Sunday Reflection (December 13, 2020)

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May we be like John the Baptist: Bearing witness to the light of God’s love revealed in Jesus Christ (John 1:6-9). Perhaps we fail to recognize that all we can do is plant the seeds of God’s love through our actions in obedience to Jesus Christ. The Good News is not about us; it is not about me; it is about Jesus Christ.

We are sent into the world full of darkness to bear witness to the light of Jesus Christ. We do this not in competition with one other or by focusing upon “me.” Rather we work together and focus upon Jesus Christ. God works with us to develop and manifest God’s light in the world.

Prayer for the Week (December 13-December 19)

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Let us pray this Advent for joy and hope in the coming Lord: Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you are ever faithful to your promises and ever close to your Church. The earth rejoices in hope of the Savior’s coming and looks forward with longing to his return by establishing a fair and just world. Prepare our hearts and remove the sadness that hinders us from feeling the joy and hope which his presence will bestow. We make this prayer through Jesus Christ who eternally dwells with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.
Amen

(Sunday Missal)

Sunday Reflection (December 6, 2020)

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Compared to the long span of history we have noticeably short life spans, yet we have a faith in a God who brought time and space into existence. A God who is not confined to time and space as we understand it (Isaiah 40:6-8). God is eternally faithful, and destruction is not the last word.

God renews creation in righteousness (2 Peter 3:8-15). Thankfully, God is merciful and claims us and works with us until the Lord returns. I am glad the Lord is merciful and gives us space and time.  Advent is a special time of the Christian year “that urges us to let the Holy Spirit catch our attention and purify us so that there is room for Christ to be born within us and among us” (Abingdon Women’s Preaching Annual, alt). Someday, the Lord will return and when it happens will you be working hard at it to make the world a better place today?

Prayer for the Week (December 6-December 12)

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Let us pray that God’s glory dwells within us and among us: Lord God, your Word is not distant, your love is not rationed, your grace is at hand, for you are present with your people as we call upon you. We bless you as our Creator.  We honor you as our God. You are our heavenly Father, revealed through Jesus Christ Your Son, and we have come to delight in your Word and be transformed by your love.

Amen.
(Church of Scotland, alt.)

Prayer for the Week (November 29-December 5)

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Let us pray in Advent with longing and waiting for the coming of the Lord: Father, in heaven, our hearts desire the warmth of your love and our minds search for the light of your Word. Increase our longing for Christ our Savior, and give us the strength to grow in love, so that the dawn of his coming find us in his presence and welcoming the light of his truth. We ask this through Christ our Lord
Amen.

(Sunday Missal)

Sunday Reflection (November 29, 2020)

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We can look for all the signs we want for the Lord’s Second Advent, but the reality is that we will not know when Christ returns until it has already happened (Mark 13:32-37). One day it will happen, and although that has not happened yet, may we be aware of our own impending deaths as await the Lord’s Second Advent. May we be ready! Preparations being today!

“Advent is an expression of our faith in the possibility of a better world. We do not have to be at each other’s throats. We can ‘do right’ in the areas of race relations, family obligations, and personal responsibilities. We can ‘do good’ to the poor, the elderly, the homeless, and to all our brothers and sisters at home and abroad. We can become blameless, beacons of social justice, examples of faith and love, peacemakers” (Gerald Darring).