2015 Advent Devotions

2015 Advent Devotions written by Union Presbyterian Seminary Alumni

Organized by Rev. Jordan B. Davis, Church Relations Officer

Welcome!

NOVEMBER 16, 2015

This year, Union Presbyterian Seminary would like to offer a special gift to our alums and friends with the hope that we can provide support in the Advent season.

Beginning on November 29th, we will share a daily devotion written by our alums. Alums and other interested folks will be able to subscribe via email and receive the devotion each day, without having to look for it. You will also be able to share the devotions with your friends and congregations when you copy and paste the link.

It is our hope that these daily devotions will encourage folks to pause and refocus in the midst of the holiday rush. We also hope these devotions will foster community and solidarity with one another as we face the joys and struggles of working in ministry during the Advent season. There is no time in the schedule for all of the Union family to gather together around a table for Christmas dinner; however we can gather together through prayer and devotion.

We hope that you will find peace and joy in our first seasonal devotion, and know that our prayers go with you this Advent season!

Union Presbyterian Seminary Alumni Development and Church Relations To receive these devotions via email: Just click “Follow” on the right side of this page! **Thank you to Heather Jones (M.Div. 2nd year) for her beautiful contribution to Union Presbyterian Seminary worship services this Advent season through her original artwork pictured above.**

If you can’t wait for our devotions to go begin, jump over to “Congregational Corner” to find our reflections on congregational ministry! http://www.congregationalcorner.wordpress.com

1st Sunday of Advent NOVEMBER 29, 2015 9

Lift up your heads, O gates!

and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.

10

Who is this King of glory?

The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.

Psalm 24: 9-10 Psalm 24 helps us imagine a worship liturgy that acknowledges the majestic, glorious entry of God among the people of God. What a wonderful, invitational text to begin the season of Advent and Christmas. The earth and everything in it belongs to the Creator and who continues to reign supreme. We are invited into God’s holy presence by ascending to worship with “pure hearts,” and “clean hands,” an outward and inward manifestation of loving God and loving neighbor. Triumphant, God comes to us; the Lord of all draws near to us. Look up and see God in the earth and among the human family. Advent worship at its best!

It’s a wonder, then, how we can get so overly burdened at this time of year by things that have us looking down instead of up. As Christmas approaches with so many details to manage at church and at home, I begin looking down: down at my lists of things to do, down at the calendar as the days speed by, down at my credit card as I pay for online purchases aware of my own acquiescence to the commercial frenzy of holiday shopping. Advent is meant to be the joyful, hopeful preparation to receive God’s in-breaking good news. But somehow there is always a tension in the neck of whether to look down at our daily preoccupations or to look up for God in our midst.

Many years and a couple of churches ago, shortly before Christmas I found myself in the church office alone when there was a knock on the front door. I was dealing with last minute preparations for the upcoming multitude of Christmas services. I opened the door to a young adult who said, “I’m just passing through town on my way home for Christmas, and I wonder if I could go sit in the sanctuary for a few minutes. I was a member here several years ago when my family was going through difficult times. This church was our refuge. I live out of town now, but I remember how God seemed real in this place when we were going through the worst of it. I just wanted to stop by… so would it be OK if I just went up to the sanctuary for a little while?” She went upstairs into the sanctuary with its vaulted ceiling that had anyone who entered it looking up. She went upstairs to the sanctuary to remember, to pray, to give thanks, to leave again with a renewed sense of hope… I don’t know for sure, but that moment has stuck with me as a reminder of how the church is at its best when it invites

us to enter in and look up from the things that weigh us down with the confident trust that the King of Glory may come in.

A prayer for this day: On this first day of Advent, O God, fill us with hope and expectation. Help us look up from all the distractions that preoccupy our attention at this time of the year, so that we may see your glorious presence in the world and among the human family. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Agnes W. Norfleet (M. Div., 1986) Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

Monday, November 30 NOVEMBER 30, 2015 7

Comfort, comfort my people!

2

The grass dries up

says your God.

and the flower withers

Speak compassionately to Jerusalem,

when the Lord’s breath blows on it.

and proclaim to her that her compulsory

Surely the people are grass.

8

service has ended,

The grass dries up;

that her penalty has been paid,

the flower withers,

that she has received from the Lord’s hand

but our God’s word will exist forever.

9

double for all her sins!

3

Go up on a high mountain,

A voice is crying out:

messenger Zion!

“Clear the Lord’s way in the desert!

Raise your voice and shout,

Make a level highway in the wilderness for our

messenger Jerusalem!

Raise it; don’t be afraid;

God! 4

Every valley will be raised up,

say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”

and every mountain and hill will be flattened.

10

Uneven ground will become level, and rough terrain a valley plain.

5

Here is the Lord God, coming with strength,

The Lord’s glory will appear,

with a triumphant arm,

and all humanity will see it together;

bringing his reward with him

the Lord’s mouth has commanded it.”

and his payment before him.

6

A voice was saying: “Call out!”

And another said,

“What should I call out?”

11

Like a shepherd, God will tend the flock; he will gather lambs in his arms and lift them onto his lap.

He will gently guide the nursing ewes.

All flesh is grass; all its loyalty is like the flowers of the field.

Isaiah 40: 1-11 (CEB)

Having grown up in what was essentially a non-musical household, I am amazed that the transmission of certain biblical stories and passages came through music—the singing of beloved hymns by my mother from The Hymnbook, and, notably, from her playing the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s rendition of Handel’s “Messiah” at Christmas, Easter, and just about every other month when the mood struck her. I remember her believing that the only decent version of the “Messiah” was provided by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, which I found ironic

since she enjoyed giving young Mormon missionaries a “run for their theological money” when they came knocking on our door—the neighborhood Presbyterian manse.

I recall the oratorio’s opening tenor solo on our oft’ played scratchy vinyl record, “Comfort ye… Comfort ye…

Comfort ye….my people…” and so the voice seemed to rise ever so softly out of our 1960’s era Zenith record console. “…thus saith the Lord…” the tenor would sing the King James Version, with gentle alteration between human voice and the voices of violins For me the words of the prophet seem to rise up off the page and out of the past as softly as the tenor’s voice rises in song—a solid but gentle reminder that God will forgive and restore the covenant people. Yes, both tenor and the liturgist may sing or read of the “crying voice”, but even that voice in Israel’s distant past—a past full of heartache, exile, and captivity—comes to me, not as a loud or intrusive cry, but a persistent and quiet cry that remembers a promise and provides a word that endures.

At the onset of Advent, endurance may be the word of choice. Indeed, for so many Advent has become “preChristmas”—a dizzying combination of preparation for family time, shopping, partying, eating, decorating, and wrapping. Even in our churches we often run the risk of “over-programming” Advent with pageants, caroling, staff parties, hanging of the greens, and, even, days of service to the community. So, we find ourselves enduring a holiday stress that is—dare I say—manufactured by us. Meanwhile somewhere in our communities for some endurance means surviving a cold night outside while perhaps seeing the holiday lights of the city, knowing that others are warm inside. Endure, indeed!

The prophet, though, reminds us that endurance is not of our own making. A voice cries out, “Clear the Lord’s way in the desert!” and call out that “our God’s word will exist forever!” (CEB) The enduring Word of God shall come with strength and will gather the lambs of God into the fold. The voice crying in the wilderness reminds us that God and God’s Word are our endurance.

For those of us who have come to experience Advent as “pre-Christmas” and not the stand alone season of expectancy and hope that it is, the voice crying in the wilderness can come to us starkly and loudly, reminding us that all our efforts at creating joy in the season even in our communities of faith is as grass that withers and fades. That voice, too, can rise softly to us out of the past, just as softly as the tenor’s voice rises in the opening to the “Messiah”. I rather prefer the soft and faint cry in the wilderness that says be comforted for God’s Word endures and shall bring us strength and bring us into God’s fold once again. The comforting hope and expectancy of Advent is that these gifts of endurance, comfort, strength, and inclusion in God’s fold are being given to us for the first time again.

A prayer for this day: O, God, of the voice that cries in the wilderness, bring us the comfort of your enduring Word. Help us to anticipate all over again for the first time the expectancy and hope for a light that is not quenched by darkness, and for a word that stands forever. Amen.

Rev. Jonathan Sherrod (M. Div., 1992) Westminster Presbyterian Church Raleigh, NC

Tuesday, December 1 DECEMBER 1, 2015

1 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous.

6

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,

Praise befits the upright.

2

Praise the Lord with the lyre;

and all their host by the breath of his mouth.

7

He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle;

make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.

3

Sing to him a new song;

play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

4

he put the deeps in storehouses.

8

let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe

For the word of the Lord is upright,

and all his work is done in faithfulness.

5

Let all the earth fear the Lord;

He loves righteousness and justice;

of him.

9

For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

Psalm 33: 1-9

Advent is a season of preparation and anticipation. The wisdom of the Psalmist in the beginning of Psalm 33 also encourages us to find reasons for hope and rejoicing in every season.

As you travel through Advent, follow the Psalmist’s encouragement to “rejoice” and to “sing a new song” for as we read in verse 5, “the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.” What is your life full of during this wondrous season? What can you let go of in order to make more room for hope and rejoicing?

