2014
DEVOTIONALS
PICKENS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 311 West Main Street Pickens, SC 29671
2014
DEVOTIONALS
A collection of devotionals for the season of Advent, written by members and friends of PICKENS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 311 West Main Street Pickens, SC 29671
WHAT IS ADVENT? Advent is a season of the church year beginning four Sundays before Christmas Day. The word advent means “coming,” and the season of Advent is a time of waiting and preparation for the coming of Christ. It is a time of reflection, repentance, anticipation, and celebration. During Advent, we remember that the Israelites were waiting for the Messiah. During Advent, we rejoice that the Messiah was born in Bethlehem centuries ago. We remember the story of Christ’s first coming as we look forward to and pray for Christ’s second coming. We read in Scriptures that when Jesus returns to earth all his promises will be fulfilled. The earth will once again be as God created it to be − without sin, evil, injustice, war, sickness, grief, or suffering. In the meantime, we wait, and we prepare for Jesus to come again. We work to live the way he taught us, and we work to share with other people the good news of Jesus. This devotional guide is designed to help as you wait and prepare this Advent season. Each week you may light another candle on your Advent wreath, and each day you may read the devotional provided. There is no right or wrong way to use this booklet, but we pray that it draws you closer to Christ during this special season. May the peace of Christ and the joy of Christmas be with you as you wait and prepare this Advent season!
by Blue Wilkie
by Korbin Bryson
by Will Varney
THE ADVENT WREATH One of the beautiful traditions of Advent is the lighting of the Advent wreath. The wreath is a circle of evergreens with three purple candles and one pink candle around its edge and a white candle in the center. From the first Sunday in Advent to Christmas Eve, the wreath grows in beauty and light as it helps us recall God’s gracious gift of Jesus Christ. Each part of the wreath has a special meaning: The round shape symbolizes the eternity of God. It is a reminder that God lived before there was a world; God lived in Jesus; God lives now and always will live. Evergreens are used for the wreath because they live all year and never lose their needles. They testify to the continuation of life. The candles represent the One who said, “I am the light of the world.”
First Sunday –
The Candle of Hope reminds us of the hope found in Christ’s birth and in the promise of his return.
Second Sunday – The Candle of Peace reminds us of the peace found in Christ through acts of repentance and service. Third Sunday –
The Candle of Joy reminds us of the joyful news that God is with us and encourages us to have joy in working with God to restore all creation.
Fourth Sunday –
The Candle of Love reminds us of the amazing and unending love of God.
Light the candle(s) each week at the beginning of your devotional time. We pray its light will be a blessing to you this Advent season.
HOPE Heavenly bound Open to salvation Praying for peace Eternal life - The PPC Youth
by June Simms
THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT The Hope Candle Light the first candle and say: We light this Advent candle today as a reminder of the coming of Christ, the light of the world. We light the Candle of Hope as we continue to wait for Christ’s return. We remember the anticipation which each of us have felt when we wished something would happen. The Israelites had a long wait for the Messiah. Hundreds of years before Christ was born, Isaiah gave them a promise of the Messiah’s birth and the people waited in hope. Christ has promised that he will return to the earth to restore the world to the way God created it to be. As Christians, we have hope as we wait for this time. Where in our world do you see a need for Christ to restore the world? What is not as God created it to be? Almighty God, in Your great mercy, forgive all the things we have done; and all things we failed to do that we should have done. Teach us to live as children of God. Keep us awake and alert, watching for Your Kingdom. Make us strong in faith, so we may glorify Christ as we wait for His return. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
by Madison Roper
HOPE
Sunday, November 30, 2014 The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Isaiah 2:1-4 (NRSV)
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord.” What an invitation! It was the mountaintops that were the first land visible to Noah when the flood waters began to recede, giving him the first glimpse of God’s new creation. It was on a mountain top that Abraham expressed his trust in God by the near sacrifice of his son, Isaac. It was on Horeb, “the mountain of God,” that the Lord spoke to Moses from the burning bush, calling him to be his messenger to Pharaoh and rescue the Hebrew people from slavery. It was on Mount Sinai that Moses stood in the presence of God and received God’s commandments. It was on a mountainside that Jesus sat down and spoke, “Blessed are the poor in spirit…those who mourn…the meek…those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…the merciful…the pure in heart…the peacemakers…and those who are persecuted because of righteousness.” Jesus often went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. It was on a mountain that Peter, James, and John witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration. It was on a mountain that Jesus gave the Great Commission. So come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, just like Noah, Abraham, Moses, and the followers of Jesus, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. Why do you think mountains are the setting for so many encounters with God throughout the Bible? Have you ever hiked a tall mountain? What was it like to reach the top? Most Holy God, when we lift our eyes unto the hills, we know our help comes from you, the maker of heaven and earth. Teach us your ways and through the power of your Holy Spirit enable us to walk in your paths. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. Matthew Varney
HOPE
Monday, December 1, 2014 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the Prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” – “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Mark 1:1-8 (NIV)
Most people have heard of John the Baptist. While he is known as “the Baptist,” he was actually the first prophet called by God since Malachi some 400 years earlier. John’s own coming was foretold over 700 years previously by the prophet Isaiah. John was related to Jesus through his mother, Elizabeth. Isn’t it interesting that they had a family connection from birth? John did not know that Jesus was the Messiah until he baptized Jesus and he “saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him.” People often wonder why John baptized people. The answer comes from the Jewish belief that those who convert to Judaism must undergo a ritual washing. John used baptism to symbolize the cleansing that comes when someone repents from sin. Baptism sent a visual message that being Jewish was not enough; repentance brings about a conscious turning away from sin and is essential to enter God’s Kingdom. Christians used baptism to depict the believer’s union with Christ Jesus: Believers have died and been raised in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:3-4). How would you react to the knowledge that your cousin was the son of God? Jesus was without sin. Why do you think he chose to be baptized? Dear Jesus, as Christians we all will have our faith put to the test. We are made whole through your loving sacrifice. Thank you for showing us the way. Please let us stand firm in our faith, as your faithful servant and cousin, John, did. Amen. Nancy Goldsmith
HOPE
