Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
With your abundant grace and might,
Free us from the sin that hinders our faith,
That eagerly we may receive your promises
Today’s readings: (all three provided for further reference) Isaiah 9:2-7, Psalm 96, Luke 2:1-14
The Birth of Jesus
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 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. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
And so this evening..the reason for the journey is revealed..Glory to God in the highest..Today a Savior is born to you..A great joy to all people
The E-Team wishes each and every one of you a
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html
Friday, December 24, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
December 23, 2010 Praying the Advent Season
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
With your abundant grace and might,
Free us from the sin that hinders our faith,
That eagerly we may receive your promises.
Today’s reading is from Luke 1: 57-79
57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. 59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.” 61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.” 62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
Zechariah’s Song
67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. 69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David 70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— 72 to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham: 74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death,to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
Today's Gospel passage recalls almost fondly the birth of John the Baptist, who will be the forerunner and messenger of the Lord whom we all seek. It's a domestic family scene, the naming of their child by Elizabeth and Zechariah, but it created wonder, fear, and awe. For when Zechariah wrote down, "John is his name," his tongue was freed and his mouth was opened with a beautiful prayer of blessing we now know as "The Benedictus," chanted in monasteries and Churches ever since the formation of the Christian Scriptures in the late first century.
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has come to his people and set them free...He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of his servant, David, etc."
Zechariah's song ends with these beautifully hopeful words, "In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace." What an apt description of the Coming of Jesus, Emmanuel, Our Savior, the Prince of Peace, the celebration of whose birth is tomorrow evening. This is the last day of Advent. Tomorrow begins the season of Christmas!!
Dear Lord, we have traveled together the past weeks along the path of remembrance. Thru your scriptures we have prepared ourselves for tomorrow night, one of the holiest in Christendom. The path has been prepared and now we journey forward toward your tender compassion from on high which shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Amen and Amen
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
With your abundant grace and might,
Free us from the sin that hinders our faith,
That eagerly we may receive your promises.
Today’s reading is from Luke 1: 57-79
57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. 59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.” 61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.” 62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
Zechariah’s Song
67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. 69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David 70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— 72 to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham: 74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death,to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
Today's Gospel passage recalls almost fondly the birth of John the Baptist, who will be the forerunner and messenger of the Lord whom we all seek. It's a domestic family scene, the naming of their child by Elizabeth and Zechariah, but it created wonder, fear, and awe. For when Zechariah wrote down, "John is his name," his tongue was freed and his mouth was opened with a beautiful prayer of blessing we now know as "The Benedictus," chanted in monasteries and Churches ever since the formation of the Christian Scriptures in the late first century.
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has come to his people and set them free...He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of his servant, David, etc."
Zechariah's song ends with these beautifully hopeful words, "In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace." What an apt description of the Coming of Jesus, Emmanuel, Our Savior, the Prince of Peace, the celebration of whose birth is tomorrow evening. This is the last day of Advent. Tomorrow begins the season of Christmas!!
Dear Lord, we have traveled together the past weeks along the path of remembrance. Thru your scriptures we have prepared ourselves for tomorrow night, one of the holiest in Christendom. The path has been prepared and now we journey forward toward your tender compassion from on high which shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Amen and Amen
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
December 22, 2010 Praying the Advent Season
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
With your abundant grace and might,
Free us from the sin that hinders our faith,
That eagerly we may receive your promises.
Today’s reading is from Luke 1: 46-56
Mary’s Song
46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
As we heard yesterday, Elizabeth confirms the angel Gabriel’s message to Mary. That's all the confirmation Mary needs. She sees clearly a most remarkable thing about God: He is about to change the course of all human history; the most important three decades in all of time are about to begin. And where is God? Occupying Himself with two obscure, humble women-one old and barren, one young and virginal. And Mary is so moved by this vision of God, the lover of the lowly, that she breaks out in song--a song that has come to be known as the Magnificat.
Mary and Elizabeth are wonderful heroines in Luke's account. He loves the faith of these women. The thing that impresses him most, it appears, and the thing he wants to impress on Theophilus, his noble reader, is the lowliness and cheerful humility of Elizabeth and Mary. Elizabeth says (1:43): "And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord would come to me? And Mary says (1:48): The Lord has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden." The only people whose soul can truly magnify the Lord are people like Elizabeth and Mary--people who acknowledge their lowly estate and are overwhelmed by the condescension of the magnificent God.
Dear Lord, thru this passage you have lifted us to hope. Help us to open our lives to the coming of the Spirit. Help us to be like Mary. Her faith is a wonder of courage and strength. Inspire us to simply say yes to your call to witness. Thank you for this Advent journey. Our lives get so busy that we forget to focus. Thank you for guidance and thank you for the quiet moments when reading the scriptures we have felt your love.
Nothing is impossible with God.
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
With your abundant grace and might,
Free us from the sin that hinders our faith,
That eagerly we may receive your promises.
Today’s reading is from Luke 1: 46-56
Mary’s Song
46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
As we heard yesterday, Elizabeth confirms the angel Gabriel’s message to Mary. That's all the confirmation Mary needs. She sees clearly a most remarkable thing about God: He is about to change the course of all human history; the most important three decades in all of time are about to begin. And where is God? Occupying Himself with two obscure, humble women-one old and barren, one young and virginal. And Mary is so moved by this vision of God, the lover of the lowly, that she breaks out in song--a song that has come to be known as the Magnificat.
Mary and Elizabeth are wonderful heroines in Luke's account. He loves the faith of these women. The thing that impresses him most, it appears, and the thing he wants to impress on Theophilus, his noble reader, is the lowliness and cheerful humility of Elizabeth and Mary. Elizabeth says (1:43): "And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord would come to me? And Mary says (1:48): The Lord has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden." The only people whose soul can truly magnify the Lord are people like Elizabeth and Mary--people who acknowledge their lowly estate and are overwhelmed by the condescension of the magnificent God.
Dear Lord, thru this passage you have lifted us to hope. Help us to open our lives to the coming of the Spirit. Help us to be like Mary. Her faith is a wonder of courage and strength. Inspire us to simply say yes to your call to witness. Thank you for this Advent journey. Our lives get so busy that we forget to focus. Thank you for guidance and thank you for the quiet moments when reading the scriptures we have felt your love.
Nothing is impossible with God.
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
December 21, 2010 Praying the Advent Season
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
With your abundant grace and might,
Free us from the sin that hinders our faith,
That eagerly we may receive your promises.
Today’s reading is from Luke 1: 39-45
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
We can feel the powerful emotions expressed in today’s readings – young love, shouting for joy, exulting, leaping for joy. Elizabeth and Zechariah have waited so long to be blessed with a child, and light up the world of all they encounter with their joy of parenthood. And we can certainly share Elizabeth’s excitement:” Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
We have these feelings of belief in the story and of the outcome. But there are also times when we are shameful in our unbelief. Oh that we could maintain the high we feel when like Elizabeth and Mary, we can truly believe with all our heart in the wonder of God and his Son Jesus the Christ!
We do believe that Jesus, the Son of God, came into this world by taking on the human condition. That he was born to a human mother. And we feel great joy this time of year as we anticipate celebrating the birth of Jesus on Friday. What does this birth say about the love God must have for each one of us…that He would send His Son to live this life of ours? How can we doubt God’s love once we understand this priceless gift?
My prayer today is for the grace to look beyond the pleasant distractions of this season of celebration, however wonderful they are, so we can all feel the true joy of knowing that Jesus has come into the world for us. That God did come to earth to show us how to live and that thru the Holy Spirit we can be filled to overflowing with love for our fellow man.
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
With your abundant grace and might,
Free us from the sin that hinders our faith,
That eagerly we may receive your promises.
Today’s reading is from Luke 1: 39-45
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
We can feel the powerful emotions expressed in today’s readings – young love, shouting for joy, exulting, leaping for joy. Elizabeth and Zechariah have waited so long to be blessed with a child, and light up the world of all they encounter with their joy of parenthood. And we can certainly share Elizabeth’s excitement:” Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
We have these feelings of belief in the story and of the outcome. But there are also times when we are shameful in our unbelief. Oh that we could maintain the high we feel when like Elizabeth and Mary, we can truly believe with all our heart in the wonder of God and his Son Jesus the Christ!
We do believe that Jesus, the Son of God, came into this world by taking on the human condition. That he was born to a human mother. And we feel great joy this time of year as we anticipate celebrating the birth of Jesus on Friday. What does this birth say about the love God must have for each one of us…that He would send His Son to live this life of ours? How can we doubt God’s love once we understand this priceless gift?
My prayer today is for the grace to look beyond the pleasant distractions of this season of celebration, however wonderful they are, so we can all feel the true joy of knowing that Jesus has come into the world for us. That God did come to earth to show us how to live and that thru the Holy Spirit we can be filled to overflowing with love for our fellow man.
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html
Monday, December 20, 2010
December 20, 2010 Praying the Advent Season
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
With your abundant grace and might,
Free us from the sin that hinders our faith,
That eagerly we may receive your promises.
Today’s reading is from Luke 1: 26-38
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[b] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
“Do not be afraid, Mary!”... “May it be done according to your word....”
These familiar words from Luke continue the advent vigil into our celebration of Christmas.
Throughout this week we hear the angel of God delivering messages of joy, of unbelievable events, and of ordinary people being surprised and then growing into acceptance of God’s presence among them. Yesterday it was Joseph, today Mary.
The announcement to Mary of her pregnancy, of Mary and Elizabeth ministering to one another in their extended visit, of the birth of John and Zachary’s unbelief turned into joy as he announces his son’s name, and then the story of the humble birth of Jesus.
These words and happenings, God’s caressing words of presence, “Do not be afraid,” can awaken us to the now of God’s call in the midst of our lives today.
How often do we find ourselves in day-to-day struggles and ‘have to do’s’ - not wishing to continue, perhaps unsure of ourselves or the project or the challenge of the day? It is times like these that we may very well experience raw fear - the unknown lurks and we are unsure of ourselves. Yet, it is in trying to do this ourselves – to find the courage within us to face our fears that we stumble...it is these times that God is present, whispering, “DO NOT BE AFRAID”.
Mary’s questions, “How can this be?” are very real. She found herself in the midst of an incredibly strange experience of being told something very frightening and awe-filled - that she was to be with child...who was to be God’s son!
