A New Path to Bethlehem

To Bethlehem, With Purpose

November 29, 2015

Psalm 25:  1-10
Nehemiah 9:  6-15
1 Thessalonians 5:  1-11

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you.  However, that will not stop me writing, for by the time you read this you will be inundated with the uncontained roar of the time and the season.

PART 1

Our youngest learners are taught in Children and Worship that during Advent we are all on the way to Bethlehem.  It is not an easy path we are called to tread, we preoccupied pilgrims.  We are beset on all sides by mall Santas, non-stop Christmas jingles, parties, gross commercialization, and all the trappings of distraction.  The very best of capitalism offers the very worst hindrances for the Thoughtful on the way.  I do not write to condemn.  It is not an evil to enjoy the many gifts of a good and fruitful society, nor to revel in the joy of the season.  Remember, however, that we are children of the light and of the day.  We are called to a little bit more than a commercial Christmas.  So take heart, for we are guided by fine old ordinances, true laws, good statutes, and commandments.  If you are sleeping, wake up!  In this season of Advent, let us walk a purposeful path to Bethlehem.

PART 2

For twenty-one years we at First Reformed Church of Scotia have been following the same road to Bethlehem.  This year, we reflect on following a new path to Bethlehem and beyond.  The gospel of Luke tells us that the child grew and waxed strong in spirit.  Now we must change and grow, in recognition that the road to Bethlehem leads there and back again, and ever onwards.  Fear not, brothers and sisters, for we are following that oldest and most fundamental of Judeo-Christian traditions:  The Transition.  From Abraham and Moses to the Apostles, down the long generations to even us here, the people of God have been called to reevaluate themselves and their situations.  Abraham and Moses, mentioned in Nehemiah, and Paul the letter writer were called to take historically drastic measures.  All three ended up taking long walks that led them far from home.  Two were completely renamed and all were rebranded.  We at First Reformed are simply called to reimagine our individual selves and redefine our church, a small task, maybe, for our mighty forefathers but a large enough task for us.  Should you feel daunted by the challenge, consider the reactions of the three mentioned above to the prodding of God.  Abraham laughed, Moses begged off, and Paul was struck blind.  Comparatively, we are in OK shape.  Therefore encourage one another and build up each other as Paul commands.  In this season of Advent let us soberly reimagine our place in the world into which Christ was born, and walk bravely together to Bethlehem and beyond.

Dear God,
Lead us safely to Bethlehem.
In this time and in this season, bless us in our wealth and in our poverty.
Remind us that we are more than what we do or do not have.
Help us stay awake and watchful for your son.

Dear God,
Lead us safely home from Bethlehem and into an uncertain future.
Inspire our imagination and steel our resolve.
May our decisions and reinventions be to the glory of your church, to the benefit of our village, and to the healing of the world.
Amen

John Hoffman

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What is the Promise of His Coming?

November 30, 2015

Psalm 90

Numbers 17:1-11

2 Peter 3:1-18

         A thousand-one. How do you measure time? In my family, there never seemed to be a consensus. For hide-and-seek, it was in thousands; for a time-out, Mississippi was the standard. The common denominator of these activities that seems most apparent now is that both were times of anticipation. Both were counting down to something, but with different outcomes--different aspirations. Have you ever been filled with the anticipation of seeking what is hidden? What about imagining the right of freedom?

        A thousand-two. Our reading from Second Peter tells us “that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” I think Peter experienced as much time seeking to know the Lord as he did sitting in a proverbial corner. We all do. At some point we have all felt excluded by those who would want to tear us down or make us feel less than part of the whole. We have all felt threatened by those who are not like us, or feel anxiety about those who we don't/can't/won't understand. Have you sought to answer questions, thoughtfully, about others? Do you leave blank spaces for others to fill in?

        A thousand-three. Luckily, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, comes with a promise: all will be revealed and all will be welcome. There is no better gift or tradition during this season than knowing that no matter how we have judged, or been judged, all are able to receive this message of hope. As those storefront signs so readily say, "beat the holiday rush!" 

        Ready or not, here he comes. 

Justan J. Foster

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Dwelling Places

December 1, 2015

Psalm 90

2 Samuel 7:18-29

Revelation 22:12-16

Lord you have been our dwelling place…

My Bible has a note saying that this Psalm is a “prayer of Moses.” It’s a beautiful song. Honest in its depiction of life; hopeful in its reliance on God. Moses would have longed for a dwelling place.

For Moses was an immigrant run out of his own country. Hunted down from behind and meeting resistance from those whose land he and his people had to pass through.

Turn O Lord! How long?

How long must people have to wander? Will we make the immigrants from Syria wander for 40 years? Will we turn them away even as Joseph and Mary were turned away because “there was no room?” What will be our excuse this year? Do we fear that those running away from bombs will bring bombs to us? Let us not be afraid this time so that God’s “work may be manifest to your servants and your glorious power to their children.”

Jill and I have been blessed this year with the help of many, many people as we start to rebuild our own “dwelling place.” Moses’ psalm reminds us, as God’s loved people, to open our arms to the immigrants who are also seeking a new dwelling place.

Prayer.

We lift our hearts up to you, O LORD, that your mercy may fall upon our sisters and brothers who have been driven from their homes. Have mercy upon them for you too were driven from your home. And give us courage to lift up our voices to call them to us that we may welcome them as you have welcomed us.

Kent Busman

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Compassion

December 2, 2015

Psalm 90

Isaiah 1:24-31

Luke 11:29-32

This reflection was written in the early hours of December 14th after the terrorist attacks on Paris and before I knew of the similar attacks in Beirut, Lebanon that same day.