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. 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. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. John 1:1-13 (NRSV) Think about the first five verses in this passage – In the beginning [before all time]… Christ was present originally with God... God made life… Life was the Light of men… for the darkness has never overpowered the Light. John 1:1-13 (Amplified Bible) Perhaps we should all go back to the beginning to understand that Christ was there when God made all things. Life was set into motion and God’s Works and Words began, and Christ was there. We Christians seem to focus on the four Gospels to know what Jesus said, his response to those who questioned his authority, and to learn who He is. But if Christ was with God in the beginning, we should openly accept all of God’s Word as part of Christ’s mission in the World and God’s guide for our daily living. John the Baptist makes it clear in his witness that Christ was before him (in the beginning) and testified that Christ is the Light of men and women. When Christ came into the World, many rejected Him. But to those who simply called on His name, then and now, He gave, and gives, the privilege to become children of God – how easy, how simple. During this Christmas season, let us go back to the beginning and renew our relationship with Him. Focus to keep our relationship with God simple, recognize the seduction of false enlightenments and cluttered lives, and strive to be more like Christ. Simply call on His name to live the joyful life God intends for us. What might be cluttering your life to distract from the simple relationship with God and Jesus? Do you stop to question if the worldly events and social trends are part of God’s work or distractions of darkness hindering our relationship with God? What chapters in the Bible might you consider refocussing on to hear God’s Word of the Life and Light of the World and how we should work and worship at Pickens Presbyterian Church? How does this passage speak to you as a child of God? Please help us to keep our relationship with You simple, dear God. With so many distractions, misinterpreted actions, and seduction to sin, please help us to recognize the fascinations that take away from our relationship with You and our dear friends. Be with us as we celebrate the renewal of life in the birth of our dear savior and friend, Jesus Christ. Amen. Richard Harper
HOPE
Wednesday, December 3, 2014 “Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:14-17 (ESV)
As I read this passage, I am drawn to the phrase “quiet you by his love.” Memories flash in my mind of times I have been quieted with love. My mother: rocking her crying baby to sleep after a scary dream. My father: picking up his frustrated, scraped-knee child, attempting to ride a two-wheeler bike. My brother: listening to his teenaged sister go on about the difficulties of high school. My best friend: consoling her broke, single roommate who does not know where her life is going. My fiancé: encouraging his emotional lady in the midst of wedding planning. My husband: choosing to love his wife through the ups and downs of everyday life. My God: delighting in his child and offering a sense of peace that has carried her through chaotic days. Now, as a musician, it absolutely thrills me to think of the Lord rejoicing and singing over us! God loves us just as we are and He takes undeserved delight in us. His delight in us is a gift and we do not have to do anything to earn it. This free gift encourages us to respond, but we don’t need to perform (thank you, Lord) in order to receive it. We cannot buy it, either. God’s love comes to us with no strings attached. It is self-sufficient and constant. Even when we don’t respond in obedience and love, His love does not change. Do I serve God because I love Him or because I am trying to buy and earn His love? Do I serve others as an expression of love or as an attempt to buy or earn the love of another person? Heavenly Father, thank you for loving and accepting us just as we are. Help us to be reminded of that promise each day. Check our motives and mold us into the beings you created us to be. Free us from feeling like we have to earn love. Help us to accept this gift you desire to give to us each and every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Ashley M. Dodgens
HOPE
Thursday, December 4, 2014 Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 40:1-5 (NRSV)
“Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God…” About fifteen years ago, I was introduced to a different Advent tradition. It was a ‘Blue Christmas’ service which recognized a ministry that was often overlooked in the busy, joyful season of Christmas. It was a ministry to people for whom Christmas can be a painful reminder of the loss of a loved one, or a change in health, employment, or location. Thinking about that ministry made the whole idea of Christmas make perfect sense to me, like a voice crying out! A worship service that seeks to lift up those who are feeling less than joyful, lonely, and stressed out, giving them space and time to know they are not alone was the reason God came to us in the first place, wasn’t it? God came to bring comfort and hope to all, especially persons who are feeling left out. The words in Isaiah 40 brought comfort and hope to a people who were feeling left out because they had been taken into exile. They were far from home, far from Jerusalem, far from their loved ones, far from their traditions and everything familiar to them. So it must have been very comforting for them to hear, that God would “…make a straight path in the desert…” so that they could find their way back home and not have to wander around for forty years. God would make a straight path for them to find their way back home. “Every valley shall be lifted up and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.” After such a long time in exile, they were going home and God had made the way easy to get there and easy to find. Home…a place of comfort and a promise of hope. Those words of comfort are our hope for the world today, as we seek peace from wars, safety from dangers, disease, and the destruction of our planet. Remembering God’s promise to be with us is the joy of this season. Questions: What is your greatest joy of this season? Is there someone you know who could be reminded that they are not alone? Compassionate God, hear our prayers in this Advent season for ourselves and our families who live with painful memories of loss. We ask strength for today, hope for tomorrow, and peace from our past, in the name of Christ who shares our tears and laughter, death and new birth, despair and promise. Amen. Rev. Beverly Kelly
HOPE
Friday, December 5, 2014 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:18-25 (NRSV)
Expectant mothers and fathers have many hopes and dreams for their little one. They wait patiently for their child to arrive during the nine months of pregnancy. Today, we have modern medical machines that can allow parents to “see” their little boy or girl even before his or her birth, but imagine Mary and Joseph full of hope and patiently waiting for the birth of Jesus. They did have a slight advantage over other couples of that time, since both Mary and Joseph were told by an angel that the baby was a boy (no ultrasound needed.) Yet, the circumstances of Mary and Joseph were quite different than any other parents. Mary was a young maid, a virgin, who was to become the earthly mother of Jesus, the Messiah. An angel told her this would occur by the Holy Spirit. She was Jewish and believed this would happen, but Mary was already planning to marry Joseph of Bethlehem, a carpenter, and this was going to complicate their relationship. Joseph was confused and considered not marrying Mary. However, he was assured in a dream by an angel that this was to be and that this child was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Mary and Joseph saw first-hand the glory of God through the coming of Jesus into the world. Today, we wait patiently and full of hope for the second coming of Christ. The scripture says, “Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” What is something you hope to see? Do you always wait with patience? Our Father, help us to grow into the trust and love that Joseph and Mary exemplified in their lives. Be with us as we wait patiently and full of hope for the return of your Son, in whose name we pray, Amen. Mary Sue Day and Jessica Varney
