Posts with the tag “advent”

Hope, Peace, Joy, Love. Amen.Luke 2:1-20  Today is the day we’ve been waiting for. It’s Christmas!Every Sunday this month we’ve placed added characters to our manger scene during worship. Piece by pie...  Read More

Generations of Light and SongIsaiah 9:2-7, Psalm 96, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-20  The sanctuary fills with soft light as candles are passed from hand to hand. Voices rise in harmony, singing the famili...  Read More

Rebuilding through Christ Colossians 1:15-20 “He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:17) “He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold toge...  Read More

Love that Breaks the MoldLuke 1:39-55"His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts....  Read More

The Joy of Chasing ChickensLuke 13:31-35"How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" (Luke 13:34)Let’s talk about c...  Read More

Joy in the Song Isaiah 42:10-18 “Sing to the Lord a new song, God's praise from the end of the earth! Let the sea roar and all that fills it, the coastlands and their inhabitants. Let the desert and i...  Read More

Lament and Hope in the Shepherd’s Care Psalm 80:1-7 “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.” (Psalm 80:3)Advent is a season of contrasts—a time when the joyful anticipation of C...  Read More

Joy in the Work of RestorationIsaiah 11:1-9"The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead th...  Read More

Proclaiming the Joy of an Inclusive GospelActs 28:23-31“He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord J...  Read More

Grounded in GraceHebrews 13:7-17“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)To our college students: This season can bring a mix of emotions. You're navigating the growin...  Read More

The Wonder of Joy “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register w...  Read More

Naming the PromiseLuke 1:57-66“They were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, “No; he is to be called John.’” (Luke 1:59-60)The birth of John the Baptist is a moment of p...  Read More

Building Justice, Building PeaceAmos 8:4-12 “Hear this, you who trample on the needy and bring ruin to the poor of the land.” (Amos 8:4)The prophet Amos does not mince words. He speaks out against tho...  Read More

Sharing the Gift of Peace 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is writte...  Read More

Finding God in the WildernessLuke 7:18-30...Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: What did you go out into the wilderness to see? (Luke 7:24)John the Baptist, sitting in prison, sends his disc...  Read More

Restoring the Earth in PeacePsalm 126"Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy. Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sh...  Read More

Waiting with Hope in the Groaning Romans 8:22-25“We know that the whole creation has been groaning together as it suffers together the pains of labor, and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who ...  Read More

Luke 1:72-79“Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us that we, being rescued from the ha...  Read More

Guiding Our Children in the Way of ChristLuke 1:76-79"And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare God’s ways, to give knowledge of salvation...  Read More

Serving the Lord in Hope and Justice Malachi 3:13-18 "Then those who revered the Lord spoke with one another; the Lord took note and listened, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those...  Read More

A Horn of Salvation for the Next Generation  Luke 1:68-69  "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for God has looked favorably on God’s people and redeemed them. God has raised up a mighty savior for us ...  Read More

A Legacy of Care and Promise 2 Samuel 7:18-29 "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?" (2 Samuel 7:18)David’s prayer in 2 Samuel 7 overflows with awe and gratit...  Read More

Anticipating New Heavens and a New Earth 2 Peter 3:1-18 "But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home." (2 Peter 3:13) Advent is a seas...  Read More

A Thrill of Hope, The weary world rejoices  For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn  Fall on your knees; O hear the Angel voices!  The trees have a new lean to them.  Many of the resolute oaks have ...  Read More