The God of Israel is the God of Jesus Christ and our God as we continue our earthly journeys. The thousands of years since the Psalmist wrote melt away and the steadfastness of God’s love for creation is reason for us to hope and rejoice here in 2015.

Just as the angels encouraged the shepherds to “fear not” so the Psalmist calls all the earth to “fear the LORD”, to live in awe of our glorious Creator. Which is it – fear not or fear? It is both. We will all encounter sadness during Advent yet in Christ we have an eternal reason for hope.

Read the Psalms, pray the Psalms, find reasons for hope and rejoicing every day of your faith journey.

A prayer for this day: God of all times, Lord of all nations: We rejoice in your steadfast love. Journey with us to the Bethlehem stable. Help us never to forget the Cross of Calvary and the hope we discover in the Resurrection. We rejoice in the goodness of your Creation and are thankful to be part of it. Journey with us as we await the Messiah. Amen.

Rev. John Causey (M. Div., 1981) Shallotte Presbyterian Church Shallotte, NC

Wednesday, December 2 DECEMBER 2, 2015

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

and I will make an everlasting covenant with

because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the

them.

9

Their descendants shall be known among the

oppressed,

nations,

to bind up the brokenhearted,

and their offspring among the peoples;

to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; 2

all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,

blessed.

10

and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,

my whole being shall exult in my God;

to provide for those who mourn in Zion—

for he has clothed me with the garments of

to give them a garland instead of ashes,

salvation,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

he has covered me with the robe of

the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.

4

They shall build up the ancient ruins,

they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

8

For I the Lord love justice,

I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense,

righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11

For as the earth brings forth its shoots,

and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

Isaiah 61: 1-4, 8-11

I must admit that I did not know anything about the significance of season of Advent growing up as a young person in Los Angeles. Although I attended a Presbyterian Church from a young age, my mind was definitely not focused on waiting for the birth of the baby Jesus but on what gifts were going to have my name on them underneath the Christmas tree when I awoke that particular morning. I remembered the years when I saw something I really wanted in the months prior to Christmas and would ask my mother if I could have that particular item. Instead of buying the item right there on the spot, she would make a promise that “Santa” would bring it early on Christmas morning. From that time until Christmas day came, I was waiting in expectation for that particular gift to be underneath the tree. Some years what was promised was there and I was

overjoyed that the promise was kept. Other years I would rush downstairs and get to the Christmas tree to find that what I asked for was not there. It was at those times I felt as if what I waited for was not promised and I was highly disappointed.

As we approach the Advent and Christmas season, believers in Christ are looking forward to the promise of the birth of Jesus, who will bring us peace and restore the Kingdom of God to the world. However it seems as if we are waiting in vain for this promise to arrive. Our world has undergone much trouble and distress. Refugees from Syria are leaving their homeland which is torn by strife and conflict to Europe and other places to find a better life. Civil unrest from the deaths of African-American men in cities such as Ferguson, Missouri and Baltimore, Maryland is causing tensions not only in local communities but also with law enforcement. School shootings continue to happen all across the nation, which is causing parents and administrators wondering how to keep their children safe. We are heading into an election season in which we are beginning to be inundated with negative press. In a season where we are buying presents, attending holiday gatherings and singing Christmas songs with an attitude of cheerfulness there is some doubt that the promised birth of Jesus can really change anything.

In this passage the prophet Isaiah was writing to a community who had returned home from a period of exile.

Although it was a time of joy and relief, life was not going to be easy. They needed to hear words of assurance that would give them hope. Isaiah provides them hope with the following words – The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn.

The hope that Isaiah spoke to the Israelites is the same hope that we need to hear today. Despite all what is wrong with the world we are waiting for the promise of the birth of the Christ Child. He is the one who will bring peace to the nations, free those who are oppressed, and proclaim the name of the Lord in all the earth.

As you wait for that particular promised gift that you are expecting to see under the Christmas tree, be assured that the promise of the birth of Jesus, the Savior of the world is coming. You will not be disappointed!

A prayer for this day: O Lord, help us to be patient and wait for the promise of the birth of your son and our Savior, Jesus, into the world, who will bring us peace. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Byron A. Wade (MA, 1994) Davie Street Presbyterian Church Raleigh, NC

Thursday, December 3 DECEMBER 3, 2015

“You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit. You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother’s son.”

Psalm 50:19-20 As we go through Advent, and say to people “Peace on Earth” and “Merry Christmas”, I wonder if we consider how we use our mouths at other times in the year. Do we sometimes “use our mouths for evil?” In our homes, in our workplaces or schools, in our conversations about politics – even in our churches – do we focus on speaking in love?

In Psalms we are reminded that God not only expected, but judged the people by the words that came from their mouths.

Recently I heard a person in a church verbally attack another for expressing an opinion with which he disagreed. His words were vicious. His body language was almost threatening and he gave no credence to the fact that the other person might have some value as a human being. How pompous! How selfish! How unfair!

How “unChristlike” he was.

This Advent let us be intentional about telling the truth, treating one another with dignity, being less judgmental, and fulfilling God’s will. Our world, our communities, our homes and our churches will be much more like God wants us to be, if we do.

A prayer for this day: Dear God, Help us to realize that our words carry great importance. Let us use them wisely, and with the sensitivity and love which you expect. May our holiday wishes be honest and kind, and affirmed by our actions.

In your name we pray, Amen.

Dr. Heath K. Rada (MA, 1970) Moderator, PC(USA) 221st General Assembly

Friday, December 4 DECEMBER 4, 2015 12

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one

body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

27

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church

first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

1 Corinthians 12: 12-13, 27-31 First Corinthians 12 has been a guiding text for my entire ministry. Even so, I am surprised how much it describes my life experiences. I have served the church for 36 years as an ordained person. I trust that along the way I have been of some service to others, I know at every step others have been a service to me. When I was in the hospital and my family had been told I would probably not survive, they found themselves surrounded by a host of clergy and lay people who became the presence of our Savior in the waiting room. Has the church disappointed me? At times it has. I am sure, at times I may have been a disappointment to others. We often see the church’s brokenness, its divisions and its failure to be what it is called to be. My own broken and limited body reminds me that even when we are not as whole or as well as we would like, we can still be used by God. We do not wait to be perfect or whole to consider ourselves a part of the kingdom. As a line in the old song, “Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy,” reminds us: “If you wait until you are better, you will never come at all.”

Paul proclaims that the Church is already the Body of Christ, in spite of its limitations. Even more exciting “each of us are members of it.” If you want to see God incarnate look at the Church.

Bill Randall, a Session Member of the Lillington Presbyterian Church, stopped me before the closing prayer one evening and asked that we all hold hands, with our thumbs to the right. One hand was turned up and one hand was turned down. He explained that just as one hand was supporting someone else’s hand, our other hand was being supported and that this is the way he thought we should understand our job as Session members. It is just as important to accept support as to give it. Before his term of service was over, Bill died, but the message of that lesson is not forgotten.

We Presbyterian clergy are appropriately well trained, yet like everyone we need to develop our ability to hear truth even in the stories and the faith of those who do not know “clergy speak.” We may need to develop an eye to see God at work even when we are not leading.

Can the eye say to the hand, I have no need of you? During this Advent season, when clergy stress is often at its peak, perhaps we can grow in our ability to accept from as well as give to other parts of the “Body.”

A prayer for this day: God of wholeness and Peace, remind us that we are not whole or at peace when we seek to live without others. Teach us the spiritual discipline of receiving from the brokenness within ourselves, others and the church as we look with hope to that day when we find ourselves fully a part of you. Amen.

Rev. Bill Goodnight (D. Min., 1979) Retired from Parish Ministry Lillington, NC

Saturday, December 5 DECEMBER 5, 2015

“For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6 I cannot read this scripture without breaking into song (in my mind) from the celebrated chorus of “Messiah.”

“Messiah” is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with scriptural text

by Charles Jennens. It is often billed as “Handel’s Messiah,” but I love the lyrics, yet, I don’t think I have heard anyone call it “Jennens’ Messiah.” It is even reported that Handel referred to the piece in writing to Jennens as “Your Messiah.”

This favorite musical work of mine includes both the softly-sung passages, like “Comfort ye, my people,” and soaring climactic “Hallelujahs.”

The text includes prophecies by Isaiah and others, and moves to theannunciation to the shepherds, the Passion and the “Hallelujah” chorus. The final section completes this masterpiece, with the resurrection of the deadand Christ’s glorification in heaven. It is not just for Christmas or for Easter but a complete Christology.

This is a rare place in “secular” music that we get a complete picture of who the Messiah really is. Because of the depth and breadth and height of music and lyrics, we are carried through the peaks and valleys of the Savior’s earthly life and are, at last, joined together in a triumphant “Hallelujah!”

Legend has it that, in 1743, George II (the British monarch, who was actually born and raised in Germany) was invited to attend the debut performance of Handel’s Messiah in London. The king was extremely moved by the performance. When the words “And he shall reign for ever and ever” were sung in the “Hallelujah Chorus,” George leaped to his feet, believing (because of his poor understanding of English) that the line was a personal tribute from Handel, his protégé. The confused audience, observing the king rise to his feet, naturally followed suit and it soon became customary for everyone to stand during this part of the performance. They usually have

wherever I have been present.