HOPE
Saturday, December 6, 2014 “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. Matthew 24:35-44 (NRSV)
Jesus is speaking to his disciples as this chapter in Matthew begins. He’s telling them about what will happen prior to and at the time of His second coming. He speaks of wars and rumors of wars, of nation against nation, false prophets, false messiahs and many persecutions. Terrible things. It’s just natural that even since Jesus’ time many have tried to predict when the end time will be. We’ve heard exact times and dates over the years of when a particular person has said that Jesus will come again. Many believed that 2012 would be the end because of the Aztec calendar. But after Jesus’ conversation about what things will take place, he emphasizes in the passage above that no one will know when He will come again, not the angels in heaven or the Son Himself. Jesus tells us that we should always be ready for His coming. We should prepare our minds and souls for His return. As we continue into the Advent season, let us remember and rejoice in His first coming as a baby lying in a simple manger, God’s wondrous gift to us all. May we rejoice in His life and teachings, and be prepared to see Him again, someday. May God bless you this Christmas season and every season. Cyndi Banks
P
PEACE romise of God
E
nduring presence
A
bsolute salvation
C
omfort
-The PPC Youth
by Ava Harrington
E
ndless power
THE SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT The Peace Candle Re-light the first candle. Light the second candle and say: We light this Advent candle as a reminder of the coming of Christ, the light of the world. We light the Candle of Peace as we pray for the peace of Christ in our hearts and in our world. The light of peace must brave great darkness, just as Jesus did when He came to earth. In an age when people struggle to find peace within them, we worship the Prince of Peace. Christ has promised to return and restore the earth to the way God created it to be, a place of peace. Where are the places and situations in your life and in the world where you see peace? What makes that place or situation peaceful? How can you help bring peace to places where there is anger, conflict, or violence? Dear God, we thank You for Your gift of Jesus to the whole world. We pray that You will bring peace in our lives and in our world. Please show us ways to act as Your disciples and show others the way of peace. In the name of Christ, the Prince of Peace, Amen.
by Kathryn Haines
by Isaac Haines
PEACE
Sunday, December 7, 2014
The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious. Isaiah 11:6-10 (NRSV) When I read this passage, it is difficult for me to imagine these animals living harmoniously with one other. A wolf living with a lamb? A leopard resting with a young goat? A baby cow, a lion and another young animal all together in the same space? Wouldn’t the lion eat the calf AND the other young animal? Or how about a baby playing where a poisonous snake lives? Or a child placing his or her hand where a venomous snake lives? Seems impossible, doesn’t it? Yet, this passage states “they will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain.” All will live in peace and harmony. What thoughts come to mind when you read this scripture? Can you find a picture or illustration of Isaiah 11:6-9? Father, we thank you that, one day, all will live in peace and harmony with you. Until that time comes, help us to share your peace with those around us. In Your Name We Pray—Amen. Jessica Haines
PEACE
Monday, December 8, 2014
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. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 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, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name”; and again he says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”; and again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him”; and again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.” 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. I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. Romans 15:4-14 (NRSV) “Welcome one another, therefore as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” In these ten verses, it is difficult to discern Paul’s entire message, but plainly he is urging Christians to welcome one another with more than mere tolerance for differing points of view. The Interpreter’s Bible states: “To welcome one another is go beyond polite forbearance to the creation of fellowship and good will among those who hold opposing views.” As Christ has welcomed persons whom human differences often keep apart, so we Christians are called to do likewise. This “creation of fellowship” was daunting for the first Christians who were Jews with Jewish cultural habits. Gentiles were “outsiders” who did not obey Jewish ritual and moral laws which dated back to Moses. Jews considered themselves to be “insiders,” God’s Chosen People, and now they were being challenged to create good will with persons who were very different from themselves. Today we Christians face the same daunting challenge: To create fellowship and good will in our churches with persons who are culturally different and whose views we may not completely understand or may even oppose. We can begin by treating everyone as our equals, for we are all children of God. Are there any people whom you feel challenged to fully accept into our church fellowship? What could you do to begin to accept any such people? On Wonderful Wednesday, we discussed 1 Corinthians 13. Is there a verse there that is especially helpful for accepting all people as our equals? Dear Lord, help us to be able to accept people who are culturally different as the early Jewish Christians were called to accept Gentiles. In the name of Christ. Amen. Jay and Dot Pence
PEACE
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass.” Isaiah 40:6-7 Sometimes I feel like grass. Sometimes I would cry if I only knew what to cry about first! Sometimes I’m tempted to say “What’s the use?” There are too many things that make me tearful; the world seems a sad and scary place. Wars, terrible diseases, divorces, meanness, changes and worries of all kinds, for today and for tomorrow. Do you feel that way too? What shall we cry? Who can we turn to with our fears? Where is there someone who understands and can comfort us and give us peace? The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever. You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and His arm rules for him. See, His recompense accompanies Him. He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40:8-11 My biggest fears have always been for my children. But I don’t have to worry about them! Jesus has come, and before I even ask (and I ask a lot!) He is carrying my lambs in His arms, close to His heart. And He is gently leading me. My part is to follow, and to find my peace in knowing that He is here, loving me and loving my children even more than I do. So I will not be afraid. No matter the changes I face, God is unchanging in His grace and in His mercy. The Peace of His Presence is all I need. What are your biggest fears? Where can you find God in the midst of them? Dear Father, Sovereign Lord, we thank You for your words, spoken so long ago, which comfort us now. We thank you for carrying us and those we love in Your arms, close to Your heart. We thank You for Your presence with us as we face things in our lives which dismay us and fill us with fear. Please take those fears away and give us Your peace. Amen. Barbara Caruthers
