Songs and Light
FROM THE PASTOR
Dear Friends,
Welcome to Advent 2024! Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year, where we enter into a new Gospel — Luke this year — and restart the circle of celebration and commemoration. We begin each year with the end in mind, that Jesus will return and restore this world. That future hope shapes how we live and see our current world. Our theme for Advent this year is Songs and Light. The songs of Advent date from the chants of the 8th century that the church sang during this season. These ‘O antiphons’ reflect on the person of Jesus and the hope that we have in him. The Light of Advent are the candles of the Advent wreath that we light throughout the season. Each one points to a virtue of the Christ - hope, faith, joy and peace - that is given to us.
These devotions written by members of the church will reflect on the songs and light and guide us through this season. My prayer is that they will help you see God in a new light. That your time with God will be enriched and your relationship with God strengthened. I pray these devotions will help you hold onto the hope that Jesus gives. That hope is where we start each year and what we cling to especially during the dark times of our life.
May God bless you and your family this Advent. May the promises of our loving God give you hope that brings you peace and comfort. You are known and loved by the One who sent Jesus to make himself known. Rest in that truth.
May your Advent be filled with the songs and light of our savior Jesus!
The Rev. Travis Norton Senior Pastor
The O Antiphons:
O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from one end to the other mightily, and sweetly ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence.
O Lord of might, and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.
O Branch of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples; before you kings will shut their mouths, to you the nations will make their prayer: Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.
O Key of David and scepter of the House of Israel; you open and no one can shut; you shut and no one can open: Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house, those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
O Dayspring, splendor of light eternal and sun of righteousness: Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
O King of nations, and their desire, the cornerstone making both one: Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay.
O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Savior: Come and save us, O Lord our God.
WEEK ONE Hope Candle
DECEMBER 1
The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
Jeremiah 33:14
The first candle we light for Advent is the candle of Hope. It’s also called the prophets’ candle. The prophets were the ones who gave Israel words of hope by reminding them of the promises God made and assurance that he would keep his promises. Many of these promises were repeated to Israel when they were going through very difficult times in captivity or under threat of destruction.
I think of the hope of Advent like a trail map at the beginning of a trail. You take a look and see how the trail will wind and climb and there on the map is a destination of where you will end up. Hope is keeping that destination in mind when the trail gets rocky or rough. For our lives, hope is keeping the destination of Jesus in mind when life gets hard. You might have expected me to say heaven as the destination, but I mean Jesus. Jesus is where we are going, and we are where Jesus is coming. Our hope is in Christ, that he will return and heal this world, that he will return and run to us and rescue us from whatever hole we are in, whether the struggles of this life or the grave itself. We live our lives in hope, and that allows us to resist despair or even pessimism and cynicism. We can endure difficulty knowing that it will pass, and we will see our savior and rescuer Jesus on the last day.
Pastor Travis Norton
PrayerLet’s pray – Father, give us hope and teach us to live in hope. We have our struggles and our worries, and you are well aware of them all. We give them to you and ask for your guidance and deliverance. Brighten our spirits with the light of hope and teach us to sing hope with our lives that others may come to know the hope that lives in us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
DECEMBER 2
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
Isaiah 11:2
In Luke 4:18-20 we read:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” (Jubilee year-every 75 years) (Luke 4:18-19)
In an entry online by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, they describe “the difference between the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you and the presence of the Holy Spirit within you as the power is for service and the presence is for salvation.” I always like new ways of looking at things as it causes me to explore ideas more completely. In Galatians 5:22-23 we read, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…”
The Spirit of the Lord is in me and upon me and I pray that in the small sphere where I have impact, I may serve him with joy, kindness, and faithfulness. In scripture we can identify many of those such as King David, Peter, the rock of the church, and the apostle Paul, whose weaknesses were turned to great strength as the Spirit of the Lord rested upon their shoulders and their lives were changed when the Spirit of the Lord claimed their hearts and minds.
Judy Bondurant
DECEMBER 3
O Wisdom
And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
Isaiah 11:2
All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent.
Isaiah 28:29
Wisdom… sometimes we think we have it, sometimes we wonder how we even make it through the day. There are a lot of days in my life that I wish I could just go to my grandmother and gather all the wisdom she had. Then I realize that at this point in my life, I may be the wisdom my children are seeking, or a dear friend may need.
Wisdom is certainly not something you are born with. It seems to be that one thing we must keep gathering as we grow old. We learn from our experience in life and the experiences of others as to what would be best. So how do we know if the wisdom we have or share is that which comes from the Lord Almighty…whose wisdom is magnificent?
I think people get the idea that wisdom is perhaps some kind of highly rated degree that only a few have. Every day God is working the plans in our life. He is guiding us on our path. When we stop for a moment and talk with God about things…we then begin to see things more clearly. It’s like the clouds lifting and the beauty of the mountain appears. It is then that we are able to share with others the orchestrated work God is doing in each of our lives. It is then we can lean into a better understanding of our purpose and how we are a part of the whole - the community.
Wisdom is not about the degree. It’s not about getting older and knowing more, because some days I need a kindergarten nap. Wisdom is the calming of the turmoil in yourself, reaching out to others to help them in their own turmoil. Wisdom is the pause before action when you ask yourself…what would Jesus do? Some of the wisest words or actions in life have come from a small child. When you think of the words, “Jesus at work, sweetly ordering all things,” or as Pastor Carrie would say, “All the things,” you can stand on the foundation that it is all done in love.
When we step forward to share our wisdom with our family, friends and our community, remember to convey all words and actions with love for one another. Love and blessings, my friends.