When these lyrics are sung, I feel a true sense of both Jesus Christ’s humanity and divinity. Will you sing with me? ♫“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” ♫ A prayer for this day: Incarnate Child, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, we thank you for the inspiration that compels your people to create musical and literary and artistic masterpieces which, in turn, inspire us. Meet us, motivate us, move us this Advent season, that we may share the profound truth of your love in ways that we are uniquely gifted to share. This is the gospel we are called to proclaim through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Rev. Leigh B. Gillis (M. Div., 1992) First Presbyterian Church Goldsboro, NC

2nd Sunday of Advent DECEMBER 6, 2015

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its

own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8

Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for

knowledge, it will come to an end. 9 For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; 10 but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways.

12

For now we see in a

mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13 Hope is often identified as a theological virtue. It is a tenacious attitude of confidence in God’s faithfulness that endures despite the hurt, brokenness and sadness of the world.

Hope involves a way of seeing the world. It situates the self and the world in the drama of Christ’s coming and return. It is never satisfied with things as they are and refuses to believe that sin, evil or death determine our destiny. Trusting God’s promises, it leans into God’s future.

Hope inspires God’s people to confront the rebellious kingdoms of the world that have organized themselves in opposition to the world’s rightful Sovereign. It grounds a patient impatience in the face of opposition and setbacks. It buoys us in the face of weariness and despair. It animates joyful perseverance. It enables us to take the risks that love requires.

Important as hope is, Paul reminds us that it is not as important as love. Love, as Paul describes it here, is genuine care and concern for others.

Without love, hope can degenerate into a heartless ideology. Without love, hope ceases to acknowledge that even its finest prophetic visions are limited, partial glimpses through a dim mirror. Without love, hope loses one of the chief reasons we exercise patience, which is to show an appropriate regard for others. Without love, hope can become so hell-bent on implementing its preferred future that it destroys what Christ loves.

During this season of hope, let us remember that love an even greater virtue.

A prayer for this day: Gracious God, may our lives be marked by the virtues of faith, hope and love. By your Holy Spirit, lead us to show your love to someone today so that they are prompted to inquire about the hope that is in us. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Ray Roberts (PhD, 1999) River Road Presbyterian Church Richmond, VA

Monday, December 7 DECEMBER 7, 2015

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

John 1: 1, 3b-5 I have been blessed to be involved with interfaith dialogue that has led to some wonderful friendships with members of a Turkish-Muslim community. Recently they sponsored a seminar where a scholar presented an Islamic understanding of Jesus. Jesus is one of the elite prophets in Islam. “Who is Jesus?” they ask. “He is born of the Virgin Mary, he is the bringer of peace, he is faithful to God, he is a miracle worker, he is an intercessor.”

One of the things that has become clear in these interfaith conversations is that they love Jesus and we love Jesus as well. We can build on that as we talk about our faith.

Advent and Christmas is our time of year when we finding ourselves asking that same basic question: “Who is Jesus?” John provides us with one of the defining answers for us as Christians. It is the answer that defines us apart from Jews, Muslims and people of other faith. Jesus is “the Word” or should I say, “THE Word”. God in the flesh. In Christ, the living God comes to live among us… revealing the nature of God, correcting and clarifying our understandings and misunderstandings of God. John teaches us that if Jesus is the Word, then this is good news for the whole world. Even for people of other faith traditions or no faith tradition. For the God we follow in Jesus is one who is full of grace and truth. The God we know in Jesus is the one who brings life and is the light of all people. In Jesus, the living God shines light into a dark world. “Who is Jesus?”

A prayer for this day: Loving God, in all of our relationships may we be people of faith who see our role as testifying to that life and light. As John the Baptist was sent to testify to the light, so we are called to do the same. May You bless all of those who have the privilege of sharing this good news of the life and light given to a world You dearly love. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Jody Welker (D. Min., 1982) Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church Cary, NC

Tuesday, December 8 DECEMBER 8, 2015

My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than slaves, though they are the owners of all the property; 2 but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. 3 So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental spirits of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6 And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. Galatians 4: 1-7 It’s about time. I don’t have time. If only I had the time…. As we mark time during this Advent season we need to recognize not only the significance of this moment in time but also of the strategic nature of these moments. We would refer to the strategic nature of time as timing.

Have you ever stopped to consider how important timing is to everything that exists? Do you put up your Christmas tree in July? Do you wash your car during a rainstorm? No? Why not? It’s not the right time! There is a right time for such activities.

Timing matters. If the timing is off, the quarterback won’t connect with his receiver for a completion. If the timing is off the basketball player will arrive at the spot before the ball or after the ball is already passed.

Timing matters in our daily lives too. If you have ever missed a flight because you arrived one minute after boarding you know the importance of timing.

Paul writes, “In the fullness of time, God sent forth His son, born of a woman. . .” But the reality is, most people missed the moment. Most people did not recognize the significance of Christ’s birth at the time. People were much too busy to pay any attention to the young girl giving birth to her first child out in a stable there in Bethlehem.

At just the right time in history Jesus was born. The Roman civil wars had passed, and Rome’s first emperor, Augustus, was one of the better emperors. The Romans had constructed roads that connected city to city, making travel easier. All roads led to Rome. The world was at peace under Roman rule. Roman laws protected the citizens and Roman soldiers guarded the peace. Thanks to both the Greek and Roman conquests, Latin and Greek were known across the empire making communication possible with many from all over the world.

Had Jesus been born several centuries earlier, the Near East would have been torn apart by wars. Even just one century earlier Rome was awash with the blood of civil wars among competing strong men. Or had Jesus been born a century later the Holy Land would have been devastated and Jerusalem destroyed by two Jewish rebellions. Yes, Jesus was born at the ideal time and place. God’s plans and timing are always best.

A prayer for this day: God of all time, we give you praise for your holy timing. Keep us alert to signs of your presence. Amen Priscilla Andre-Colton (MA, 1979) Old Presbyterian Meeting House Alexandria, VA

Wednesday, December 9 DECEMBER 9, 2015 1

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,

5

we were like those who dream.

2

reap with shouts of joy.

6

Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy;

Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,

then it was said among the nations,

shall come home with shouts of joy,

“The Lord has done great things for them.”

3

May those who sow in tears

carrying their sheaves.

The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.

4

Psalm 126

Restore our fortunes, O Lord,

like the watercourses in the Negeb.

As we watch and wait for the Lord who comes, our yearning may resemble those who are displaced from home. In this ‘song of ascent’ for pilgrims to Jerusalem, the psalmist recalls both the longing and rejoicing of those living in exile centuries before Jesus was born.

At first, and for long years of captivity in a strange land, the hope of these displaced people for Zion in Jerusalem was only a dream… A hope-filled dream that passed to a second – and perhaps into a third – generation of God’s faithful, before being granted their release by Cyrus of Persia.

“Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongues with shouts of joy.”

(Psalm 126:2a) Joy they felt, not just for themselves, but in praise to the LORD God of Israel who had delivered them. This is a song about “joy remembered and joy anticipated,” as Professor Jim Mays explains. “In both cases the joy is the work of the LORD…through the restoration of Zion …and the renewal of those who sing the song.”[i] Their deliverance, of course, was the marvel of other nations, the psalmist proclaims: “The LORD has done great things for them.” (verse 2b) And then the song of grace is brought home to Israel – and to us, too, in our pilgrimage of faith: “The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.” (verse 3) There are verses in the scriptures, we may find, to underscore and recall. This single verse in the heart of a psalmist’s song of praise may be one of them.

Advent bids us to remember the God who has done great things

for us.

In the midst of a world that seems to have lost its way… to a people who may only dream of a ‘home’

that’s far removed and away from reality…God came to them – God comes to us – to reveal the way of truth and to invite all with ears to hear… “Follow me.”

In our northland’s encroaching darkness of winter and its solstice…In our prefabricated merriment of a season which can distract our need and focus on God’s true blessings… The song of a Hebrew poet echoes down and rings true through the prophet, priest and king who was born in Bethlehem…who lived and taught in Galilee…who died and rose from death in Jerusalem… and who promises his followers – then and in every age… “I am with you always.”

The final verse of this ancient song became the words of a gospel hymn that some of us used to know and sing: “We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.”[ii]

Yet a newer hymn seems to capture even better the

hope and joy-filled words of the Hebrew psalmist (and sung to the lively gospel tune, “I’ll Fly Away”).

“When the Lord returns in victory, we will rejoice.

When we live in glorious liberty, we will rejoice.

Refrain We will rejoice with gladness. We will rejoice.

All our days we’ll sing to God in praise.

We will rejoice!”[iii] A prayer for this day: Lord God of all creation. Let us rejoice and be glad as we watch and wait for the Lord who has come and whose promised return fills our lives with hope and praise. Amen.

