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Christian Education | Christian Hospital - Mungeli, India | Advent Devotionals - 2008 Memorial Garden | 2009 Advent Devotional 2009 ADVENT DEVOTIONALS Waiting When we are very young, we have no concept of time. Telling a child to “wait” can be nearly impossible for them. Even as adults, waiting can make us irritated, anxious, and even depressed. Advent is a time of waiting but it is more than that. It is also a time of preparation. It is a time to read the Bible, pray, share our time and blessings with others, and trust in God’s gift of hope. It is hope that makes the waiting not just bearable but joyful. Waiting reminds us that God is in control and He is a God of love.
As you read these daily devotions and illustrations provided by the members of our church family, we hope that the time you spend waiting for Christmas strengthens your faith and brings peace and contentment to your soul.
Betty Frankiewicz, Co-Chairperson Lynn Miller Gina Plow Greg Arebaugh Kathy Purks Jennifer Arebaugh Judith Spencer Tracey Farmer Jana Thomas-Roach Caren Mensch Amy Zseberan GOD’S GIFT TO US
Scripture: Psalm 25: 4-5, 8-10 Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth, and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25: 4-5 At Christmas when we are giving and receiving gifts, Lord, please give us the gift to help others. When our families, friends and neighbors are sick, physically or mentally, guide us to help and comfort them. When they are sad, hurting or lonely, may we follow in your path in comforting them. This is the gift we pray for all year. Prayer: Dear God, may we be receptive to your gift of guidance in helping our family, friends, and neighbors. Amen. Jim and Jean Grady
Scripture: John 1: 10-18 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. John 1: 10 We must remember our Lord Jesus Christ and how wonderful he really is in our daily lives. As we race around to work, children's activities and lessons, and prepare for the holiday season, we need to remind ourselves to include some time for Jesus. There are many ways we can include him in our daily routines. We can pray and ask him to forgive our sins. We can thank him for the many blessings that we have. We can pray for others that are troubled. These are just a few of the things we could do. Whatever the case, he is waiting to hear from each of us. As we watch the seasons change and see our world transform from summer, to fall, and then finally to winter may it remind us of our Lord Jesus Christ and help us to remember his greatness. Prayer: Dear God, please help us to slow down and enjoy all of the natural beauty in the world around us that you have provided. Let us continue to strive to include you in our daily lives. Amen. David, Amy, Megan, and Matthew Graves
Scripture: Isaiah 11: 1-10 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 11: 1-2 The prophet Isaiah was talking about the birth of Jesus in this scripture. How excited the people back then must have been to anticipate the birth of the baby Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. We anticipate Christmas but get too caught up in the commercialism of the season. We get wrapped up in the giving and receiving of gifts. We forget to take the time to remember that Christmas is really a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Prayer: Dear God, please help us to not lose focus of the true meaning of Christmas as we anticipate our Christmas celebration. Amen. The Gates Family
Scripture: John 18:33-38 Then Pilate…asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”…Jesus replied, “My kingdom does not belong to this world….I was born and came into this earth to speak about the truth. Whoever is not deaf to the truth listens to me.” Pilate said, “What is this truth?” John 18: 33, 36a, 37b-38 In some ways, these are surprising and difficult verses to focus on for Advent. We expect to find verses dealing with joy, heavenly light, peace, and on Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus, rather than verses dealing with Jesus’ arrest. After the arrest comes the darkness of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday before the triumph of Easter. These verses remind us that this is where the story begun at Christmas eventually leads. In addition to reminding us of the rest of the story, the verses also lead us to ask ourselves “what is the reason we are on this earth?” Like Jesus, do we have, in small measure, a purpose God sent us to fulfill? Prayer: Heavenly Father, we remember that the life begun in a stable ended on a cross for our souls. Help us to hear your truth, find our true purpose, and play a role in your Kingdom. We ask for help and guidance to live your truth not only in moments of joy and peace, but also in those of trial and difficulty. Bob and Lynn Miller