Pam Haines
DECEMBER 4
The spirit of the Lord will rest on him- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord.
Isaiah 11:2 (NIV)
It would be easy to focus on the negative with the state of the world today and it can truly be a challenge to keep Jesus in the foreground. With the pressures everyone faces today, many souls seem lost. Not only are people struggling to love themselves, but they are afraid to trust in and love Jesus. Is it fear, caring more for the self, or wanting to fit in and be accepted rather than putting love and faith in Jesus? The constant pressures of what “is right” and what “is popular” can overwhelm finding the light in the darkness.
If you are lost, where would be the best place to look for a glimmer of hope? The first place I could think of is in our small children. The innocence they still exude, the unconditional love that radiates off them, the purity, and living without worry. We all started as a gift from God, made from love, molded from love, and sin tries to take over. Just as the day you were created, Jesus loves you. Let that sink in for a moment. Jesus loves you. His love is like the wind, you can feel it and know it’s there even if you can’t see it.
There is no cookie-cutter mold you have to fit. There is no test you have to pass. Everyone makes mistakes and slips off the path. Some are even too scared to find their way back. If Jesus loved us enough to have died for us to have eternal life, what more could one ask for? Jesus loves you, no matter what. He knows you are not perfect. He knows you will slip, make mistakes, and even fall off the path, but none of that matters. Jesus loves you today and always.
Stephanie deGuzman
Take a moment and pray with your family that God pours his love into all humanity and protects everyone from the evil all around us.
DECEMBER 5
Isaiah 33:22 says: “For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our ruler, the LORD is our king; he will save us.” Often, we equate the Old Testament with punishment for sins, and the New Testament with love, grace, and forgiveness. But love, grace, and forgiveness exist in the Old Testament as well. This line is evidence of that. The phrase, “The LORD is our judge” isn’t meant to frighten us - it is meant to comfort us. The LORD is our judge, not our fellow man on earth.
For most of my life, I spent my time trying to present a perfect front to everyone. My perfectionism would allow no less. Every Sunday I would go into church and be thankful for corporate confession, because God and I both knew that I was not perfect. For decades I leaned on my own willpower to act as I thought God wanted me to. I would always succeed for a time, and then fall back down.
When Martin Luther was a monk, he spent hours a day in confession recalling every sin he could think of, only to go back because he had forgotten things. Our tradition of corporate confession comes from his experience. It’s why we confess: “that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.” We cannot remember everything. We may not even know everything that we have done. But God forgives us all the same.
It strikes me that I have a much harder time forgiving others than God does. Not only did I hold myself up as a paragon of behavior, but I judged others on how they measured up to the false front I projected. How unfair. I used that false equivalence to bolster my own ego, by saying to myself, “at least I don’t...” But I was missing the point. God doesn’t want us to compare ourselves to other people. He wants us to let Him judge, because He will do so with grace and mercy.
It wasn’t until I fell in front of others, that I was able to let go of my judgment of others. Then I was able to focus on myself, and I found that when I was able to understand and forgive myself for my own failures, I suddenly had the compassion and understanding to forgive others the way God had forgiven me. I still have to work on it when someone upsets me, but it now takes me minutes or days, instead of months or years.
I am thankful that the LORD is my judge. Even now, He is more forgiving than I am to myself and to others. He will save me.
Douglas Noel
DECEMBER 6
O
Lord (Isaiah 11:4; 33:22)
O Lord, and Leader of the House of Isarel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with outstretched arm.
O Antiphon
O Lord! O Lord!! “Yes Donna… you called?” O Lord take this pain in my heart! O Lord take this grief! O Lord! Take this …. All of this… please. O Lord… “Yes Donna, I hear you.”
The complex emotions affecting my whole body, mind, and soul following the death of my mother, were not expected. Our relationship was complicated, and I loved her so dearly. In my lowest moments, from the depth of my gut I have cried out these words at the top of my lungs. I have cried them out without thinking, as a last call for help... a call to the heavenly 911. I was heard and redeemed.
The grief was replaced with forgiveness, acceptance, and peace. Miraculously, the injured shoulder was no longer stuck and moved more easily. God responded immediately to my plea, as if saying: “Yes Donna, I hear you, and I love you. You are redeemed.”
Grammatically, the use of “O” is a way to directly address an important person or idea which gives more emphasis and importance to the text that follows. In my own cries if I had said just “Lord take this pain,” it would have less emotional impact and might fall to the bottom of God’s to-do list. The use of “O” before “Lord” reflects urgency and deep desire to have the request performed immediately. In the scripture Isaiah prophesies the coming of a Messiah, Jesus, to save the people and restore Israel. This antiphon can restore us too.
Donna Lovelace-Flora
DECEMBER 7
The Great I Am
But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
Isaiah 11:4
In Isaiah 11:4 we see another prophecy about our God, the “Great I Am”, that is to come. Isaiah preaches the lineage of Jesse when he confirms who Jesus will be with the great “I Am” superlatives. He begins with the lineage of Jesus when he describes the “shoot of Jesse” in verse 1. Isaiah continues with another ‘I am’ when he talks about how Jesus will be a “righteous Judge”, a “Judge” who goes beyond “what is right” and offers salvation to His people. This is done with the coming of Jesus when He dies on the cross for our sins. It is done when He ministers to the poor and abandoned. It is also done when we take up the cross of Jesus and do the things that He preaches. Some may call these good works, but the “good works” must always be an extension of our belief in Jesus. We do these “good works” because they are pleasing to Jesus. We do these “good works” not for our own “chest pounding” or “look at me” moment, but we do them out of our love for Jesus to give the glory to Him. Our “good works” are always done to the glory of God – there are no “feel good moments” with Jesus’ love. It is our Christian duty to spread the righteousness of Jesus – His salvation – through all that we do. This may come as a conversation with a friend; it may come as a time when you sacrifice your time and energy to help someone; it may come as a time when you tutor a student who struggles with dyslexia; it may come when you take the time to give your time and energy to a ministry that makes you uncomfortable. God asks us to do these “good deeds” as a reflection of His mercy and righteousness. May you find a ministry that challenges you to do something for the glory of God.