Rev. Dr. W. Clay Macaulay (D. Min., 1985) Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church Weems, VA

[i] James L. Mays, Psalms – Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Preaching and Teaching (Louisville: John Knox Press, 1994), Psalm 126: Restore Us, p.399. [ii] From Bringing In the Sheaves, Knowles Shaw and George A. Minor, fromThe New National Baptist Hymnal (Nashville: National Baptist Publishing Board, 1977), #392. [iii] From When the Lord Redeems the Very Least, Sylvia G. Dunstan, 1991,Glory to God – The Presbyterian Hymnal (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2013), #852, verse 4; music: Albert E. Brumley, 1932.

Thursday, December 10 DECEMBER 10, 2015

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—

6

from where will my help come?

2

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

3

He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.

4

He who keeps Israel

The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.

7

The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.

8

The Lord will keep

your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.

will neither slumber nor sleep.

5

The Lord is your keeper;

Psalm 121

the Lord is your shade at your right hand.

The poetry of Psalm 121 has always drawn me to it, but a trip to the Holy Land gave me a new appreciation for it. While touring the area of Caesarea Philippi in northern Israel (a city of Greek-Roman culture known for its worship of foreign gods) we visited the ancient Temple of Pan. Hewn out of large and imposing hillside, this was a place of pagan worship and human sacrifice, offered to an ancient fertility god.

Our tour guide suggested that the first line of Psalm 121, “I lift up my eyes to the hills, from where will my help come?” might have reflected the tendency of people to look to these sorts of hillside temples, hoping for the favor of the deities who resided there. But that Psalm 121 is a clear affirmation that “my help” comes not from the hills, or the gods of the hills, but from the Lord.

Perhaps this view is supported by the book of the prophet Jeremiah, where midway through his forceful call to repentance among the people of Judah (3-4:4), he says, “Truly the hills are a delusion, the orgies on the mountains. Truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.”

Or we can look to II Kings 23, which outline the reforms of King Josiah, including the expulsion of the idolatrous priests who made offerings to Baal, to the sun, to the moon, etc. Perhaps Psalm 121 aims to remind us that the sun and the moon are not answerable to Baal, but to the Lord God of heaven and earth, and that those who are under the Lord’s care need not live in fear.

A prominent theme in the story of humanity is our tendency to seek our security in that which cannot secure us.

We are a fearful people, and so we are quick to align ourselves with anything that seems to hold the promise of our well-being.

Psalm 121 declares that we need look nowhere else, but to the God who neither slumbers nor sleeps (unlike Baal, who occasionally naps, according to Elijah in I Kings 18:27).

The people of God waited a long time for the Messiah to arrive. Generations came and went, and fond hopes grew dim. For the longest time, the heavens were silent. But the witness of Psalm 121 was undeterred. Our Lord can be trusted. In a world of peril and threat, our Lord is our keeper, our shade, the One who will keep us from all evil, the One who will keep our lives. Wherever we go, wherever we are, our Lord is present there, with us and for us. The gods of the hills can’t do that. They can’t be Emmanuel. But our God can be, and is.

A prayer for this day: We lift up our eyes to you, O God, for you are our help, our hope, and our peace, through Christ. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Ed McLeod (D. Min., 1985) First Presbyterian Church, Raleigh Raleigh, NC

Friday, December 11 DECEMBER 11, 2015 22

27

The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

23

and he has given us light.

This is the Lord’s doing;

Bind the festal procession with branches,

it is marvelous in our eyes.

24

This is the day that the Lord has made;

up to the horns of the altar.

28

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25

Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!

O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!

26

The Lord is God,

you are my God, I will extol you.

29

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

Psalm 118: 22-29

We bless you from the house of the Lord.

A hymn of thanksgiving to God, Psalm 118 celebrates God’s steadfast love, which is experienced in God’s deliverance. It comes as no surprise to us that Psalm 118 is the most often quoted psalm in the New Testament.

Even today its verses ring out in our worship services through the year, calling us to worship, to remember, to offer our gratitude to God. In this advent season, while we anticipate the arrival of the Christ child, John the Baptist has already called us to repentance so that we might see the salvation of God. We know that being turned from our old sinful ways to the ways of God is a joyful act. Trusting in the goodness of God we are able to say good-bye to our old selves while anticipating the new life that is yet to come. We are released from the brokenness of the past and delivered by God’s steadfast love for us to the possibilities of the future.

“The stone the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone” (v. 22) opens us, once again, to the incredible surprises of God’s steadfast love and deliverance. The stone the builders cast aside as being useless turns out to fit perfectly as the cornerstone—the most important component of the building. The gospel writers used this phrase to articulate the significance of what God has done in Jesus Christ. It proclaims the good news of God’s redemption and restoration and it leads us in our 21 st century crescendo of praise to the declaration that we, too, rejoice in what God has done, this day!

The psalm reminds us that the God who was active in the exodus is the God who was active in the exile and is the same God who was active in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This God is still working in our world—and our lives—today. The psalmist declares that God’s love endures forever. God is for us. The God

who delivered God’s people in the past can be trusted to be the God of deliverance in our future. This is where our hope lies—in the God who does marvelous things, the God whose steadfast love endures forever.

As resurrection people we live celebrating this God who rescues God’s people from the ultimate enemy, death itself. As advent people, we live anticipating the time when God’s deliverance is complete on the day Christ returns to lead us all to glory. We live in the confidence of God’s steadfast love and presence among us and we live in the anticipation of God’s steadfast love breaking forth among us in new and unexpected ways as we wait for the coming of the Christ child.

Gratitude. Openness. Deliverance. Hope. Anticipation. Confidence. God’s steadfast love. Surely these are the Lord’s doing and they are marvelous in our eyes. Let us rejoice and be glad!

A prayer for this day: Accept our gratitude, O God, for your steadfast love for us. We marvel at your faithfulness. We hope in your deliverance for ourselves and our world. We anticipate you coming among us with your life-changing power.

We give you thanks, O Lord, for you are our salvation. Amen.

Rev. Merriam Alexander (M. Div., 2013) Montreat Conference Center Montreat, NC

Saturday, December 12 DECEMBER 12, 2015 57 58

The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep your words.

I implore your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.

59

When I think of your ways, I turn my feet to your decrees; 60

61 62 63

I hurry and do not delay to keep your commandments.

Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.

At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous ordinances.

I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.

64

The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes.

Psalm 119:57-64

The Harlem Renaissance poet, Langston Hughes, may be my favorite poet. An activist, cultural critic and artistic wordsmith he writes, I dream a world where man

A world I dream where black or white,

No other man will scorn,

Whatever race you be,

Where love will bless the earth

Will share the bounties of the earth

And peace its paths adorn

And every man is free,

I dream a world where all

Where wretchedness will hang its head

Will know sweet freedom’s way,

And joy, like a pearl,

Where greed no longer saps the soul

Attends the needs of all mankind-

Nor avarice blights our day.

Of such I dream, my world![1]

He conjures for us a world where God’s best intention for all humanity is embodied and where love of God is made manifest in love of neighbor – no matter how different we may seem one from one another. It is a world for which we yearn, even as the plight of refugees drift across our screens and the news reports leaders who herald resistance and barriers.

Today’s text provides us a glimpse of a Psalmist who yearns for a way of life where the Torah is obeyed, where the Mosaic covenant, with its commandments and ordinances and statutes, is followed and where collective piety generates a world where “the earth is full of God’s steadfast love.” The faith of the Psalmist is demonstrated in the practice of keeping covenantal standards as a means of constructing a realm that reflects God’s deepest hope for justice and righteousness.

Yet we who await the coming of Christ are reminded, once again, that Torah obedience is not enough to inaugurate the peaceable kingdom and the Psalmist’s midnight praise of God’s justice and righteousness. The very possibility of Hughes’ dream dwells in the “already but not yet” of the Advent Season. Christ came and Christ comes. This is the promise more reliable than the Psalmist’s or any we might add. Our hope is in the New Covenant where law is written on the heart and faithfulness is possible only by grace. As we rehearse the ancient and immediate narrative of Advent’s promise again this year, let us answer the heralding of Christ in relationships that transgress resistance and break down dividing walls.

A prayer for this day: God of portions and promises, you provide for us all that is needed and set before us a vision of what is possible. Help us to remember in whom we place our trust and to whom we turn for guidance and endurance. Renew within us, this Advent Season, a passion for faithfulness that arises from the bounty of your grace and a commitment to manifesting your steadfast love in all the earth. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Rebecca Davis (M. Div., 1991) Presbyterian College Clinton, SC

[1] Langston Hughes and Arnold Rampersad, editor. The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes. (London: Vintage Classics, 1995)

3rd Sunday of Advent DECEMBER 13, 2015

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,

the calf and the lion and the fatling together,

and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

2

7

The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,

The cow and the bear shall graze,

the spirit of wisdom and understanding,

their young shall lie down together;

the spirit of counsel and might,

and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

3

and a little child shall lead them.