Compassion-noun \kəm-ˈpa-shən\ sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it

I feel deeply. 

Today I join the entire world to stand with the people of France. For in moments like this when faced with certain and inexplicable evil, the same feelings of confusion, disbelief, anger and then helplessness come that came on September 11th when I could see New York City in smoke. 

What can I do?
Nothing. 

Nothing but feel for the victims' families as they face their sudden loss, feel for the government officials trying to keep their country safe, feel nothing but a deep and stomach-turning sadness for the world. There seems to be nothing else to do. 

Then compassion enters and I am reminded that I too have immense powers. Powers which I try to instill in my children every day. Powers and abilities to act, to change lives, to encourage dialogue, to promote peace, and to fight evil. These powers are simply called Love and Kindness. For I believe, to consciously hurt another is when compassion has ceased to be present and people have stopped feeling. 

Prayer.
Lord, there is so much that I do not understand about the world. Please help me to walk with compassion, to practice love, and to do kindness in my little part of the world this day. May these small acts open hearts and broaden your Kingdom here on earth.

Lynn Reynolds Makrin

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Promise of New Beginnings

December 3, 2015

Luke 1:68-79

Malachi 3:5-12

Philippians 1:12-18a

Advent is a time of reflection and a  promise for new beginnings. Our family has had a year filled with many changes. These include the difficult losses of a mother and a grandmother. With these losses comes also a balance of rich new experiences, which undoubtedly have roots in the strong foundation these two matriarchs built in our lives. Family vacations to treasured places visited many years ago. Memories shared from elder generations to grown children. Experiences from our childhood passing to our children. Hikes up mountains, kayaking on lakes and ponds, and fishing each in the presence of God’s wonderful works. These events have been a new beginning for us this year and are a promise to keep alive traditions as well as to build, expand and look to the future with peace and blessing.

Dear Lord, help us to see the promise of new beginnings this Advent season. Help us as we reflect on our experiences this past year to view each of them in a light such that we can continue to grow in your Word and live in your ways.  And as Zechariah blessed his new son John “ with your tender mercy help those till the day shall dawn upon us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79)  

Michael and Wendy Carpenter

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Songs in the Season                                      

December 4, 2015

Luke 1:68-79

Malachi 3:13-18

Philippians 1:18b-26

Confession: I’ve been listening to Christmas music since October.

I have to rush here to excuse myself, to beg your pardon for running Halloween into Thanksgiving into Christmas. I know that for a lot of people, Christmas music before Thanksgiving is a terrible crime, and even those who don’t mind a little “Jingle Bells” before the turkey comes out of the oven are opposed to it before Halloween has even come.

I know it, because that’s usually me.

When it comes to the seasons, I don’t have a favorite: I just love the way the lively beauty of summer cools into the mellow chill of autumn; the way fall bursts out, then fades into a softened, grey-brown peace before snow comes. I like the holidays that go with the seasons, each bringing its own mood, its own colors and sounds and smells and traditions. And I revel in each tiny change.

So why is it that this year, I’m already thrilling to the words of Christmas carols? And that I’m not even putting up a fight?

I think it’s because of what all the songs say. Secular or sacred, Christmas songs tell stories of expectation, of hopes fulfilled, and of the celebration that follows of those moments of realization. God’s love for us spills over into our lives in a million ways; fulfills our hopes a thousand times over. And these songs are reminders of that.

My heart has been singing Christmas carols because I’m reveling in the gift such moments of easy joy. There are some seasons when laughter comes easily, when your eyes crinkle of their own accord, and when the world speaks to you in gifts and graces. But there are also seasons when the clear-cut road turns to dragging mud beneath you, and your feet are so heavy that the moments of dancing come few and far between.

I am celebrating because I know that there’s mud ahead of me, but also grace, and right now is a moment of grace. Right now, I am celebrating the way I want to spin on the wind like the very last leftover autumn leaves; sing like the unmatchable, silver laugh of jingle bells; run across lawns buried in crystal feathers of snow.

I’ve come through a season of mud, and yet, from this end, when I look back on that season, all I see is the beauty of our Father’s faithfulness. And that beauty is the beauty that makes me, once again, fall in love with the world. Laugh aloud in soul-felt thanks.

May grace that is bright, like the red and green of a gaily decorated tree, fill your heart. And may peace that is blue and silver like the holiest of nights fill you during this season of thankfulness, and the coming season of hope and fulfillment.

Kate Dulmes

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The Covenant, The Curse, The Calling

December 5, 2015

                                                                                   

Luke 1:68-79 (King James version)

Malachi 4:1-6

Luke 9:1-6

Upon reading the above scripture passages the first time, you might think, as I certainly did, “What do these verses mean for Advent, and why are they in any way linked at all?”  As Jan used to say, “Hmmmm, I wonder!”  Just where does the transition of Advent show itself?

I really like to cook!  During 63 plus years of married life, I have probably made over 60,000 meals for my family of 2 to 10 members, not counting holidays when as many as 25 appeared to be fed.  Nourishment and nurturing went hand-in-glove – the youngest was given the first plate, everyone had to at least try a taste of each food, and no one left the table until the “Thought for the Day” was read from “The Upper Room.”  It was easy to make meals from a full pantry and refrigerator.  The inspiration for the leftovers was where the art of invention and imagination came in.  It was all math – how to add, subtract, multiply, or divide the non-related morsels and transition them into a satisfactory meal for the family.