Ken Boehm
WEEK TWO Faith Candle
DECEMBER 8
Today we light the second Advent candle. Candles give us light, reminding us we are waiting for the birth of Jesus, “the Light that shines in the darkness which does not comprehend it.” (John 1:4)
Do we comprehend that light today as we light the candle of FAITH?
The Bible gives us many examples of strong faith that show how God wants us to follow Him. The book of Hebrews includes a list of what faith-filled persons accomplished with God’s help. By faith, Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain; Moses led the people of God to an unknown land; Noah built an ark; many other believers acted in faith, doing what God commanded. (Heb. 11) How can we understand such faith and exhibit it in our lives? Some things that God commanded seemed impossible or unreasonable, but without knowing the outcome, these believers trusted God and obeyed. God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit. We confirm our faith in the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostles Creed, and Communion. But how does this faith carry over into our daily lives? We may struggle to trust our Savior’s wisdom and power, especially in the ordinary details of everyday life. But failing to expect God’s help, we may miss out on the wonders of His life as He transforms our lives. As early as Lamentations, God tells us that He may delay our wants as a loving delay to renew our trust/faith in Him. We’re to remember, “His compassions never fail. They are new every morning.” (Lam. 3:22-23)
Waiting for His answer proves our faith. Waiting can be difficult, but Jesus Himself told us, “I am with you, even to the end of the age,” a promise we can rely on. (Matt. 28:20)
So how do we live out our faith as we wait for answer to prayer? We serve others, not because works save us; grace does. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works.” (Eph. 2:8-9)
James, however, reminds us that “Faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26) How do we reconcile these two seemingly opposite ideas of faith and works? We go back to Jesus, who turns our darkness into light. He gave us two great commandments: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, …soul, …and mind.” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22:37-38) Thus faith is first loving our God even when we don’t understand His actions. But, this is the way faith grows. We do the good works of loving our neighbor. As Scottish evangelist Oswald Chambers wrote, “Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.” The life of faith is a journey forward as we become more like Christ.
Gwyn Miller
Dear Lord, as we continue our Advent journey toward the celebration of Your birth; grant us through Your grace faith that leads us ever closer to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
DECEMBER 9
We are all familiar with the phrase “root of Jesse” that comes around this time of year. It’s a simple visual of a family tree, the father of King David being Jesse, and the promise of a future messiah related to Israel’s greatest king. Jesus was the fulfillment, able to trace his roots all the way to Jesse. The prophecy Jesus fulfilled, comes from Isaiah chapter 11.
You might be familiar with the words that come after it,
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
We recite these words whenever we baptize or confirm a child and when we receive new members into the congregation. The idea is that we all come from the root of Jesse. We who are in Christ are called to fulfill the prophecy by bringing Christ into the world as we conform more and more to his way in the world. We are saved by Christ not just in a transactional way, but by the indwelling of Christ within us through the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit is working to make us more like Jesus. As we abide in Christ we are invited to share Christ in our work: the way we love our neighbor and serve those around us, the way we rest and play and work with clear devotion to God, the way we speak out for the underdogs and the marginalized, the way we sacrifice and give of ourselves. All of this points to Jesus and changes the world around us.
How will you live your life today as an extension of Jesus? Jesus comes from the root of Jesse, and we come from the root of Jesus. May the world know Christ through us.
Pastor Travis Norton
Holy God you have fulfilled your promise to us by giving us a savior. Use our lives to continue that fulfillment as we bring your gospel to our world. In Jesus name. Amen.
DECEMBER 10
O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples; before you kings will shut their mouths, to you the nations will make their prayer: Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.
O Antiphon
I am a fan of the PBS series hosted by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Finding Your Roots, where he presents the work of genealogists who uncover the often-lost family history of his guests. Dr. Gates’ scholarly work is focused especially on African-Americans that most often have a hard stop in their family trees when their ancestors come out of the tragedy of slavery. For these, they are just a few generations from the stump that is their family tree.
And so, let us recall Jesse. He is a loyal subject of King Saul. He lives in Bethlehem with his family, including his eight sons. He keeps sheep. Jesse is the son of Obed and the grandson of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 4:13-22; 1 Chronicles 2:10-12; Matthew 1:5-6). Jesse is the father of King David (his youngest son) (1 Samuel 16:1-13). Beyond this, we don’t know much about Jesse. But this last distinction is a biggie. It is akin to Dr. Gates discovering that one of his guests is directly related to George Washington! And yet, by the time of Isaiah, corruption had taken hold, and the royal family tree had rotted and would soon be cut down. This corruption would bring destruction and exile to the people. Into this background of brokenness Isaiah offers hope, “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit” (Isaiah 11:1, the source of the third O Antiphon). Isaiah continues in verses 2-9 to describe this shoot, this new leader that will be greater than David and usher in a glorious new kingdom.