PEACE
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. For there the thrones for judgment were set up, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers.” For the sake of my relatives and friends I will say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good. Psalm 122:1-9 (NRSV) “I was glad when they said to me ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’.” This is the psalm of a pilgrim who is celebrating the privilege of making the journey to Jerusalem for the feast of Thanksgiving. Jerusalem was the center of Jewish cultural and religious history and practice. Because of the dangers of travel, journeys to Jerusalem were especially treasured. A contemporary example of such a pilgrimage on a larger scale is the gathering of Roman Catholics in Vatican Square in Rome. Devotion charged with electric excitement. We Presbyterians do not have such a single religious center, but perhaps the 500th birthday of John Knox offers us a contemporary center for our Presbyterian tradition. Last Spring the Heritage Center at Montreat celebrated the birthday of Knox with visiting scholars, pictures, and worship. Imagine the celebration at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland, where Knox was the minister from 1560-1572. During that time Knox participated in writing the Scots Confession and the Book of Discipline, which planted the seeds of Presbyterian polity. But like the pilgrim psalmist we cannot stay in “Jerusalem.” We must return to our local church bringing recharged devotion and commitment. We have “been to the mountaintop.” (MLK) Each Sunday worship should be a mountaintop experience that by God’s grace energizes us “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God.” (Micah 6: 8) Describe a time when you felt that you had “been to the mountaintop.” What can each of us do to ensure that Sunday worship recharges our devotion and commitment? Pray in unison or sing: Dear Lord, open my eyes that I may see glimpses of truth Thou hast for me. Open my ears that I may hear voices of truth Thou sendest clear. Open my mouth and let me bear gladly the warm truth everywhere. Open my heart and let me prepare Love with thy children thus to share. Spirit Divine. (Hymn 324) Jay and Dot Pence
PEACE
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:27-31 (NRSV) We long for more. Especially at Christmastime, we long for more. I don’t mean the common longing for toys and family, carols and jolly feelings, eggnog and Santa. I mean a real, deep longing for something that actually fills us up and satisfies. We long for Christ to be with us. But, truth be told, even those of us with Christ in our lives are often overwhelmed by the wants and worries of life. We waver, and we grow weary. Can this human longing for more, which is so endemic in our lives, be overcome at Christmas? I know of only one possible, positive answer to that question: Christ. Christ can transform our wants and weariness—our worry and our wavering—into profound wonder. Wonder comes when we recognize that only God’s presence can fully address our longing and emptiness. It’s not that all our longing suddenly disappears with the coming of Christ, but longing is transformed, overcome, superseded, and trumped by the reality of God’s presence with us in Christ. God with us, thank you for the gift of your presence, during this season and always. Amen.
Tina La Foy
PEACE
Friday, December 12, 2014
I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David: ‘I will establish your descendants forever, and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah. Psalm 89:1-4 (NRSV) Well, I have to admit, David has been a favorite of mine ever since he was called home by his father Jesse from the hillside where he had been tending the family sheep. David, the youngest of Jesse’s eight sons, had been chosen by God to be the second King of Israel, and God sent his prophet Samuel to anoint him. We know that he was handsome, but we also know God said He did not look on the outward appearance, as we do, but on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7 and 12) Lesson there for us - right? As with King Saul, the anointing was followed by his receiving the Holy Spirit, who was removed from Saul who thought his successes were because he was so great. He didn’t give God the credit or the glory. Big mistake! From that time on, God was with David, as he played the harp to soothe the then King Saul’s rages, when he slayed the giant Goliath, and during triumphs in battle where the Israelites were wowed by his successes. We don’t know much more about why God chose David, but we do know that David loved our God and that God had a special love for him. Not that David always did the right thing - far from it! But he knew his great need to have the joy of the Lord restored to him when he had strayed from God’s will (Ps. 51). He also knew that his actions could have bitter consequences, as they did, and as do ours. It was some time later that God chose to set up a covenant with David, as the psalmist describes it in Ps. 89: 1-4. Verses 1 and 2 describe David’s part, verses 3 and 4 God’s. 1. I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. 2. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself. 3. You said “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David, my servant. 4. ‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations’.” Fast forward 28 generations to the time of Jesus, and think about where you are today, can you, like David, sing His praises and declare His faithfulness established in heaven with a love that stands firm forever? It is so awesome to know the huge gift of God’s love for us and the joy of being His beloved! We can get our priorities straight when we take the word JOY and look at it this way: Jesus - Others - Yourself. Obedience to His teaching and leading makes the rest easier, especially when we consider what He did for us! Not an easy path, but the partnership and the covenant make it work. So! Let’s sing! and praise! and declare! Peg Jenkins
PEACE
Saturday, December 13, 2014
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. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV) Through both the Old and New Testaments, the Bible tells us the story of God's love for mankind. References to Jesus and His life on earth begin with Genesis 3:15. Through the writings of the prophets, God's message about a Savior is continued. Isaiah 7:14 brings glorious news of a Messiah: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Immanuel "God with us" - what a wonder! It has been written of the prophet Isaiah that no other prophet's writings more fully stress the redemptive work of Jesus. Isaiah 9:6-7, the scripture chosen for today, again emphasizes great truth about the birth and life of Jesus. A Son was given to this world; through His life and His death He demonstrated the love and the power of God. Verse 6 is a special verse to me because it is included in the Messiah, an oratorio by George Frideric Handel with scriptural words by Charles Jennens. I really enjoy singing the words of this verse. It is such a thrilling message to proclaim in song: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, ... and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." In this song and in many other Christmas hymns, we are reminded of the love God has shown us through Jesus. His great love for us continues day by day, moment by moment. I John 4:10 states, "Herein is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." Praise God! Take note of the 5 names given Jesus in Isaiah 9:6. Discuss, or meditate on, the meaning of each of these names in relation to our lives and our concepts of Jesus. How many songs can you list concerning the birth of Jesus? Choose one of these songs and sing one or more of its verses as a praise to God.
