Thank you to all who participated in Session 1 of “The Gospel of Matthew and the Politics of Christmas” held Wednesday, December 17, at New Life Lutheran Church. If you missed the class or wish to review it, who may do so here. (A report out on the results of our Christmas Quiz were part of the class.)
Session 2 – which is a continuation – was offered January 7, 2026 from 1:00 – 2:30 PM.
Resources used in the Class
We used the following resources for this class that participants have requests:
- “The Politics of Christmas Quiz” – Take the Quiz online OR Download a PDF copy.
- The “Diagram of Synoptic Gospels Relationships Chart.” (You can zoom in and explore this chart here in a way we could not for the class.)
The Christmas Story in the Gospel of Matthew is found in Matthew’s first two chapters. Chapter 1 is a genealogy, but it’s a really interesting one!! Chapter 1 also tells about the birth of Jesus. Chapter 2 is about the Wisemen and King Herod. (This is where things really get dicey!)
In the first class on Wednesday, December 17 we:
What was the Class like?
- Introduced ourselves.
- Talked about the Online Quiz some of us took. (As in “the answers” and “what did people say?”)
- We’ll looked at Matthew’s unique genealogy. (What the heck is he doing here, and why?!)
- Then, we’ll focused in on Matthew 1:18-25.
- We finished the day wish some forward looking discussion of Matthew’s use of Old Testament Prophecy.
In the second class on Wednesday, January 7 we:
- Reviewed the first session adding a fresh look at the Christmas Creche and how it is being used creatively today in the spirit of Matthew’s Gospel.
- Then we launched into Matthew chapter 2!
- Who were the Wisemen?
- What was King Herod’s problem?!
- King Herod, the Wisemen, and Mary, Joseph & Jesus – all had critical decisions to make. What do we learn from them?
- We finished the class by discussing (at the other end of Jesus’ life and Matthew’s Gospel) the “‘Seven Last Words of Christ” considering which of these Words Matthew included in his Gospel and why. What is unique about the ending (not just the beginning) of Matthew’s Gospel?
Who was the Teacher?
The Rev. Dave Brauer-Rieke is serving as a transition pastor with New Life Lutheran Church in Florence, OR over Christmas and into February, 2026. He is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA with a degree in Economics and Business; Luther Theological Seminary, receiving his Masters of Divinity in 1982; he has pastored three different congregations over the course of his career; served as Bishop of the Oregon Synod, ELCA, from 2007-2019; has worked with Lutheran Disaster Response; and has just recently retired. Brauer-Rieke’s wife, Gretchen, is a native of Florence. The couple lived in town from 1982-1987, while Gretchen served the area as a Certified Nurse Midwife. Two of their three children were born in a small house on 18th Street during this time. They were also married at New Life Lutheran Church in 1978, so it is a joy and a privilege to all be reunited again.
With respect to this class Brauer-Rieke says, “The Bible is thoroughly political, cover to cover, as “politics” is simply the art of how people relate, make decisions and take actions together in community. The challenge, of course, is relating the political issues and realities of Biblical times to our own day and age. In “The Gospel of Matthew and the Politics of Christmas” we will discover the realities Matthew experienced, and reflect on his leading for his community in his day. My hope is through this study we will be all gain perspective and hope for living in the world of our day and age.”