Of this new shoot, “Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist” (Isaiah 11:5). Can we relate to those living in the time of Isaiah? Do we see too much corruption and desolation and destruction? In Matthew 5:6, Jesus says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Do we hunger and thirst for righteousness? We hunger and thirst for Jesus. O come Lord Jesus and fill us.
Marcus Kochis
DECEMBER 11
This Advent‘s devotional theme, Songs and Light inspired me to reflect on the hymn, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, and I considered the verse; ‘O come, Thou Rod of Jesse’s stem’. The notion that a shoot will grow from a stump of Jesse and a branch from his roots will bear fruit brings to us the message of hope and anticipation of the light that Jesus will bring to us.
For over 20 years my husband and I have tried to garden in this arid Colorado climate. As with all gardeners we want to give our plants a good start, the best advantage against the intense rocky mountain sun, thin air and spotty rain showers. We try to nurture and tend to the new plants in the spring and watch them regularly for signs of stress, being happy when we know they’ve started good growth. We chose to grow Golden Yarrows in a difficult water-starved barren space, and we were pleased when the yarrows started to thrive, and we enjoyed them for several years. Unfortunately, at one point we were surprised after coming home one day to find the yarrows inadvertently razed to stubs by an exuberant neighboring landscaper. We were pessimistic about any prognosis of survival and decided to wait through the long somber winter before trying to seed the space again. We waited and when spring came, we surveyed our desolate spot. Nothing seemed visible but the little stumps left from the previous year. An early Colorado spring brought wild changes in weather, and after several late May snows we went to look again. The strong waft of sage, the delicate fern-like stems, and the brilliant lemon-yellow flowers brought new light and beauty to that space. The plants had grown more numerous and healthier than before, and we were happy.
Our simple drama of surprise and hope in waiting through the long winter inspired my Advent prayers. And when I think of Advent, I think of the beautiful darkness of our Colorado winter. It’s icy, white, gray colored, the high atmospheric cold sky, the short days, winter’s empty space holding an extraordinary secret, the secret promise of joy and light that will come to us in that space. During Advent God has given us the beauty of nature and time to reflect on our own brief existence while swathed in God’s cosmic enormity of hope and faith. For me, I look forward to singing the beautiful hymn O Come O Come Emmanuel with fellow Christians in the darkness of winter, with the light of joyful anticipation of the coming of our Savior.
Pam Goodhue
DECEMBER 12
O Key of David
O Key of David and scepter of the House of Israel; you open and no one can shut; you shut and no one can open: Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house, those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
Having grown up spiritually in an environment of Christian toxic positivity — where constant happiness was the only acceptable mood and any kind of sadness or melancholy was judged as a sinful lack of faith — learning to give myself and others time and space for lament and sadness has been necessary and healing. Sometimes, though, I can feel imprisoned in a spiritual or emotional funk, and I’m guessing I’m not the only one. It’s never a good feeling. When I’m stuck in that space, I find this short phrase, penned by poet Malcolm Guite while he ruminated on the antiphon O Key of David, compelling:
“…every lock must answer to a key….”
This simple phrase sings of possible freedom to our souls, because no matter how stuck we believe we are, no matter how locked inside our own malaise we may feel, there is a Key that opens the way out. No lock can resist the key that was designed to open it. Whatever experience or emotion has us locked in that place, it must answer to the Key of David, to Jesus, the lover of our souls, the one who has come, who is coming, and who will always come to lead prisoners out of darkness.
It’s not that Jesus demands we not be sad or stuck—he will never leave or forsake us no matter our condition. It’s just that he is life and light and freedom, so when he comes and meets us in our dark places, he can’t bring to us anything else. Just knowing that he is perpetually giving himself as The Way can allow enough light into the darkness to crack its hold, to shift the tumblers in the cylinder, and to open the door to freedom. And the converse is also true: if there are bleak thoughts that strive to drag us back into darkness, Jesus is the key that shuts and locks them up, binding them away from our hearts and souls.
From before the foundation of the world, Jesus’ very design, if you will—the reason for his becoming human— was to be the Key that frees us from any and all separation from God. He is the living Key of David that opens the way to full restoration and union with God. If we find ourselves stuck in any place of darkness, Jesus comes and opens the way, leading us out.
Lori Duncan
PrayerJesus, Key of David: Thank you that you do not come to us to berate us if we are imprisoned, but rather you come to lead us out of darkness and into Light—into yourself. As we prepare for your coming into the world, help us remember to share with others the freedom you bring to us. Come, Lord Jesus.
DECEMBER 13
O Key of David
The Key of David is talked about in Isaiah 22:22 (NIV), which says, “I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.” What is being shut out? Is God protecting us from whatever is being shut out? And what are we being opened to? Being given access to? When praying the O Antiphons in the seven days leading up to Christmas, Catholics pray “O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom; come and free the prisoners of darkness.” Isaiah 42:6-7 provides more context when it says, “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”
It is Jesus! The master key! He is unlocking hope, a path to our salvation. We are praying that God comes to this world, as Jesus on Christmas, to open our spiritual eyes to a life of forgiveness, joy, and peace. That he comes to free us from the dungeon of sin and sorrow. In writing about this antiphon, poet Malcolm Guite says, “...every lock must answer to a key...” It makes me wonder if there are still locked doors in my heart where I haven’t let Jesus in. What are those? A grudge I’m holding onto? Doubts I don’t admit? Behavior I’m not proud of? Am I trying to hide those, which He surely already sees? Let us give God the key to those dark places by our confession. Since I first read these verses, this has been in my head, so my prayer today is in the form of lyrics from Open the Eyes of My Heart:
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You, I want to see You To see You high and lifted up Shinin’ in the light of Your glory Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy Holy, holy, holy, Holy, holy, holy Holy, holy, holy, I want to see you.