Thank You, Lord, for this season to again celebrate Your birth and Your love for each of us. Help us to keep You uppermost in our love and in our lives this Advent and all year round. Amen Gaye Mouritzen
JOY
Jesus, Oh Yeah! -The PPC Youth
Baby Jesus ornaments made during Children’s Church.
THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT The Joy Candle Re-light the first two candles. Light the third candle on the outer circle and say: Today we light the Candle of Joy. Today we remember the joy of the first Christmas. We are thankful for Christ’s coming to earth, for God’s great love for us, for Christ’s promise to return again. We are joyful as we realize the amazing good news of Christ’s birth. As the light shines brightly, we rejoice that Jesus came and Jesus will come again. How can we show the joy of Christ to those around us? How can we share joy when there is so much sadness in the world? Come, Lord Jesus, into the darkness of the world! May Your light shine brightly, and may we be faithful as we await Your return. Renew us, so that we may welcome You with joy! Amen.
by Isabella Thames
by Jayden Harden
JOY
Sunday, December 14, 2014 The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:1-10 (NIV)
Key Verses 5-7: “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.” It is hard to survive in a desert. With its extreme temperatures, lack of water, and animals on the hunt, it can be a very fearful and life-threatening place in which to travel, as the stories of Moses and David attest. But a desert can be transformed by water: vegetation comes alive with its abundance of food and trees spring forth creating shelter from heat. Christ brought both physical and emotional changes to those that lived within the time of his ministry. The ways in which he healed and demonstrated his Fathers’ love also brought changes to the religious and political landscape. These verses in Isaiah describe the transformation that is coming and the joy that will be experienced when the love of Emmanuel encompasses all the earth. Can you find all different ways God’s creation will be transformed? Can you relate those changes to your own life? And lastly, how do you demonstrate the joy of your transformation to others? Dear Lord, thank you for transforming our lives. Help us reflect our own transformations by sharing the joy of your love, so that others may see and be transformed. Amen. Liz Stokes
JOY
Monday, December 15, 2014 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matthew 11:2-11 (NRSV)
This passage is full of questions. John asks, “Are you the one, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answers John’s question by quoting from the prophet Isaiah and reaffirming that Jesus’s miracles are evidence that he is the one, the Messiah. John had been searching for, and indeed he had found, the long-awaited Messiah. Then Jesus turns and asks a question of the crowds, “What then did you go out to see?” What were they expecting? What were they searching for? In the film, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” little Cindy Lou Who sings, “Where are you Christmas? Why can’t I find you?” It is during this time of year that we ask that question amid the hustle and bustle. Sometimes Christmas seems to get lost in the shuffle of our busy schedules. While we are always on the go during this season, let’s ask ourselves the same question Jesus asked the crowds so long ago: “What did you go out to see?” What did you go out to the shopping mall to look at? Another gift that is not really what Aunt Sue wants or needs, but you feel obligated to buy anyway? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in a Santa costume? What then did you go out to see? We are searching for Christmas--the real Christmas, the joy that the Savior is born. God has come into our world. The old has passed away, the new has come. Our world is changed, rearranged! This is what we are waiting for this Advent season! We are now into the third week of the Advent season. What were you expecting to see? What are you hoping for this season? Have your hopes been realized or are you still waiting? Holy God, you came to us through Jesus, your Son, to show us who you are, to open our once blinded eyes to see. You restore our brokenness. You give us ears to hear your word and feet to carry that good news to others. You awaken us to new life. Remind us, as we come and go this Advent season, of the joy we have in Christ Jesus, our Messiah. Amen.