So here is Luke, telling us about Zacharias, thanking the Lord for his son, John,   “remembering His holy Covenant” and “preparing the way.”  Malachi writes, “For unto you…shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing…lest I come and smite the earth with a Curse.”  Then the Calling, as Jesus gave his disciples power and authority, urging them to “preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick”!

During the Advent season, we need to prepare ourselves for a life-changing event, going from the ordinary to the extra-ordinary – a baby’s birth to One so long-expected and desired.  Only then can the Savior enter and transition into OUR lives – fulfilling the Covenant, defying the Curse of evil and Calling upon us to help restore God’s kingdom on earth.

Savior of the World, we humbly ask you to take our broken bits and pieces and make us whole.  May each day bring us closer to your eternal and everlasting Kingdom!  Amen.

Alicia Hermance

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December 6, 2015                                   

Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 1:68-79, Phillipians 1;3-11, Luke 3:1-6

Philippians 1: 3-11 Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

In this world filled with fear, pain, disappointment, sadness, anger, anxiety, risk and defeat…we have a choice.  We can seek out what nourishes us or we can perpetuate the pain and depression of our circumstance. Seek the light, the light is there, it really is.  You have the LOVE inside of you to CREATE the light; melting away the anxieties within, radiating healing prayer for the world through peace, love and goodness.

Look

Look

Open your eyes to the light                               

See the light ever present

…EVEN in the darkness

YOU are the light

Breathe the light

Let your heart beat with the light

Sing the light

The light of The Holy Spirit is in you

Look

Open your eyes to the light

Dear Loving God, thank you for the power of goodness.  Thank you for the ability to create light within and share it with the world.  Please help us seek goodness and always remember the presence of hope.  In your name we pray.  Amen.

Kristin Bodden

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Awaiting Something New

December 7, 2015

Psalm 126

Isaiah 40:1-11

Romans 8:22-25

Isaiah:

Anyone familiar with George  Frederic Handel’s Messiah will immediately recognize this passage.  A tenor sings the words as an “overture” to the entire prophecy.  Historically speaking, in Isaiah it came at a turning point in history.  It is spoken of as the end of the Babylonian and the beginning of the Persian period.  For us in our lives, it frequently is used as a beginning of a new church year as we prepare for the coming of Jesus.

“In the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord.”  Isn’t this exactly what God expects us to do during Advent?  As we pass through this season, we try to make our lives straight so as to be ready for Jesus to come down the highway and into our lives as never before.  On Christmas Day, “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.”

Will all people see it together?  Perhaps that is exactly what God is waiting for.  Let us not be one of those who refuse to acknowledge his presence.  On Christmas Day, the Lord will come with might as a baby.  He will feed us (his flock) like a shepherd if we let him.  Throughout our lives he will gather us in his arms and gently lead us.

Romans:

Paul painted this picture in words of a world in decay, a world that was waiting for liberation from all of its troubles.  In place of all of these troubles, the world waited for the coming of a state of freedom and glory.

What we observe in nature we experience in ourselves.  In verse 23 “we wait for adoption and the redemption of our bodies.”

As we look forward to the coming of Jesus, we await a coming of something new and better.  Perhaps if we let it, it will be for us a state of freedom and of glory.

Prayer:  Lord, make us ready for you as we pass through this season trying to make our lives straight.  Help us to acknowledge your presence, assist us in being ready to be fed by you and to be gathered in your arms.  As we await a coming of something new and better, let it be a state of freedom and of glory.

Ken Nelson

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Faith, Life, Love

December 8, 2015

Psalm 126

Isaiah 19:18-25

2 Peter 1:2-15

We were like those who dreamed

Our mouths were filled with laughter, our hearts with songs of joy.

A strength we could believe

Far too much to ask or an art we can deploy

Then somewhere along the way

We forgot and we became blind

A dulling of the day

A stumble of a state of mind

So now we go out crying

Weeping bitter tears of rage

And it feels like something dying

Fake trust in a gilded cage

Those who go out weeping

Return with songs of hope

And we find that we are keeping

Memories of what we truly know

Let's not forget we are the lucky ones

We can save it yet, we live in the sun

Look around, take a breath, and give thanks above

We have faith, we have life, we have love

We have faith, we have life, we have love

We have faith, we have life, we have love

Prayer

Lord, in this time of giving and receiving, of celebrating and coming together, with those we love and those we trust, help us remember the good things we have, the good deeds we do, the good people we are and can be, and the many blessings that have been bestowed upon us. When it’s cold and dark, we can forget, and we can be lost. Let the good in life light and guide our way, now and in the future. In Your name we pray, amen.

Joe Bodden

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Beginning of the Miracle

December 9, 2015

Isaiah 35:3-7
Luke 7:18-30

     Are we there yet? How often do we ask this question? How many of us ask this during the advent season when we are so busily getting ready for all the festivities of the Christmas season. We get so wrapped up we often just want it over and done with or we are disappointed when it has come and gone. We want everything to be perfect. But what is perfection? Holiday lights? A gorgeous tree? A delicious meal? Maybe we need to redefine what Christmas is really about. It is about God's son who came to save us. That's right. Christmas is all about saving you and me. The love of God came as a real person and walked among us. Then dies to save us. Christmas is the beginning of this miracle. My hope for this holiday season is that we might slow down and realize that Christmas is not about perfection. It's about the perfect love of Christ who came to live among us. It's not about the perfect tree but everlasting life through Jesus. I hope that you and I can let go of the perfect holiday and be happy just knowing we are loved by God.