Scripture: Psalm 27: 1, 4, 13-14 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 Fear is the darkness that lies within everyone. We experience fear in rejection, uncertainty, sickness, and death. However, we can overcome our fears by using God’s light to illuminate the darkness. As we celebrate the holiday season, we must try not to become overwhelmed by gatherings, shopping, and other preparations. Don't let the fears of being alone out weigh the joy of celebrating the birth of Christ. Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we pray that you guide us through the darkness and fears that may settle upon us during the holidays and upcoming winter months. Amen. Mike and Lisa Ohm
Scripture: Isaiah 40: 3-8 A voice cries out; “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley should be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.” Isaiah 40: 3-4 In reading Isaiah’s words, you feel that the people need to get ready and worthy to meet the Lord, so they are taking away all obstacles of him coming to them and giving them his wisdom, strength and love. Everything comes to a stand still once the Lord arrives and what he says and what he does for the people is meaningful and true. The Lord is someone they can count on and he deserves to be held up high. As the Advent season approaches we can all take direction from the Lord in our words and love towards others, not just family and friends but everyone we come into contact with. We should all want to be respected and held high in our own eyes and others. Prayer: Dear God, help us be a better people, true to ourselves and true to others. Amen. The Peterson Family
Scripture: Matthew 11:27-30 Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 The holidays are a time for pulling out all the stops, for having big family gatherings, for decking the halls, and since they start the day after Thanksgiving, they are seemingly for—ever. By the time Christmas arrives many of us are exhausted and frazzled. The preparations wear us out and we don’t really enjoy the season, we simply endure the season. Celebrating the coming of Christ seems to give us anything but rest. Getting together with family and friends and sharing time is important, and making those events special is also a good thing. But this Advent season, take a moment to remember that when Christ arrived, it wasn’t about decorations or a complicated feast. Christ came in a simple way and brought with him a love that filled the hearts of his family, a love that moved the world. Look at your schedule for this week and see if you can find a way to eliminate some of the busyness and simply share the love. Prayer: God, help us to remember that love simply given is the best gift of all. Amen. Phil, Maureen, Ian, and Erin Johnson
Scripture: Psalm 145: 1-3, 8-10 I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom….The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you. Psalm 145: 1-3, 8-10 What a perfect passage to read at the holidays! In the flurry of decorating, holiday parties, gift-giving, and the general excitement that surrounds Christmas, it is so important to stop and remember what we really need to be focusing on: God. This is a season to stop and praise God for all he is, has done, and will do. Sometimes it is hard to fathom all the ways that God works in this world—from the minute to the miraculous—yet there is no more appropriate time to do just that. In following Psalm 145’s instruction to extol God, the words of the well-known praise and worship song, “Great is the Lord,” immediately came to mind. When you stop to praise God today, try this on for size—it may be a welcome change to holidays tunes by now!—and will help to refocus us on the praise that God so amply deserves. Prayer:
Great are you, Lord, And worthy of glory. Great are you, Lord, And worthy of praise. Great are you, Lord, I lift up my voice, I lift up my voice. Great are you, Lord! Great are you, Lord! Amen. Richelle & Todd Kidder
Scripture: Matthew 18:1-5 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18: 3-4 In this passage Jesus is telling us to examine our ways and understand what is truly important. Greatness in the eyes of God has nothing to do with how much money you have, how much power you wield or what type of political influence you may exert. God cares that you are humble, like a child. Children are genuine, innocent, and pure of heart. What can you do this season of Advent to adopt the ways of a child? What can you do to be more genuine, more innocent and more pure of heart this holiday season and into the New Year? Prayer: Lord, please help us to take special note of children this Advent season and to adopt their ways in order to better serve you. In your name we pray. Amen. Andrea Sharb
