CHRISTMAS DAY

CHRISTMAS EVE

Monday, December 24

Isaiah 35:1-10

Psalms 45, 46, 89:1-29

Revelation 22:12-17

Luke 1:67-80

Luke 1:67-80
Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel

To guide our steps into the path of peace.

Zechariah's hymn about the coming of the Christ child is about the anticipation of Advent and the wonders of Jesus’ life on earth.  He begins with a praise of God and ends with a promise of peace.  During this busy Advent season, most of us begin with thankful feelings that God sent his son to walk among us.

However, preparing for Christmas can be stressful.  While all my Christmases have been merry, sometimes the days leading up to the big day have been disastrous.  The time we took our children to a tree farm, picked out a tree, chopped it down, tied it to the top of our car, and then watched it blow off the car roof on our way home; or the time our toddlers knocked over the decorated Christmas tree twice; or the year we moved six kids, my parents and us into a new house three weeks before Christmas; or the year I got pneumonia and on and on.  No matter what has happened before Christmas eve, that night when I attend Midnight Mass as we sing “Silent Night” with a darkened church and our lighted candles, a wonderful feeling of peace and calm comes over me.

Zechariah's hymn concludes, "to guide our steps into the path of peace."  On this holy night as God brings peace and power into our lives let us remember those who lead frightful and dangerous lives and be thankful that we have so much.  Praise the Lord.

Susan Montgomery

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Sunday, December 23

Isaiah 42:1-12

Psalms 8, 24, 29, and 84

Ephesians 6:10-20

John 3:16-21

The single greatest thing that we can and should know about God is that He is love. God uses this quality of love to love us while we are still sinners. But He desires to take us to a different level. God loves us so much because he had created each one of us in His own and most fabulous, beautiful image. When the devil deceived our ancestors Adam and Eve and made them to fall from the glory of God, God felt so grieved because Satan had stolen God’s image in us and subjected the entire human family to his satanic dominion. God was grieved that Satan stole and distorted what belonged to Him [God]. So the greatest truth that motivated God’s plan to save us from the dominion of Satan and sin is that God loves us. But it is more than this; each one of us should be glad to know that when God loves us, He loves Himself in us. He therefore sent Jesus Christ to restore us to the original fabulous and beautiful image of Adam and Eve.

God loves us that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, that if we accept and trust Him to change us from the power of sin that we all inherited from Adam and Eve, then God will restore the vitality He had planned for us before Satan brought his corruption to the human family. The vitality that Jesus brings is eternal life. Eternal life is not an extension of the miserable and mortal life that we see and have in this world. It is God’s life embodied in Jesus given as a guarantee that we will live forever with no sickness, no death, no enemy, no evil or sin. When we refuse to have Christ, we make a choice as though all this life is all that we have. So for this advent, let us pray that Christ be born into our homes, our living rooms, our bedrooms, and, yes indeed, in our kitchens since he had the only chance of a manger. Let Him be born into our hearts that we may begin to experience all that happens from an eternal perspective.

Fr. Israel Ahimbisibwe

Saturday, December 22

Isaiah 10:20-27

Psalms 55, 138, and 139

Jude 17-25

Luke 3:1-9

Luke 3:1-9

Just last Sunday, Father Bill was discussing judgment. He observed that God’s judgment is a difficult subject, especially this time of year.

Imagine my surprise to read the Luke passage for today and find John the Baptist warning people to repent because judgment is at hand.

While judgment may be a difficult subject, it is also vital. We must be prepared for the Lord’s return and warn those around us to be prepared.

In the popular film 2012, the hero is warned of disaster by an eccentric radio host and is able to rescue his family.

The world is always seeking to put dates on apocalyptic events. The end of the Mayan calendar is the most recent example. However, scripture says the Lord’s return could be any time. We don’t know how long we have to prepare. It seems appropriate to close this meditation with a line from singer Crystal Lewis: “People get ready…Jesus is coming.”

Susannah Westlake

Friday, December 21

Isaiah 10:5-19

Psalms 40, 51, 54

2 Peter 2:17-22

Matthew 11:2-15

Matthew 11:2-15

John was in prison wondering what was going on with his circumstances and Jesus the one he himself announced to be the Lamb of God. John probably did not understand as he asked the question, “Are you the one that was to come?”