 Dear Lord,
    We thank you for sending your son to love us unconditionally. Help us in this advent season to feel your love and let go of the perfect holiday and live in the moment. Let us cherish family and friends. Calm us so we can celebrate this miracle of Christmas. Grant us patience in our journey. Grant us wisdom to know when we are there and most of all grant us peace.

In your name we pray, Amen.

Feeling blessed,
Diana Ackner

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December 10, 2015

Bible Passages:         Isaiah 12: 2-6

                                    Amos 6: 1-8

                                    2 Corinthians 8: 1-15

It was the opening words of Gretchen Rubin’s book The Happiness Project that rocked my world: “I’d always vaguely expected to outgrow my limitations.” Even though the pressure was upon me to get reading this book, as my Camp Fowler girlfriends and I decided it would be a good journey for us to take together, I put the book down and ruminated on those words for a few days before I could pick it back up again. Those words so aptly described the past two decades of my own self-reflections. I have always been conscious of my limitations, too conscious I recognize now, but I passed them off with phrases such as, “Surely, once I’m out of high school and in my twenties, I’ll gain my confidence,” or, “Well, once I meet the right guy, all will be well,” or, “Having children will definitely change me so that I become who I have always hoped I’d be.” Each life transition I experienced left a part of me still unfulfilled. Once the difficult dream of child-bearing finally became a reality for me, my options ran out, and I was left feeling a burden that threatened to break me.

It’s rather ironic that the outsider’s opinion that I have much to be grateful for, that my life seems relatively perfect is the very same thing that weighs me down, for with that consciousness comes a great deal of guilt. Oh, I know what you are thinking, and, believe me, I am fully aware of the futility of guilt! Rosamund Lupton, in her acclaimed novel Sister, put it so eloquently: “I get up and pace the room, as if I can leave my guilt behind me. But it tracks me as I walk, an ugly shadow made by myself.” Indeed, the more that I try to talk myself out of my guilt, the crisper its shadow becomes. Two beautiful, healthy children . . . a loving husband . . . a job that I enjoy every day and feel called to do . . . I should be so grateful . . . I should be so happy . . . and yet . . . . .

So, it was in this unease, this time of ultimate insecurity that it finally dawned on me, my purest moment of epiphany – it is not possible to grow out of one’s limitations; I needed to learn how to grow into them, which requires a great deal of energy indeed. My first phone call to the Samaritan Counseling Center was unbelievably difficult to make, and I was nauseous with dread, fear, and anxiety in anticipation of my first meeting with my therapist. I will tell you that, even after three years, therapy is still not easy. It is slow work, hard work. In fact, I don’t think that anything has been so challenging for me, but I press on because I see myself evolving through this transition, and I see the benefits that I, my partner, my children, and all of those around me are reaping.

So, have I outgrown my limitations? Absolutely not, but I’ve learned to embrace them more. I now understand what makes me tick, where my strengths are and how to celebrate and be proud of them. I have also learned to be more patient with myself as I recognize my weaknesses when they arise. Indeed, “Woe to those who are at ease . . . and to those who feel secure on the mountain . . . Woe to those who lie upon beds of ivory . . .” for it was in my unease and insecurity that I discovered the greatest gift – my true self.

Prayer:

God in Heaven, as we enter this Advent season, guide our hearts and minds. Be with all of us in transition, especially our church, as we are without pastors who have been our stalwarts for so very long. Help us to recognize our own unease and insecurity and to realize that this transition is going to be slow, hard work. Give us patience to listen to our hearts, listen to one another, and, most importantly, listen to You so that we can move together and be stronger in the end even than when we first began. Amen.

Blessings and peace to you and yours this special season,

Amanda Lynn Nuendel-Faulkner

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December 11, 2015

Second Week in Advent

Read Isaiah 12:2-6

Additional Scripture Readings:          Amos 8:4-12

2 Corinthians 9:1-15

“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.  Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name.”

(Isaiah 12:2, 4)

I am probably not the most suitable person to write about this passage.  I am a worrier.  I have a hard time letting things go; and despite the fact that God has been so faithful and generous to me throughout my life – a loving wife, son, and family; a meaningful career; resources to enjoy life –  often times I still can’t help but let my worries keep turning over and over in my mind.  This has always been a challenge for me even though I know it can be an unproductive use of time and energy.  I suppose that most of us have experienced this to some degree at one time or another.  Almost ten years ago, I decided to change careers to become a teacher.  I absolutely love teaching; I wouldn’t want to do anything else as a vocation.  Why did it take me so long to decide to become a teacher?  Mostly because of worry:  Is this what God wants me to do?  What if I cannot find a job?  What if I go through all the time and expense to change careers and then find out I don’t like it?  These worries paralyzed me for a long time.

These words from the Prophet Isaiah, the prophet whose words are so familiar to us in the Hallelujah Chorus, are both a promise and a commandment.  Under threat of foreign occupation and fear of God’s anger, the writer of Isaiah confesses faith:  I will trust and not be afraid.  I will not rely on my own strength, for the Lord God is the strength upon which I must lean.  The promise is one of salvation.  However, it is also a commandment:  give thanks and call on his name.  These are the things that are the antidote to worry and fear.

I wonder if sometimes we as the body of Christ don’t also endure the same kind of worry that has been a challenge to me, especially in this time of opportunity, uncertainty, and change between pastoral leaders.  It is not easy, I know.  I would humbly suggest that we accept the commandment in this passage as one antidote to our anxiety:  gratitude and calling on his name, both privately and together in worship.  When our minds can be redirected outward instead of inward, there is peace.