8

The nursing child shall play over the hole of the

His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.

or decide by what his ears hear; 4

9

but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of

and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

5

They will not hurt or destroy

the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

6

Isaiah 11: 1-9

The wolf shall live with the lamb,

the leopard shall lie down with the kid, In this passage, the prophet Isaiah preaches a message of hope. Picture in your mind’s eye, an image of a rock cliff. Many of us perhaps have seen a rock cliff on a trip to the western part of the Tar Heel State maybe in the mountains, maybe off of the side of a hiking trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Continuing on in this mental image, we see on this rock cliff, a tree growing out from the rock face. This tree is in fact a shoot growing out from a broken stump. It’s a hard landscape, one that doesn’t particularly lend itself towards the best growing environment. The rock is hard and jagged with only sparse pockets of soil. The plant yearns towards the sunlight, pushing upward, leaning out from the face of the rocky cliff; its growth is slow and deliberate with clear intentions.

This passage reminds us of hope during this Advent season. In this season of hope, we see that Isaiah links the past with the hope of growth into the future for all of God’s people. Advent is a time in our lives to search and grow towards the light of Christ. There may be places in our lives where we may be resting uneasy or we feel insecure, but rest assured the spirit of God is ever present in our lives.

There may be times where it is sometimes tough to see if anything could possibly grow out from the hard places in our lives; perhaps from a place or relationship that may have broken off; finding a root hold and searching for nutrients to feed our spiritual growth. You may be there now — at that place where you feel that hope is cut off, where loss and despair have hardened your heart. But even on this cliff; even in the hard places of our lives, God is with us; sitting with us, nurturing us and breaking through the hardness of our lives as a sign of hope; a sign of new life in an otherwise broken world.

The message in this passage is one of hope and vision because it tells us where God is and it tells us where God is taking us. God shows us a world of peace, where we pray daily, weekly and even seasonally for our creation and all it creatures. We pray with courage that God continues to show us a world of peace where people and rulers care for one another, for the poor and those who are in need; we pray for the peaceable kingdom where all of God creatures would live together in harmony with each other. Advent is a season of hope indeed.

A prayer for this day: Loving God, we have heard your call to live as one body in this season of hope. We thank you for your Son, the head of the body, our hope and our strength. We praise you for your Spirit, who works to make us one.

Now as we are called to live into a life of work, fellowship, and leisure, we pray for the grace to live together in harmony. We pray for imagination to find ways to strengthen our unity in Christ. We also pray for courage to carry out these commitments in a spirit of joy in this Advent season, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Rev. Ed Johnson (M. Div., 2014) Pinetops Presbyterian Church Pinetops, NC

Monday, December 14 DECEMBER 14, 2015

14 Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! 15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more. 16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. 17 The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing 18 as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it. 19 I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. 20 At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the Lord.

Zephaniah 3: 14-20 How different would our world be if each and everyone of us lived in the full understanding that God is in our midst ? With all of the strife and struggle of our everyday lives, it can seem that there is no time to get everything done much less make room for God. And yet without the knowledge of the power and presence of God, our lives seem chaotic and out of control.

Why do we distance ourselves from God in our thoughts, words and deeds instead of making God our partner in all things? The illusions of this world lead us to believe that we are the authors of our own lives. There are so many distractions to shift our attention away from God. We have been blessed with dominion over our lives but that is different than being a first cause. The gift of dominion is always given in the context of the overarching Principle of God. We have the ability to choose to look for and to see God in our midst or not.

Our God is not a king by fiat. God seeks to inspire us, not force us, to fulfill our divine potential. We are given guidelines and guidance but we are also given free will and choices. Each step of the way we have the choice to look to God or look to ourselves for answers. God’s voice is constant but in the noise and bustle of everyday life that voice can seem quiet and distant.

There is no obstacle that we cannot overcome. But we cannot do it on our own. When we try we become fearful. All of the misguided, selfish and cruel things that we do originate from a place of fear. We are afraid that there will not be enough. Or we believe that we are not enough. With God at our side what do we need to fear? Keeping the presence of God frees our minds and hearts from the shackles of fear to love one another, ourselves and God.

We need only turn to God in humility. The lame and outcast are empty vessels receptive to God’s blessings.

When we think that we can do things of our own accord, we do not leave space for Spirit to perform It’s work in our lives. The power and presence of the Christ within is always guiding us to open our hearts and minds to the current of Divine energy in which we live, move and have our being. When we do there is a “wind at our back,” clearing our path forward.

In this season of anticipating and celebrating the birth of the Christ, we are reminded that God in Love gave us Jesus the Christ as a manifestation of Divine Immanence. God is with us in the thick of it all. The life of Jesus reminds us that God is present with us as our parent, our friend, our comforter, our partner in all things.

When we truly understand the intimacy and constancy of our relationship with the Divine we can truly rejoice because the burden is light and our fortunes will always be restored .

We are never alone in the world. God in Christ is our partner and constant companion.

A prayer for this day: “Lord God Almighty, You have brought us safely to the beginning of this day. Defend us today by Your mighty power, so that we may not fall into any sin, and that all our words may so proceed and all our thoughts and actions be so directed as to be always just in your sight.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.” from Catholic Prayer Book, Unknown Author Pamela J. Thomas (M. Div., 2007) Author, speaker, entrepreneur and advisor Glen Allen, VA

Tuesday, December 15 DECEMBER 15, 2015 4

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6 so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7

Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8 For I tell you that

Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles,

“The root of Jesse shall come,

and sing praises to your name”; 10

in him the Gentiles shall hope.”

and again he says,

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”; 11

and again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him”; 12

the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; 13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and

peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15: 4-13

and again Isaiah says,

“I hope it goes well.” “I hope you had a good birthday.” “Hopefully I can make it.” “I hoped the Tar Heels would win last night.” “I hope you’re feeling better.” “He’s hopeless without her!” “We have hiiigh hopes.

Yes, we have hiiigh hopes. Yes, we have high apple pie in the skyyy hopes!”

Hope is a well-worn word in our daily lexicon. Maybe so well-worn it’s a little worn-out at times, lacking in force and meaning. Often hope is a synonym for wishful thinking, a passing promise, or a hasty greeting.

That’s not the hope the apostle Paul has in mind in today’s text. His is a hope rooted in the soil of the Scriptures, especially in God’s Word that encourages us with the prophecy and promise of Christ to both Jew and Gentile.

Paul wanted believers in Rome to know that hope, to celebrate that hope, to live into that hope. To live into it by living as one people, by welcoming one another, whether Jew or Gentile, strong or weak, to the glory of God.

We can put it like this: Paul wanted believers to sing in harmony, to praise God with one voice for what he’s done for all people in Christ Jesus our Lord! In fact, three of the four texts Paul quotes in verses 9-12 use verbs such as “sing,” rejoice,” and “praise.”

You’d think that wouldn’t be hard to do during the Advent and Christmas season, the “most wonderful time of the year.” But we know better. In Charles Dickens’s classic “A Christmas Carol,” a couple of men visit Scrooge at his office on Christmas Eve to solicit contributions for the poor. One of the men says to Scrooge: “This is a time of year when hope suffers.”

Yes, it is. And so does peace and harmony. There are many reasons why: pressure to pick the perfect presents, the painful absence of loved ones, family dysfunctions and frustrations, and other things that weigh on us. It’s why churches hold “Blue Christmas” services. It’s why “It’s a Wonderful Life” plays on a million channels every day this time of year: it’s a timeless tale of hope, a hope that echoes the greatest tale of hope ever told, the Hope of the world born on Christmas Day. One of the best gifts we can give this time of year is to live into our deeply-rooted hope in the coming Lord by living in peace and harmony with our maddening mother, unforgiving father, nosy neighbor, or whomever it is we tend to spurn. We can’t do this on our own. Paul knows that. We need the Spirit to “abound” in that hope (v. 13).

As you traverse the rest of this Advent journey, how can you live into that hope in your own life? How can you welcome people, especially difficult people and outsiders, “just as Christ welcomed you” (v. 7)? In what ways can you sing in tune with God by singing in harmony with others? Ask the Spirit to help you do that this Advent and Christmas and into the new year.

A prayer for this day: God of Advent and Christmas, we thank you for this opportunity to reflect on your holy Word and to pray.

By your Spirit, help us live into the sure and certain hope that we have in Christ by living as one with people, by welcoming them as your Son welcomed us, by helping us to sing in tune with you by singing in harmony with everyone, to your praise and glory. Amen.

Rev. Dr. William E. W. Robinson (Ph. D., 2015) Salem Presbyterian Church Salem, VA

Wednesday, December 16 DECEMBER 16, 2015

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

(John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

John 1: 14-18 A number of years ago my wife and I were living in Houston, TX. There was a Presbyterian conference in town and we learned of a couple of online friends who needed a place to stay. We were happy to offer our guest bedroom and a sleeper sofa that was actually more comfortable if you used the mattress from it directly on the floor.

One of our guests, Karen, was doing a lot of traveling and networking at the time and was looking for somewhere to stay for several weeks. We had a big enough house and we were happy to extend our invitation as long as needed.

We hadn’t planned on a roommate or a house guest, but it turned out to be a very enriching experience. We enjoyed having someone else at the dinner table, another friendly face for our two year old son to interact with, someone to learn about and to share our stories with, a visitor to introduce to our city. We were blessed by her company and it made us feel good about sharing hospitality with someone else.

As I reflected on today’s passage from John, I remembered how the Message translates the beginning of verse 14.