Scripture: Luke 3: 10-18 The people asked John, “What should we do?” John answered, “If you have two coats, share them with the person who does not have one. If you have food, share that also….I baptize you with water, but there is one who is coming who is greater than I am. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He will come ready to clean the grain, separating the good grain from the chaff.” Luke 3: 10-11, 16, 17 This passage is John the Baptist preparing people for the coming of Jesus, telling them things they should do to be ready so that when Jesus comes they will be the “good” ones or ones who follow God’s word. They will be the ones chosen over the “bad” ones to enter God’s kingdom. In our busy world we often forget to act the way God would want us to act. We often think only of ourselves. But at Christmas time people seem to act kinder and more generous. It is a good time to remember to act the way God wants us to as good Christians, as a way to purify our hearts or prepare ourselves for the coming of the baby Jesus. Christmas is also a time of hope. John is giving a message of hope to the people by telling them Jesus is coming. People who are struggling with burdens in their lives can be comforted by this message, knowing that no matter what happens in our lives, Jesus is coming to save us. Prayer: Dear God, please help us to remember to act the way you would want us to, every day of our lives, but especially at Christmas. Amen. Mandy Lavriha
Scripture: 1st Corinthians 12: 4-13 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 1st Corinthians 12: 4-7 When a person approaches the front door to our church, they are greeted with the quote, “Growing people to serve God and others.” This quote was built into the very foundation of the church’s addition, in 2005. When my family and I first began attending ALUCC, one of the things that really inspired me was the congregation’s sense of ministry. ALUCC provides so many wonderful opportunities for its membership to help others. Since joining, I have been welcomed into the Board of Education, the Worship Committee, Families with Young Children, and as a Sunday School teacher . All of these opportunities have been rewarding and productive, but I’ve found my niche in Nate’s “Volunteer Bunch,” helping to write lessons and to teach the Sr. High youth group. As a high school teacher on parental leave, I have been able to put my skills to use, spend time with the students that I love, serve my church and community, and nurture my personal relationship with God. What a blessing – the often sought after “win-win” situation! One of the first lessons we taught this year in Sr. High was about ministry. This concept is part of the youth ministry’s purpose statement: “. . . to SERVE God and God’s people.” Our goal was to help the youth understand that ministry is meeting needs with love, that God blesses every believer with special gifts, and that these gifts should be used for ministry and mission. This passage in 1st Corinthians is one of those that we chose to exemplify the concept. How blessed are we that the students, Nate and I had to look no further for examples than our very own church, our congregation, all of you. Thank you! Prayer: Dear God, please help us to remember, during Advent and always, your spiritual gifts. Inspire us to use them to grow closer to You, and to serve You by serving others. Amen. Amy Zseberan & Family
Scripture: John 3: 17-21 …He who acts in truth comes into the light, to make clear that his deeds are done in God. John 3: 21 The whole of this scripture reminds us that God sent his only Son not to judge the world, but to act as a light…to offer every person a path to peace and contentment. All we have to do is take a leap of faith and believe that Jesus is here for us. In our own experience, we know that when we take a quiet moment during the day to talk personally with God, we feel it easier to “act in truth,” because we know God and his Son are there with us directly—helping guide our actions. Prayer: Lord, remind us that you are here for us. Encourage us to talk to you every day. And give us the courage to act toward our fellow human beings as you would. Amen. Dan, Sid, and Claire Stech
Scripture: Isaiah 9: 2, 6-7 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. They lived in a land of shadows, but now light is shining on them….A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called, “Wonderful Counselor,” “Mighty God,” “Eternal Father,” “Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9: 2, 6 In a time of great darkness God promised to send a light. This message of hope was fulfilled in the birth of Christ and the establishment of the eternal kingdom. The apostle John referred to Jesus as the “true Light.” Jesus referred to himself as “the Light of the world.” As the Advent candles are lit, Christmas lights twinkle on homes and trees, families and friends share candlelit meals, and our church family hums “Silent Night” by candlelight, may we be filled with the joy of the season. This Advent season is full of opportunities to share the light of Christ with others, may the light of the Lord shine through us. Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the gift of Jesus, the Light of the world. Amen. Tom and Carolyn Coy