Jesus told John’s disciples to go and report to John what you see and hear. The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up and the poor have the Good News preached to them. Jesus was fulfilling the messianic scriptures yet they did not expect a suffering servant.

We too are surrounded by signs and circumstances we do not understand, allowed by God for our spiritual maturity as we yield to Him. We ask that we might see the truth clearly through the power of the Holy Spirit; hear Him speak to our hearts in faith.

Jesus has come as prophesied by John the Baptist, the trailblazer prophet, the spirit of Elijah. Jesus was the one that was to come, is come and He will come again in victory as a conquering king. See the signs of the times and hear the voice of the Spirit in your heart anew this Christmas. “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Matthew 11:15

Joyce Westlake

Thursday, December 20

Isaiah 9:18-10:4

Psalms 33, 50, 59, and 60

2 Peter 2:10b-16

Matthew 3:1-12

“Prepare the Way!” (Matt. 3:1-12)

The readings for today, with the exception of one joyful little Psalm (Ps.33), are all fairly harsh – Isaiah is railing about the Lord’s anger against Israel, Peter is warning of false teachers and their certain destruction … and then there is John the Baptist.

Matthew has properly introduced Jesus with the (brief) story of his birth in Ch. 1; then in Ch. 2 we are introduced to the Magi and learn of Herod’s atrocity against humanity. Then whoosh! Ch. 3 fast-forwards thirty years and we meet the very colorful cousin of our Lord Jesus who is preaching repentance from his pulpit in the desert. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!” His warning to the Jewish elders is clear – the winnowing fork of Jesus is meant for them – a prediction that does little to endear either John or Jesus to the Pharisees and Sadducees.

There is much trouble and sadness in the world today, even as we prepare our homes and families for the joyful Christmas season, and we do not have to travel across the world to find it. As we reflect on our blessings, I pray that we all may be mindful of the needs of those around us, and the challenge of John the Baptist who calls on us to, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” (Matt. 3b)

Peace!

Vicki Cravens

Wednesday, December 19

Isaiah 9:8-17

Psalms 49, 53, and 119:49-72

2 Peter 2:1-10a

Mark 1:1-8

Mark 1:1-8

I have a long time friend who has been not only a source of encouragement, support, and comfort to me over the years, but also a mentor to me in my faith. She was raised in a home where prayers and discussions about God and Jesus were a daily occurrence and being a Christian was the force behind all decision making. She's that rare kind of friend that not only makes me laugh, but also inspires me to be the best person I can be. She has had an impact on my children as well, nurturing in them a desire to serve that I watch grow as they grow. I think she's one of the finest human beings I know, so when she talks with admiration of others she knows that are mighty in their faith, I know without a doubt that their devotion must be strong. I can barely comprehend how it might be possible for anyone to love the Lord and live for Him as deeply as she does. I think that in the book of Mark, when John the Baptist was preparing the way for Jesus, people must have been similarly in awe as he described Jesus. John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins and the whole Judean countryside and all of the people of Jerusalem went to him and were baptized in the Jordan River. They listened as he said to them, "After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to strap down and untie.  I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." It's Jesus, the Son of God, whose birth we are preparing for during this season of Advent. Though the Christmas story tells of a sweet, humble beginning in a stable, let us remember what is to come as a result of His birth and prepare our hearts for His presence in the world and in our lives.

Beth McGee

Tuesday, December 18

Isaiah 9:1-7

Psalms 45, 47, and 48

2 Peter 1:12-21

Luke 22:54-69

 Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said,

“This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying,
“Woman, I do not know him.”  A little later someone else, on seeing him,
said, “You also are one of them.”  But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”
Then about an hour later yet another kept insisting, “Surely this man
also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” But Peter said,

“Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” Luke 22: 56-60

Two young men grew up together, played together went to school together and joined the Army together.  They were close enough to be brothers – yet one was African American and the other Anglo.  One night they went off the Army base.  They went to a bar and enjoyed their time together.  One got into an altercation with another man.  The fight ended and the friends continued to party.  As they left the bar, men were waiting for them outside.  They were after blood and went after the young man who was in the fight inside.  As they were beating him, one of the gang members turned and pointed to the friend and shouted out, “Hey, he is this guy’s friend!”  Some of the gang members approached the friend and the friend said….