Mary was willing to be open to God with her questions, her fears, and her consternation. AND, Mary was willing to trust the angel’s assurance of God’s presence, in the midst of the questions, fears and unknown future.... and to move forward - “Let it be done according to your word.”
As we face our futures of unknown beginnings, or daily humdrum moments or a closing of life’s chapter, may we allow God in ... open with our fears, longings, emptiness and emotional roller coasters.... to trust the loving embrace of God and be open to what may be revealed in these days...according to God’s word and promise.
Dear Lord, ease my doubts and calm my fears. I know I don't always hear your messengers because they aren't what I expect. They aren't wearing wings or halos but are the people I see on the street, at my work and in this church. Fill me with the light of your Spirit and enter into my life. Amen
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
With your abundant grace and might,
Free us from the sin that hinders our faith,
That eagerly we may receive your promises.
Today’s reading is from Luke 1: 26-38
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[b] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
“Do not be afraid, Mary!”... “May it be done according to your word....”
These familiar words from Luke continue the advent vigil into our celebration of Christmas.
Throughout this week we hear the angel of God delivering messages of joy, of unbelievable events, and of ordinary people being surprised and then growing into acceptance of God’s presence among them. Yesterday it was Joseph, today Mary.
The announcement to Mary of her pregnancy, of Mary and Elizabeth ministering to one another in their extended visit, of the birth of John and Zachary’s unbelief turned into joy as he announces his son’s name, and then the story of the humble birth of Jesus.
These words and happenings, God’s caressing words of presence, “Do not be afraid,” can awaken us to the now of God’s call in the midst of our lives today.
How often do we find ourselves in day-to-day struggles and ‘have to do’s’ - not wishing to continue, perhaps unsure of ourselves or the project or the challenge of the day? It is times like these that we may very well experience raw fear - the unknown lurks and we are unsure of ourselves. Yet, it is in trying to do this ourselves – to find the courage within us to face our fears that we stumble...it is these times that God is present, whispering, “DO NOT BE AFRAID”.
Mary’s questions, “How can this be?” are very real. She found herself in the midst of an incredibly strange experience of being told something very frightening and awe-filled - that she was to be with child...who was to be God’s son!
Mary was willing to be open to God with her questions, her fears, and her consternation. AND, Mary was willing to trust the angel’s assurance of God’s presence, in the midst of the questions, fears and unknown future.... and to move forward - “Let it be done according to your word.”
As we face our futures of unknown beginnings, or daily humdrum moments or a closing of life’s chapter, may we allow God in ... open with our fears, longings, emptiness and emotional roller coasters.... to trust the loving embrace of God and be open to what may be revealed in these days...according to God’s word and promise.
Dear Lord, ease my doubts and calm my fears. I know I don't always hear your messengers because they aren't what I expect. They aren't wearing wings or halos but are the people I see on the street, at my work and in this church. Fill me with the light of your Spirit and enter into my life. Amen
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html
Sunday, December 19, 2010
December 19, 2010 Praying the Advent Season
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
With your abundant grace and might,
Free us from the sin that hinders our faith,
That eagerly we may receive your promises.
Today’s readings: (all three provided for further reference) Isaiah 7:10-16,
Romans 1: 1-7, Matthew 1: 18-25
Let’s concentrate on today’s Gospel from Matthew 1: 18-25
Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[d]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[e] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered 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 home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[f] because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[g] (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus
Joseph’s world was going just as planned until Mary’s unprovoked pregnancy sent it spinning out of control. Joseph shaped a prudent plan that would quiet the small town gossips and protect Mary. His response to fear was not panic, but steadfastness. Maybe that’s why he was able to hear and heed the angel, doing as the Lord commanded him. God’s plan must have been very confusing and fearful to Joseph. It was mysterious, way beyond anything he could have ever imagined, and what would the neighbors think of his explanation? But being a true believer, Joseph accepted God’s plan and turned toward God to witness a sign fulfilled…. named Jesus.
Now we are here in “our time” – season following season, disaster upon disaster, worry on top of worry, year after year. Like the King and the Carpenter the question comes to us, will we turn toward God and listen and change/adjust our man-made plans accordingly? Will we accept the “mysterious plans” God places before us?
Lighting the fourth candle fully reveals the darkness for what it is, and we need not fear, not now, not ever again. We can live by faith and wipe away all our tears for the dawn draws near and the world as we have known it is about to change again.” Listen, look and be aware for the Lord draws near.
Stir up your power, Lord, and come. With your abundant grace and might, free us from the sin that hinders our faith, that eagerly we may receive your promises, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
With your abundant grace and might,
Free us from the sin that hinders our faith,
That eagerly we may receive your promises.
Today’s readings: (all three provided for further reference) Isaiah 7:10-16,
Romans 1: 1-7, Matthew 1: 18-25
Let’s concentrate on today’s Gospel from Matthew 1: 18-25
Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[d]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[e] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered 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 home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[f] because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[g] (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus
Joseph’s world was going just as planned until Mary’s unprovoked pregnancy sent it spinning out of control. Joseph shaped a prudent plan that would quiet the small town gossips and protect Mary. His response to fear was not panic, but steadfastness. Maybe that’s why he was able to hear and heed the angel, doing as the Lord commanded him. God’s plan must have been very confusing and fearful to Joseph. It was mysterious, way beyond anything he could have ever imagined, and what would the neighbors think of his explanation? But being a true believer, Joseph accepted God’s plan and turned toward God to witness a sign fulfilled…. named Jesus.
Now we are here in “our time” – season following season, disaster upon disaster, worry on top of worry, year after year. Like the King and the Carpenter the question comes to us, will we turn toward God and listen and change/adjust our man-made plans accordingly? Will we accept the “mysterious plans” God places before us?
Lighting the fourth candle fully reveals the darkness for what it is, and we need not fear, not now, not ever again. We can live by faith and wipe away all our tears for the dawn draws near and the world as we have known it is about to change again.” Listen, look and be aware for the Lord draws near.
Stir up your power, Lord, and come. With your abundant grace and might, free us from the sin that hinders our faith, that eagerly we may receive your promises, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA
Saturday, December 18, 2010
December 18th, 2010 Praying Advent Season
Saturday, December 18th, 2010
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming that transformed by grace we may walk in your way.
Today's Text: Exodus 3: 1-15
Moses and the Burning Bush
1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.”
5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father,[a] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
7 The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
12 And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you[b] will worship God on this mountain.”
13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.[c] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD,[d] the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’
“This is my name forever,
the name you shall call me
from generation to generation.
Come, God of Creation, you are the sovereign one who calls us to you. Come; wrap your arms around the nations, around your people. Wrap your arms around us as you stretched them out, that they would embrace all peoples in salvation.
All-powerful God,
renew us by the coming feast of your Son
and free us from our slavery to sin.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming that transformed by grace we may walk in your way.
Today's Text: Exodus 3: 1-15
Moses and the Burning Bush
1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.”
5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father,[a] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
7 The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
12 And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you[b] will worship God on this mountain.”
13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.[c] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD,[d] the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’
“This is my name forever,
the name you shall call me
from generation to generation.
Come, God of Creation, you are the sovereign one who calls us to you. Come; wrap your arms around the nations, around your people. Wrap your arms around us as you stretched them out, that they would embrace all peoples in salvation.
All-powerful God,
renew us by the coming feast of your Son
and free us from our slavery to sin.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Friday, December 17, 2010
December 17, 2010 Praying Advent Season
Friday, December 17th, 2010
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming that transformed by grace we may walk in your way.
Today's Text: Proverbs 8: 22-31
22 “The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works,
before his deeds of old;
23 I was formed long ages ago,
at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
when there were no springs overflowing with water;
25 before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was given birth,
26 before he made the world or its fields
or any of the dust of the earth.
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
29 when he gave the sea its boundary
so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
30 Then I was constantly at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,
31 rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.
Come, God of Wisdom, come and make all things new. Rekindle in your church the life of the one who is your wisdom on this earth. This one reveals you and reveals the way to you. You order our days and our deeds in his peace.
Prepare our hearts and remove the sadness that hinders us from feeling the joy and hope which his presence will bestow.
"You are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people
from their sins." Mt 1:21
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming that transformed by grace we may walk in your way.
Today's Text: Proverbs 8: 22-31
22 “The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works,
before his deeds of old;
23 I was formed long ages ago,
at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
when there were no springs overflowing with water;
25 before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was given birth,
26 before he made the world or its fields
or any of the dust of the earth.
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
29 when he gave the sea its boundary
so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
30 Then I was constantly at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,
31 rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.
Come, God of Wisdom, come and make all things new. Rekindle in your church the life of the one who is your wisdom on this earth. This one reveals you and reveals the way to you. You order our days and our deeds in his peace.
Prepare our hearts and remove the sadness that hinders us from feeling the joy and hope which his presence will bestow.
"You are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people
from their sins." Mt 1:21
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
December 16th,2010 Praying Advent Season
Thursday, December 16th, 2010
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming that transformed by grace we may walk in your way.
Today's Text: Galatians 3:23-29
Children of God
23 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Once a person is baptized “into Christ” and has “put on Christ,” she/he has a new identity as a Christian, bestowed by the grace of God. In the light of that new identity, all other identities have to be renegotiated and refrigerated, to bear witness to the new humanity in Jesus Christ. When that truth is missed and Christians continue to parade on their old identities and use them for selfish privileges and advantages at the expense of others, they in fact miss the point of being redeemed persons through baptism “into Christ.” Part of the reason why racism, sexism, class was perpetuated in Christian communities and still continues to some degree is because of the misunderstanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christianity breaks the barriers, writes Paul to the church in Galatia, and opens the way to a new humanity of mutuality and solidarity. It was that revolutionary nature of early Christianity, a movement without any historic precedence, which attracted people from all ranks of the then existing society. That new Christian fellowship was a “sociological impossibility” at the time of its formation and needs to remain so, to be true to the gospel.
Loving Father,
Help us to remain new in you each day. Send your Holy Spirit to be among us as our anticipation grows for the return of the one who is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty Redeemer, Lord of all.
Amen.
The one who calls you is faithful,
and he will also accomplish it. 1 Thes. 5
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming that transformed by grace we may walk in your way.