Scripture: James 5: 7-11 Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, we call those happy who are steadfast. You have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. James 5: 7, 11 This rather short passage covers a lot of ground! The word patience conjures up an image of young children the night before Christmas waiting for Old St. Nick to arrive with a bag full of goodies. This is a time when patience is hard to come by. In the passage above, James is exhorting the early Christians to be patient so that God can be revealed to them. Steadfastness is a little different than patience. In today’s vernacular, it might translate as “hang in there”. The October 25th celebration of our long-time members was a great example of the steadfast. They have been loyal, patient and steadfast through a variety of personnel changes, changes in worship schedules and styles, building programs, and any number of ups and downs over a period of 40 to, in some cases, 70 years. Our congregation exhibits compassion and mercy in a number of ways from Food Drives for local food banks to support of building and operating hospitals in India and a whole variety of things in between. Prayer: Heavenly Father, during this Advent Season and throughout the year, remind us to be patient with one another, steadfast in our love for you, compassionate for those around us and merciful to the least among us. Amen. The Dibbell Family
Scripture: Romans 12: 9-18 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When’s God people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Romans 12: 9-13 Hospitality. Such a nice, friendly, feel-good word. You’d be hard pressed to find someone press you on the value or justification of hospitality. Each of us along this journey we call life has been touched by someone else’s warm welcome, a hot meal, a lift here or there, a few bucks to get by or some other kind and selfless act. It is at the very root of Jesus’ ministry and at the very heart of Christian living. Paul has some strong words for the Romans in this letter. The world at this time has become filled with corruption, evil, hatred, violence and a complete lack of compassion or concern for our fellow human beings. Paul says to HATE what is wrong. I will occasionally use the word hate to describe the Pittsburgh Steelers, slow drivers in the fast lane, litterers or mean people. Every time I do, I am quickly reminded by a teenager that HATE is a really strong word. Every time I am told that I have to stop and think about it; do I really HATE these things? Hospitality. Talk about another really strong word. How many times do you really stop and think; have I shown hospitality to my brothers and sisters in need every time I had the opportunity? Mother Teresa once said that Jesus tests the love of his followers by appearing in the most grotesque disguises to see if we can still see him. How often do we make assumptions, create stereotypes or pass judgment simply based on someone’s appearance? I would suggest that we look beyond the façade of our clothes, our hairstyle, our skin color and other unimportant features and search for Jesus in each person we encounter. Not only during this time of Advent when our charitable and caring radars are off the charts, but in June and July when our minds long for the comforts of our boats or the peace of a day at the beach. Are we still showing hospitality to those in need? Hospitality. Stop and think about it for just a moment. Today our church is welcoming with opening arms a group of people from Lorain County who have fallen upon hard times. We will provide them with shelter, caring hearts, a listening ear and hot meals for the next week. We will show them hospitality. Are you a part of this team that cares and tends to these people in need? You should be. Are you busy? Yeah, we all are. You should be a part of this team, because we all need hospitality at some point. Could you imagine if we all took a small chunk of our television time or our internet browsing time or cancelled one meal out and instead gave it towards the hospitality of those in need? “You may say that I am a dreamer, but I am not the only one.” – John Lennon. Two thousand years ago an innkeeper in Bethlehem, some shepherds and some wise guys showed compassion to a young couple in need of hospitality. What it resulted in was the single, greatest birth in the history of creation. Jesus Christ, shown hospitality at birth, taught and provided hospitality in his life and died to give us ALL (no exceptions) eternal hospitality with the One who created it all. Hospitality is a strong word. Think about it. Peace. Prayer: Dear Lord, “Let me live in my house by the side of the road, Where the race of men go by; They are good, they are bad; They are weak, they are strong, Wise, foolish,--so am I; Then why should I sit in the scorner's seat, Or hurl the cynic's ban? Let me live in my house by the side of the road, And be a friend to man.” (Sam Walter Foss) Amen. Nate Taylor