What would you say?  Peter said that he did not know Jesus.  Peter - one of the closest friends of Jesus, the one who Jesus said on whom he would build His Church, the one who had been with Jesus from the beginning – denied that he even knew Jesus.  It was easier for Peter to say that he did not know Jesus than to say that he was a follower.  Peter was afraid.  Peter thought of his own hide rather than to speak of his friendship and love of Jesus.

What about us?  Is it easier for us to act as if we do not know Jesus than to expose ourselves as lovers of Jesus?  During this season of preparing for the birth of Jesus, may we look at ourselves and decide whether our relationship with Jesus is worth the risks of the world.

Fr. John R. Pitts

Monday, December 17

Isaiah 8:16-9:1

Psalms 41, 44, and 52

2 Peter 1:1-11

Luke 22:39-53

Luke 22:39-42

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place he said to them " Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone's throw and prayed " Father if you are willing, take this cup from me, yet not my will but yours alone."

But it wasn’t to be for Jesus, his crucifixion and death on the cross were just ahead. Even Jesus the Lord and God of all, prayed. His human body felt great fear and anxiety at that time. He needed help, and so he turned to his father.

And because he prayed, God the father sent an angel to strengthen him and enable him to bear the agony of his last days and ultimate death.

Have you ever felt this kind of fear? Well, I sure have. When the doctor told me that I had stage 3 cancer, I entered a total state of denial. This can’t be happening, not to me!

So I prayed to God to help me through my own personal fear and anxiety. And because I asked, he was there for me. Every day, through surgery, through chemotherapy, and into the slow period of recuperation.

He held my hand the whole time. I could feel his strength. I was at peace.

Prayer is the cornerstone of our faith; it's like chemo for the soul. Just like your meds, pray twice a day, and watch your life change.

Prayerfully,

Pat McDowell

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Sunday, December 16

Isaiah 13:6-13   

Psalms 63, 98, and 103

Hebrews 12:18-29

John 3:22-30

“You, God, are my God,
   earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
   my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
   where there is no water.” — Psalm 63:1–2

An important part of reflecting on Psalm 63 is the fact that it was written while David was in the Desert of Judah.  Deserts bring to mind harsh conditions, and few inhabitants.  They can be lonely and potentially hazardous places for the ill prepared.

In addition to being harsh and lonely, the desert or any wilderness is a place with few of the normal distractions of life.  Without those distractions King David remembers that what he wants more than anything is to “seek God” and he expresses it beautifully.

I am often guilty of allowing the distractions of my daily life to cause so much noise that it would be difficult to hear God even if he were screaming at me.

If I don’t take some time, at least every now and then, to go to the desert, my soul is at risk.  It is pretty simple really.  No travel agents or special preparations are required.  I just have to walk away from the computer, the TV, the “to-do” list, work projects, and the many other distractions of my life, and spend some time seeking God.  I might spend time in prayer or study or something else, but the important thing for me is that I am seeking God.  This is an ongoing process that reveals not only glimpses of God, but truths about myself, and leaves me wanting and needing more.  Sometimes it makes me feel like David did in this Psalm, although I’m not sure I could express it as well.

If you’re having trouble hearing God over the noise, go to the desert for a while.

Melonye Suarez

Saturday, December 15

Isaiah 8:1-15

Psalms 30, 32, 42, and 43

2 Thessalonians 3:6-18

Luke 22:31-38

2 Thessalonians 3:6-18

At the end of 2 Thessalonians chapter 3 Paul gives the reader the blessing which, to me, is so important in faith.

ow may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.  -----  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.

This threefold blessing is to me the key to God’s gift to us in Christ.  Peace (which passes all understanding) is the first element.  Being at peace with Christ gives great comfort; it displaces the toil and hubbub of our daily activity and gives us a sense of contentment with our “lot.”

The Lord being with us is a shield defending us from the evils of the world, guiding us when we are subject to temptation and comforting us, not condemning us, when we get it wrong.

Grace is the assurance that our belief, not our deeds (good or otherwise), is the final element of the gift of eternal life with Christ.

May God give to us all his peace, his presence and his grace.

John McGarvey

Friday, December 14

Isaiah 7:10-25

Psalms 31 and 35

2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5

Luke 22:14-30

Luke 22:14-30

“This is my body given for you: do this in remembrance of me.”