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.

Too often we can think of the incarnation in grand theological and supernatural terms, but this passage has a literal and figurative down to earth quality about it. The author of the gospel of John uses language that suggests physical relocation. The Greek word translated as flesh has a very visceral feel to it. The phrase lived among us is more literally translated as set up a tabernacle or tent.

So I wonder during this time of year, when we remember the day God moved in, what it might be like for us to open our homes and lives to dwell with others more freely. Not just the Christmas party that we clean and

stress and prepare for. How do we share space with those around us in a way that lets us be near and bump lives together more often?

A prayer for this day: Neighbor God, help me open my home, my space, my life to live more freely and closely with others. Amen.

Rev. Shawn Coons (MA/M. Div., 2001) Fairview Presbyterian Church Indianapolis, IN

Thursday, December 17 DECEMBER 17, 2015 19

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break

in and steal; 20but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; 23but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24“No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. 25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.

Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Matthew 6: 19-34 Have you looked in your storage room, storage closet or storage shed lately? I went upstairs, opened the door, pulled the dog back and looked in. I just closed the door and said, “Whew, I will get to that later!” I can promise you, when I do get around to it to be sure, there will be loss due to moths, dust or simply old age. I can also be assured that the thieves may break in but they will not want to deal with my mess. Matthew and I differ a bit on that point, but we get his point.

These items are important or have held a place of importance at one time or another and now I have them stored away. It has officially become “treasure.” Where do we have “treasures” stored up in our own lives? As we turn our focus towards the birth of our Savior we have an opportunity to re-evaluate our relationship with the Holy.

Often we can get caught up in the materialism and consumerism that the holiday season brings but these are not the things for which we should strive. We are challenged to strive for God’s righteousness and all else will be added. The Advent season offers us this opportunity.

We have an opportunity to examine how we are in relationship with God. We can ask ourselves the question: Has my relationship with Jesus Christ become something I have put in storage for safe-keeping or do I treat that relationship like the gift that it is.

A gift is wrapped in a lovely package and offered at just the perfect time. A gift brings with it a source of joy and pride. A gift is often a conversation piece which is proudly discussed when others ask about it. A gift can also be enjoyed and passed on to another for their enjoyment, such as a good book.

As we turn our hearts and minds towards Christmas we must meditate upon God’s gift to us. God’s gift was packaged in the body of baby Jesus. Jesus is the light of the world, thus a source of joy. The pride comes in our humility to God. When we place Jesus in the center of our being, those around us see a difference and yes, it becomes a topic of conversation. Because Jesus is with us always, he is there to share with others. Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving.

A prayer for this day: Gracious God, Thank you for your son Jesus Christ. Thank you for your gift of self here on earth. As we walk towards the celebration of Jesus’ birth please help us to humble ourselves before you to gain a deeper understanding of how grand your gift was and is to us each and every day of our lives. Thank you for the journeys of Mary and Joseph and the lessons we learn from them. Allow us to be selfless enough this holiday season to give the gift of ourselves as your son did for us, in whose name we pray. Amen Rev. Amantha L. Barbee (M. Div., 2011) Statesville Avenue Presbyterian Church Charlotte, NC

Friday, December 18 DECEMBER 18, 2015 29

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the

sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” John 1: 29-34 Every story, every event has pivot points and pivot people. John the Baptist is the pivotal personality of Advent. His words are the vocabulary of our Advent liturgies. His calling to be on constant watch for the Messiah is the inspiration for how we act during Advent. His faithfulness and his devotion to God’s divine plan provide our roadmap to Christmas.

Take away the preaching and teaching of John the Baptist, and one cannot find the prophetic mantle passed from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Yes, John is the figure upon which the Advent story and Advent faith pivot; and, as the pivot of Advent, he is the logical starting place for the gospel story itself.

In the fourth gospel John is waiting, waiting for signs of God. Our Advent-prophet is not passively waiting, as though hoping the nurse will call him back to see his overburdened and understaffed primary care provider.

John the Baptist is not thumbing through outdated magazines as he fends off creeping boredom. Instead he is at Bethany beyond the Jordan, holding the mantle of Isaiah, baptizing with water as he declares the justice of God with Messianic zeal. John’s waiting is that of pregnant expectancy, for he knows something new is about to born in the midst of empire and upheaval.

Can’t we easily imagine John with the river dripping from his beard and the water showering off his hands as he declares the age of repentance and the forgiveness of sins? Can’t we just see him gazing upon the people approaching him down in the water? John is like a lookout, only instead of seeking out the movement of an enemy, he is sorting out the activity of God. And God is on the move: “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” He is preparing himself to testify that “this is the son of God.” Perhaps this is the ultimate of Advent disciplines: preparing ourselves to testify about the wonder and goodness of the Son of God as we know and serve him.

John’s most admirable quality is that he serves his role, the prophetic one, with such humility. The most human tendency when times are good is to view ourselves as being more important than we actually are. Advent faith looks not to ourselves but to the promise of God which is yet to come. And with God, new things, grand promises, and mighty acts of saving grace are always yet to come. John knows he is not the Messiah. He is the messenger. Messengers proclaim messages which eventually reach their fulfillment or maturity. “He must increase, but I must decrease,” John says (John 3:30), and he means it. Advent faith allows itself to be supplanted by Christmas joy. Messianic hope is overshadowed by messianic presence.

John is the pivot of Advent as he was born to point the way: to the river; to renewal; to the one who shall come after. Jesus is the pivot of gospel because he will be the way. Through the voice of John, our gaze is directed to the manger, where like John in the river, we wait to see the new thing God will do.

A prayer for this day: Eternal God of Advent and Christmas, help us heed the words of John even as we adopt the faith of John.

Be with us as we follow his gaze and behold the One long promised, the one for whom we are waiting.

Amen.

Rev. Dr. Christopher Edmonston (M. Div., 1999) White Memorial Presbyterian Church Raleigh, NC

Saturday, December 19 DECEMBER 19, 2015 15

But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. 16 But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.

17

One day, while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting near by (they had come

from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem); and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 Just then some men came, carrying a paralyzed man on a bed. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus; 19 but finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the middle of the crowd in front of Jesus. 20 When he saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, “Who is this who is speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts?

23

Which

is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? 24 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the one who was paralyzed—“I say to you, stand up and take your bed and go to your home.” 25 Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God. Luke 5: 15-25 “It’s my turn!” How many times did we say those words to Mom and Dad as their five children were growing up? Whether by entitlement or rotation, the time came and we wanted our chance to enjoy a privilege or opportunity. Haven’t we all had that in our lives? We wait our turn, patiently or not.

When I was ordained in 1982, it was the final year of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. With reunion in 1983, the opportunity for a teaching elder to serve as a commissioner to a PC(USA) General Assembly would come “once in a lifetime.” I waited patiently. My time came. Where might assembly be my year? Hawaii? Alaska? California? It was 2004. The GA met in Richmond, VA! Oh, well. But it was wonderful!

Zach waited his turn. His priestly division is managing the temple and his “once in a lifetime” moment happens.

Zachariah (which means “The Lord Remembers”) enters to burn incense symbolic of the prayers of the people being lifted up to God. No one else is with him. The crowd is praying and waiting outside.

Then it happens! The angel Gabe appears, right beside the altar of incense, right beside Zach. Fear strikes the priest. But Gabe delivers good news about a pregnancy. Elizabeth (which means “My God Is an Absolutely Faithful One”), who with Zach is old, who has never had a child, is going to become pregnant with John (which

means “Gift of God”). Here are these two righteous, God-fearing people, both with priestly ancestry, whose turn it is to birth and raise a son. This son “will herald God’s arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics—he’ll get the people ready for God” (vss. 16-17 fromThe Message translation).

And in a fashion well-practiced by many of us, Zach says, “You’ve got to be kidding me!” I spoke with an Episcopal priest recently who said he was completing his 18 th year of ministry. His beautiful gray hair led me to ask, “Second career?” He nodded. I continued, “What did you do before becoming a priest?” “I was a family practice physician. I felt the call into ministry when I was fourteen but, while holding the cross over a casket as an acolyte, I thought, ‘There is a lot more to being a priest than I thought. I don’t think I can handle this much death.’ Then with God’s unique sense of humor, I moved towards medicine where I was around death all the time. I loved being a doctor but the time came when the call to enter ministry became irresistible.”

We can say, “You’ve got to be kidding me,” but God’s call catches up with us.

It catches up with Zach and Liz. Zach can’t speak about it. He becomes mute after questioning Gabe, God’s messenger. Sign language is Zach’s only way to communicate. Liz becomes pregnant and, with the flips that John did in utero, particularly when she saw her cousin, Mary, it is clear that, like Jeremiah, he is “called from the womb” (Jer. 1:5) and filled with the Holy Spirit from birth (vs. 15).

What a story! What a vital step in preparation for the Advent of the Messiah! What beautiful people Zach and Liz were! What beautiful, God-fearing people you and I are. May we find God saying, “It’s your turn. I’m going to lay a blessing upon you. I am going to surprise you in ways beyond your imagining.” May God help us to be ready when that happens.