Scripture: Luke 6: 27-36 But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you and pray for those who specifically use you. Luke 6: 27-28 The hardest part of “Love” is to love an enemy. As a child, I was raised to find the good in everyone, to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, and to always smile at someone and the smile will come back to you……but I found not always. As we journey through “adulthood”, there are times we are confronted with people who find fault in us and inflict hurt to the very core of our hearts. You may feel hatred towards these people at the time, but your conscience says “you can dislike someone, but never use the word hate.” You want to forget about them and shut them from your life, but God teaches us forgiveness and says “you may never forget, but you must learn to forgive.” It is easy to love those that love you back, but the hardest part of love is showing kindness to people who have hurt you through words or actions. This person could be a relative, neighbor, co-worker, or even a friend. Try giving a smile and/or a hug to the least deserving and you may be rewarded. Sometimes the person who appears so tough and so harsh is crying out for attention and love. Your reaction can make a difference in how they treat others throughout the rest of their day. Regarding that smile…wouldn’t it be a rare, but wonderful gift, to receive one back from an enemy for sometimes love is needed the most by those who deserve it the least. Prayer: Dear Lord, we are thankful for the gift of Love. Help us to share our love, not only with those who love us back, but with those who seem most undeserving for they truly need it the most. Amen. Karen Zimmer
Scripture: Philippians 2: 1-11 Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind….That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2: 2, 10 With these words Paul is asking us to be like him and to think like him. He is asking that we not be selfish but be humble and take interest in others as Jesus did. Jesus humbled himself by becoming a mortal man. He, as man, humbled himself to his earthly father Joseph as well as humbling himself to God the Father. During this Advent season we should humble ourselves and take interest in others by not only sharing our gifts with our families but also sharing our love of God and sharing our love with one another. Jesus said the best commandment is “Love God above all others and thy neighbor as thyself”. Paul also says “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.” However in today’s world too often we hear the Lord’s name taken in vain. We hear it abused on TV, in the movies and in rap music. Advent is the perfect time to let people know the name of Jesus is not to be abused but is sacred and is to be used in the name of love. Prayer: Heavenly Father, during this Advent Season let our love for one another grow, our selfish nature vanish and our knee bow often at the name of Jesus. Amen. Jean Tremblay
Scripture: Romans 5: 1-5 This hope does not disappoint us, for God has poured out his love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God’s gift to us. Romans 5: 5 “Making a list and checking it twice,” a favorite holiday song lyric, makes us think about gifts…gifts for children, parents, grandparents and friends. We are bombarded by the media starting in November (or even earlier) to buy the perfect gift for that special someone. And then on Christmas morning, when the gift is opened, we hope we chose well and the recipient will not be disappointed. Today’s verse from Romans reinforces the Christmas message for us. The physical gifts we give and receive are for the present and often short-lived. Jesus’ birth is a gift from God, one that is not just for the present but forever. It is a gift that provides us peace, hope, love, and one with which we can never be disappointed. Prayer: Dear God, help us to remember what Christmas is truly about…Your gift of Jesus, the eternal hope that will not disappoint us. Sandi Gerhan
Scripture: Isaiah 55: 6-11 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55: 8 The Lord’s way and our ways may differ widely during the Christmas season. Remembering God’s promises of forgiveness and eternal love can be lost in the scramble of shopping and planning if we let it. We should pause each day to breathe in deeply the “Reason for the Season.” As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us all be thankful for our many blessings and trust the future to God’s loving care. His promises bring us hope and happiness if we believe. Prayer: Dear God, grant us the wisdom to choose your ways. Help us to love each other and serve you faithfully. Thank you for your Son who shows us the way that is Yours. Give us the strength and courage to follow. Amen. Dorothy Haines