Prayer:  O God, help our anxiety, uncertainty, and worry.  We praise you and thank you for the multitude of blessings you have showered on us in our lives.  In our weakest moments, help us to remember to be grateful and to put our trust in you, where it belongs.  Amen.

David Schalekamp

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Reaffirm and Renew

December 12, 2015

Isaiah 12:2-6

Amos 9:8-15

Luke 1:57-56

"Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.  The Lord, the Lord himself is my strength and defense."

How often we have heard these words or similar phrases from the prophet Isaiah and others.  How often, in spite of that, have I refused or just forgotten to heed the gospel's crucial messages?  Life, its inevitable ups and downs, touches all our lives--grief, illness, failed relationships, addiction, catastrophic accident--some of these have too often altered our lives.  Bewilderment, confusion, bitterness and despair can plague our steps and drag us to the depths if we let it.

The old and new testaments are rife with messages of hope.  “With joy you will draw water from the well of salvation," Isaiah tells us.  How often water, life's chief sustainer, is used by Jesus and the prophets to symbolize temporal and eternal life.

There are many times we must forget our egos, let go and let God take over our lives.  We humans are unable to determine why bad things happen to good people.  Rough patches in our lives are inevitable, but God always offers comfort and hope.

The birth of Christ, his ministry and his resurrection assure us that these things are coming.  We then prepare for the coming of the Messiah, and we have a chance to reaffirm and renew our pledge and allegiance to him each year.

Each of us will "trust and not be afraid. We will sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things."

It is time for us to embark on the journey of advent.  It is a time for meditation and reflection.  But we must look beyond the stories of the manger, the shepherds and the wise men.  Each year we also have the opportunity for rebirth.  Strike off on your journey and trust that God will guide your steps.

Robert Atwood

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Trusting in the Lord

December 13, 2015

Isaiah 12:2-6

Philippians 4:4-7

Luke 3:7-18

At the heart of these passages is the declaration of trust in the Lord God. In Isaiah, it opens and closes with references to God as ‘my salvation’. Within that confidence we can proclaim that we will trust and not be afraid. The balance to that is that the Lord is our ‘strength’ and ‘might’. All that we can do is trust, but even that is embraced by the Lord God’s salvation and strength.  As we trust in the Lord God, Paul reminds us in his Letter to the Philippians:

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let all men know your forbearance.  The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,” Phil. 4:4-7.

When we come to an expression like this, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” It is necessary for us to give this joy a very specific and biblical definition. The word “rejoice” cannot be understood properly if you equate it with earthly happiness. Earthly happiness depends on circumstances that change daily. This spiritual joy is a product of one’s faith in Christ, and this joy can endure changing earthly circumstances. It is that constant hopeful, peaceful, joyful state of mind – knowing that even when things here on earth are against you, God is for you, by faith in Christ, are firmly attached to Him.

When we Trust in the Lord God it is easy to Rejoice in the Lord – Always.

My Dear Lord,

You are my salvation, my strength and my might. I place my trust in you. Let me always rejoice your presence in my life.  May I never forget that you, as my Heavenly Father loves me unconditionally and will always be with me.   Amen.

Richard Doyle

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Play the Kings

December 14, 2015

Isaiah 11:1-9

Numbers 16:1-19

Hebrews 13:7-17

Advent has always been exciting for me. It meant Christmas was a matter of days away, and I could soon tear open every glimmering parcel underneath the tree in the living room. Within them, I always expected to find exactly what I’d asked for in my yearly list. For me, any luxury could be hiding behind that thin barrier of paper and cardboard. All I had to do was wait and the prizes would be mine. All mine.

            And there lies the major problem with Christmas. Many of us in this and other western countries boast greater privilege than a vast majority of the world’s population combined. We expect air conditioning, electricity, and clean running water. Fortunately, our socioeconomic circumstances dictate that it’s okay to expect those things, and we should be happy with our high standard of living. That’s all well and good, but being surrounded by a “gimme now” culture, as well as the commercial nature of our environment as a whole, sums up to the perfect formula for a material focused holiday, rather than a time of celebration and introspection.

            We often allow our decadence during the holidays to overshadow our responsibility to put our minds toward Christ. Like the Levites in Numbers 16, we foster beliefs of entitlement to the right to indulge and demand it at all times. The Levites forgot what God had done for them and went to Moses to complain exclaiming that they were just as holy if not more so than him. Moses criticizes their folly, reminding them that they already had so much and that they should be content to be near to God. He asks them the question we must remember to ask ourselves during this season: isn’t it enough? Why must we demand more? Why can’t we reflect on the privileges and good fortune we already have rather than speculate about what we’re missing out on?

            As for Christmas, the trend starts at childhood. We have no spending power, but are surrounded by a myriad of material wealth that we long to hold in our fingertips. Christmas becomes the cornucopia, an opportunity to get for free what would normally cost three months of allowance. From then on, the beauty behind the concept of Christmas gifts is put on the back burner while we look forward to the superficiality of receiving rather than the fulfillment of giving. How ironic that Christ, who likened the heavenly passage of a wealthy man to a camel passing through a needle’s eye, is most commonly celebrated by the practice of buying “stuff”. Jesus received gifts, but we’re not supposed to play Jesus in our yearly nativity. We’re supposed to play the kings, we’re supposed to give of our wealth and of our hearts. Instead of coming to know the latest iPhone model, let’s come to know Jesus. As Isaiah tells, when we do that, we come to know God, and we big scary creatures of this world will be at peace, led by a child. During this season of Advent, we should feel more compelled than ever to practice Christ’s way, to do good and share what we have. Sacrifices of praise to God are our kingly gifts to Jesus, and the greatest gifts any of us will give this season.