A prayer for this day: God of Zach and Liz and each of us, allow us to seek and find you this Advent season as you have so faithfully sought and found each one of us. Like John the Baptist, use us to “voice” your good news to a world that needs desperately to know of your arrival, to have the hearts of parents softened towards children, to have the minds of skeptics reach devout understanding. In essence, help us to be ready when you appear, in whatever manner you choose. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Fred Holbrook (D. Min., 1982) First Presbyterian Church, Lynchburg Lynchburg, VA

The 4th Sunday of Advent DECEMBER 20, 2015 26

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin

engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

28

And he

came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Luke 1: 26-38 What a joy to find favor with God! What I find so awesome about God’s love is that it never rests in a vacuum.

God’s love is never an isolated incident. God’s love pours, connects, sinews, and wears flesh. Gabriel did not just have wonderful news for Mary, he had glorious news for the world. A world that too often has somber news and an air of despair. Love adds value.

I wonder what Mary thought of herself prior to her encounter with Gabriel. Was she like so many of us, uncertain of her purpose? No matter where her self-worth was, Gabriel undoubtedly brought news that blessed her abundantly. Mary proved faithful when facing the fantastic. Although she was confronted with news that surpassed her capabilities, she did not succumb to doubt.

When my elementary school classmates were picking teams during recess, it was rare for me to be selected first.

It was quite discouraging to see my ragtag teammates and the defeat that was sure to follow. But my feelings of self-pity dissipated when my ragtag group found victory. We did not look like winners but we were. We did not even know we were winners but we won. I often picture Jesus as the ultimate captain in this regard. God seems disinterested with picking folks who seem to be the best and rather delights God’s self by imbuing others with divine value. God arrives on the proverbial pick up courts of life and is willing to declare that God has next and is able to run with whomever is willing. It is a comfort to understand that I cannot keep up with God but it is God who enables me and God who makes the impossible, possible.

A prayer for this day: Lord, we need you to open our eyes.

Let us see your children in the fullness of their potential.

Show us who you have called us to be.

Break through any lenses that only show faults and limitations.

May we be Your instruments and glorify You with our lives.

In the precious name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Chris Burton (M. Div., 2015) Special Education English Language Arts Teacher Juan Morel Campos Secondary School Brooklyn, NY

Monday, December 21 DECEMBER 21, 2015 39

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered

the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

46

And Mary said,

52

He has brought down the powerful from their

“My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 48

thrones,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of

and lifted up the lowly; 53

he has filled the hungry with good things,

his servant.

and sent the rich away empty.

54

Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49

for the Mighty One has done great things for

in remembrance of his mercy, 55

according to the promise he made to our

me, and holy is his name.

50

His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

51

He has helped his servant Israel,

ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

56

And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of

Luke 1: 39-56

their hearts.

Mary visits Elizabeth (1:39-40) The angel Gabriel delivers the surprising message to virgin Mary that she would give birth to a son to be named Jesus, the Son of the Most High. How could this happen to a virgin? The angel responds that all things are possible through the Holy Spirit and the power of the Most High. Indeed, Mary’s relative Elizabeth who was old and barren is six months pregnant. Mary humbly and fearfully surrenders herself to the will of God. And as soon as the angel leaves her, Mary hurries to see Elizabeth. She is full of anxiety, fear, uncertainty and hope.

She wants to confirm what the angel said to her about Elizabeth. She also wants to share her encounter with the angel with someone who may understand the incredible work of God.

1) When you encounter an uncertain passage in the scripture, what do you do to understand and confirm it?

2) What do you see in Mary’s hurrying to Elizabeth? In what sense do you think you need to hurry just like Mary?

Mary is welcomed (1:41-45) Mary arrives at Elizabeth’s home. At the sound of her greetings, the child in Elizabeth’s womb leaps for joy because of the Son of God before him. The Holy Spirit fills Elizabeth to help her understand the work of God. She exclaims in a loud voice to bless Mary and the child she will bear. How are Mary and the child blessed?

Mary believed that the Lord would accomplish what he spoke to her, unlike Zechariah, Elizabeth’s husband, who did not believe the message from God and became mute. Elizabeth is so favoured and honoured, that she is visited by the mother of her Lord. She is able to recognize and bless Mary and her child, through the revelation of the Holy Spirit.

1) How can we recognize the work of God in our midst? When and how do you bless others through whom God works?

2) Have you ever received a promise in or through scriptures that has been fulfilled (or you believe will be fulfilled?)

3) How does the Lord visit us today? Have you ever felt thus favored by God? Mary responds with a song (1:46-56): the Magnificat Mary affirms her belief that the message of God for her will be accomplished. She strengthens her faith and expresses it in a song called The Magnificat. She praises and rejoices in God her Savior for what he has done for her his servant. God has lifted her up from her lowly state and exalted her to be the mother of God’s Son. Indeed, all generations will recognize this and call her blessed. She firmly believes what the angel announced to her. Mary recognizes the character of God because she personally experiences it in her life: God’s faithfulness, power, holiness and mercy. She moves on to praise God for his special favor on Israel. Throughout its history, God has brought down proud rulers and lifted up the humble. She believes that God will fulfill his covenant to her fathers through the coming Messiah. She knows who God is and what he does for her and for Israel.

She stays with Elizabeth about three months until the time of the birth of John, and returns home with great conviction, thanksgiving, joy, hope and vision for all.

1) What do you see in the God Mary describes in her song? How does it relate to your own life?

2) Take some time to remember and reflect on what God has done for you and your family.

3) Do you have a personal relationship with God and his Son Jesus? If you would like to establish a personal relationship with God during this Advent season, please pray and invite Jesus into your life and heart to be your Lord and Savior.

A prayer for this day: Lord God, Thank you for sending your Son our Savior through the humble Mary. Help me to affirm that you are God of mercy and might, and God for all people. And grant me the faith and the humility to accept your Son Jesus into the center of my life.

Amen.

Rev. Dr. Jong Hyeong Lee (D. Min. 1979) Volunteer Chaplain at Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Chicagoland Bartlett, IL

Tuesday, December 22 DECEMBER 22, 2015

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered.4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Luke 2: 1-7 There are mangers in our world, numerous and everywhere. Let us visit one such manger before we turn to Bethlehem. Recently I read about a manger in the British newspaper Independent. It is located in the Netherlands. Of late, we have been reading about “refugees” fleeing their homes in the Middle East to find homes in other countries. Only those who have made such move understand its pain.

Fatima is a pregnant 14-year-old. A Syrian refugee, she found a place in a Dutch asylum. Not getting the needed medical care, Fatima “escaped” from the resettlement area. According to the report, she is one of numerous pregnant women ineligible for maternity care. Fatima doesn’t have a marriage certificate. Her marriage was either not registered in Syria or, even if it was, she did not have the luxury of securing it from the militant invaders. Choosing to live, Fatima would have run for her own life as well as for the life inside her womb. Her 40 year old husband and her own family abused her. Now, the Dutch health system continues to do so by denying her health care.

A master story-teller, Luke weaves God’s story with two human tales. One is of the decree by Emperor Augustus calling his subjects to register their names, a measure to enforce law and order, perhaps to track potential threats to the pax romana. Empires thrive by displacing people and at the same find the displaced a threat to their survival. The Roman emperor required every family to register their names in the ancestral village. Neither online registrations nor special accommodations were available. They had travel in person, no matter what it took or cost to travel.

The second story is that of Mary and her fiancé Joseph. It is a tale of a child yet to be born. Mary was expecting a baby and it could come any time. The couple should be preparing a cradle in Nazareth. But they are traveling to Bethlehem, aliens in their homeland and unwelcomed at home. The baby in the womb no longer brings joy.

He becomes a burden, a sign that would be opposed (Luke 2:34). The 90 mile ride by donkey wasn’t fun, I bet.

As usual, the reputation of becoming a mother before wedding would have traveled faster, closing all the doors.

There was no room in the inn. Thankfully, hills have caves and caves accommodate animals and perhaps homeless people. Such a trough was enough for God to incarnate. God is more at home at the margins than at the centers, more at trenches than at inns.

Angels bring the word. They did not report to the census officers. Rather they announced the news to shepherds, awaiting the salvation of Israel. God doesn’t give in to imperial edicts but rather joins the aspirations of the masses seeking God’s intervention. A sign is given, not the first time nor the last time, the sign of finding the savior wrapped in swaddling clothes. This sign is complete only when God’s people recognize the savior at the social margins, in the mangers wrapped in rugged cloths.

We have heard the word that the savior is born. Ministers and educators, we have so far investigated who Christ is and what Christ did. The good news sends us beyond these questions. It invites our Christology and soteriology to look where Christ is and what Christ is doing, Sri Lankan Jesuit theologian Aloysius Pieris reminds us.

By the way, Christmas is here, just three days away. And we have many mangers both across the seas and right here in our own backyard, among the masses fleeing their homes for life and the despised populations in our own neighborhoods. May the good God who gave a sign to shepherds and opened their eyes to recognize infant Jesus and may the same God who opened the eyes of the grieving disciples in Emmaus to recognize the risen Christ open our eyes to find Christ in the mangers of our society!

