December 18: Advent Four – Sacred Knowing (Peace)
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with
child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.” – Isaiah 7: 10-16
“Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary
had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with
child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and
unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just
when he had resolved to do 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 as your wife, for the
child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” – Matthew 1: 18-25
Many of us look for signs to help us know what to do, or we wish we
could have our own personal angel visit us to let us know the “right”
next steps. Uncertainty is a fact of life–this seems ever more true. This
week we will remember that there is a Christ within us constantly
birthing wisdom and a deep knowing if we will but listen with a
contemplative heart. Let us seek out quiet in order to hear the voice that
brings peace by gently saying, “do not be afraid.”
December 24 Worship: Christmas Eve – Sacred Being
“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved
us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his
mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” – Titus 3: 4-7
(Proper II)
“… she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid
him in a manger…” – Luke 2: 1-20
It is not difficult to imagine this night as “reflecting the sacred.” We
gather and sing and light candles and dare to believe that love truly
enters the world time and again and anything is possible. What may be
more difficult to understand, however, is that this love is ours, not
because we’ve been “good” (as if God is Santa Claus), but simply
because we are beloved–the firstborn of God. Our very being reflects
the sacred. The incarnation of God in human flesh is proof.
December 25 Worship: Christmas Day – Surprisingly Sacred
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces
peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your
God reigns.” – Isaiah 52: 7-10 (Proper III)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him,
and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him
was life, and the life was the light of all people.” – John 1: 1-14
In the early church, Sunday was known as the “day of light.” And so it
is special when Christmas falls on a Sunday, as it does in 2022. As light
dawns on this morning, as the children scramble to the tree to see what
has appeared, we remember that the sacred comes in the form of sur-
prise sometimes, just as it did when light and life was known anew in
the form of a baby in a humble stable. Can we dare to believe that we
can know a surprising calm even in the midst of anxiety because of the
in-breaking of this Prince of Peace upon our lives each and every day?
Church Chicks Monthly Luncheon: 3rd Tuesday of the Month. 11:30am at Bob Evans/ Levis Commons.
New Year’s Day Intergenerational Worship Service: January 1st at 10am. Join us for a different style of worship service as we work together on a New Year’s Resolution not just for ourselves individually, but for our church as a body of Christ followers. We will not be offering Children’s Church, to allow our youngest
members to remain with us during the whole service!
