Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Even in challenging times of waiting, we find joy in memories of the past and hopes for the future in our children, as they make the Christmas story real for us in new ways!
Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11 Isaiah tells of God’s coming reign of peace… a leveling of mountains and valleys. Too often, our own sense of peace comes from a vision of ourselves at the highest peaks over others… how are we being called to a new and level place with all?
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 We begin again in Advent, with the joy and blessing of new life in baptism with our neighbors, and with the hard a difficult work of releasing what has been, to move into a new tomorrow with Christ, and with others who challenge and stretch us to grow in faith.
Scripture: Deuteronomy 8:7-18 In times of abundance—and in times of scarcity—how do we train ourselves to look “upstream” to find the source of all our gifts… even those we are most missing now?
Scripture: Joshua 3:7-17 As the people of Israel cross over into the promised land in the Book of Joshua, they are reminded of the crossing to freedom… and we are invited to remember that God is not on our side but the side of liberation.