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Posts Categorized: Advent
December 22, 2011
Thursday, December 22 Psalm 62:5-6 In September, I had the privilege of traveling to Lebanon and Egypt with colleagues following the events of the Arab Spring. We heard from and prayed with pastors (from Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt) and visited Near East School of Theology, Hamli Hospital, Ramses College, the Egyptian Bible Society,… Read more »
December 21, 2011
Wednesday, December 21 Luke 1:46-55 I’ve always loved the Magnificat…such a jubilant celebration of God’s power! It’s as if she’s breaking into song, her words a soaring melody. She exults in being chosen and consenting to be the “God-bearer.” Her spirit rejoices in being the vessel in whom and by whom the Anointed One… Read more »
December 20, 2011
Tuesday, December 20 Luke 1:26-38 Mary is a central part of the Catholic culture that permeates Latino life. Protestant churches have had mixed feelings toward her, wanting her to remain in the shadows. There is a strong opinion among some that she has been used to subjugate Latina women, because she is a role… Read more »
December 19, 2011
Monday, December 19 Luke 1:1-25 Earlier this year, I attended the wedding of a close friend of mine. She and her husband are Quaker, and their ceremony followed the traditional Quaker practice of meditative silence as the form of worship. I realized after attending the wedding how infrequently silence is used as a discipline… Read more »
December 18, 2011
Sunday, December 18 John 3:16-21 Reflecting on today’s passage, I am struck by 3:20-21. It’s pretty straightforward: people who do wrong—and know they are doing wrong—don’t want to be called out. Conversely, our scripture does not say that whoever does right wants their deeds brought to light but, rather, whoever does truth. What does… Read more »
December 17, 2011
Saturday, December 17 Matthew 25:31-46 If you went looking for God, where would you look? In the beauty of nature? In quiet moments of prayer and reflection? In the words of Scripture? Our Reformed tradition tells us that we don’t find God, but rather that God finds us. The Bible witnesses to the fact… Read more »
December 16, 2011
Friday, December 16 Matthew 25: 14-30 This parable is one of several that speak of Jesus’ return. This discourse is a conversation between the master who has returned and three slaves. For each response from a slave, there is an action on the master’s part that, depending upon how the master has judged the… Read more »
December 15, 2011
Thursday, December 15 Matthew 25:1-13 Maranatha has been a kind of mantra for Christians ever since they encountered Lord Jesus on earth. It even puts a seal to the Christian scriptures (Revelation 22:20). It’s intriguing that each year as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we also pray for his coming again…. Read more »
December 13, 2011
Tuesday, December 13 Matthew 24:32-44 So when will Jesus come? I guess if we knew that there wouldn’t be any point anymore, would there? I mean, then there would be no question of what to believe. It would be like refusing to admit that gravity exists. And how will Jesus appear? Will he just… Read more »
December 12, 2011
From the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land: This Saturday, December 17, 2011, you are invited to join with worshippers in Bethlehem, Washington, D.C., and around the world for the fifth annual joint simulcast Christmas service.
Prayers, readings, and hymns alternate between Washington, D.C., and Palestine via the Internet, drawing together people of… Read more »