A prayer for this day: Gracious God, you reveal yourself in mysterious ways and in unexpected places. Open our eyes to discern your work in the mangers of our society and grant us the passion to join you there, as we celebrate the birth of your son and our savior. Amen.

Dr. James Taneti (PhD, 2012) Goldsboro, NC

Wednesday, December 23 DECEMBER 23, 2015 8

Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. 9 The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified.

10

The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all

people. 11 Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. 12 This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, 14 “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.”

15

When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem

and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” 16 They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. 18 Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. 20 The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told.

Luke 2: 8-20 I have been thinking a lot about evangelism lately. If you follow Union on Facebook, maybe you have too! As I was reading this passage, I began to see it through the lens of evangelism. After all, evangelism quite simply means sharing the good news, and we have a lot of that here! The angels evangelize with the shepherds. The shepherds evangelize with other people. And when we look at this familiar story with evangelism in mind, it gives us some important reminders.

First, the shepherds were not at church or a synagogue. They were going about their daily business, hard at work (or possibly bored at work) in the fields. Part of evangelism is stepping out of the church and going where the people are. The angels didn’t hang around the manger hoping someone would come in who needed Jesus, and they definitely didn’t wag a finger at the shepherds for not being there. They left the premises because the news was too good not to share.

Second, as you may know from years of sermons and Bible studies and pageants, shepherds weren’t particularly “special” people. They were just folks, making a living, not the ones you might initially think of if you were trying to reach the influential tastemakers of the day. Evangelism does not have to do with “getting” the mostpopular people. Sure, we like them too, but everyone is special, and everyone can use some good news.

Third, when the glory of the Lord shone around them, the shepherds were terrified- just like you (perhaps) and me, when we are reminded of the vastness and urgency and import of what God gives us, and the difficulty of sharing that news authentically. Christ is with us in the terror, in the potential awkwardness of those first steps, in the fear that we are too timid or too bold. Fear is appropriate in the face of our daunting and beautiful calling.

Fourth, we see different reactions to the news. The shepherds “made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.” They were pretty outgoing and excited to talk about it right away. “But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.” She took some quiet time alone to reflect. There is a place in evangelism, just like in the church, for gregarious people and quiet ones, those who run and tell and those who ponder and treasure. Evangelism is not a personality thing. As long as you’re not a jerk, you can do evangelism.

Fifth, “the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.” They returned, presumably to their original context. God does not call us to stay warm and safe in the manger, cuddling baby Jesus forever. God calls us to go there and then leave, carrying the warmth and safety with us, noticing and pointing out Jesus all over. The shepherds may have liked to stay longer, but they couldn’t help going to share the good news! Just as the angels went out to them, they now go out to others.

In many ways, the season of Advent is difficult for church people. (It’s December 23! I know that is the biggest “duh” ever.) There’s more to do, and it’s draining, to say the least. In other ways, though, it’s a nice time for church. We kind of have a free pass for talking about Jesus. People who are less involved in church often feel closer to Jesus during this season. We see his image in more places. God is on people’s minds a little more. And now, we’re in the home stretch. Once school is back in session and the presents are put away, our free pass vanishes. So as we ponder and treasure the ways that God is calling us to share the good news of great joy in every season, maybe we can think of these angels and shepherds. Let us follow them to the manger and then away, back to the fields and convenience stores and schools and parks, glorifying and praising God for all that we hear and see.

A prayer for this day: Dear God, thank you for being with us for the sake of love, and for meeting us where we are. Please help us to do the same with the people in our lives. Amen.

Rev. Rachel J. Shepherd (M. Div., 2014) Second Presbyterian Church Little Rock, AR

Thursday, December 24 DECEMBER 24, 2015 5

6

Though he was in the form of God,

he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit.

7

Therefore, God highly honored him and gave him a name above all names,

10

so that at the name of Jesus everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth

But he emptied himself

by taking the form of a slave and by becoming like human beings.

When he found himself in the form of a human, 8

9

Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus:

might bow 11

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,

Philippians 2: 5-11 (CEB)

even death on a cross.

Let’s be honest, Christmas Eve is one of the busiest days of the church year, especially for those of us who work in ministry. If you’re a UPSem alum reading this on Christmas Eve my guess is that it could be early in the morning as you prepare for this marathon of a work day or that you could be walking down the hallway between tasks or services or in the middle of your overnight chaplaincy shift reading this on your phone. Or perhaps you are finally finished with your day and reading this in an exhausted yet joyful state at home (and now it’s technically Christmas Day because you got home from church and/or family gatherings so late in the evening).

The Advent season is one where ministers and many church volunteers work well beyond their normal hours.

There are more bulletins to proof, more grief to bear with families, candles and greenery to be spruced up each week, Christmas plays, parties and caroling to attend. We know that haven’t been perfect this Advent season.

Sometimes we have impatiently and apathetically waited for the Christ child to be born instead of being patient and hopeful. Now is not the time to try to fix what went “wrong” this Advent, nor is it time to brag about how well things went or that (Hallelujah!) we survived, because Christ is coming no matter what. No matter how well our greenery is trimmed, no matter how many or few Christmas eve services we have led, no matter how many parties and pageants we attended (or felt guilty about not attending) this year, Christ is coming.

So before we lay this Advent season of 2015 down to rest, Philippians beckons us to stop and reflect for a moment…

“Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus,” says Philippians (Phil. 2:5, CEB). Christ’s attitude was one of humility and servanthood. His attitude was one of obedience to God’s will and thus all he did gave glory to God. Sure he was given the recognition, the name above all names, but it was SO THAT everyone would give glory to God and profess Christ as Lord.

What has been our attitude towards all of our work and preparations this Advent?

What tends to be our attitude towards our work, our service, our families and all that we fill our time with during the year?

Take a moment to reflect on the attitude of Christ and your attitude this Christmas Eve. A prayer for this day: Dear God, You have come to dwell among us and bring your light to all people. Since you came in human form, you know how hard it is for us as humans to be humble and to think of the interests of others before our own. God help us to keep in mind the attitude of Christ who never exploited his position of power but continued to keep an attitude of humility, vulnerability and servanthood from his birth to his death on the cross. May your Spirit empower us to adopt the attitude of Christ and give glory to You with all that we do and all that we are. Amen.

Rev. Allysen Schaaf (M.Div./MACE, 2014) Decatur Presbyterian Church Decatur, GA

Christmas Day DECEMBER 25, 2015

Friends, we would like to thank you for joining us on this special Advent journey. These moments of shared prayer have been very meaningful for all involved in the planning, preparation, and times of devotion.

Now, as we wish you MERRY CHRISTMAS, we would like to offer a special devotion from our Richmond Student Government Assembly, our future alums.

Grace and Peace to you today and always!

Union Presbyterian Seminary Alumni Development and Church Relations 7

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows

God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

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And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. 15God abides in

those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. 16So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.

1 John 4: 7-16 “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” And the Lord has come in the most humble, most beautiful of ways, in the face of God’s only Son who entered creation as truly human, truly divine, who set up a place within humanity where all would be held in tandem with the Word of God made flesh in a child born in the humblest of conditions. JOY to the world, indeed.

This year in early November the Union Advancement staff set up poinsettias and wreaths on the staircase in Watts to prepare for the annual Christmas card from the Board of Trustees. They kindly left a note that read “No! We are not decorating for Christmas two months early, this is a temporary installment for the Christmas card photoshoot.” The note got a chuckle out of many students and a sigh of relief – Christmas cannot come before Thanksgiving afterall!

Or can it? Can we live into the spirit of Christmas all around the year? No, not through Christmas lights and trees and poinsettias, although such rituals are beautiful and bring us together. I mean in the continual remembrance of God’s loving action in Jesus Christ who dwelt among the brokenness creation, eating with sinners and loving the loveless, tending to the brokenhearted and proclaiming the joy of the beloved community that is the kingdom of God? I believe we can live into this every day of the year, and the words of 1 John attest to this. For this author, we love because of God’s act of love in Jesus Christ. We are invited to love because we have experienced such great love given freely and undeserved, “12No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.” Love flows out of us because God’s saving act in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. We respond to love with more love, we can love one another because we experienced the abundant and effervescent love of God. Today, on Christmas, we celebrate this. We gather together and remember the light and love that broke into the world, that called us “beloved.” And we remember that because of this love, we can only respond in an abundance of gratitude and seek to love one another. When we experience the joy that is God’s love that seeks us over and over again, we cannot help but begin to address one another in love. We cannot help but be different, all year round, because we proclaim a God who found us in the condition of mortality and divinity.

Who loves us still, who seeks us still, who meets us in love at every juncture of this life.

Friends, on behalf of the Richmond Student Government Assembly, Merry Christmas from the Union Presbyterian Seminary student body.

And now, Beloved friends, May you seek to know the love of God, and in knowing may you proclaim the joy of God’s grace.

May we hold one another in hope, abiding evermore in the love of the triune God, until all who feel estranged from such love might find it in us, Not for our glory, but for the joy of the Beloved community, the community that is defined by the light and life of Jesus, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Laura Kelly (M. Div., 2016) 2015-2016 RSGA Clerk