Today's Text: Galatians 3:23-29
Children of God
23 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Once a person is baptized “into Christ” and has “put on Christ,” she/he has a new identity as a Christian, bestowed by the grace of God. In the light of that new identity, all other identities have to be renegotiated and refrigerated, to bear witness to the new humanity in Jesus Christ. When that truth is missed and Christians continue to parade on their old identities and use them for selfish privileges and advantages at the expense of others, they in fact miss the point of being redeemed persons through baptism “into Christ.” Part of the reason why racism, sexism, class was perpetuated in Christian communities and still continues to some degree is because of the misunderstanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christianity breaks the barriers, writes Paul to the church in Galatia, and opens the way to a new humanity of mutuality and solidarity. It was that revolutionary nature of early Christianity, a movement without any historic precedence, which attracted people from all ranks of the then existing society. That new Christian fellowship was a “sociological impossibility” at the time of its formation and needs to remain so, to be true to the gospel.
Loving Father,
Help us to remain new in you each day. Send your Holy Spirit to be among us as our anticipation grows for the return of the one who is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty Redeemer, Lord of all.
Amen.
The one who calls you is faithful,
and he will also accomplish it. 1 Thes. 5
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
December 15,2010 Praying Advent Season
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming that transformed by grace we may walk in your way.
Today's Text: Matthew 8: 14-17, 24-34
Jesus Heals Many
14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.
16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
“He took up our infirmities
and bore our diseases.”
Jesus Restores Two Demon-Possessed Men
28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”
32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.
The New Testament and subsequent theological writings reflecting on the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth have contributed a number of images of Jesus and Christological titles to the theological treasury of the church. In all of them the image of Jesus as healer stands out with various nuances shaped by the context of a given Christian community. That image is going to remain as long as human beings are in need of healing from various forms of brokenness in their earthly pilgrimage, self imposed or imposed from outside. Advent is a time of remembering and celebrating the coming of the savior for healing and restoring all humanity. That remembrance and celebration has continued for more than 2000 years and will continue as Christians and churches engage in the ministry of healing following the example of Jesus. The only thing the church needs to do is continue to proclaim that there is no illness and brokenness that can not be healed by Jesus, the risen Lord, and do whatever is possible within its means to demonstrate that gospel truth.
Father,
Be with us Lord. Help us to know that it is Christ alone who can heal our brokenness. As our anticipation grows may we draw ever nearer to you. Help us to know and believe your promises of healing and justice.
Amen
The one who calls you is faithful,
and he will also accomplish it. 1 Thes. 5
As the earth brings forth its plants,
and a garden makes its growth spring up,
so will the Lord GOD make justice and praise
spring up before all the nations. Is. 61
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming that transformed by grace we may walk in your way.
Today's Text: Matthew 8: 14-17, 24-34
Jesus Heals Many
14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.
16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
“He took up our infirmities
and bore our diseases.”
Jesus Restores Two Demon-Possessed Men
28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”
32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.
The New Testament and subsequent theological writings reflecting on the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth have contributed a number of images of Jesus and Christological titles to the theological treasury of the church. In all of them the image of Jesus as healer stands out with various nuances shaped by the context of a given Christian community. That image is going to remain as long as human beings are in need of healing from various forms of brokenness in their earthly pilgrimage, self imposed or imposed from outside. Advent is a time of remembering and celebrating the coming of the savior for healing and restoring all humanity. That remembrance and celebration has continued for more than 2000 years and will continue as Christians and churches engage in the ministry of healing following the example of Jesus. The only thing the church needs to do is continue to proclaim that there is no illness and brokenness that can not be healed by Jesus, the risen Lord, and do whatever is possible within its means to demonstrate that gospel truth.
Father,
Be with us Lord. Help us to know that it is Christ alone who can heal our brokenness. As our anticipation grows may we draw ever nearer to you. Help us to know and believe your promises of healing and justice.
Amen
The one who calls you is faithful,
and he will also accomplish it. 1 Thes. 5
As the earth brings forth its plants,
and a garden makes its growth spring up,
so will the Lord GOD make justice and praise
spring up before all the nations. Is. 61
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Monday, December 13, 2010
December 14th, 2010 Praying Advent Season
Tuesday December 14th, 2010
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming that transformed by grace we may walk in your way.
Tuesday, December 14 – Matthew 21: 28-32
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
“What is your opinion?
A man had two sons.
He came to the first and said,
‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’
The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’
but afterwards he changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order.
He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go.
Which of the two did his father’s will?”
They answered, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you,
tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the Kingdom of God before you.
When John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did.
Yet even when you saw that,
you did not later change your minds and believe him.”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus provides a warning that resembles the message of the ancient prophet. Jesus chose to rock the concept of righteousness of those in the religious establishment, letting them know that externalities of appearance do not govern, but on the substance of what they do in response to the Father’s call. It opens the possibility that rebels who humble themselves to listen to God’s voice and do His will, may indeed reach the Kingdom of God.
Let each of us consider in our own hearts this Advent season how we go our own way and listen to our own voices above the voice of God. And note that the voice of God may sometimes be heard in the cries of the poor and needy among us. Sometimes it may also be the voice of the Church (or our parents and friends speaking those truths) trying to maintain the boundaries we need to keep moving forward, like those rivers that keep moving toward the sea, rather than dissipating into a big puddle going nowhere.
Father,
Prepare a path in our hearts for the coming of your Word, and let his glory be revealed among us. Bring low the mountains of our pride, and fill up the valleys of our weakness. Break down the wall of hatred that divides the nations, and make level for mankind the paths to peace.
Amen
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html.
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming that transformed by grace we may walk in your way.
Tuesday, December 14 – Matthew 21: 28-32
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
“What is your opinion?
A man had two sons.
He came to the first and said,
‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’
The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’
but afterwards he changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order.
He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go.
Which of the two did his father’s will?”
They answered, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you,
tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the Kingdom of God before you.
When John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did.
Yet even when you saw that,
you did not later change your minds and believe him.”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus provides a warning that resembles the message of the ancient prophet. Jesus chose to rock the concept of righteousness of those in the religious establishment, letting them know that externalities of appearance do not govern, but on the substance of what they do in response to the Father’s call. It opens the possibility that rebels who humble themselves to listen to God’s voice and do His will, may indeed reach the Kingdom of God.
Let each of us consider in our own hearts this Advent season how we go our own way and listen to our own voices above the voice of God. And note that the voice of God may sometimes be heard in the cries of the poor and needy among us. Sometimes it may also be the voice of the Church (or our parents and friends speaking those truths) trying to maintain the boundaries we need to keep moving forward, like those rivers that keep moving toward the sea, rather than dissipating into a big puddle going nowhere.
Father,
Prepare a path in our hearts for the coming of your Word, and let his glory be revealed among us. Bring low the mountains of our pride, and fill up the valleys of our weakness. Break down the wall of hatred that divides the nations, and make level for mankind the paths to peace.
Amen
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html.
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
December 13th ,2010 Praying Advent Season
Monday December 13th, 2010
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming that transformed by grace we may walk in your way.
Today's Text: Psalm 72: 2-8
Psalm 72:2-8
2 May he judge your people in righteousness,
your afflicted ones with justice.
3 May the mountains bring prosperity to the people,
the hills the fruit of righteousness.
4 May he defend the afflicted among the people
and save the children of the needy;
may he crush the oppressor.
5 May he endure[a] as long as the sun,
as long as the moon, through all generations.
6 May he be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.
7 In his days may the righteous flourish
and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.
8 May he rule from sea to sea
and from the River[b] to the ends of the earth.
This Advent we long to do more than admire and stand off in wonder. Jesus will be born again with all the love we can receive. These days of Advent we can hope that our love for the very person of Jesus can lighten the darkness. Let us experience today what it will be like to be freed from the power of injustice, conflict and division.
To the Lord Jesus Christ, judge of the living dead, let us pray: Come, Lord Jesus!
Lord Jesus, you came to save sinners, protect us in times of temptation.
You will come in glory to be our judge, show in us your power to save.
You are praised throughout the ages; in your mercy help us to live devoutly and temperately in this life, as we wait in joyful hope for the revelation of your glory.
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming that transformed by grace we may walk in your way.
Today's Text: Psalm 72: 2-8
Psalm 72:2-8
2 May he judge your people in righteousness,
your afflicted ones with justice.
3 May the mountains bring prosperity to the people,
the hills the fruit of righteousness.
4 May he defend the afflicted among the people
and save the children of the needy;
may he crush the oppressor.
5 May he endure[a] as long as the sun,
as long as the moon, through all generations.
6 May he be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.
7 In his days may the righteous flourish
and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.
8 May he rule from sea to sea
and from the River[b] to the ends of the earth.
This Advent we long to do more than admire and stand off in wonder. Jesus will be born again with all the love we can receive. These days of Advent we can hope that our love for the very person of Jesus can lighten the darkness. Let us experience today what it will be like to be freed from the power of injustice, conflict and division.
To the Lord Jesus Christ, judge of the living dead, let us pray: Come, Lord Jesus!
Lord Jesus, you came to save sinners, protect us in times of temptation.
You will come in glory to be our judge, show in us your power to save.
You are praised throughout the ages; in your mercy help us to live devoutly and temperately in this life, as we wait in joyful hope for the revelation of your glory.
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
December 12th, 2010 Praying the Advent Season
Sunday, December 12
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming that transformed by grace we may walk in your way.
Sunday, December 12 – Isaiah 35: 1-35, James 5: 7-10, Matthew 11: 2-11
Matthew 11:2-11
2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[a] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’[b]
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Confined to Tegel prison in December, 1943, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote to afriend, “Life in a prison cell may well be compared to Advent; one waits,hopes and does this, that or the other – things that are of no consequence –the door is shut and can be opened only from the outside.”Such was John the Baptizer’s experience too, also imprisoned, waiting forsomething to happen, something he had boldly announced and vividlydescribed in fiery detail, and now was completely helpless to bring about. John knew what he was waiting for, someone who would clean house, take on the establishment, and empowered by the Holy Spirit and fire, would win.
Are we willing to leave behind the confines of false security to walk through that open door into true freedom? Two candles are already lit.
Lighting the third pushes back the darkness signifying that the dawn of the new day is imminent.
To Jesus Christ our Lord, the light of the world,
let us cry out with joy:
Come Lord Jesus!
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html.
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming that transformed by grace we may walk in your way.