Scripture: Psalm 33: 1-9, 20-21 Rejoice . . . . Praise the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings. Sing to him a new song; . . . . Psalm 33: 1a, 2, 3a Have you noticed that when you sing, you can’t really think about anything else? Some time ago I greeted a man new to our church that I’d noticed particularly because he sang the hymns as if he relished them. I mentioned to him that he obviously enjoyed singing and he replied, “He who sings, prays twice.” That line has stuck with me for a long time. Both song and prayer do the same thing: they enrich us with a sense of blessing and being blest. God is good! Prayer: Dear God, help us to sing a new song every day-- songs of gratitude, and songs of praise. Amen. Lenore Marken
Scripture: John 10: 14-18, 27-30 Just as my Father knows me I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep….No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded. John 10: 15, 18 If I sacrifice my time for others I do it willingly and unselfishly and I am repaid by God. God loves us for this and wants everyone to do the same. God doesn’t force us to volunteer and give back but, when we do, we are showing God we love him. It is also better to give than receive and we show this by helping those in need. Prayer: Dear God, help us to love and help one another and give more than we receive. Also help us do good deeds in your name. Amen. Tim, Janet, Nicole, and Taylor Thomas
Scripture: John 6: 25-34 When the people found Jesus on the other side of the lake, they said to him, “Teacher, when did you get here?” Jesus answered, “I am telling you the truth: you are looking for me because you ate the bread and had all you wanted, not because you understood my miracles. Do not work for food that spoils; instead, work for the food that lasts for eternal life. This is the food which the Son of Man will give you, because God, the Father, has put his mark of approval on him.” John 6: 25-28 John is describing Jesus feeding a huge crowd with only a few fish. The huge crowd is rushing towards him. In this passage, Jesus refers to food that spoils and food that will last for eternal life. As we enter the Advent season, we look at the stores and vendors who want to sell their wares. Jesus would look at these wares as food that spoils. If we look past the wares, you see the smiles on the faces of the person next to you. This is a joyful time. This can be a peaceful time. This can be a time that family and friends gather together for friendship. It is also a time of giving. Someone you know has been affected by the economic downturn. How can we help that person or someone we do not know? For our family, the opening of gifts is important but not as important as sitting around the table sharing the stories and friendship. As we experience the Advent season, let us look for the food for eternal life. Prayer: Dear God, help us remember to find the food for eternal life during this Advent season. It is an important task because you sent your son to guide us. Amen. Dale Cracas
Scripture: Luke 1: 26-33 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found great favor with God. And now you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus…” Luke 1: 30-31 As Luke, a physician by profession, writes his gospel we can only imagine the courage Mary displayed. Could any woman fathom going to your doctor and telling him that you became pregnant by the Holy Spirit?!! Mary’s incredible faith in a situation that had so much adversity is evidence of why God chose her to bear the son of the Most High. As we have faith guiding our own lives we, too, can be like Mary knowing that nothing is impossible with God. Putting our trust in the Holy Father, in Jesus our Savior, and in the light of the Holy Spirit, we can be assured to live fulfilled lives no matter the circumstances. Prayer: Holy Father, let us be like Mary, trusting in You, guided by the Holy Spirit, and a follower of Jesus, your precious Son. Amen. Kathy Smith
Scripture: Matthew 1: 18-25 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus for he will save people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet. “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” Matthew 1: 21-23 The days leading up to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day have become so commercialized that we easily forget what we are really celebrating. We become obsessed with finding the perfect tree, the perfect gift and baking the best cookies. Christmas comes and goes and too often we did not let God in and feel his love. This Advent season let us rejoice in God’s love and challenge ourselves to re-energize our faith. Prayer: Dear God, let us not forget the true meaning of Christmas. At this very special time let us remember the most precious gift of all—Jesus. Amen. Tom and Janice Hamilton