Cris Waters
DECEMBER 14
O Come, Thou Key of David, Come and open wide our heavenly home. … to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
Isaiah 42:7, (NRSV)
Keys can be used to open or lock doors, doors that keep us from seeing what might be on the other side of them. Another word often associated with Advent comes to mind, expectation. Sometimes our own expectations can operate like a key. We can be so focused on what it is that we expect that we can lock that door when something doesn’t match that expectation and miss what God has in store on the other side. A composition of mine from 2010, Faith Pill, for alto saxophone and electronic media illustrates this well. Take a moment and listen to this work. https://soundcloud.com/marshall-d-jones/faith-pill-11-19-13
Probably not what you expected. How did your expectation cause you to respond? Did you listen despite it being different from your expectation? Or did you turn it off as soon as it didn’t meet your expectation? The work is centered around a recording of a London street preacher. How likely is it that the message God was speaking through him was missed because his appearance, smell, demeanor, etc. were not the way someone expected to hear God? The chaos of the electronic parts is in stark contrast to the peace represented in the saxophone part.
But how often does the saxophone’s tone not match what our expectation of the sound of peace might be? Think about the times you have experienced peace. Has it always come at the times and in the ways you expected? Listen again, reflecting on the words of the preacher and how the tone of the saxophone changes over time. How often this week have you missed that glimpse of God’s kingdom because it didn’t come the way you expected? Fear not, you are in good company. We see examples throughout the Gospels of those who did not recognize Jesus because he didn’t come in the way that they expected. They expected a king to lead them to victory over their earthly enemies, but instead Jesus came to go to the cross. The key to seeing our heavenly home may just be learning to look beyond our own expectations.
Unexpected and mysterious is the gentle word of grace. Ever loving and sustaining is the peace of God’s embrace. — Jeanette Lindholm (hymn #258)
Marshall Jones
Lord, help us to see beyond the doors we close with the keys of our expectations. Help us to hear your gentle word of grace even when it comes forth as thunder. Help us to recognize you in the places, people, and art where we may not expect to find you.
WEEK THREE Joy Candle
DECEMBER 15
JOY – The Shepherds’ Candle
Think Pink???? What it is about this candle is that it is pink. What does it mean? Well, the color pink or rose is a liturgical color for Joy. Why then, is it called the Shepherds’ candle? Well, that’s the best story of all.
Imagine being the first person to find gold while hunting in the mines, like in the movies when someone comes running out of a deep, dark and cold place holding what seems to be the prize to end all prizes. The yelling and dancing begin as they now rejoice at being very wealthy, rich beyond their wildest dreams. Now, others want to go into this dark place in search of their own riches, some even at the cost of their own life, looking for that one piece of gold that can change their life forever.
Now the shepherds, living out in their fields keeping watch over their flocks by night, are doing the hard work. It’s not in a mine, but it is a place that’s dark, cold and one might even think a bit lonely. Suddenly, something even better than a UFO sighting, appears to them. Can you even imagine not just one angel, but a host of angels appears; and they were singing!!!! I am sure that God gave instructions to the angels, making sure they first said… “Do not be afraid.” He knew the shepherds would be afraid, as He knows we would all be afraid when seeing this light from heaven. This light in the darkness that needed an explanation.
Now one of the angels began to tell them of a special birth. “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you.” Did you get the part about YOU? Yes, you…the one sitting there drinking your morning coffee… YOU!!!! This good news is for you. Did somebody say we are having a party? Well, not just yet. The shepherds make their way to see this Savior, this Messiah, the Lord. When they found Mary and Joseph, there lay the little baby Jesus in his manger. The shepherds began to spread the word concerning what had been told to them about this child. Those shepherds began to celebrate, (party time) just like the miner who had found his gold. Only this gold was not one you could spend away. This was the prize that was for all eternity. Kind of like finding gold every day and it never runs out. That’s pretty cool.
SO, this year when you begin to prepare for the celebration of Christ’s birth, don’t let yourself get caught up in the usual packages and boxes and bows. It’s not about what’s wrapped up with paper and tape. It’s about what’s wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in the manger. Think about those little rose-colored cheeks on this tiny baby, those pink glowing sunsets on the fields of white snow, the pink glowing lights in the northern sky, the warm pink glow of the lights on the tree. This season, think pink…think JOY as the shepherds did.
Pam Haines
DECEMBER 16
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of darkness a light has dawned.
Isaiah 9:2
How many of us – especially us “older” folks – have a nightlight burning, in the hallway or bathroom? Why? Duh! So, we can see in the darkness. As we stumble out of bed, we look for the light to guide us. Since I often wake up humming a hymn (yes, I do – I do not know why) – my fuzzy brain might echo a tune we sing in church often: “Walk in the light, beautiful light, come where the dewdrops of mercy shine bright. Shine all around us by day and by night, Jesus, the Light of the world.”
And that is where Isaiah comes in. Just four verses after, “The people walking in darkness,” he gives us the oh-so-familiar line, “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given . . ..” (Cue in Handel’s Messiah.) Bible commentaries tell us that the word “light” (which Google says appears 200 times in the Old and New Testaments) is a metaphor – obviously for Jesus, our Savior. And as for “darkness,” dictionaries tell us it can mean not only the absence of light but “wickedness or evil.” Isaiah knew whereof he was speaking.