Sunday, December 12 – Isaiah 35: 1-35, James 5: 7-10, Matthew 11: 2-11
Matthew 11:2-11
2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[a] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’[b]
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Confined to Tegel prison in December, 1943, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote to afriend, “Life in a prison cell may well be compared to Advent; one waits,hopes and does this, that or the other – things that are of no consequence –the door is shut and can be opened only from the outside.”Such was John the Baptizer’s experience too, also imprisoned, waiting forsomething to happen, something he had boldly announced and vividlydescribed in fiery detail, and now was completely helpless to bring about. John knew what he was waiting for, someone who would clean house, take on the establishment, and empowered by the Holy Spirit and fire, would win.
Are we willing to leave behind the confines of false security to walk through that open door into true freedom? Two candles are already lit.
Lighting the third pushes back the darkness signifying that the dawn of the new day is imminent.
To Jesus Christ our Lord, the light of the world,
let us cry out with joy:
Come Lord Jesus!
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html.
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
December 11, 2010 Praying the Advent Season
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up our hearts, Lord God
To prepare the way of your only Son
By his coming, nurture our growth
As a people of repentance and peace.
Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke 3:1-19
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— 2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
5 Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
6 And all people will see God’s salvation.”
7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.
11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.
14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”
He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”
15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.
19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
John prepares the way for Jesus by leveling, well, everybody. The mountains
of power were brought low, the valleys of corruption were filled in. Repent.
Bear fruit. Be baptized. ‘They were a people filled with expectation in their
hearts.’ And John lays out what they should expect. What everybody expected
of a god. “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing
fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his
granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
And along comes Jesus. He comes not only on behalf of the wheat, but also on behalf of the chaff.For sinners and Pharisees, for lepers and tax collectors, for the lonely and the forgotten and the cast aside and the left out and the sick and the dead and the god-forsaken, he comes. To forgive. To heal. To give life.
Almighty God,
We thank you for your Son, for keeping your covenant with Abraham and for this wonderful world. Our thankfulness list is like the energizer bunny…it just keeps on going on. We respond to your gifts with our first fruits. Tomorrow we will bring our pledges to church, offering our first fruits to your glory and to the fulfillment of the mission of your church here on earth. Amen
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA
Opening Prayer:
Stir up our hearts, Lord God
To prepare the way of your only Son
By his coming, nurture our growth
As a people of repentance and peace.
Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke 3:1-19
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— 2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
5 Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
6 And all people will see God’s salvation.”
7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.
11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.
14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”
He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”
15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.
19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
John prepares the way for Jesus by leveling, well, everybody. The mountains
of power were brought low, the valleys of corruption were filled in. Repent.
Bear fruit. Be baptized. ‘They were a people filled with expectation in their
hearts.’ And John lays out what they should expect. What everybody expected
of a god. “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing
fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his
granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
And along comes Jesus. He comes not only on behalf of the wheat, but also on behalf of the chaff.For sinners and Pharisees, for lepers and tax collectors, for the lonely and the forgotten and the cast aside and the left out and the sick and the dead and the god-forsaken, he comes. To forgive. To heal. To give life.
Almighty God,
We thank you for your Son, for keeping your covenant with Abraham and for this wonderful world. Our thankfulness list is like the energizer bunny…it just keeps on going on. We respond to your gifts with our first fruits. Tomorrow we will bring our pledges to church, offering our first fruits to your glory and to the fulfillment of the mission of your church here on earth. Amen
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA
Friday, December 10, 2010
December 10, 2010 Praying the Advent Season
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up our hearts, Lord God
To prepare the way of your only Son
By his coming, nurture our growth
As a people of repentance and peace.
Today’s reading is from the Book of Ruth 4:13-17
Naomi Gains a Son
13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”
16 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
We remember well the story of Ruth; a story of her devotion to her mother-in-law-Naomi. She lost a husband and her two daughters-in-law lost their husbands as well. This was a tragedy beyond belief for the women had no way to fend for themselves, but would be forced to be beggars. But the daughters-in-law were young and could re-marry, but that was not a realistic option for Naomi....so she was to return to Israel and find her kin and hope for mercy. But Ruth clings to her and pledges an oath of loyalty to Naomi, so compelling that her words still bind spouses and lovers today: “Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die – there I will be buried…” (Ruth 1:16b-17a). Ruth becomes the bearer of God’s promise of faithfulness for Naomi. Ruth finds favor in the eyes of Boaz, a kin of Naomi, marries and bears a child-Obed. A son who would stand for God’s role as “restorer of life.”
It was a foretaste of the feast to come. For Obed become the father of Jesse. And Jesse of David. And so on until Mary who would bear the promise of God in a son – a son who be for the whole world… the promise of God’s faithfulness, the restorer of life for all.
Dear Lord,
Fill our ears and our hearts with the story of your faithfulness- from the promise to Abraham, thru the promise of your Son, Our Lord. Instill in us a clean heart that we may joyfully spread the “Good News” throughout the land. Remind us always to be faithful to you and to lift up to you in our prayers all those who need your tender love in their lives. Amen.
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA
Opening Prayer:
Stir up our hearts, Lord God
To prepare the way of your only Son
By his coming, nurture our growth
As a people of repentance and peace.
Today’s reading is from the Book of Ruth 4:13-17
Naomi Gains a Son
13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”
16 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
We remember well the story of Ruth; a story of her devotion to her mother-in-law-Naomi. She lost a husband and her two daughters-in-law lost their husbands as well. This was a tragedy beyond belief for the women had no way to fend for themselves, but would be forced to be beggars. But the daughters-in-law were young and could re-marry, but that was not a realistic option for Naomi....so she was to return to Israel and find her kin and hope for mercy. But Ruth clings to her and pledges an oath of loyalty to Naomi, so compelling that her words still bind spouses and lovers today: “Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die – there I will be buried…” (Ruth 1:16b-17a). Ruth becomes the bearer of God’s promise of faithfulness for Naomi. Ruth finds favor in the eyes of Boaz, a kin of Naomi, marries and bears a child-Obed. A son who would stand for God’s role as “restorer of life.”
It was a foretaste of the feast to come. For Obed become the father of Jesse. And Jesse of David. And so on until Mary who would bear the promise of God in a son – a son who be for the whole world… the promise of God’s faithfulness, the restorer of life for all.
Dear Lord,
Fill our ears and our hearts with the story of your faithfulness- from the promise to Abraham, thru the promise of your Son, Our Lord. Instill in us a clean heart that we may joyfully spread the “Good News” throughout the land. Remind us always to be faithful to you and to lift up to you in our prayers all those who need your tender love in their lives. Amen.
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA
Thursday, December 9, 2010
December 9, 2010 Praying the Advent Season
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up our hearts, Lord God
To prepare the way of your only Son
By his coming, nurture our growth
As a people of repentance and peace.
Today’s reading is from II Peter 3:1-10
The Day of the Lord
1 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.[a]
Many believe this is Peter’s “farewell speech “or dying testament in the form of a letter. Peter emphases that waiting seems to take a long time, by our standards, but perhaps not by God’s standard. The time of Advent is a time for waiting and a time for preparing. We wait and watch for the coming of the Lord, which is perhaps the longest wait of all.
It is the church’s time to wait together with those who wait behind bars, beside hospital beds, and buried in bunker holes. We wait together along with those who wait for a piece of bread, a sip of water, a shelter from the storm. And we wait together along with those who wait for an end to the pain, for release from the demons, for a balm for the wounds they cannot seem to bind. Waiting is holy work, the call of the faithful.
From around and within we hear the scoffing, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!” It seems a foolish practice to wait for this One. But even so wait, and watch. “For with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.” And we know that we do not wait in vain for “the One who will come is the One who has long since come before (Dietrich Bonhoeffer).”
Dear Lord,
Give us the patience to wait and believe. Help us in our unbelief! Move us to seek your holy word in the scriptures, in the preaching from the pulpit and in the words of those we meet in our daily journey. We know that you are with us and around us in those who need to hear your healing words thru us. As you said to Jeremiah, say also to us: “You shall go to all whom I send you. And you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them. For I am with you to deliver you.” Amen
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA
Opening Prayer:
Stir up our hearts, Lord God
To prepare the way of your only Son
By his coming, nurture our growth
As a people of repentance and peace.
Today’s reading is from II Peter 3:1-10
The Day of the Lord
1 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.[a]
Many believe this is Peter’s “farewell speech “or dying testament in the form of a letter. Peter emphases that waiting seems to take a long time, by our standards, but perhaps not by God’s standard. The time of Advent is a time for waiting and a time for preparing. We wait and watch for the coming of the Lord, which is perhaps the longest wait of all.
It is the church’s time to wait together with those who wait behind bars, beside hospital beds, and buried in bunker holes. We wait together along with those who wait for a piece of bread, a sip of water, a shelter from the storm. And we wait together along with those who wait for an end to the pain, for release from the demons, for a balm for the wounds they cannot seem to bind. Waiting is holy work, the call of the faithful.
From around and within we hear the scoffing, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!” It seems a foolish practice to wait for this One. But even so wait, and watch. “For with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.” And we know that we do not wait in vain for “the One who will come is the One who has long since come before (Dietrich Bonhoeffer).”
Dear Lord,
Give us the patience to wait and believe. Help us in our unbelief! Move us to seek your holy word in the scriptures, in the preaching from the pulpit and in the words of those we meet in our daily journey. We know that you are with us and around us in those who need to hear your healing words thru us. As you said to Jeremiah, say also to us: “You shall go to all whom I send you. And you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them. For I am with you to deliver you.” Amen
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
December 8, 2010 Praying the Advent Season
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up our hearts, Lord God
To prepare the way of your only Son
By his coming, nurture our growth
As a people of repentance and peace.
Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew - 12:33-37
33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
‘And by these words you utter, you will be justified or condemned,’ says Jesus. He’s speaking to the Pharisees, of course, who pose as the pious. “How can you speak good things when you are evil?” he wants to know. Jesus makes clear that by their own words – words that they have wielded like weapons – they will be judged.
Jesus also says to us, especially in this season of joy..be careful what you say! But take care also to listen. For Jesus has spoken of pardon, of mercy, of forgiveness and of love. It is that final word, “Love,” that reveals to us who God is on the inside. And we thank our merciful God for his Son Jesus who died on the cross that our sins – our thoughts, words and deeds - might be forgiven.
Dear Lord,
We acknowledge that we are sinners and ask daily for your forgiveness as we forgive others. Your good news is one of salvation and atonement for our sins. Thank you Lord Jesus for your everlasting love! Amen
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA
Opening Prayer:
Stir up our hearts, Lord God
To prepare the way of your only Son
By his coming, nurture our growth
As a people of repentance and peace.
Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew - 12:33-37
33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
‘And by these words you utter, you will be justified or condemned,’ says Jesus. He’s speaking to the Pharisees, of course, who pose as the pious. “How can you speak good things when you are evil?” he wants to know. Jesus makes clear that by their own words – words that they have wielded like weapons – they will be judged.
Jesus also says to us, especially in this season of joy..be careful what you say! But take care also to listen. For Jesus has spoken of pardon, of mercy, of forgiveness and of love. It is that final word, “Love,” that reveals to us who God is on the inside. And we thank our merciful God for his Son Jesus who died on the cross that our sins – our thoughts, words and deeds - might be forgiven.
Dear Lord,
We acknowledge that we are sinners and ask daily for your forgiveness as we forgive others. Your good news is one of salvation and atonement for our sins. Thank you Lord Jesus for your everlasting love! Amen
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
December 7, 2010 Praying the Advent Season
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up our hearts, Lord God
To prepare the way of your only Son
By his coming, nurture our growth
As a people of repentance and peace.
Today’s reading is from Paul’s letter to the Romans - 15:14-21
Paul the Minister to the Gentiles 14 I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. 15 Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about him will see,
and those who have not heard will understand.”[g]
Who has never been told of Christ’s love? Who has never heard of him and does not yet understand? Paul’s stated mission was to the Gentiles, the non-religious of the day. To them he brought the good news of God’s love in Christ Jesus. He preached that God’s love was for all – Gentile and Jew, slave and free, male and female.
But there is another mission too, to those who are familiar with the name of Christ. The religious can be as blind and deaf to the name of Christ as those who have never heard it. But thanks be to God that one day we will all see and hear and understand, for the name of Christ, by the power of the Spirit seeps into villages and jungles as surely as it seeps into hardened hearts and anxious souls.
Dear Lord,
Help us to see thy word. May the Holy Spirit open our hearts as we read your scripture and hear your word preached. May our hearts fill to bursting that we, as Paul, may see the good in people…all people and invite them to hear your word with us. We especially ask your blessing on the members of the OSLC Welcoming & Visiting committee as they call upon our Sevier County neighbors, inviting them to join us for worship. Amen
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA
Opening Prayer:
Stir up our hearts, Lord God
To prepare the way of your only Son
By his coming, nurture our growth
As a people of repentance and peace.
Today’s reading is from Paul’s letter to the Romans - 15:14-21
Paul the Minister to the Gentiles 14 I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. 15 Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about him will see,
and those who have not heard will understand.”[g]
Who has never been told of Christ’s love? Who has never heard of him and does not yet understand? Paul’s stated mission was to the Gentiles, the non-religious of the day. To them he brought the good news of God’s love in Christ Jesus. He preached that God’s love was for all – Gentile and Jew, slave and free, male and female.
But there is another mission too, to those who are familiar with the name of Christ. The religious can be as blind and deaf to the name of Christ as those who have never heard it. But thanks be to God that one day we will all see and hear and understand, for the name of Christ, by the power of the Spirit seeps into villages and jungles as surely as it seeps into hardened hearts and anxious souls.
Dear Lord,
Help us to see thy word. May the Holy Spirit open our hearts as we read your scripture and hear your word preached. May our hearts fill to bursting that we, as Paul, may see the good in people…all people and invite them to hear your word with us. We especially ask your blessing on the members of the OSLC Welcoming & Visiting committee as they call upon our Sevier County neighbors, inviting them to join us for worship. Amen
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA
Monday, December 6, 2010
December 6, 2010 Praying the Advent Season
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:Stir up our hearts, Lord God
To prepare the way of your only Son
By his coming, nurture our growth
As a people of repentance and peace.
Today’s reading is from Isaiah 24:1-16a
The LORD’s Devastation of the Earth 1 See, the LORD is going to lay waste the earth
and devastate it;
he will ruin its face
and scatter its inhabitants—
2 it will be the same
for priest as for people,
for the master as for his servant,
for the mistress as for her servant,
for seller as for buyer,
for borrower as for lender,
for debtor as for creditor.
3 The earth will be completely laid waste
and totally plundered.
The LORD has spoken this word.
4 The earth dries up and withers,
the world languishes and withers,
the heavens languish with the earth.
5 The earth is defiled by its people;
they have disobeyed the laws,
violated the statutes
and broken the everlasting covenant.
6 Therefore a curse consumes the earth;
its people must bear their guilt.
Therefore earth’s inhabitants are burned up,
and very few are left.
7 The new wine dries up and the vine withers;
all the merrymakers groan.
8 The joyful timbrels are stilled,
the noise of the revelers has stopped,
the joyful harp is silent.
9 No longer do they drink wine with a song;
the beer is bitter to its drinkers.
10 The ruined city lies desolate;
the entrance to every house is barred.
11 In the streets they cry out for wine;
all joy turns to gloom,
all joyful sounds are banished from the earth.
12 The city is left in ruins,
its gate is battered to pieces.
13 So will it be on the earth
and among the nations,
as when an olive tree is beaten,
or as when gleanings are left after the grape harvest.
14 They raise their voices, they shout for joy;
from the west they acclaim the LORD’s majesty.
15 Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD;
exalt the name of the LORD, the God of Israel,
in the islands of the sea.
16 From the ends of the earth we hear singing:
“Glory to the Righteous One.”
Isaiah starts with a gloomy picture and ends with shouts of Joy!
We look around us today and we see:
The earth choking beneath a thick drape of smog.
The bellies of babies swelling with the ache of hunger.
The sins of the parents are passed on to the children.
Inherited. Bred. Bequeathed.
For a sense of security, we bomb and arm and kill.
For a sense of worth, we nip and tuck and cover.
For a sense of control, we numb and purge and purchase.
Muck and murk, waste and filth.
What sort of God would leave us here? Leave us to our own devices?
Consign us to the consequence of our sin?
God has promised to make all things new. And that begins with house cleaning.
The Lord will twist and scatter until all creation is withered and languished.
‘And then it shall be as with the people, so with the priest; as with the slave, so with the master; as with the creditor, so with the debtor.’
‘And from the ends of the earth we will hear songs of praise of the glory of the Righteous One.’
Dear God,
Help prepare us for the coming of Christmas and to know your word thru the scriptures that we may become Christians of action…following your teachings, welcoming all into the house of the Lord! Let us sing with a new heart “Oh sing to the Lord, oh sing God a new song!”
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA
Opening Prayer:Stir up our hearts, Lord God
To prepare the way of your only Son
By his coming, nurture our growth
As a people of repentance and peace.
Today’s reading is from Isaiah 24:1-16a
The LORD’s Devastation of the Earth 1 See, the LORD is going to lay waste the earth
and devastate it;
he will ruin its face
and scatter its inhabitants—
2 it will be the same
for priest as for people,
for the master as for his servant,
for the mistress as for her servant,
for seller as for buyer,
for borrower as for lender,
for debtor as for creditor.
3 The earth will be completely laid waste
and totally plundered.
The LORD has spoken this word.
4 The earth dries up and withers,
the world languishes and withers,
the heavens languish with the earth.
5 The earth is defiled by its people;
they have disobeyed the laws,
violated the statutes
and broken the everlasting covenant.
6 Therefore a curse consumes the earth;
its people must bear their guilt.
Therefore earth’s inhabitants are burned up,
and very few are left.
7 The new wine dries up and the vine withers;
all the merrymakers groan.
8 The joyful timbrels are stilled,
the noise of the revelers has stopped,
the joyful harp is silent.
9 No longer do they drink wine with a song;
the beer is bitter to its drinkers.
10 The ruined city lies desolate;
the entrance to every house is barred.
11 In the streets they cry out for wine;
all joy turns to gloom,
all joyful sounds are banished from the earth.
12 The city is left in ruins,
its gate is battered to pieces.
13 So will it be on the earth
and among the nations,
as when an olive tree is beaten,
or as when gleanings are left after the grape harvest.
14 They raise their voices, they shout for joy;
from the west they acclaim the LORD’s majesty.
15 Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD;
exalt the name of the LORD, the God of Israel,
in the islands of the sea.
16 From the ends of the earth we hear singing:
“Glory to the Righteous One.”
Isaiah starts with a gloomy picture and ends with shouts of Joy!
We look around us today and we see:
The earth choking beneath a thick drape of smog.
The bellies of babies swelling with the ache of hunger.
The sins of the parents are passed on to the children.
Inherited. Bred. Bequeathed.
For a sense of security, we bomb and arm and kill.
For a sense of worth, we nip and tuck and cover.
For a sense of control, we numb and purge and purchase.
Muck and murk, waste and filth.
What sort of God would leave us here? Leave us to our own devices?
Consign us to the consequence of our sin?
God has promised to make all things new. And that begins with house cleaning.
The Lord will twist and scatter until all creation is withered and languished.
‘And then it shall be as with the people, so with the priest; as with the slave, so with the master; as with the creditor, so with the debtor.’
‘And from the ends of the earth we will hear songs of praise of the glory of the Righteous One.’
Dear God,
Help prepare us for the coming of Christmas and to know your word thru the scriptures that we may become Christians of action…following your teachings, welcoming all into the house of the Lord! Let us sing with a new heart “Oh sing to the Lord, oh sing God a new song!”
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA
Sunday, December 5, 2010
December 5, 2010 Praying the Advent Season
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:Stir up our hearts, Lord God
To prepare the way of your only Son
By his coming, nurture our growth
As a people of repentance and peace.
Today’s readings: (all three provided for further reference) Isaiah 11: 1-10, Romans 15: 4-13, Matthew 3: 1-12
Let’s concentrate on today’s Gospel from Matthew 3: 1-12
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”[a]
4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with[b] water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Hearing John the Baptizer’s call to repent can seem like adding one more thing to our pre-Christmas “to-do” list and frankly most of us are a bit harried and think we already have enough on our “list.”
Perhaps that’s the problem. While the Pharisees and Sadducees sought salvation in having Abraham as their ancestor, we seek it by getting all the traditions just right….grandmother’s cookies, grandfather’s carols, mother’s ornaments and father’s lights. These memories hold many blessings, but not enough for salvation. No matter how hard we try we can’t make Christmas. We can only receive it. The Baptizer’s call for repentance demands we abandon the illusion that completing everything on our list makes us ready. Repent and recognize the reality that what we mostly will be is exhausted. Consider the pure freedom we are given if we dare to move John’s call to repent to the top of our list. Then, light another candle. The first breaks open our darkness. The second reveals our reality that no matter how hard we try we can’t make Christmas, because it comes as gift. All we can do is joyfully receive it.
