When one of our good friends was expecting her second child, her three year old had a lot of questions. Three year-olds remind us that questions open the door to knowledge. Do we use the word “expecting” to describe pregnancy because we do not know what the future holds? Will the baby sleep, will we […]
Tag Archives: advent
Have you ever had a moment so holy, so beautiful and good, that you couldn’t find your words? Some volunteer priests served their whole lives and never got the chance to lead worship in the Temple, but the lot fell to Zechariah. As the sun set, Zechariah put on the lavish priestly vestments, stepped behind […]
We are beginning our journey to Christmas. On Monday I walked into the sanctuary and saw Susan, Arnell, Marlene, Eleanor, James and Neil putting up our Chrismon tree. Chrismon means Christ monogram- they are special ornaments that remind us of Christ. “Advent” means arrival, beginning or starting. The theological place where we began our journey […]
When the time had come. Elizabeth spent five months in seclusion sometimes feeling judged, she spent 9 months of pregnancy, she spent hours breathing and pushing John into the world. Zechariah spent 10 months in silence. When the time has come to raise a child, begin school, start a career, end a relationship, retire, move, […]
Earlier in chapter one, Luke tells us that Elizabeth “was righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord,” but she and Zechariah were unable to have children and were getting on in years. Each year, Zechariah went to Herod’s temple to serve as a lay priest for several […]
Luke opens the “Good News” of God’s coming Kingdom (Luke 8:1) with a little contrast: “During the rule of King Herod of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah”. There were tens of thousands of lay priests in Israel but one King. King Herod was an agent of the Roman Empire having been appointed by […]
Three summers ago, we woke at 3:30am, packed up our camping gear and hiked out of the Grand Canyon. Following the park ranger’s advice, we left Phantom Ranch by 4am. in order to beat the projected 120 degree temperature. Down in a 7,000 foot canyon it is dark at 4am. Being able to see the […]
A Heart for Hope Our Second Advent Candle lighting John came preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. John calls out “Get ready- Prepare the way for the Lord.” The crowds ask “what should we do?” John answers “Repent and produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Don’t trust in your […]
What’s on is your Christmas list? What are you asking for? What do you hope to unwrap on Christmas day? What are you longing for? What are you praying for? Are you imagining God doing something new and lovely in your life? Advent means “arrival or coming.” Advent not only anticipates the Christ child laying in a […]
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