For me, our “Living Light” is especially sparked by acts of compassion – given or received. There have been times when our family has called friends and said, “Please come, we need you.” And friends have called on us. (I am particularly recalling our thirty years living in Las Vegas, New Mexico – when our closest friends and fellow church members lived three houses down the block – “We can be there in five minutes.”) And I have been blessed for many years as a Christian Caregiver here at First Lutheran – when I walk in, the joy (light!) on folk’s faces as we chat and they receive communion says, “Christ is with us, truly with us.”
And finally, as we once again celebrate Advent (and then Epiphany – my favorite liturgical season), notice the mention of light in our hymns – hymns stretching across centuries: Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying - Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers (and let your lights appear) - O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright - Brightest and Best of the Stars of the Morning, and my favorite Bright and Glorious Is the Sky, – which I will no doubt wake up humming tomorrow!
Mike Olsen
DECEMBER 17
O Dayspring, splendor of light eternal and son of righteousness: Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness And the shadow of death.
There is a song frequently sung at contemporary services titled Here I Am to Worship. The first line of the song is “Light of the world, You stepped down into darkness.”
Although this is one of my favorite songs to sing, I have trouble visualizing the concept of Jesus coming to earth in “darkness.” I know darkness is a metaphor for sin, and Jesus did come into a world full of sin, but the world described as “darkness” is hard for me to understand.
I like the dark. I love to sit outside in the mountains or on the great wildernesses in Texas and look at all the stars. I love to sit in my living room with all the lights off and enjoy the darkness or watch the fire burn in the fireplace. I love to sit with all lights off except the Christmas tree lights and just enjoy being in the moment. I’ve also had times in my life when I found myself in the fetal position in the dark on the living room floor sobbing and begging God to help me find my way. He has always responded. Not always in the way I wanted him to, but in the way that was best for me. On the other hand, I can visualize Jesus returning as intense light. I was flying home from a business trip one evening some years ago. As we neared Colorado Springs and began our slow descent, there was a thunderstorm to the left of the plane. Huge clouds were being lit up by lightning. I couldn’t take my eyes away from the scene. I pulled my jacket over my head and held it against the inside of the plane to cut out the ambient light from the interior of the plane. I was mesmerized by the sight. There was no sound. Just the lightning from within the clouds. The jagged lines of bright light from the lightning were happening in more than one place. There was the brilliant white light of the electric energy surrounded by shades of green and pink in the billowing clouds. But there was no sound. I wanted to hear choirs of angels heralding the return of Jesus. It felt like the entire sky was filled with the power and glory of God. To me, this is what it will look like when our Savior returns.
Georgie Bever
Today’s Devotional
Does the world seem dark to you? Take time today to reflect on the “Living Light” that is always flowing into the darkness of the world to free us from our fears.
DECEMBER 18
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shined.
Isaiah 9:2 NRSV
Isaiah is referring to Israel’s history of exile and homelessness. They were existing in spiritual darkness. But Isaiah’s prophecy is one of hope. A great light will burst onto the scene. This light will bring joy, peace, and righteousness.
As we approach the shortest day of the year, if you work indoors, it might be dark when you leave for work and dark when you get home from work. You may feel like you are living in darkness, but that doesn’t mean you have to exist in spiritual darkness. It is easy when you hear of national and world events to fall deeper into the darkness. Don’t sit in that darkness.
You know that “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” John 3:16
You are filled with the Holy Spirit. You are filled with the light of Christ Jesus.
It is your job as a follower of Jesus Christ to share that light. You say, “But I’m only one person. There seems to be so much darkness in our world today. Where do I begin?” Think of how one candle can light up a dark room. Be that candle. Reflect God’s love throughout your day and bring a little joy to each person you come in contact with!
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
During this cold, dark time of year it sometimes feels difficult to “be the light.” Help me to know that I don’t have to make my own light, I just need to reflect yours. Help me to reflect your love and light through all I say and do. Amen.
Cheryl Mahon
DECEMBER 19
O King of the Nations (Isaiah 2:4; 28:16)
O King of the nations, and their desire, the cornerstone making both one: Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay. Antiphon for December 22, Terry Forke, The Lutheran Witness
‘War! … Ugh!
What is it good for… absolutely nothin’! Say it again..listen to me.
War I despise ‘Cause it means destruction of innocent lives. War means tears to thousands of mothers’ eyes when their sons go out to fight and lose their lives.
Peace, love and understanding, Tell me, is there no place for them today? War, huh. Good God y’all, What is it good for? Stand up and shout it: Nothing!!’
This popular song from the 1960’s Vietnam war era sung by Edwin Starr seems timeless today as conflict continues between Russia and Ukraine, and Palestine and Israel battle once again. As Pogo, a cartoon character stated once … “We have met the enemy and they is us.” The human race does seem to need saving from itself. What is the answer to saving the human race? In 1967, John Lennon told us, “Love is the answer… all you need is love.”
Jesus Christ came as God personified to unite all of mankind with his teachings of love. He came so that WE could learn to be Christlike and realize that the love of God enables us to be loving. In so doing we would learn to let love flow out of us to others. We are in attunement with the teachings of God’s love when we do unto others as they would do unto us, when we are forgiving seventy times seven, and when we are sharing, giving, and serving. All you need is love.
Donna Lovelace-Flora
DECEMBER 20
And in the naked light I saw Ten thousand people, maybe more People talking without speaking People hearing without listening
Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel
In 2016, there was a gathering at Colorado College of a group of Muslims, Catholics, Protestants, and Jews. The focus of the gathering was to view and discuss a movie titled The Sultan and the Saint. The movie is a documentary about the meeting between Sultan Malik Al Kamil and Saint Francis of Assisi. This meeting between Malik and Francis took place during the later part of the Crusades, approximately 800 years ago. (The war is still going on today. I don’t believe it will end until Christ returns.) During their time together, Malik and Francis became close friends. How? Through honest conversation and respect for each other’s differences. When Malik talked, Francis listened – heard, listened, processed, and respected Malik’s words. When Francis talked, Malik listened – heard, listened, processed, and respected – Francis’s words.
