother of God, the “Theotokos” in the Greek (God Bearer), the one Barbara Brown Taylor says, “Smuggled God into the world” is deserving of our honor and praise. The word mother brings up many emotions in each of us, some grand, some not so much. The Mother Mary, Hail Mary full of grace, is told she will be doing this amazing act and gives the most famous “yes” in history. For many of us, our own mothers and mother figures give grand “yes” answers on our behalf all the time. Thanks be to God for the Holy Mother and for all mothers and those who mother others!
Our Advent Word for Monday, December 22nd is Declared. It is taken from the Epistle reading for the 4th Sunday of Advent. Romans chapter 1 includes: Paul, a servant* of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, 3the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit* of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord
The dictionary says declared means “to make known formally, officially, or explicitly”. Paul makes the point that all the prophecies regarding the Messiah were fulfilled in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, all of which declares him to be “Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead.” God also declares Jesus to be the Son at his baptism, transfiguration, and in John’s gospel when the Greeks ask to meet him. It is, in this sense, a royal edict, a holy announcement, an affirmative statement as to who Jesus was and is and will be. Our Lord.