“This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”

This passage finds Jesus in the upper room with his disciples having the Passover meal which, of course, is the annual remembrance of the Jews’ freedom from bondage in Egypt.  Yet, paradoxically, at this time of their “last supper” with Jesus, they are once again in bondage, but this time to the Romans.

Jesus has explained to his closest followers that this will be his last time with them referring, of course, to his coming departure from them.  So, instead of a real understanding of what his words meant, they start arguing amongst themselves over who would be the greatest once Jesus was gone.

I think that we, too, get our priorities mixed up and tend to give Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice for us too little thought, taking for granted this greatest of God’s gifts to us.  Ain’t love grand?

Virginia McGarvey

Thursday, December 13

Isaiah 7:1-9

Psalm 37

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Luke 22:1-13

Evil speaks through those who succeed in carrying on through wicked ways of Satan.  The wicked often use the righteous to do their wrong and are rewarded, but only temporarily.  They may be happy with their success using evil ways, but it will end upon Christ's return.  Even though the evil may find temporary success, we must always trust in the Lord and keep his truth and we will be safe for eternity.  The evil will be the ones that perish.

The man of lawlessness is already at work stealing hearts and souls until he is revealed to us.  He is working to deceive now to those who do not receive God's truth and therefore choose to be taken in.  In the end he will be revealed but when Christ returns the righteous will prevail.

Advent is the season to prepare for Christ's birth and a new beginning for our hearts and souls.  These three passages reveal that Satan is at work each and every day to steal the goodness of our hearts and souls from Christ.  It is very easy to let this happen when we least expect it because we often seek success, happiness, and other earthly desires.  Satan knows this and uses temptation to creep into our lives.  We must be aware of his presence, especially during the commercialized Christmas season of material things and cultural demons that Satan is using to reel us in to his side.  Hope and trust in the Lord to keep us on His side and to keep our hearts and souls balanced is where our minds need to focus.  We need to be still and wait patiently for Him and refrain from the “man of lawlessness” and his schemes.  We must be faithful to the truth and pray that Christ stays in our hearts so that we may know when evil sneaks in.

Stephanie Hart

Wednesday, December 12

Isaiah 6:1-13

Psalms 38 and 119:25-48

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

John 7:53-8:11

Many times, I start the day reading a good devotional only to find later in the day, "What did I read?"  On the other hand, I can think of a picture I saw twenty years ago and remember details fully.

So this year I am trying a scripture reading method Father Bill taught the Adult Sunday School Class.  We read through the passage but stopped at different words to discuss meaning or interpretation.  Looking at each word made a single thought stand out and brought new understanding to familiar verses.  This is like looking at art and thinking of what ideas it represents.

So, this Advent, pray that God brings meaning as you read.  Then while reading, stop at words that jump out.  Underline it, write it down, draw a picture of it, or put it on your computer--however you best recall things.  Then remember the word or image throughout the day (and throughout Advent if you like this idea).

I hope and pray using this way or the familiar reading method ultimately gives us all better understanding of the gift Christ is trying to give.

Eleanor Sheldon

Tuesday, December 11

Isaiah 5:13-25

Psalms 26, 28, 36, and 39

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Luke 21:29-38

 Lord’s Prayer

In the Episcopal order of worship, the priest sometimes introduces the Lord’s Prayer with the words, “Now, as our Savior Christ hath taught us, we are bold to say…” The word bold is worth thinking about. We do well not to pray the prayer lightly. It takes guts to pray it at all. We can pray it in the unthinking and perfunctory way we usually do only by disregarding what we are saying.

“Thy will be done” is what we are saying. That is the climax of the first half of the prayer. We are asking God to be God. We are asking God to do not what we want but what God wants. We are asking God to make manifest the holiness that is now mostly hidden, to set free in all its terrible splendor the devastating power that is now mostly under restraint. “Thy kingdom come…on earth” is what we are saying. And if that were suddenly to happen, what then? What would stand and what would fall? Who would be welcomed in and who would be thrown the Hell out? Which if any of our most precious visions of what God is and of what human beings are would prove to be more or less on the mark and which would turn out to be phony as three-dollar bills? Boldness indeed. To speak those words is to invite the tiger out of the cage, to unleash a power that makes atomic power look like a warm breeze.

You need to be bold in another way to speak the second half. Give us. Forgive us. Don’t test us. Deliver us. If it takes guts to face the omnipresence that is God’s, it takes perhaps no less to face the impotence that is ours. We can do nothing without God. Without God, we are nothing.