What they did is actually what Jesus was trying to teach his followers (and us) to do. He wanted them (and wants us) to hear, listen, process, and respect each other. Have we lost the ability to do that? We need to work daily to practice the art of listening and processing what we hear other people say. We may not agree with it, but we need to respect the speaker. We can give rebuttal, hoping that others will hear, listen, process, and respect our words. It isn’t enough to sit quietly while the other person speaks. It isn’t enough to hear the words and say “Hmmm” every now and then. We all need to hear, listen, process, and respect the speaker.
O King of the nations, and their desire, the cornerstone making both one: Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay. Antiphon for December 22, Terry Forke, The Lutheran Witness
How can we partner with Jesus to bring unity into the human race?
We won’t have total unity in the human race until Christ returns. We can move towards community in our homes, neighborhoods, churches, schools, and workplaces. If each of us – each and every one of us – would practice hearing, listening, processing, and respecting each other’s point of view, we can begin to see some of the unity that God intends for his creation.
NOTE: The movie The Sultan and the Saint is available on DVD from Penrose Public Library.
Pray for God’s help in your life as you strive to bring unity into the world.
DECEMBER 21
How can we partner with Jesus to bring unity into the human race?
Yesterday we considered how we can listen and hear others to help bring unity to the human race. Today, let’s consider the other side of communication: talking, speaking, and expressing ourselves.
Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words], and slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving].
James 1:19 (AMP)
Christmas is only hours away. Will you have a home full of family and friends? Will you travel to someone else’s home to celebrate with them? Maybe you will have or attend a small intimate gathering of those closest to you. Or maybe you will be all alone, waiting for someone to call and wish you a Merry Christmas. Some of us will have to work. All of these situations can be full of stress, anxiety, frustration, and/or anger. Think of the salesclerks at the stores where you shop. They may feel overwhelmed with everything they have to do and with a multitude of shoppers. Think of the restaurant workers who have to work the holidays. What emotions are they dealing with? Kind words and a friendly smile would be welcomed. James tells us we need to be “a speaker of carefully chosen words.” As busy and demanding as the holiday season is, it is very difficult to carefully choose your words. But words only a part of the way we communicate. The tone used to express your words tells the listener something about what you are expressing. The volume of your voice is another facet of your communication. What about your facial expression? Does it express love, understanding, empathy, or forgiveness? Or does it really express anger, intolerance, belligerence, disbelief, or impatience? How about your posture? What is your posture saying to the receiver of your communication? All of these forms of nonverbal communication partner with the words you choose to express what you are trying to communicate.
This Christmas let’s each plan to partner with Jesus to bring unity into the human race by being careful and mindful of how we communicate with each other. Bringing unity begins at home – with your friends, family, and our community – as we celebrate Christmas.
Georgie Bever
Father, please help and guide me this Christmas to be a kind and gentle communicator with my friends and family. Help me hear myself when I speak to others so I can become a partner with you to bring unity first to my family, second to my friends, and eventually to the world. I want to show your love to those around me. I know I can only do this with your help and guidance. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
WEEK FOUR Peace Candle
DECEMBER 22
There’s a bumper sticker or Facebook post that I’ve seen that goes something like this: “It says Do Not Fear 366 times in the Bible, one command for every day of the year, even leap year is covered. Don’t you think God meant it?”
While I don’t claim to be a biblical scholar or theologian, I did briefly research this claim using similar phrases like “do not be afraid,” “fear not,” and “do not fear” etc. and the rough number of those phrases being said in scripture depending on translations are somewhere between 50 and 200 times. (Maybe this is a good place to suggest we don’t believe everything we read/see online?)
While the Bible may not say, “Do not fear 366 times,” it still says it over 50 times, and that seems significant. Typically, when an angel of the Lord showed up, they would start the conversation by first saying, “Do not fear.”
This could be seen as a command, something akin to “Stop Fearing” or “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps and don’t fear!”
But I like to see it rather as a reassurance. Something more along the lines of “You don’t have to fear. You are loved, God is good, God is strong, God has already taken care of everything.”
When it’s taken as a reassurance rather than a command, it lifts the pressure off. You don’t have to do anything! And when I think about the holiest people I know, the people that look the most like Jesus, the people I most want to be like, I see people who have heard the words “Do Not Fear” and have taken God at his word, and the weight has lifted, and they are at peace.
But to take God at His word we must know His word and to believe His truths we first must know His truths, so there is some action involved.
So, moving forward, before you encounter things to fear, which seem to pop up at every turn, try these things instead to become a people of peace.
ʟ Spend time in prayer and scripture each morning BEFORE you look at your phone.
ʟ Memorize scripture.
ʟ Gather corporately in Worship.
ʟ Practice a weekly sabbath to remind ourselves that God is the provider for our lives and we are not. Oh, and also, don’t believe everything you read/see online.
Jeremy Ashida
DECEMBER 23
O
Emmanuel
O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Savior: Come and save us, O Lord our God.