Ethan Schalekamp

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Blessings So Freely Given

December 15, 2015

Isaiah 11:1-9

Numbers 16: 20-35

Acts 28:23-31

            These three passages show that it is important to have faith and hope that God is always there for us. Isaiah's hope for the world is to be judged with righteousness when all creatures will live in  peace, harmony, and understanding. During a time of transition we must continue to be faithful, even when there is so much pain and suffering in the world.

            In Acts, Paul, a faithful servant of the Lord, suffered persecution and imprisonment but was set free to continue his ministry of good news.  God was also there for Moses who struggled with fighting between the Hebrew tribes and their lack of faith. According to Walter Brueggemann, in his reflection for advent 1988, the theme of “justice and righteousness” is central to biblical hope. Through God the power of evil destructiveness and death will be overcome.  For that we can thank the Lord!

            God sent His only Son Jesus, our Lord and savior, as a special gift to us. Each December we rejoice in this as we celebrate and prepare for his birth -- a birth that gave the world hope foretold through the ages. One of my favorite songs we sing in choir , “For the Autumn Sky” by Ruth Elaine Schram, reminds me of how great and wonderful God's gifts are.   I share a few of these words with you.

            For the blessings You so freely give;

we thank You,

and we praise Your holy name.

For Your Son,

for Your precious Son who has set us free;

For Your gift

of abundant life for eternity;

For Your boundless love,

boundless love and amazing saving grace;

Lord we thank You;

Lord, we thank You;

Lord, we thank You.

Claudia and Russ Garrison

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Transition and Adventure

December 16, 2015

Isaiah 11: 1-9

Micah 4: 8-13

Luke 7: 31-35

We think of  "advent" as a "coming," and certainly this is one definition, deriving as it does from the Latin, "coming to."

But this is too narrow a meaning, for it is not just something we are waiting passively to happen or arrive.  Advent s also an active process of moving toward the occurrence.  It's a two-way street.

Our congregation awaits the arrival of the celebration of Christ's birth, but we also should be actively preparing for it.

And in this transition period as we await our new church leadership, we must also be preparing for it through active participation.  The "cottage groups" are one way to actively participate.  Other activities include prayer, as we ask God to guide us in this process.  Listening to each other in a respectful and thoughtful manner will also facilitate our movement forward. We should not be concerned about disagreement but trust each other and acknowledge our differing viewpoints. We can be guided by the vision of trust expressed in Isaiah when he described a time in the future when the "wolf will live with the lamb...and a little child will lead them."

This time of transition should be truly an advent--ure!

Linda Lewis

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Begin the Journey Anew

December 17, 2015

Psalm 80:1-7

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Hebrews 10:10-18

In the book The Soul of the Pilgrim, Christine Valters Paintner shares the inscription on the shrine of Rumi, a 13^th century poet and theologian, in Konya, Turkey. It reads: “Come again even if you have broken your vow a hundred times. Come yet again, come, come.”

This inscription makes me reflect that Advent provides us an opportunity to come again. Advent, as the beginning of the church year, is a time of new beginning. Each year, much like New Years, I try to make some Advent resolutions: reading the Advent devotional and the Bible daily, volunteering, and taking time to reflect.  Unfortunately by the time the third week of Advent arrives, I have faltered and become swamped with the holiday preparations and activities.  Consequently, readings often go unread and reflections become a distant thought. 

Thankfully, our passages today give us hope and help us to realize that Jesus brings us a new beginning. We are forgiven and given the opportunity to begin the journey anew. Hopefully, this Advent will be a beginning that continues as we come to know the Lord.

Advent Journey

Begins anew with a single step,

Travels to places unknown,

May be uncomfortable

Yet may bring us closer;

As we quietly dwell,

in the word,

in the presence,

in the Lord.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for the opportunity to travel again with you. Bless us as we reach out to you and strive to journey onward.  Amen.

Sunny Baldwin

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Show Us the Way

December 18, 2015

Isaiah 42:10-18

Hebrews 10:32-39

Angels sing with heavenly accord

Dominus vobiscum

Virgin Mary is about to give birth

Everyone awake from your slumber

Now prepare the way of the Lord

Thoughts of divine purity.

Right in the middle of our hearts

Elevate to the father

Forgiving our sins

Love the everlasting gift

Each one could practice

Christ child bring us hope

That peace can be restored to all nations

In your name

Ora pro nobis

Now is the time to

Show us the way.

Bill Foos

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Birth of a New Journey

December 19, 2015

Psalm 80:1 – 7

Isaiah 66:7 – 11

Luke 13:31 – 35

This Advent season will be the fourth year I have spent six days performing in the Melodies of Christmas.  Melodies of Christmas is a program that, for 35 years, has put on a show to raise money for young patients battling cancer and blood disorders.  At the end of the show, a number of children who have overcome these diseases are recognized on stage and everyone sings “Silent Night”.  As I play and listen to the words, I think about how religion has become less prominent and important to society.  The wonderful, warm feeling in the theater makes me realize how people are becoming more detached from each other and how we risk losing our sense of community.

My final year performing in Melodies is bittersweet for me because I think it is fantastic that despite their faith, so many people can come together to support children in a way that is a very unique experience, organized for the purpose of helping others.  It is also significant that despite the change in times, Melodies of Christmas still retains its name because it IS a spiritual event.  Seldom do you find a situation where over 200 young people are willing to share themselves with the community to support a cause for others that is completely separate from them.