Jessica Varney
JOY
Tuesday, December 16, 2014 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 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. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Luke 1:26-33 (NRSV)
This is a story that everybody knows. We’ve heard it so many times it could cause us to remove ourselves emotionally from the story. This is the first time we meet Mary and Joseph in the book of Luke. Just from this passage, we don’t know much of their “backstory,” only that they are engaged. Then, an angel comes out of nowhere and tells Mary she’s going to have a baby! And not just any baby, a son who will one day be a great ruler! Mary must have been in shock at first and only felt joy later. How do you think Mary felt when she heard the news? Where do you experience God’s joy in your life? Dear God, please help us to find joy in our everyday lives. Please give us the courage of Mary who, when told about Jesus, kept calm and stood strong in her faith. In Jesus’s name we pray, Amen. Hamp Roper, of the Confirmation Class of 2015
JOY
Wednesday, December 17, 2014 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long. Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish. Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord! Psalm 146 (NRSV)
Psalm 146 is a short Psalm, only 10 verses. It is not a Psalm that is read at church often. When first read, it doesn’t seem to have any connection to the Advent season. The following is a condensed version of Psalm 146 by verse. 1-2 Praise the Lord as long as you live. 3 Don’t trust in princes (those in authority.) 4 They, like all people, die and return to dust. 5 God’s people are blessed. 6 God created the whole universe. 7 God cares about the oppressed, the prisoners, and the hungry. 8 God gives sight to the blind. 9 God also cares for the foreigner, the orphans, and widows. 10 The Lord will reign forever. Praise the Lord! The Psalmist is saying the only one you can trust or depend on is God. The leaders of this world, the institutions, and even the good people come and go. We have a fairly short life span; God is eternal. The Psalmist is also telling us that God cares for those who are oppressed because of injustice. He also cares for the poor, the prisoners (even those who need to be in prison). God is concerned for the foreigner, the ones we call illegal aliens, and the orphans and widows. The Old Testament prophets also proclaimed this same message. To me the connection of Psalm 146 to the season of Advent is that God sent his Son into this world through Mary. Jesus came to bring us a message. A large part of his message was the same as the writer of Psalm 146 and the prophets, that we are our brother’s keeper and that we Christians who follow Jesus must be concerned about poverty and injustice in our time. So as we celebrate Advent and celebrate the birth of Jesus, let’s also remember why God sent Jesus to the world. Roger Gettys
JOY
Thursday, December 18, 2014 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. Galatians 4:4-7 (NRSV)
And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”—Galatians 4:6 The word father conjures up different images for everyone. To some it brings the picture of love, laughter, respect, and acceptance. Unfortunately, others associate the term father with fear, rejection, and disappointment. That is why it is so important not to take your understanding of your heavenly Father from your experience. Take it from Scripture. You undoubtedly had an imperfect earthly father, perhaps even one who brought you harm. But, as in all of your Christian life, the key is not to understand the Bible based on your experience, but to understand your experience in light of the Bible. God is your model of a father in the truest sense of the word. Your heavenly Father was willing to pay any price in order to save you (Rom. 8:32). Your heavenly Father is always ready to meet your needs (Luke 11:11–13). Your heavenly Father loves you so much that He is willing to discipline you to bring you to Christian maturity (Pr. 3:11–12; Heb. 12:5–10). Even when you rebel against Him and reject His love, your Father continues to do what is best for you (Rom. 5:8). He does not make His love for you conditional upon your love for Him. He loves you even when you are not loving Him (1 John 4:19). He has made you His heirs and reserves a home for you in heaven (Rom. 8:15–17). This is what a father is like biblically. If this has not been your experience, it can be now. There is One who has adopted you and who wants to love you in a way you have never experienced. Take comfort and strength from Him—your heavenly Father. Father God, Thank you for being our Heavenly father and blessing us continuously. You gave us the Bible so that we might learn more about you and learn our history as Christians. Thank you for forgiving us for all the sin and wrongdoing done in your sight. We pray for those around us that do not know you and need your comfort and support. Please fill the hearts of those that have lost their earthly fathers and bring them joy. We love, honor, and pray to you. Amen. Tina LaFoy
JOY
Friday, December 19, 2014 Get out of bed, Jerusalem! Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight. God’s bright glory has risen for you. The whole earth is wrapped in darkness, all people sunk in deep darkness. But God rises on you, his sunrise glory breaks over you. Nations will come to your light, kings to your sunburst brightness. Look up! Look around! Watch as they gather, watch as they approach you: Your sons coming from great distances, your daughters carried by their nannies. When you see them coming you’ll smile – big smiles! Your heart will swell and, yes, burst! All those people returning by sea for the reunion, a rich harvest of exiles gathered in from the nations! And then streams of camel caravans as far as the eye can see, young camels of nomads in Midian and Ephah, Pouring in from the south from Sheba, loaded with gold and frankincense, preaching the praises of God. And yes, a great roundup of flocks from the nomads in Kedar and Nebaioth, Welcome gifts for worship at my altar as I bathe my glorious Temple in splendor. Isaiah 60:1-7, The Message (MSG) by Eugene H. Peterson
