Posts Categorized: Advent

2012 Advent Devotion- Monday, December 17

by Ester Sihite, Student Affairs Educator (Seattle, Washington) Psalm 40 I believe that God works in mysterious ways, that God gives us lessons and talks to us through events, people, nature, the Holy Spirit, and the still, small voice inside us. It’s difficult in our worry-filled, iPhone-filled, Facebook-filled, Tweeter-filled lives to allow ourselves the space… Read more »

2012 Advent Devotion- Sunday, December 16

by Linda Pak, Intern Architech (Seattle, Washington) Hebrews 12:18-20 In this passage from Hebrews, there is a certain amount of unpredictability around what will remain after the big shake-up. Portrayed is an image of an arrival point toward promise, covenant, and the ”heavenly Jerusalem.” We are challenged in opening ourselves to God’s voice, which calls… Read more »

2012 Advent Devotion- Saturday, December 15

by Luba Kravchenko, director of Liturgical Music, Seventh Avenue Presbyterian Church (San Francisco, California) Luke 22:31-38 The disciples said: “Lord, look, here are two swords.” He replied: “It is enough!”Faced with the imminent fulfillment of ancient prophecy, Jesus tries to impart to his companions the full weight of the crisis they are about to face…. Read more »

2012 Advent Devotion- Friday, December 14

by Angelica Bevelle, student, University of Chicago (Chicago, Illinois) Luke 22:24-27  As the Christmas holiday nears, one word that comes to my mind is: competition. People spend countless minutes and dollars striving to give the best gifts, donate the most money, and help the most people. We forget the real reason we celebrate this holiday…. Read more »

2012 Advent Devotion- Thursday, December 13

by Catherine Gillette, student, College of Wooster (Wooster, Ohio) Psalm 147:12-20 Sometimes a “mountaintop experience” is necessary to remind us of the splendor we live within and to help us recognize God’s incredible, loving power. This past summer, I worked at Ghost Ranch—a Presbyterian Conference Center in New Mexico. Originally from the East Coast, I… Read more »

2012 Advent Devotion- Wednesday, December 12

by Sophie Beal, Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, Summer Intern (2012) and student, Mount Holyoke College (South Hadley, Massachusetts) Isaiah 6:1-13 In my first college class my favorite professor told me that the fundamental question about religion is, “How do we live?” We ask ourselves this question every day as we struggle to navigate… Read more »

Advent/Christmas service from Bethlehem and Washingon

O Little Town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie;Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. A Simultaneous Service fromWashington National CathedralandThe Evangelical Lutheran Christmas ChurchIn Bethlehem, Palestine Saturday, December 22, 201210:00 AM EST in Washington, DC5:00 PM in BethlehemJoin live on-line Wherever you are in the world, you are… Read more »

2012 Advent Devotion- Tuesday, December 11

by Laura Stricklen, Presbyterian Hunger Program, AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer (Louisville, Kentucky) Psalm 146 A few years ago, for the first time in my fairly privileged life, I found myself in a foreign country with the wrong visa. During my first month abroad I visited the immigration office several times, waited in long lines, met with… Read more »

2012 Advent Devotion- Monday, December 10

by Grace Bickers, intern, Presbyterian Ministries at the United Nations and student, Columbia University (New York, New York) I Thessalonians 5:1-12 Today we celebrate Human Rights Day, an opportunity to rejoice in the entirety of God’s creation and reflect on ways we can share God’s compassion and love throughout it. In its call for respect… Read more »

2012 Advent Devotion- Sunday, December 9

by Sara Sotelo, Communication Specialist, Compassion, Peace and Justice Ministry (Louisville, Kentucky) Isaiah 5:1-7 With Christmas quickly approaching, it seems like more people go out of their way to do nice things for each other. Children are on their best behavior, more people go to church, and people in the holiday spirit donate more money… Read more »