It is only the words “Our Father” that make the prayer bearable. If God is indeed something like a father, then as something like children we can risk approaching him anyway.

Lynn Mather

(Excerpts taken from Listening to Your Life: Daily Meditations with Frederick Buechner)

Monday, December 10

Isaiah 5:8-23

Psalms 9, 15, and 25

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Luke 21:20-28

The beautiful weather this fall has inspired me to get out and dig in the dirt.  Flowers I had planted in the spring and even some from the previous year were looking rather leggy and weak.  I pulled out each one and pounded the dirt off the roots, their beauty and usefulness no longer desirable.  I raked out the beds, tossing out rocks and debris in an effort to start over with the new.  Other plants I could prune and chop on a bit to extend their beauty hopefully another season.

God knows how we often need to be pulled up by the roots, our dirt pounded out; our beds cleared of so many messes.  Chopping off the thorns and barbs of our hearts is too often necessary to get our attention. 

Today’s lessons are filled with attention grabbers.  Words like desolation, great distress, wrath, destruction, thief in the night, etc.  Signs of the end of the age abound.  Even Isaiah’s reading starts with, “woe to you.”  Not exactly what I was hoping for as inspiration for Advent.  What about promises of a new kingdom?  What about lions and lambs lying down together?  Glad tidings of great joy anyone? 

Luke once again saves us with Jesus’ words, “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”  Luke 21:28

God does know us well, he is also in charge, and he will redeem us.

Thanks be to God and a blessed Advent to all,

Jennie Perry

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Sunday, December 9

Isaiah 5:1-7

Psalms 114, 115, 148, 149, and 150

2 Peter 3:11-18

Luke 7:28-35

 Psalm 148

Over the Thanksgiving break Ron and I took our girls and my sister's family to Schlitterbahn, Galveston. The trip down was filled with lots of excitement, cousins jockeying for bragging rights (who could go down the most slides the most times... that type of stuff.)  We got there, staked our claim on a couple of picnic tables, braved the chilly water, made a few trips around the lazy river and the kids asked if we could try the water slides.

My youngest nephew, Colby rushed up to the sign that read, "You must be at least 48" to ride this attraction." He pressed his little feet to the wall and stood as tall as he could.  Grinning at me with his toothless smile he asked, "Aunt Kari... Am I enough?" My heart just squeezed inside my chest. His spiky blond hair and bowed chest measuring 49.5 inches. I answered, "Yes, Colby Gene... you are MORE than enough!"

Isn't that the cry of all of God's children? Am I enough? I know it is the cry of this child's heart... I often wonder am I doing enough? Am I serving enough? Am I enough?

Today's Psalm (148) is King David's way of saying we all have ONE job to do in this life - to Praise the Lord!  And be you lightning or hail, young men or old, sun, moon or shining stars... your one job is to praise Him.  It says in verse 14, "And he has raised up for his people a horn," the horn symbolizing strength. There is strength to be found in praising the Lord!

So during this time of preparation, when you feel stretched thin, when you feel like you are not enough for the task at hand... Remember, your one job is to praise the Lord! It doesn't matter if you are a big old mountain or a tiny hill, some little lemon tree or a mighty cedar - You are ENOUGH for this one job! You are more than enough to praise the Lord!

KariAnn Lessner

Saturday, December 8

Isaiah 4:2-6

Psalms 20, 21, 110, 116, and 117

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Luke 21:5-19

Luke 21:5-19

Our Advent lessons call us to a time of sacrifice and preparation.  While our consumerist-driven culture calls us to shop, the Church calls us to a sober assessment of our lives and a candid judgment of our discipleship.  This is not an easy navigation.  Who among us really wants to hear Jesus speaking of destruction, persecution, and being hated for his sake?  Luke's gospel does not spare us anything in that regard.  The same Luke who gives us the sweet Bethlehem narrative with the shepherds in the field, and who proclaims the virtuosity of Mary in unforgettable poetry, also has Jesus predicting his destruction, and the corruption of things made by human hands.  There's more:  Jesus warns of great suffering on the part of those who claim to be his disciples.  It's powerful, the prediction of being brought up before the synagogues, thrown into prisons, and standing powerless before kings and governors for his sake.  Even the closest of kin, parents and siblings, and good friends will betray us to worldly authority.  Of course, according to Luke, Jesus also says that he will provide us with the right testimony in due time for the moment of truth.  Some comfort.  Some pre-Christmas message, isn't it? We must not dismiss this part of the Gospel any more than we would turn away from the bucolic manger scene.  Indeed, the greatest part of the history of the Church is anchored in the very sort of trouble that Jesus speaks of.  As the coming year goes by, pay attention to the saints we speak of on our calendar.  They are emblems of suffering and sacrifice.  These are people who never asked the Church "What's in it for me?"