This will mark the end of a period in my life and the start of a new one—a transition. The children in remission on the stage are a representation of the strength to overcome a health battle, and a renewed chance for living—a very different type of transition for them.

I am learning what it is like to grow up.  This is the symbolic end of a long journey and the birth of a new one, just as the birth of Jesus became the start of a new period.  Advent is not only a time of waiting for something new and transitioning to another world, but also a time of celebration for our accomplishments, life, and a uniting of community that parallels the Christian values we stand for.

May peace be with you.

Olivia Munson

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Advent Traditions

December 20, 2015

Hebrews 10:5-10

Luke 1:39-55

            The very word, Advent, immediately brings to mind my early days in the church that I attended as a child.  It was always so exciting to see the Advent wreath that signified the beginning of the Advent season.  Each Sunday of Advent brought the lighting of another candle and the singing of another verse of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”  As a child I looked forward to Christmas, as most children do, but for me, the Advent traditions in our church added another dimension to the typical anticipation of the day that brought together gifts, family, and lots of food.

            I loved my church every day of the year, but Advent was special.  We children spent time learning new songs to sing in the children’s choir; we practiced and memorized recitation pieces for the annual Christmas program; we went caroling on cold winter evenings; and we made cards and gifts for the shut-ins in our church.  Doing all of this gave special meaning to what we’d been taught about giving to others.  I never understood how my friends who didn’t go to church could have any idea of what Christmas was all about.

            The children of the First Reformed Church of Scotia are fortunate to have many of these same experiences, as well as some others that they will always remember.   Each year they look forward to the Hanging of the Greens.  On that day they are able to see Advent as a time of preparation for the coming of the Christ Child.  In addition to the Hanging of the Greens, caroling provides our children with a sense of pride as they see the joy on the faces of those who have the pleasure of hearing them.  And who can deny that participating in the annual Christmas pageant on one of the holiest nights of the year gives our children a sense of wonder and awe?

            As our church faces many changes in the coming months and years, we must strive to keep these Advent traditions alive from year to year.  Our youth will come to understand that Christmas is connected to the Church and the birth of our Lord and Savior, and that it is not just a time to receive gifts.  Hopefully, they will want their own children to become part of a church family that celebrates Advent in special ways.  Thus the traditions will continue.

Heavenly Father, You are the giver of the perfect gift, your son, Jesus Christ.  Help us each Advent to prepare for the celebration of His birth on Christmas Day.  Let us forever be grateful for His life on Earth and the sacrifice He made for us by dying on the cross.  Bless the children of our church as they learn about your son, Jesus.  May they always remember what they’ve learned, and may they share the joy of Christ with others.  Amen.

Margo Snyder

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Dreams

December 21, 2015

Psalm 113

Isaiah 42:  14 – 21

Luke 1:  5 – 25

Here are three interesting dreams………

-What if we could all splash on cologne every morning, a product simply titled “John”, its subtle, heavenly fragrance a daily, sensory reminder to live the teachings of John the Baptist--the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, a gift from God they prayed for, yet had no reason to expect?  What if we could be reminded in this personal way to love our children, to use good judgment and do what is right?  What if something so simple could turn people back to the Lord their God and affirm those who try to do right in God’s eyes?  What if it could remind us to be ready for what is coming, to be ready for the Lord?

-What if we shifted our focus from exploring the untapped resources of our oceans, celestial bodies and wild lands and instead explored the untapped resources and limitless potential of our poor and needy?  What if we let them sit with “princes”?  What if they could sit with the “princes” of their own people—powerful leaders who might discover and exclaim, “This person is so bright, clever, talented (circle one)!”

-What if every single child born on this earth could have a proper birth announcement, followed by the words “…A gift from God, A miracle”?

These are dreams.

Dear Lord,

You surround me with your love in so many ways.  I see you in the way a baby’s face lights up with a first smile, I see your hand in the shell of a brightly colored box turtle, and I hear you in Barber’s “Adagio for Strings”.  I do not want to be blind Lord; I want to hear and to understand.

My eyes and ears are open Lord, and I know you will never desert me.  Thank you for the gift of your Son.  Amen.

Tee Munson

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New Heaven, New Earth

December 22, 2015

LUKE 1:  46b-55

MICAH 4: 1-5

EPHESIANS 2:  11-12   

 “ From now on all generations will call me blessed,
     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
     holy is his name.”  (Luke 1: 46)

Mary is rejoicing with Elizabeth.  Not only is Mary in a human transition…pregnancy, but also in a holy, miraculous one becoming the mother of God’s son!  As other mothers know, nine months gives us ample time to adjust to the most significant transition of our lives…giving birth, giving life.  Most women are ready by then and want the transition over with, to finally meet their precious child.  I can only imagine how scary that must have been for Mary at times…especially as an unwed mother during this time in history.  God led her through…trusting HIS word to be true and living in the light of that belief.  That’s what transition is all about as a Christian.

All of us go through shifts in our lives and are unsure of what lies ahead.  Transitions can provoke anxiety.  But again and again, the Bible says, “Do not be afraid…”  I have learned over the years that what may have started with anxiety, ended up as a wonderful opportunity (or a much-needed learning experience!). Christ has taught me to trust in Him…to listen…and to be guided by the Holy Spirit.  Then, even if the situation is unpleasant,  “…we know that God calls all things to work together for good to those who love Him…” (Romans 8:28)

Micah speaks about a transition time when nations will come together…no more weapons or war…sitting together under God’s vine.  Ephesians tells of Jews and Gentiles being reconciled through Christ.  So I suppose we are ALWAYS in transition…always changing…striving to be more like Christ and to shine our light in this broken world.  Advent reminds us that each one of us is a part of the unfolding of the new heaven and the new earth.