Almighty Father,
Help us to focus on your coming and prepare ourselves thru the reading of your scriptures…that you may guide us thru this Advent season helping us to believe that you know what we need. Open our hearts to your grace as we prepare ourselves for the arrival of your Son, Our Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA
Opening Prayer:Stir up our hearts, Lord God
To prepare the way of your only Son
By his coming, nurture our growth
As a people of repentance and peace.
Today’s readings: (all three provided for further reference) Isaiah 11: 1-10, Romans 15: 4-13, Matthew 3: 1-12
Let’s concentrate on today’s Gospel from Matthew 3: 1-12
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”[a]
4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with[b] water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Hearing John the Baptizer’s call to repent can seem like adding one more thing to our pre-Christmas “to-do” list and frankly most of us are a bit harried and think we already have enough on our “list.”
Perhaps that’s the problem. While the Pharisees and Sadducees sought salvation in having Abraham as their ancestor, we seek it by getting all the traditions just right….grandmother’s cookies, grandfather’s carols, mother’s ornaments and father’s lights. These memories hold many blessings, but not enough for salvation. No matter how hard we try we can’t make Christmas. We can only receive it. The Baptizer’s call for repentance demands we abandon the illusion that completing everything on our list makes us ready. Repent and recognize the reality that what we mostly will be is exhausted. Consider the pure freedom we are given if we dare to move John’s call to repent to the top of our list. Then, light another candle. The first breaks open our darkness. The second reveals our reality that no matter how hard we try we can’t make Christmas, because it comes as gift. All we can do is joyfully receive it.
Almighty Father,
Help us to focus on your coming and prepare ourselves thru the reading of your scriptures…that you may guide us thru this Advent season helping us to believe that you know what we need. Open our hearts to your grace as we prepare ourselves for the arrival of your Son, Our Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen
Called as God's people;
Equipped by the Holy Spirit;
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people
Thanks to: The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA
Saturday, December 4, 2010
December 4th, 2010 Praying the Advent Season
Saturday, December 4
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
By your merciful protection,
Save us from the threatening dangers of our sins and enlighten our walk in the ways of your salvation.
Saturday, December 4 – Isaiah 40:1-11 and John 1:19-28
Featured lesson today: Isaiah 40: 1-11
Isaiah 40
1 Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the LORD’s hand
double for all her sins.
3 A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the LORD[a];
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.[b]
4 Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
6 A voice says, “Cry out.”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass,
and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.”
9 You who bring good news to Zion,
go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,[c]
lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to the towns of Judah,
“Here is your God!”
10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power,
and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him.
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
Today’s readings from Isaiah tell us to Look Up, Look Ahead, Believe and Have Hope. The voice in the desert of our lives is crying out “Prepare the way of the Lord,” and promises that although “All flesh is grass” and we change and eventually die, the Word of the Lord is eternal. In both the selection from Isaiah and the Gospel from Matthew, we have the image of God as our nurturing, loving Shepherd, protecting and saving us.
Today, as we look behind and ahead and all around ua, We also think that Isaiah and Matthew affirm that God is with us here and now, not only in our past journey in faith, and not only in the promise of Christmastime. Today our Christian faith, Church and Scripture say that the Savior comes, the Lord is born of the Virgin Mary, to suffer and die for us, and to rise from the dead. God is present in our world today, in our hearts today. Here and now, today, God is with us.
We pray to recognize the presence of God today and everyday, to know and praise God, our Companion in our busy activities and our quiet memories and moments in this advent season.
To Jesus Christ our Lord, the light of the world,
let us cry out with joy:
Come Lord Jesus!
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html.
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
By your merciful protection,
Save us from the threatening dangers of our sins and enlighten our walk in the ways of your salvation.
Saturday, December 4 – Isaiah 40:1-11 and John 1:19-28
Featured lesson today: Isaiah 40: 1-11
Isaiah 40
1 Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the LORD’s hand
double for all her sins.
3 A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the LORD[a];
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.[b]
4 Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
6 A voice says, “Cry out.”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass,
and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.”
9 You who bring good news to Zion,
go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,[c]
lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to the towns of Judah,
“Here is your God!”
10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power,
and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him.
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
Today’s readings from Isaiah tell us to Look Up, Look Ahead, Believe and Have Hope. The voice in the desert of our lives is crying out “Prepare the way of the Lord,” and promises that although “All flesh is grass” and we change and eventually die, the Word of the Lord is eternal. In both the selection from Isaiah and the Gospel from Matthew, we have the image of God as our nurturing, loving Shepherd, protecting and saving us.
Today, as we look behind and ahead and all around ua, We also think that Isaiah and Matthew affirm that God is with us here and now, not only in our past journey in faith, and not only in the promise of Christmastime. Today our Christian faith, Church and Scripture say that the Savior comes, the Lord is born of the Virgin Mary, to suffer and die for us, and to rise from the dead. God is present in our world today, in our hearts today. Here and now, today, God is with us.
We pray to recognize the presence of God today and everyday, to know and praise God, our Companion in our busy activities and our quiet memories and moments in this advent season.
To Jesus Christ our Lord, the light of the world,
let us cry out with joy:
Come Lord Jesus!
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html.
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Friday, December 3, 2010
December 3rd, 2010 Praying Advent Season
Friday, December 3 – Isaiah 30:19-26 and Acts 13:16-25
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
By your merciful protection
Save us from the threatening dangers of our sins and enlighten our walk in the ways of your salvation.
Acts 13:16-25
16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! 17 The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country; 18 for about forty years he endured their conduct[a] in the wilderness; 19 and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan, giving their land to his people as their inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years. “After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21 Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ 23 “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. 25 As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’ 23 “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. 25 As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’
Paul describes how God acted toward the Israelites, listening to their
wishes and waiting for a right response. God led them out of slavery, endured
their wandering from the Law in the desert, gave them a homeland, and
provided judges and kings when the people asked for them. Yet it seems as
though the people were waiting. They could not gain life according to their
own plan, and God heard the cries of their waiting. Isaiah promises that God
“will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry.” The answer comes in
Christ, our Savior, who alleviates the pain and yearning of our waiting hearts
Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever. Ps. 72
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html.
Our Savior Lutheran Church
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
By your merciful protection
Save us from the threatening dangers of our sins and enlighten our walk in the ways of your salvation.
Acts 13:16-25
16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! 17 The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country; 18 for about forty years he endured their conduct[a] in the wilderness; 19 and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan, giving their land to his people as their inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years. “After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21 Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ 23 “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. 25 As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’ 23 “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. 25 As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’
Paul describes how God acted toward the Israelites, listening to their
wishes and waiting for a right response. God led them out of slavery, endured
their wandering from the Law in the desert, gave them a homeland, and
provided judges and kings when the people asked for them. Yet it seems as
though the people were waiting. They could not gain life according to their
own plan, and God heard the cries of their waiting. Isaiah promises that God
“will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry.” The answer comes in
Christ, our Savior, who alleviates the pain and yearning of our waiting hearts
Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever. Ps. 72
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html.
Our Savior Lutheran Church
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
December 2nd, 2010 Praying the Advent Season
Thursday, December 2 – Isaiah 4:2-6 and Acts 1:12-26
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
By your merciful protection
Save us from the threatening dangers of our sins and enlighten our walk in the ways of your salvation.
Isaiah 4:2-6
The Branch of the LORD
2 In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. 3 Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. 4 The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. 5 Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory[c] will be a canopy. 6 It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.
Isaiah's message is as much a challenge to us now, as it was to folks then. Universal health care? Immigration reform? Economic recovery and increased employment? No matter what your political perspective, it's hard to imagine these happening soon. Anyone that thinks it's possible is crazy. "Too much corruption and dishonesty and greed," "You don't know human nature," or "I'm a realist- it'll never happen".
Our “problem” is not that we have given up on a vision for the future; our “problem” is that we have given up on God's action and presence now... in us, among us, with us. When we think of "hope", it's hard to comprehend that in any other way than looking forward to "a time when....” We see it in the desperate faces of a family praying for healing and health for a loved one, or a spouse praying for employment for her husband, or students praying for an "A" on an exam or to pass a course or to get accepted to professional school. Our hope is too small. We hope for particular outcomes for the future. Yes, it's good to pray for all these ... but can we pray also that we recognize God's laboring for us now, in the present? Can we trust there is something happening here beyond what we can see or know right now? Can we get out of the way?
Heavenly Father,
Help us to be a people of peach.
Help us to speak about peach in an uneasy world.
Help us to live in peace among the people you have put into our everyday lives.
Light in us a desire to prepare for your coming.
Amen
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html.
Our Savior Lutheran Church
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
By your merciful protection
Save us from the threatening dangers of our sins and enlighten our walk in the ways of your salvation.
Isaiah 4:2-6
The Branch of the LORD
2 In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. 3 Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. 4 The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. 5 Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory[c] will be a canopy. 6 It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.
Isaiah's message is as much a challenge to us now, as it was to folks then. Universal health care? Immigration reform? Economic recovery and increased employment? No matter what your political perspective, it's hard to imagine these happening soon. Anyone that thinks it's possible is crazy. "Too much corruption and dishonesty and greed," "You don't know human nature," or "I'm a realist- it'll never happen".
Our “problem” is not that we have given up on a vision for the future; our “problem” is that we have given up on God's action and presence now... in us, among us, with us. When we think of "hope", it's hard to comprehend that in any other way than looking forward to "a time when....” We see it in the desperate faces of a family praying for healing and health for a loved one, or a spouse praying for employment for her husband, or students praying for an "A" on an exam or to pass a course or to get accepted to professional school. Our hope is too small. We hope for particular outcomes for the future. Yes, it's good to pray for all these ... but can we pray also that we recognize God's laboring for us now, in the present? Can we trust there is something happening here beyond what we can see or know right now? Can we get out of the way?
Heavenly Father,
Help us to be a people of peach.
Help us to speak about peach in an uneasy world.
Help us to live in peace among the people you have put into our everyday lives.
Light in us a desire to prepare for your coming.
Amen
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html.
Our Savior Lutheran Church
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
December 1, 2010 Praying the Advent Season
Wednesday December 1
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
By your merciful protection
Save us from the threatening dangers of our sins and enlighten our walk in the ways of your salvation.