Scripture: Luke 2: 1-7
She was pregnant, and while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her baby. She gave birth to her first son, wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger—there was no room for them to stay in the inn. Luke 2: 6-7 Christians have heard the story for generations—Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem but upon their arrival, the town is filled with people and lodging is unavailable. Many turn away the Son of God. Finally, shelter is found in a barn and Jesus is born quietly in a simple manger—a wooden vessel used to feed livestock. Ironically, we still continue to turn Jesus away. We focus too much on the right gift, the best tree or the elegant dinner. We miss the message of Christmas—the message of hope, the beginning of the path we will follow on our journey through life. Let’s celebrate this Christmas with gifts for all—the gift of a smile, a friendly word and a kind deed for friends and strangers. By sharing these simple gifts, every day can be Christmas. Prayer: Dear God, help us realize the true meaning of Christmas and share that message with everyone. Let us make room for Jesus in our hearts and by our deeds. We pray that we find the joy of Christmas each and every day. Amen. Jan and Ron Pallinger
Scripture: Luke 2: 8-20
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2: 10-14 Tonight we celebrate the birth of our Savior, God's gift of love, understanding, forgiveness and peace to all of us. It's so inspiring and so uplifting that we don't have the words to describe it. On this holiest of nights, we can only hope to feel and experience it in a way that affirms and celebrates the joy God has given us. For our family, it comes in the most peaceful and profound moment of the entire season--the candlelight singing of "Silent Night." Whenever that moment is for you, may the generosity of God's love overwhelm you. Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of Christ. Let us celebrate Him tonight and every night and be guided by His words and comforted by His love. Amen. The Nusbaum Family
Scripture: Psalm 119: 26-29
….Strengthen me according to your word. Put false ways far from me; and graciously teach me your law. Psalm 119: 28b-29 Following God’s commandments is an act which is appealing yet at the same time quite challenging. This passage exhibits this fact and supplies us with a path to the solution. This section of the Bible also tells us that we are not alone when we are making tough decisions. God is always with us and we can always ask him for his help. When I read this passage in the Bible I could not help but feel like I am not alone. This is comforting to hear because as I grow up my responsibilities and independence seem to grow with me. It is nice to know that as I make big decisions in my life I am not completely on my own. I am quite familiar with the fact that the least difficult decisions do not always abide by God’s laws. So far, it seems doing the right thing is never the easiest path, and usually the wrong decision takes almost no effort at all. A simple example of this is when some of my fellow classmates are making fun of one of the other students. It would take no effort on my part to just stand by and let this person be bullied, but is that really what God would want me to do? It takes a lot more courage to stand up for him. This is what the Lord would want us to do, and he is always here to help us “from going the wrong way.” Prayer: Loving God, as we celebrate the birth of your Son, help us to make your way our way. Keep us faithful and let us show love as you have shown love to us. Amen. Emily Peepers
Like so many of our Christian customs, the Advent wreath is an adaptation of an ancient practice that dates back to pre-Christian times. Candles were lighted around a wheel during the festival of the winter solstice to celebrate the return of gradually lengthening daylight. The symbolism of this ceremony takes on an entirely new meaning for us in the form of the Advent wreath as we anticipate the birth of Christ and the enlightenment His coming brings to our lives. Today our Advent wreath custom retains the circular shape with four candles. Three of the candles are purple to represent penance and longing; they are lit during the first, second, and fourth weeks. One of the candles is rose-colored; it is lit during the third week in glad anticipation of the birth of Jesus. The first candle stands for hope, the second for peace, the third for joy and the fourth for love. Evergreens, a symbol of eternal life, and purple ribbons symbolic of penance are often added in preparation for the Lord's coming. Some families place a white Christmas candle in the center of the wreath and light it on Christmas day to celebrate the arrival of their long-awaited Guest. • Make or buy a circular base. It must be made out of nonflammable material, such as wire.