What do we imagine a king, lawgiver, global hope, and savior to look like? Whatever else might be said, to the Jews of Jesus’ day as well as to us now, he or she must have enough wealth and political and military prominence and power to effectively implement change on behalf of the ones needing saving. As for wealth, we know Jesus’ ministry had enough financial resources to require a steward (John 13:29), but the biblical text seems to indicate that Jesus himself didn’t own much personal property, if any; his possessions might simply have consisted of the robes on his back and the sandals on his feet. We also know he held no offices of political influence or military power. Not very king- or savior-like, is it? So how is Jesus our king, lawgiver, global hope, and savior, and what might it mean for those of us who follow and belong to him?
How Jesus lived his humanity clues us in. His “fully-human-ness” necessitated times of withdrawal and solitude for intimate communion with his Father (Luke 5:16). He chose, again and again, to abide in God, to plunge the roots of his own identity deeply into Living Love. It seems reasonable to think that this cultivated identity awareness is what allowed Jesus to say, “The Father and I are one” (John 10:30, NRSV). Because he knew he was one with the God who created and reigned over all things, he realized he had no need to grasp for military or political power or wealth or prominence or anything else, for there was nothing in creation that wasn’t his already.
The awareness of knowing that all things were already his, liberated Jesus from needing to grasp for or exert any earthly power or influence. He was utterly free to empty himself out in love, demonstrating that selfemptying on behalf of others is what a true King, Lawgiver, Hope, and Savior does (Philippians 2:6-8). He didn’t have to cling to a thing — freely he had received, freely he could give. And when we nurture and live from the same awareness — that in Christ our lives are also filled with all that God is — we, too, are freed from being defined by anything other than the same God who in Christ has freely given us all things (Romans 8:32). We are God’s and God is ours, which means everything is ours, which means we have no need to grasp for anything. We are free to both receive and give from the inexhaustible love and life of God.
Lori Duncan
O Emmanuel, help us root and establish ourselves in Love — in your very essence — that we may draw our identities not from anything this world offers us, but from you, the one who has come, is coming, and will always come to save and be fully with us. Come, Lord Jesus.
DECEMBER 24
Therefore the LORD himself will give you a sign. Look, the virgin is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14
Immanuel means ‘God with us.’ That name alone means so much! You are reading this right now in the presence of God. God is with you. That is the purest, simplest truth that we proclaim this Christmas Eve. God is with us.
That looks different for every person. For some of us we are filled with the joy of the season, we look forward to being with our family, and God is with us in that joy and pleasure. For many of us there is a sadness to the season as we miss someone who has died and no longer able to celebrate with us. God is with us in that grief. God is with the refugee who is far from home trying to make it in a new country, or simply waiting their turn in line. God is with the unemployed unable to purchase gifts for their family this year. God is with the newlyweds creating new traditions together. God is with the young adult coming back home after their first year on their own with new appreciation for all their family is. God is with the hurting and the happy, the neglected and the full. God is with us.
We live in a world that God has chosen not to abandon, but rather to inhabit. May God inhabit us today that we might bring healing and light and song to all. May God shine and sing through us so the world may know they are not alone. God is with us.
Prayer
Let’s pray – Father thank you for coming to be with us in Jesus and for committing yourself to this world and your creation. Heal us with your presence. Comfort us and deliver us. Teach us to follow your lead and sit with those in pain that we through our presence and your presence through us might alleviate the suffering of this world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Travis Norton
DECEMBER 25
O Emmanuel
O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Savior: Come and save us, O Lord our God.
Love, rightly expressed, descends, and in Christ, the perfect love of God descends from on high to be fully with humanity: Emmanuel, God with us.
Isaiah 7:14 announces the coming of King Jesus, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Here we are at our final O Antiphon. As a bit of a high school Latin geek, I was excited to learn that if you take the Messianic titles for each antiphon in backward order (Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapienta), the first letters spell out the Latin “Ero Cras,” which means “Tomorrow I will come.”
And come, indeed, He has. On this Christmas Day, not only are the promises and hopes of the Old Testament fulfilled, but so are all our present hopes. Our deepest cry of longing — to be with God our Savior — is always being answered in Christ. He has come and is with us and among us. God has become man, not to save the world from outside, but to save it from the inside. To rescue us, redeem us, and restore our relationship with Him; He has come. Think of the things you long for: a good relationship with your spouse or children or parents, resolution of something at work, support during a health crisis. God is with you in all this. In pain, in suffering, but also in joy. Today we call out to Him in joy and celebration, knowing that he has come and is with us as we worship and celebrate Him today.
“We greet your coming, God, with joy: We had no true idea of what you are like; but you have shown us yourself in Jesus Christ. We felt our human life could be of no importance to you; but you have shown its value by appearing among us as a man. We are aware of the gulf between us and you; but you have bridged it with love.
God, we greet your coming in Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Caryl Micklem, Contemporary Prayers for Public Worship
ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS SEASON EVENTS
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7
St. Nicholas Breakfast, Gathering Place, 9 – 10:30 a.m.
Advent Tea, the Peel House, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8
Regular Sunday Services, 8 and 9:30 a.m.
Sunday School Christmas Program, 11 a.m.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15
Lessons and Carols in Sanctuary, 3:30 p.m.
Pie Fest afterwards in Gathering Place
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21
Blue Christmas Service in Sanctuary, 4 p.m.
TUESDAY – CHRISTMAS EVE, DECEMBER 24
1, 3, and 5 p.m. with a Special Message for Children 7 and 9 p.m. with Holy Communion
WEDNESDAY – CHRISTMAS, DECEMBER 25,
No service – Church Office closed
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29
One Service only at 9:30 a.m.
Congregational Potluck Brunch in Gathering Place following service
Merry Christmas