Today's Lessons
Wednesday, December 1 – Isaiah 54:1-10 and
Matthew 24:23-35
Feature Lesson Matthew 24: 23-35
Matthew 24:23-35 (New International Version, ©2010)
23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.
26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
29 “Immediately after the distress of those days
“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’[a]
30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth[b] will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.[c] 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[d] is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
God’s promise is one of compassion and peace, the fulfillment of which is
eternal and unmistakable. There are those who will attempt to point to the coming
fulfillment by interpreting prophecy and looking for signs, but the ones who are
most in need of the fulfillment of God’s promise truly know it when it comes.
“Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” Christ gathers himself to
those who are barren, desolate, discouraged, ashamed, forsaken and grieved in
spirit. To these Christ brings the covenant of peace, steadfast love, compassion,
the fulfillment of God’s promise. To you who are afflicted, storm-tossed and not
comforted, heaven and earth will pass away, but the promise God speaks of –
steadfast love and the covenant of peace – will remain with you forever.
“The Lord will shower his gifts and our land will yield its fruit.” Ps. 85, 13
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html.
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
By your merciful protection
Save us from the threatening dangers of our sins and enlighten our walk in the ways of your salvation.
Today's Lessons
Wednesday, December 1 – Isaiah 54:1-10 and
Matthew 24:23-35
Feature Lesson Matthew 24: 23-35
Matthew 24:23-35 (New International Version, ©2010)
23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.
26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
29 “Immediately after the distress of those days
“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’[a]
30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth[b] will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.[c] 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[d] is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
God’s promise is one of compassion and peace, the fulfillment of which is
eternal and unmistakable. There are those who will attempt to point to the coming
fulfillment by interpreting prophecy and looking for signs, but the ones who are
most in need of the fulfillment of God’s promise truly know it when it comes.
“Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” Christ gathers himself to
those who are barren, desolate, discouraged, ashamed, forsaken and grieved in
spirit. To these Christ brings the covenant of peace, steadfast love, compassion,
the fulfillment of God’s promise. To you who are afflicted, storm-tossed and not
comforted, heaven and earth will pass away, but the promise God speaks of –
steadfast love and the covenant of peace – will remain with you forever.
“The Lord will shower his gifts and our land will yield its fruit.” Ps. 85, 13
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html.
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
November 30th,2010 Praying the Advent Season
Tuesday, November 30
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
By your merciful protection
Save us from the threatening dangers of our sins and enlighten our walk in the ways of your salvation.
Today's Lessons Genesis 9:1-17 and Hebrews 11:32-40
Featured Lesson: Gensis 9: 1-17
Genesis 9
God’s Covenant With Noah
1 Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. 2 The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. 3 Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
4 “But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. 5 And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.
6 “Whoever sheds human blood,
by humans shall their blood be shed;
for in the image of God
has God made mankind.
7 As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.”
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”
The waters subside to reveal not a perfect world, but one in which fear and
dread exist. These waters did not cleanse the earth of violence. God will
require a reckoning for human life when it is taken, yet even God’s faithful
engage in war and violence, putting foreign armies to flight. These faithful
ones and others who suffered for their faithfulness did not receive God’s
promises through their acts of faith. God instead provides something better,
so that we and all creation with us may be made perfect. Come, Lord Jesus!
“The Lord will shower his gifts and our land will yield its fruit.” Ps. 85, 13
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html.
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
By your merciful protection
Save us from the threatening dangers of our sins and enlighten our walk in the ways of your salvation.
Today's Lessons Genesis 9:1-17 and Hebrews 11:32-40
Featured Lesson: Gensis 9: 1-17
Genesis 9
God’s Covenant With Noah
1 Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. 2 The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. 3 Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
4 “But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. 5 And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.
6 “Whoever sheds human blood,
by humans shall their blood be shed;
for in the image of God
has God made mankind.
7 As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.”
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”
The waters subside to reveal not a perfect world, but one in which fear and
dread exist. These waters did not cleanse the earth of violence. God will
require a reckoning for human life when it is taken, yet even God’s faithful
engage in war and violence, putting foreign armies to flight. These faithful
ones and others who suffered for their faithfulness did not receive God’s
promises through their acts of faith. God instead provides something better,
so that we and all creation with us may be made perfect. Come, Lord Jesus!
“The Lord will shower his gifts and our land will yield its fruit.” Ps. 85, 13
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html.
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Monday, November 29, 2010
November 29th, 2010 Praying the Advent Season
Monday, November 29
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
By your merciful protection
Save us from the threatening dangers of our sins and enlighten our walk in the ways of your salvation.
Today's Lessons Genesis 8:1-19 and Romans 6:1-11
Featured Lesson: Romans 6: 1-11
Romans 6:1-11 (New International Version
Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ
1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,a]"[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
God remembered Noah when sin and death surrounded him.
As we are surrounded by sin and death, God also remembers us in the
raising of Christ from the dead, “so we too might walk in newness of life.” In
this season as God is making a wind to blow over the earth, we wait in
anticipation for the salvation of the world, for God’s remembering.
“The Lord will shower his gifts and our land will yield its fruit.” Ps. 85, 13
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html.
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
By your merciful protection
Save us from the threatening dangers of our sins and enlighten our walk in the ways of your salvation.
Today's Lessons Genesis 8:1-19 and Romans 6:1-11
Featured Lesson: Romans 6: 1-11
Romans 6:1-11 (New International Version
Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ
1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,a]"[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
God remembered Noah when sin and death surrounded him.
As we are surrounded by sin and death, God also remembers us in the
raising of Christ from the dead, “so we too might walk in newness of life.” In
this season as God is making a wind to blow over the earth, we wait in
anticipation for the salvation of the world, for God’s remembering.
“The Lord will shower his gifts and our land will yield its fruit.” Ps. 85, 13
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html.
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010 Praying the Advent Season
Sunday, November 28
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
By your merciful protection
Save us from the threatening dangers of our sins and enlighten our walk in the ways of your salvation.
Today’s readings: ( all three provided for further reference)
Isaiah 2: 2-5, Romans 13: 11-14, Matthew 24: 36-44
Today’s featured lesson:
Isaiah 2:2-5 (New International Version, ©2010)
2 In the last days
the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.
3 Many peoples will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.
5 Come, descendants of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Something new is being announced! About seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah has a vision of a new place for the presence of the Holy and one God. The new presence of the Lord in the new house will bring a new light into the world and by this light there will be no need for preparing for wars. If all the nations continue walking up the hill towards the light, towards the temple of Jerusalem, then they will walk together and live together within that light.
The mountain, the temple, the city are all center to the lives of all the nations. God is taking up residence in a new way and inviting the nations to a new way of living from that center.
This first Sunday of the Liturgical Year presents us with readings which ask us to make some “teaching-room” in our lives. Keep watching. Keep waiting.
“The Lord will shower his gifts and our land will yield its fruit.” Ps. 85, 13
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html.
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Candle Lighting: Come, Lord Jesus.
Opening Prayer:
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
By your merciful protection
Save us from the threatening dangers of our sins and enlighten our walk in the ways of your salvation.
Today’s readings: ( all three provided for further reference)
Isaiah 2: 2-5, Romans 13: 11-14, Matthew 24: 36-44
Today’s featured lesson:
Isaiah 2:2-5 (New International Version, ©2010)
2 In the last days
the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.
3 Many peoples will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.
5 Come, descendants of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Something new is being announced! About seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah has a vision of a new place for the presence of the Holy and one God. The new presence of the Lord in the new house will bring a new light into the world and by this light there will be no need for preparing for wars. If all the nations continue walking up the hill towards the light, towards the temple of Jerusalem, then they will walk together and live together within that light.
The mountain, the temple, the city are all center to the lives of all the nations. God is taking up residence in a new way and inviting the nations to a new way of living from that center.
This first Sunday of the Liturgical Year presents us with readings which ask us to make some “teaching-room” in our lives. Keep watching. Keep waiting.
“The Lord will shower his gifts and our land will yield its fruit.” Ps. 85, 13
Thanks to:The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, ELCA and http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112810.html.
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Gatlinburg, TN
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people.
Preparation for Advent
Daily Advent practices to enhance your season.
Our advent messages will begin tomorrow morning and we want you to be prepared for daily personal worship. Here are some advent traditions and prayers that we hope you may use with the daily messages that will be sent.
Set aside a time with God everyday where prayer, and light, and scripture and dialog, praying and yes, listening, are a part of your day. Advent is a wonderful time to introduce family worship at the dinner table.
We send you great blessings as Advent begins.
Consider preparing a simple advent wreath of 5 candles to light each day of Advent.
Each morning when you light the candle, the first week one, the second week, two, the third week three and the fourth week four... and Christmas eve the fifth, pray, “Come, Lord Jesus.”
The waiting nature of Advent may invite you to silence following your scripture reading and devotional to allow the words to echo in your head and heart.
You may wish to end your devotion time in prayer, and we will offer several that you may use and of course, you may pray your own prayer!
November 28 –December 5th
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
By your merciful protection
Save us from the threatening dangers of our sins and enlighten our walk in the ways of your salvation.
December 5-11
Stir up our hearts, Lord God
To prepare the way of your only Son
By his coming, nuture our growth
As people of repentance and peace.
December 12-18
Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming that transformed by grace we may walk in your way.
December 19-23
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come
With your abundant grace and might.
Free us from the sin that hinders our faith, that eagerly we may receive your promises.
December 24
Almighty God, you make this holy night shine with the brightness of the true light. Grant that here on earth we may walk in the light of Jesus’ presence and in the last day wake to the brightness of his glory.
Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer.
Our Savior Lutheran Church
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jusus Christ to all people.
Our advent messages will begin tomorrow morning and we want you to be prepared for daily personal worship. Here are some advent traditions and prayers that we hope you may use with the daily messages that will be sent.
Set aside a time with God everyday where prayer, and light, and scripture and dialog, praying and yes, listening, are a part of your day. Advent is a wonderful time to introduce family worship at the dinner table.
We send you great blessings as Advent begins.
Consider preparing a simple advent wreath of 5 candles to light each day of Advent.
Each morning when you light the candle, the first week one, the second week, two, the third week three and the fourth week four... and Christmas eve the fifth, pray, “Come, Lord Jesus.”
The waiting nature of Advent may invite you to silence following your scripture reading and devotional to allow the words to echo in your head and heart.