• Securely attach 4 nonflammable candle cups or inserts to the base. • Attach artificial (nonflammable) evergreen branches to the base. • Insert 4 nondrip candles into the base. (People usually use 3 purple candles and 1 rose candle.) • Light one candle on the first Sunday of Advent, two candles on the second Sunday, etc. (The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday.) • Use extra caution when burning candles. They should not be allowed to burn down into the bases of the candleholders. Never leave them unattended. Burning candles should never be placed too near flammable materials such as draperies or evergreen branches. Children should light candles only under adult supervision. ADVENT WREATH DEVOTIONALS
Reader 1: Today is the first Sunday of Advent. It is time to think about what it means to celebrate Jesus and to follow Jesus. The Bible says that Jesus is the light of the world. Jesus loves us and shows us the way out of the darkness.
Reader 2: Jesus shows us the way to live. We have many lights around us at Christmas time to remind us that Jesus is the light of the world. Reader 3: Today, we light the first candle. The light of the prophets reminds us of the hope that God gives us on the way to Bethlehem. (Light the first purple candle.) Reader 4: Thank you, Jesus, for coming to earth, just like the prophets said, and for your promise to come again. Thank you for being our light so we know how to live. Amen. Reader 1: Today is the second Sunday of Advent. The first candle spoke of hope. (Light the first purple candle.) Today we remember the long journey that Mary and Joseph took to Bethlehem.
Reader 2: We are also on a journey. We seek peace for our world. We are on our way to celebrate Christmas, and the birth of Jesus. (Light the second purple candle.) Reader 3: The light reminds us of God’s peace as we journey to Bethlehem. We light this candle of peace waiting for the Prince of Peace to be born among us. Reader 4: O God of peace, thank you for being with us on our way to Bethlehem. Thank you for loving us so much that you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, as a little baby. Amen. Reader 1: Today is the third Sunday of Advent. The first candle spoke to us of hope. (Light the first purple candle.) The second candle prepared the way for peace. (Light the second purple candle.) The light of the candles reminds us not to be afraid but to be joyful on the Advent journey.
Reader 2: Mary was not afraid but joyful because the Lord was with her. The angels comforted the frightened shepherds out on the dark hillside with the joy of the good news. Reader 3: Today, we light the third Advent candle. It is the candle of joy. Because of our relationship with Christ, we can experience joy and peace. (Light the rose-colored candle.) Reader 4: Lord, today we rejoice. We rejoice because our Lord and Savior will be born on Christmas. Fill our hearts and our days with joy. We rejoice that you are with us always. Amen. Reader 1: Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent. The first candle spoke of hope. (Light the first purple candle.) The second candle spoke of peace. (Light the second purple candle.) The third candle spoke of joy. (Light the rose colored candle.) Long ago God promised a ruler from the tiny town of Bethlehem to love the people the way a shepherd loves the sheep.
Reader 2: While we have been preparing our hearts for Christmas, God has been leading us and guiding us to the true meaning of Christmas. God has come into the world to be with us so that we will experience his grace and love. Reader 3: Today, we light the fourth Advent candle. We light this candle of love celebrating the love that came out of Bethlehem, the love that changes everything. (Light the third purple candle.) Reader 4: O God of love, help us to experience the awe and wonder of Jesus’ birth. Help us to share this light of love with those around us. Amen. (You may wish to start by reading aloud the story of the birth of Jesus from Luke 2: 1-20.) Reader 1: We have waited with hope for God to bring justice and righteousness. (Light the first purple candle.) We have waited for God’s peace with patience. (Light the second purple candle.) Reader 2: We have waited with joy, celebrating the things God has already done. (Light the rose-colored candle.) We have waited with love, awed by how God has shown love to us. (Light the last purple candle.) Reader 3: Now we light the Christ candle honoring the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, the One True Light, who has come to bring light to our hearts and to our homes. (Light the white Christ candle.) Reader 4: Thank you, God, for giving us your most precious gift, Jesus. Help us to share the good news of Jesus with others. Help us to follow Jesus through the new year and the rest of our lives. Amen. |
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