Dear Lord,

Help us to remember how Christ came into this world to transform each one of us to be more like Him.  Guide us with the Holy Spirit so we can constantly transition into what you want us to be.                   AMEN

Joanna DeSilva Fresoni

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Called to Action

December 23, 2015

Luke 1: 46b-55

Micah 4:6-8

2 Peter 1:16-21

December 23.  The waiting is almost over, our anticipation of something new and exciting is within reach!  The air is simultaneously charged with excitement and anxiety.  Change is at hand. 

The lectionary offers a poem, exercised over the centuries in liturgy and song.  The Magnificat, gifted to the voice of Mary, erupting from her mouth as a cry to the glory of God and trust in the Messiah's reign, has, in the hands of composers, served as romantic lyrical interpretation. What happens when we examine the text as it pokes at the angst of change and apprehensive hope for the future?

These words are indeed revolutionary, echoing 1Samuel 2, where Hannah rejoices in God's magnificence and declares God's intention of "raising up the poor from the dust."  The marginalized, for both women, are identified with,  held up and united through the acknowledgement of our role in response to God's grace.  We are called to action!

Does Mary's radical plea to remember God's promise speak for us?   Do we find ourselves on the outside, looking in?   Is this the magnificence of God we address, accept, question, admire or curse when we are asked to change?  Does it nudge us to examine our role in this world?  Do we recognize what God is asking of us?

Mary assures us.  We are safe.  We are loved.  We are ready!

Laurie Cooper

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The Sense of God

December 24, 2015

Numbers 6:22-27

Psalm 8

Philippians 2:5-11

Luke 2:15-21

The Sense of God

We can only use human words

To describe that which we barely see

           

the rush of wind          heat of flame

heart of love                spirit of hope

power of prayer           face of God

Yet we raise eyes to the horizon

and hands to the sky, we claim

lordly domain over all things of the earth…

Until the day a baby is born to a virgin

laid down in straw in the lowliest of hearths

surrounded by cattle and sheep,

and attended by meager shepherds.

This small child changes the world

so we can see the glory of grace

and the strength in humility.

Prayer

Lord, grant us the ability to hear your word, to feel the touch of your spirit, to see the beauty of the earth that you have given us.  Help us to know that by sending your son to your world, you sent a new word of hope, a word that we should receive with humility.  You have granted us great blessings; may we speak those blessings to all peoples, throughout all the earth.  Amen.

David Walsh

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What Do You Hope For

December 25, 2015

I Samuel 2: 18 – 20, 26

Colossians 3: 12 – 17

Luke 2: 41 - 52

Picture Mary cradling the infant Jesus in her arms, shielding him from the world for just a few moments, just a few days.  Just like Samuel’s mother Hannah knew that Samuel would be given to God, Mary knows that Jesus is God’s child.  Both of them would not only give their child to God, but to the world.  But like every mother who looks into the face of her newborn, I imagine that both Mary and Hannah held their hopes and dreams for their sons in their hearts.  What did they hope for?

The universal hope of mothers, and fathers too, when they hold their newborn child is to look with love and hope at the lives they brought forth.  Cradling their precious infant, parents hope for their children’s happiness, a rich, full and long life, a safe world and love. 

What do you hope for today, tomorrow, and in the coming year?  Do you hope for health, peace, love or a safe world?  Do you hope that all people can afford health care, food for their tables, a place to lay their heads each night, clothing, water and other basic necessities?  Do you hope for unity among all people?  Do you hope for grace each and every day – small moments that sprinkle as blessings on our lives?

What DO you hope for?

Dear God,

As we begin 2016, what do we hope for?  What should we hope for – for our congregation, our community, the world and ourselves?  Help us to see your world as a place where hope is living spirit working person to person throughout the world.

Amen

Cheryl MacNeil

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Warmth in the Cold

December 26, 2015

John 1:9-14

For many, autumn is a season of conflicted feelings. Warm days yet cool nights, the crunch of leaves, the smell of firewood in the crisp air. All are joys to behold. But the pleasure is often tinged by the knowledge winter is just around the corner. Snow, ice, darkness by afternoon. They can bring us down. The danger, of course, is focusing so much on these earthly concerns that they overshadow the biggest reason to look forward to the calendar turning.

The celebration of the birth of our Savior is a ray of warm light piercing the cold night. His coming lifts our spirits, and guides us toward better days ahead. Christ wraps us in a blanket of love. What more could we want, or need, to shelter us from the storm?

Michael DeMasi

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Season of Christmas

December 27, 2015

Isaiah 9:2-7

Psalm 96

Titus 2:11-14

Luke 2:1-14

“For a Child is born to us, a son is given to us, and he will be called wonderful counselor, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  He will rule with justice and fairness for all eternity – his government and his peace will never end.”  Isaiah 9:2-7.

The Season of Christmas, a ‘magical time’ with bright blinking lights, evergreen trees decorated so fine, the smells of gingerbread and hot cocoa, music, festivities and family, makes this a special time of year.  The “Story of Christmas” so familiar, so comforting in its message, to all people of the world.

Jesus is the ‘reason for the season,’ and the message is clear and cause for great celebration!  “Behold a Savior has been born to you, called Christ the Lord.”  God’s gift of the Christ Child, Emmanuel, to the world he loves.

Prayer

Peace and harmony; tranquility in abundance; unity on earth.  Amen.

Linda Willoughby