According to MaryAnn McKibben Dana, pastor at Idylwood Presbyterian Church in Falls Church, VA, it’s tempting for us to turn the above passage into a “feel-good, give-God-theglory-glory message;” however, she points out that this simple interpretation inhibits our exploration of the deeper social and economic message. Throughout Isaiah, the prophet reminds us that we are to seek a world of justice, where God’s abundance and grace reaches all people, not just a chosen few. Dana writes that the theme of God’s light in this passage “reveals a radically inclusive and justice-soaked reality, in which everyone has enough and nobody has too much,” from Isaiah, The Exiles, and a Multitude of Camels, 12/20/2012. As Christians, we believe that Jesus Christ brings much needed light to our dark world and in turn, we are obligated to fully reflect that light to others, without hesitation or restriction based upon our own personal biases or judgments. Most Christians would agree that access to God’s light should not be restricted based upon gender, race, economic status, citizenship status, or political party. What about other differences where we exclude people? Do our actions put us in the light, or are we “sunk in deep darkness”? Another way of reading the passage above could be: Get out of bed, Pickens! Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight. God’s bright glory has risen for you. The whole earth may be wrapped in darkness, with many people sunk in deep darkness, but we can look up to the light. And when we do, nations and people from great distances will be drawn to our light. And God assures us that when we see them coming, we’ll smile big smiles. Christ, you are the light of our world. You lead us out of darkness, and we follow you into the light. May we continue to look forward into the unifying light of Christ, and turn our backs on the creeping darkness that attempts to divide us. Amen. By Karen Roper
JOY
Saturday, December 20, 2014 “When Israel was only a child, I loved him. I called out, ‘My son!’—called him out of Egypt. But when others called him, he ran off and left me. He worshiped the popular sex gods, he played at religion with toy gods. Still, I stuck with him. I led Ephraim. I rescued him from human bondage, But he never acknowledged my help, never admitted that I was the one pulling his wagon, that I lifted him, like a baby, to my cheek, that I bent down to feed him. Now he wants to go back to Egypt or go over to Assyria— anything but return to me! That’s why his cities are unsafe—the murder rate skyrockets and every plan to improve things falls to pieces. My people are hell-bent on leaving me. They pray to god Baal for help. He doesn’t lift a finger to help them. But how can I give up on you, Ephraim? How can I turn you loose, Israel? How can I leave you to be ruined like Admah, devastated like luckless Zeboim? I can’t bear to even think such thoughts. My insides churn in protest. And so I’m not going to act on my anger. I’m not going to destroy Ephraim. And why? Because I am God and not a human. I’m The Holy One and I’m here—in your very midst.” Hosea 11:1-9, The Message (MSG) by Eugene H. Peterson
I have an interesting scene playing in my mind as I read this passage. I picture Will, running the opposite way, sneaky grin on his face, when I’m calling to him. I can call and call, “Will, come here!” or “Will, stop!” Still, he insists on testing his limits. How often do we turn away from the one who loves us more than we can comprehend? Historically, the people of God have turned away many, many times. In this passage, we hear God speaking about his great love for his children, and, even though they continually turn away, to other gods and neighboring nations, God loves them too much to let them go. Why? Because God is God and not a human being. God is perfect love. This passage from Hosea is connected to a part of the Christmas story on which we rarely focus. It’s not a story of shepherds and fluffy sheep or angels in all their glory. It’s a disturbing story that shows the darkest side of humanity. In the birth narrative from the Gospel of Matthew, Joseph is warned in a dream to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus because King Herod is about to execute a vicious plan to secure his position and eliminate the threat of the child who has been born king of the Jews. When Herod died, an angel of the Lord came again to Joseph in a dream, telling him it was safe to return to Israel. Once again, God called his Son out of Egypt. God continually pursues his people. What a joy it is to know the Holy One who is HERE, in our very midst, loves us too much to let us go. God sent his only Son to show us what love looks like, to rescue us from ourselves and this mess we are in, to give us abundant life in relationship with our Creator. How have you experienced God’s persistent love in your life? “O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be! Let that grace now, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee: Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.” Amen. From “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” Robert Robinson, c. 1758.
Jessica Varney
LOVE Living in harmony Overcoming obstacles Vigorous compassion Everlasting - The PPC Youth
by Nevaeh Harden
THE FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT The Candle of Love Re-light the first three candles. Light the fourth candle and say: We light this Advent candle today as a reminder of the coming of Christ, the light of the world. Today we light the Candle of Love. We see reflected in the glowing of the candle the message of a wondrous love – the kind of love which . . . . . . God showed by sending His Son to earth for us; . . . Christ had when He died on the cross for us; . . . Is eternal and promises that Christ will come to earth a second time; . . . God gives to us to share with one another. Dear God, help us to have room in our hearts and in our homes for other persons who need us. We thank You for friends and strangers who have received us when we were lonely or afraid, tired or depressed. May we be ready to receive the love God offers us in Jesus. We pray in the name of Christ our Lord, Amen.
by Caleb Briley
LOVE
Sunday, December 21, 2014 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 (NRSV)
What's on your Christmas list? What are you hoping for when you unwrap that package or reach into that stocking? Is it an American Girl doll, a bicycle, beautiful jewelry, an Ultra HD 4K TV, or perhaps an iPhone 6? We have so much to be thankful for already, but at Christmas we're anticipating more. We expect to receive those perfect gifts that we want and need. What do you want and need? I would like these gifts for Christmas ___________________. I am thankful for these things I have _____________________. Now think about yourself spiritually. How are you doing in your spiritual life; in your relationship with God and with others and with God's creation? Advent and Christmastime is a good time to be thankful for those gifts you have already gotten and to receive more from the God of grace. Would you like to pray more, or take time for daily devotions, or perhaps develop a humble or compassionate or forgiving nature? What kinds of spiritual gifts do you want and need? I am thankful for these gifts of grace __________________. I ask God for these spiritual gifts ___________________. In thinking about receiving gifts we think about who has given the gifts. How can you thank those who give you something? ________________. How can you thank God for the gifts God has given you? ________________. Who can you give to? ___________________. Look at John 1:16. What does it mean that "From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace."? ______________________________________. Lord, hear our prayers. We praise you, God. You have generously blessed us. We thank you for the privilege of worship and service, for the good news of Jesus Christ for us, for gifts to share in your name, for the help of your Holy Spirit in our calling to discipleship. Amen.