Fr. Bill Fowler

Friday, December 7

Isaiah 3:8-15

Psalms 16, 17, and 22

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

Luke 20:41-21:4

Today's reading from Luke tells the story of the poor widow who put two coins into the temple treasury. Jesus says, “All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Advent is the time we wait for God's greatest gift, our Savior, Jesus Christ. As we prepare for His coming, we have a chance to re-evaluate our faith and how we both acknowledge and express our faith in God. How do we express our faith? Are we only giving out of our wealth or do we have enough faith in God to give all we have?

All our gifts come from God—do we trust Him enough to give all those gifts back knowing that He will provide more? Or do we hold back that tiny bit… just in case?

Mary DiFiore Crowe

Thursday, December 6

Isaiah 2:12-22

Psalm 18

1 Thessalonians 3:1-13

Luke 20:27-40

1 Thessalonians 3: 11-12

Now may our God and father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. And may our Lord make you increasing and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you.

This Advent season our Holy Spirit community prepares for and eagerly awaits not only the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but also prepares for and eagerly awaits the coming of our new Rector. I was struck by the seeming parallels between our community and that of the Thessalonians. Paul has planted the church there and traveled on, and Timothy has reported to him that the community there remains strong in their faith in Jesus Christ. Paul longs to reunite with them.

I believe that someone not now known to us has been chosen by God to be our new Rector, and like Paul, that person longs to be with us.  We trust that through the witness of our Search Committee, that person, like Paul, knows of the enduring faith of the Holy Spirit community.  And so we wait, each longing to begin anew the journey of faith, the work of the Lord here on earth.

Bob Lowe

Wednesday, December 5

Isaiah 2:1-11

Psalms 12, 13, 14, and 119:1-24

1 Thessalonians 2:13-20

Luke 20:19-26

“Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's but give to God what is God's.”

Luke 20:19-26

“That is why we thank God constantly that in receiving his message from us you took it, not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God at work within you who believe.” 1 Thes 2:13-20

In my everyday life I often question God's presence, but yet in certain situations I know he is at work. As a nurse practitioner, I feel he gives me the words to speak to the abused child or raped woman. I don't know what to say in these situations but the words just come out.

To feel his presence, I return to the commandments for guidance.

The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17 NKJV):

1.       I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.

2.       You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My Commandments.

3.       You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

4.       Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

5.       Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

6.       You shall not murder.

7.       You shall not commit adultery.

8.       You shall not steal.

9.       You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10.     You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife,  nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.

Mary Patton

Tuesday, December 4

Isaiah 1:21-31

Psalms 5, 6, 10, and 11

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Luke 20:9-18

Thessalonians 2:8

And then the lawless one will be revealed

whom the Lord Jesus will destroy….

All through today’s readings run themes of fear, of destruction and salvation. Just how literally these should be taken is hard to know as, like much of the bible, they reflect contradictions in ideas and in timing. Before Jesus brought the new covenant it seems to me that the Jews were a people living constantly in fear of destruction if they did not obey the law. The New Testament is much more understandable in its theme of repentance and forgiveness. Yet in Thessalonians 2 the writer, presumably Paul, talks of Jesus destroying the lawless ones. As this letter is said to be one of the earliest writings of Paul I can only conclude that there is still a strong carry over of Old Testament thought and also that the writer is influenced by his recent escape from persecution in Thessalonica. He warns the Christians in Thessalonica to be extra wary of falling into sin in a hostile and Godless country.

So I conclude this must be the message for us. As the world around us seems to become more secular we must remember both the forgiving message of Jesus and at the same time not forget that the alternative to an eternal life in the presence of Jesus is “destruction” which I take to mean some spiritual existence without the presence of Jesus and our loved ones.

Surely we can look forward to commemorating the birth of our Savior with renewed enthusiasm as we read Paul’s warning and hear his message.