You may wish to end your devotion time in prayer, and we will offer several that you may use and of course, you may pray your own prayer!
November 28 –December 5th
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
By your merciful protection
Save us from the threatening dangers of our sins and enlighten our walk in the ways of your salvation.
December 5-11
Stir up our hearts, Lord God
To prepare the way of your only Son
By his coming, nuture our growth
As people of repentance and peace.
December 12-18
Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming that transformed by grace we may walk in your way.
December 19-23
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come
With your abundant grace and might.
Free us from the sin that hinders our faith, that eagerly we may receive your promises.
December 24
Almighty God, you make this holy night shine with the brightness of the true light. Grant that here on earth we may walk in the light of Jesus’ presence and in the last day wake to the brightness of his glory.
Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer.
Our Savior Lutheran Church
Called as God's People
Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jusus Christ to all people.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Devotions
Good afternoon, all!
It is the Advent season and that means that, soon, we will be posting devotionals for the birth of Christ Jesus in the coming weeks.
If you would like these devotionals emailed to you, please send your email address to ealawhead@aol.com
It is the Advent season and that means that, soon, we will be posting devotionals for the birth of Christ Jesus in the coming weeks.
If you would like these devotionals emailed to you, please send your email address to ealawhead@aol.com
Friday, April 2, 2010
Lenten Journey, April 2, 2010 Good Friday
Lord, by shedding his blood for us, your Son, Jesus Christ, established the paschal mystery. In your goodness, make us holy and watch over us always. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen
John 18:1-19:42
1When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it. 2Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. 4Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?" 5"Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. 7Again he asked them, "Who is it you want?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8"I told you that I am he," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go." 9This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those you gave me." 10Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) 11Jesus commanded Peter "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" 12Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people. 15Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, 16but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in. 17"You are not one of his disciples, are you?" the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, "I am not." 18It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.
19Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20"I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said." 22When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" he demanded. 23"If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?" 24Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest. 25As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it, saying, "I am not." 26One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, "Didn't I see you with him in the olive grove?" 27Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
28Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What charges are you bringing against this man?" 30"If he were not a criminal," they replied, "we would not have handed him over to you." 31Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." "But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews objected. 32This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled. 33Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" 34"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?" 35"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?" 36Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." 37"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." 38"What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. 39But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release 'the king of the Jews'?" 40They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.
1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face.4Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him." 5When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!"6As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!" But Pilate answered, "You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him."7The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God." 8When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"11Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."12From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar."13When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews.15But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" "Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked. "We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered. 16Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.
So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18Here they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle. 19Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read:sc JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews." 22Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written." 23When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24"Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it." This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing."[a] So this is what the soldiers did.25Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," 27and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
28Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." 29A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. 30When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 31Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.32The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken] 37and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."
38Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. 39He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.[d] 40Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Today we celebrate one of the principal parts of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus, His death and resurrection, and the culmination of our Lenten prayer and preparation for these saving events. This day is called “Good” and this week is called “Holy” because of the very goodness and holiness of God and Jesus as he carries out God’s will for our ultimate rescue.
This scene certainly shows the courage of Jesus. At Passover time it was a full moon and the night was almost like daylight, but the enemies of Jesus came with torches. They must have thought they had a long and hard search ahead of them. But Jesus steps out and asks “who are you looking for?” They respond and Jesus announces, "I am he." The scene also shows Jesus’ authority as when he announced himself even though they were many and he was one, they retreated and fell to the ground. Clearly Jesus was following God’s command for he could easily have eluded his enemies. Jesus also showed, at this hour a deep compassion with the words, "If you are looking for me, then let these men go."
John is the only gospel that tells us about taking Jesus first to Annas. Annas was once the High Priest, but in these days it was a position that was bought and paid for to the Romans. Since Annas had been High Priest, he made sure all his sons and now his son-in-law also occupied the office. These were men of little virtue. They owned the rights to sell the unblemished offerings in the temple. Outside the temple a dove could be bought for 4p, but it might not pass the “unblemished” inspection and when rejected, the worshipper was directed to buy from the Bazaars of Annas. Now we understand why John tells how Jesus was first brought to this powerful and wicked man. It was Jesus who overturned the tables in the temple and disrupted Annas’ income stream. But Jesus shows no fear in front of this man.
After being brought in front of the Jews to be condemned, Jesus had to be taken to the Romans in order to be put to death. The Romans did not allow the Jews to kill people. The Jews did in fact stone some, as was the case of Stephen, but Jesus was too well known for them to even try that punishment. Thus Jesus says in John 12:32 “when I am lifted up from the earth,I will draw all men to myself" and so it happened that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death (lifted up on a cross) he was going to die were fulfilled. What we see here on the part of the Jewish authorities is sheer hypocrisy. They follow as usual; the letter of the law, but break every spirit of that law by badgering Jesus, bringing the crowd to an awful state of hysteria and asking for Jesus’ death. They even changed the charge from blasphemy to rebellion to claiming to be a king to be sure the Romans would pronounce the death penalty. For they felt it was better for one man to die than to bring the might of the Romans down upon their settled way of life.
We see in this story of this trial, the majesty of Jesus. Jesus is never on trial, but is always the one in control. He speaks with directness about his kingdom. He tells Pilate that he came into the world to witness to the truth. His physical courage is undaunted by the all night questioning and the scourging. Even after all that beating, Jesus still had the fortitude to tell Pilate he no power other than that granted to him by God. After the ultimate mocking by the crowds and Pilate, when he was placed on Pilate’s seat of judgment and Pilate asks the crowd "Shall I crucify your king?", Jesus in immutable majesty and undaunted courage accepted the cross.
We follow Christ thru the 14 Stations of the Cross and continue to agonize at the pain, cringe from the mocking and marvel at the grandeur of God as the sky darkens for the final three hours. When Jesus breathes his last, the rocks split and the Temple curtain was ripped in two, but it was the Roman captain, an unbeliever, who testified for the world: “This has to be the Son of God.”
Almighty God look with loving mercy on your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, to be given over to the hands of sinners, and to suffer death on the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen
John 18:1-19:42
1When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it. 2Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. 4Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?" 5"Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. 7Again he asked them, "Who is it you want?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8"I told you that I am he," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go." 9This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those you gave me." 10Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) 11Jesus commanded Peter "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" 12Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people. 15Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, 16but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in. 17"You are not one of his disciples, are you?" the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, "I am not." 18It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.
19Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20"I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said." 22When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" he demanded. 23"If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?" 24Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest. 25As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it, saying, "I am not." 26One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, "Didn't I see you with him in the olive grove?" 27Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
28Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What charges are you bringing against this man?" 30"If he were not a criminal," they replied, "we would not have handed him over to you." 31Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." "But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews objected. 32This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled. 33Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" 34"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?" 35"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?" 36Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." 37"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." 38"What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. 39But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release 'the king of the Jews'?" 40They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.
1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face.4Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him." 5When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!"6As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!" But Pilate answered, "You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him."7The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God." 8When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"11Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."12From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar."13When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews.15But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" "Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked. "We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered. 16Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.
So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18Here they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle. 19Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read:sc JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews." 22Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written." 23When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24"Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it." This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing."[a] So this is what the soldiers did.25Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," 27and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
28Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." 29A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. 30When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 31Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.32The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken] 37and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."
38Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. 39He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.[d] 40Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Today we celebrate one of the principal parts of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus, His death and resurrection, and the culmination of our Lenten prayer and preparation for these saving events. This day is called “Good” and this week is called “Holy” because of the very goodness and holiness of God and Jesus as he carries out God’s will for our ultimate rescue.
This scene certainly shows the courage of Jesus. At Passover time it was a full moon and the night was almost like daylight, but the enemies of Jesus came with torches. They must have thought they had a long and hard search ahead of them. But Jesus steps out and asks “who are you looking for?” They respond and Jesus announces, "I am he." The scene also shows Jesus’ authority as when he announced himself even though they were many and he was one, they retreated and fell to the ground. Clearly Jesus was following God’s command for he could easily have eluded his enemies. Jesus also showed, at this hour a deep compassion with the words, "If you are looking for me, then let these men go."
John is the only gospel that tells us about taking Jesus first to Annas. Annas was once the High Priest, but in these days it was a position that was bought and paid for to the Romans. Since Annas had been High Priest, he made sure all his sons and now his son-in-law also occupied the office. These were men of little virtue. They owned the rights to sell the unblemished offerings in the temple. Outside the temple a dove could be bought for 4p, but it might not pass the “unblemished” inspection and when rejected, the worshipper was directed to buy from the Bazaars of Annas. Now we understand why John tells how Jesus was first brought to this powerful and wicked man. It was Jesus who overturned the tables in the temple and disrupted Annas’ income stream. But Jesus shows no fear in front of this man.
After being brought in front of the Jews to be condemned, Jesus had to be taken to the Romans in order to be put to death. The Romans did not allow the Jews to kill people. The Jews did in fact stone some, as was the case of Stephen, but Jesus was too well known for them to even try that punishment. Thus Jesus says in John 12:32 “when I am lifted up from the earth,I will draw all men to myself" and so it happened that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death (lifted up on a cross) he was going to die were fulfilled. What we see here on the part of the Jewish authorities is sheer hypocrisy. They follow as usual; the letter of the law, but break every spirit of that law by badgering Jesus, bringing the crowd to an awful state of hysteria and asking for Jesus’ death. They even changed the charge from blasphemy to rebellion to claiming to be a king to be sure the Romans would pronounce the death penalty. For they felt it was better for one man to die than to bring the might of the Romans down upon their settled way of life.
We see in this story of this trial, the majesty of Jesus. Jesus is never on trial, but is always the one in control. He speaks with directness about his kingdom. He tells Pilate that he came into the world to witness to the truth. His physical courage is undaunted by the all night questioning and the scourging. Even after all that beating, Jesus still had the fortitude to tell Pilate he no power other than that granted to him by God. After the ultimate mocking by the crowds and Pilate, when he was placed on Pilate’s seat of judgment and Pilate asks the crowd "Shall I crucify your king?", Jesus in immutable majesty and undaunted courage accepted the cross.
We follow Christ thru the 14 Stations of the Cross and continue to agonize at the pain, cringe from the mocking and marvel at the grandeur of God as the sky darkens for the final three hours. When Jesus breathes his last, the rocks split and the Temple curtain was ripped in two, but it was the Roman captain, an unbeliever, who testified for the world: “This has to be the Son of God.”
Almighty God look with loving mercy on your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, to be given over to the hands of sinners, and to suffer death on the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen
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