Jo Anne Gessell
LOVE
Monday, December 22, 2014 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Saying, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no martial relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. Matthew 1: 18-25 (NRSV)
Can you imagine how painful and disheartening the news of Mary being with child was to Joseph? How could this be? Mary was good and obedient to the Lord. And she is claiming no man touched her! Any way Joseph looked at the situation, it appeared grim. Then God allowed an angel to speak to him through a dream and turned Joseph’s mourning into joy. Mary had told the truth—strange and startling as it was. The couple would bear the intense public gossip of an early pregnancy, but Joseph stopped worrying about what others would say. God had blessed him: to raise the Messiah alongside a faithful woman. The Lord always has a plan; our reaction is to anticipate good even in times of disappointments. God certainly blessed Joseph for his willingness to “seek first His kingdom!” Dear God, thank you for your precious gift of salvation provided by the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus. I pray that in every situation we will look for your blessings. I pray that you will allow the CDC staff the ability to be a witness & blessing to the families that we serve and to share Your love with them. In Jesus name. Amen. Karen Durham
LOVE
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV) This is the first time we have seen this Scripture in our Advent Devotional. Usually this Scripture is the passage for Epiphany (January 6) which comes twelve days after Christmas Day. In some parts of the world, families exchange gifts on Epiphany because that is when the Magi brought gifts to the new born king. However, this story is very much a part of the birth story of Christ even though it might have taken place one to two years after his birth. The Magi are very interesting. We do not know a lot about them. They may have been magicians, astrologers or wisemen. We know they came from the East but not sure where. They might have come from Babylon, Persia, or Arabia. We do not know how many there were. Tradition states that there were three due to the three gifts given to the newborn king. More than likely there were many more. The gifts were gold which was worthy of a king, frankincense which was worthy of the Holy One, and myrrh which was a spice used for burials. So these gifts were worthy of a suffering king, son of God who would become a suffering redeemer. These Magi were not Israelites and did not know the Jewish Scripture but they did notice something those who studied Scripture had not noticed. They noticed the star! We are not exactly sure what they saw. It could have been the Milky Way, a light show of stars, or just one extra bright star. We do think that these Magi had studied the stars so what they saw had to be very unusual. Why is it that the people who studied Scripture, the people of God, did not notice the star? God was giving the world a tremendous gift but God’s own people did not notice this precious gift. It took outsiders to see and notice the star. How many signs of God do we see every day and do not notice? The Magi saw the phenomenon in the sky but were unable to find the subject of that glorious sign without help from those who had studied Scripture. They went to King Herod to ask about the sign, and he called the chief priest and the scribes. They were the ones who knew the Jewish tradition and Holy Scripture. They were able to fill in the necessary information for the Magi so they could continue their journey. We need others to help us understand the Bible and help us be able to notice and understand God’s signs in which are given to us. As we journey toward Bethlehem looking for Jesus, let us notice the signs God gives with open eyes, open hearts, a healthy knowledge from the Bible, and be open to the help others are willing to give to us. Then we will be able to respond to our Lord and Savior with glorious gifts. Gracious God, please help us to notice your signs so we can have a healthy knowledge of your son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for your Holy Scripture which helps us understand you and your love. Amen. Rev. Nath Briley
CHRISTMAS EVE The Christ Candle Re-light the first four candles. Light the Christ Candle and say: We light the Christ Candle today, knowing the Christ, the light of the world, has come to bring hope, peace, joy, and love to the earth. We remember the salvation that comes through Jesus Christ and pray that we may be faithful in serving the Christ child throughout the Christmas season and always. How will you celebrate the birth of Christ today and tomorrow? What can you do to keep your celebration focused on the Christ child? May the blessings of Christ be with you this Christmas Eve! Thank You, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth! Help us to spread the hope, peace, joy, and love of Your birth to the world. In Christ’s name, Amen.
by Ethan Briley
LOVE
Wednesday, December 24, 2014 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. 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. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 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 (NRSV)
Many youth and youth advisors shared that this passage is read at their traditional family gatherings at Christmas. It makes us realize the true meaning of Christmas. It makes us feel happy. No matter when you hear it read, it is the story that takes you right to the time of Jesus’ birth. How does reading this passage make you feel? Does the passage evoke emotions? Would you consider reading this scripture in July? How would it make you feel to read it at a time other than Christmas? Dear Heavenly Father, be with us this evening as we celebrate the birth of your Son. Help us remember the importance of the true meaning of Christmas, not only at Christmas but throughout the year. Let us not lose the wonder and specialness of this scripture. Your gift to us is wonderful and exciting. Help us as Christians to share this joyous occasion with others. We ask this in your Son’s precious name, Amen. The Pickens Presbyterian Church Youth
LOVE
Thursday, December 25, 2014 That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly an angel appeared among them, and the landscape shone bright with the glory of the Lord. They were badly frightened. But the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone! The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem! How will you recognize him? You will find a baby wrapped in a blanket, lying in a manger!” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God: “glory to God in the highest heaven,” they sang, “and peace on earth for all those pleasing him.” When the great army of angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Come on! Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They ran to the village and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. The shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel told them about the child. Everyone who heard the shepherds’ story expressed astonishment. But Mary quietly treasured all things in her heart and often thought about them. The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks again, praising God for the visit of the angels and because they had seen the child, just as the angel told them they would. Luke 2:8-20 (From Living Gospels).
Also from Living Gospels, Matthew 5:2 reads: “Humble men are very fortunate!” he told them, “for the kingdom of Heaven is given to them!” The angel did not appear to the priests, or Levites, or scribes, or other religious leaders in Israel, but to humble shepherds. The angels began Christmas music, and have inspired so many wonderful carols and Handel’s “Messiah.” Don’t forget that love came down at the birth of Christ, “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son…” On this Christmas day, December 25, 2014, let us enjoy and share the good news the angel told the shepherds and the love, joy, and peace that is promised to us. Amen. Zig Boroughs
by Kolton Wilkie
by Jessie Cole
ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN
Merry Christmas from the Staff and Session of Pickens Presbyterian Church! PICKENS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH STAFF Ministers – All Members Pastor – The Reverend Nath Briley Parish Associate – The Reverend Beverly Kelly Director of Christian Education and Communication – Jessica Varney Administrative Assistant – Mackenzie Owens Choir Director – Ashley Dodgens Organist – Donna C. Nabors Treasurer – Jonathan Haines Director of Child Development Center – Karen C. Durham Nursery Caregivers – Ashley Erickson Riley and Kristin Garrett Wilkie
SESSION Class of 2014 John Blackwood Bill Caruthers Roger Gettys Nancy Goldsmith Tom Smith Trustee: Ralph Perkins
Class of 2015 Cyndi Banks Mary Sue Day Ralph Perkins Allison Ranson Matt Varney Trustee: Chil Francis
Class of 2016 Jessica Haines Richard Harper Larry Jennings Len Josefson Kay Tilley Trustee: Raymond Dawkins
Class of 2017 Teri Lilland Jay Pence Aubrey Righetti Dennis Schwab Robert Simms Trustee: Jack Black
Moderator: The Reverend Nath Briley Clerk of Session: Nancy Goldsmith Assistant Clerk: Cyndi Banks Pickens Presbyterian Church ◦ P.O. Box 834 ◦ 311 West Main St. ◦ Pickens, SC 29671 Office: 864-878-9422 ◦ Website: www.pickenspresbyterian.org ◦ Email: pickenspres@bellsouth.net
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