Ron Merrett

Monday, December 3

Isaiah 1:10-20

Psalms 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Luke 20:1-8

 2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers and sisters[b] loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

1 Thes 1:2-6 (NIV)

2-5 Every time we think of you, we thank God for you. Day and night you’re in our prayers as we call to mind your work of faith, your labor of love, and your patience of hope in following our Master, Jesus Christ, before God our Father. It is clear to us, friends, that God not only loves you very much but also has put his hand on you for something special. When the Message we preached came to you, it wasn’t just words. Something happened in you. The Holy Spirit put steel in your convictions. 5-6 You paid careful attention to the way we lived among you, and determined to live that way yourselves. In imitating us, you imitated the Master. Although great trouble accompanied the Word, you were able to take great joy from the Holy Spirit!—taking the trouble with the joy, the joy with the trouble.

1 Thes 1:2-6 (The Message)

What an amazing gift of words Paul gives to us in today’s passages from 1 Thessalonians (with translations from both the NIV and The Message).  I love how different images pop out as we read the different versions.  In verse 3, I love how Paul encourages the Thessalonians in their outreach efforts by saying, “We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Is it possible that God, through Paul, could be writing this letter to US? That these words are meant for US, in this specific place at this specific time?  I believe that WE, at Holy Spirit, are this community. WE are a community whose work is produced by faith…just look at OUR outreach ministries of LOTs, Mission of Yahweh, Prayer Shawl and Shear Blessings, just to name a few. OUR labor is prompted by love…with evidence in ACTS in Action, Alter Guild and Sunday School. OUR endurance is inspired by hope…consider our school, our music teams, our ministers and our search committee. There is evidence of hope all around us. How could we possibly be working and laboring without it?

Have you seen the video on our webpage…”We Are Holy Spirit”? It’s images of us.

If we turn to verses 5-6 in The Message, we are, again, reminded that 1.) God loves us very much; 2.) He has put his hand on us for something very special; and that 3.) the Holy Spirit put “steel in our convictions!” Wow…what would happen if we, as a community, agreed to believe this?!

In this season of Advent, let us all be reminded that it is because of the baby in a manger, WE are able to work in faith, labor through love and endure with hope and it is only through reliance on him that we are able to continue to do so. Let’s believe, together, that God speaks to US, using these words, just as he spoke to the Thessalonians years and years ago.

Melissa Peter

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Sunday, December 2
Isaiah 1:1-9

Psalms 111, 112, 113, 146, and 147

2 Peter 3:1-10

Matthew 25:1-13

Hi. My name is Susan, and I am a control freak. (Isn’t declaring this publicly the first step toward recovery?) I will always take charge of the remote control, I am a terrible backseat driver and inefficiencies that waste my time drive me absolutely batty.

Last weekend, I was kidnapped by my husband and taken to the Renaissance Festival (way too much chain mail and turkey legs for my taste). On the way, we were slowed by a traffic jam of mammoth proportions. On and on for miles and miles, we crawled at two miles an hour, along with hundreds of cars filled with eager Ren Fest visitors clad in anachronistic costumes ranging from the Middle Ages to Star Trek.

Traffic makes me insane. I have purposely arranged my career and home life over the years in a way that specifically minimizes the amount of time I spend on the road. Not only was I not looking forward to being accosted by former drama majors with bad English accents, but now I was spending the day—a beautiful, sunny, cool day—stuck on some side road in the middle of nowhere. (Is Pinehurst the middle of nowhere?) After listening to my endless ranting, my better half (much better half) said, “Susan, what are you really angry about?” And my answer, distilled down to its core, was, “I’m angry because I have no control over this traffic. I have no control. I’m stuck on this roadway, and the only path is to move forward…slowly.”

I remember last year being angry that Holy Spirit was going to go through such a monumental change, over which I had zero control. We couldn’t go back; we could only go forward. And going forward meant that, at times, I had to accept that I couldn’t control situations. Instead, I had to relinquish control and put my faith in God and in our Holy Spirit family. Today, I’ve never felt more confident about our future. Letting go, trusting God and others was the right path.

So as we travel through the holiday season—full of its uncontrollable elements (crazy relatives, mishaps at the mall, turkeys gone awry)—remember that it’s okay to relinquish control. God’s got your back. 

Susan Diemont-Conwell