Advent Devotional | 2021 by IPCBirmingham

advent Devotional Independent Presbyterian Church 2021

November 28 Bill Casey, IPC Elder

Scripture First Reading Jeremiah 33:14-16 (NIV) 14 “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. 15 “‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it[c] will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior. Gospel Reading; Luke 21:25-36 (NIV) 25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” 29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

November 28 continued

Devotion

Growing up my only awareness of Advent was the name of the Episcopal church in downtown Birmingham. Lent was the past tense of lend. Today, Advent, Lent, and all liturgical seasons and traditions provide a path for me to follow in this labyrinth of my faith pilgrimage. Advent commemorates Israel’s wait for His birth and the coming of The Kingdom of God. Advent also reminds us of how we wait for His return and the fulfillment of His Kingdom. On this first Sunday in Advent, both scripture readings predict the coming of The Messiah, Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus foretells of the Savior’s return. He tells his disciples “They will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” Through the prophet Jeremiah, God reveals the incarnate coming of the Messiah to Israel. God says “I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line”. Growing up in the sixties our family would visit my grandparents on Sand Mountain. We traveled up Highway 75 in our 1960 Chevrolet Kingswood nine-passenger station wagon. We would stop along the way at a curb market where my parents would buy a basket of tomatoes and I would get a Grapico. We would ride past barn after barn with rooftops painted to say “See Rock City” or “Jesus Saves. Even then I knew “Jesus Saves” was a proclamation by Sand Mountain “Holy rollers.” As for Rock City, I later got to see it while at Camp Laney one summer. Looking back Rock City was a letdown but those “Holy rollers” were right. Jesus Saves us from our sins. He saves us from ourselves. Even when we defy Him, He forgives us. Once on the right path, we see Him waiting for us. He is here. Christ provides the strength to carry on with His peace to persevere. It is then we get a glimpse of his Kingdom. Emanuel has come. God is with us. Charles Wesley’s Advent hymn “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” proclaims the Good News of God with us, of Emanuel, of our Savior Jesus Christ, the Messiah: “Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.”

November 29 Advent Meditations from the works of Henri J.M. Nouwen - "With Open Hands"

Scripture Isaiah 48:17-18 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you for your own good, who leads you in the way you should go. O that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your prosperity would have been like a river, And your success like the waves of the sea.

Devotion

When you pray, you open yourself to the influence of the Power, which has revealed itself as Love. The Power gives you freedom and independence. Once touched by this Power, you are no longer swayed back and forth by the countless opinions, ideas, and feelings that flow through you. You have found a center for your life that gives you a creative distance so that everything you see, hear and feel can be tested against the source. Christ is the man who in the most revealing way made clear that prayer means sharing the power of God. It enabled him to turn his world around, it gave him the attraction to draw countless men out of the chains of their existence, but it also stirred up aggression which brought him to his death. Christ, who is called the Son of Man and also the Son of God, has shown what it means to pray. In him, God himself became visible for the fall and rise of many.

Reflection We are most ourselves when we are closest to the One in whose image we are made. As we grow in spiritual life, we do not lose our sense of self, but come to see ourselves most clearly in our sharing of the life of Christ.

November 30 Advent Meditations from the works of Henri J.M. Nouwen - "Out of Solitude"

Scripture John 16:16 A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me.

Devotion

We are living in this “little while.” We can live in it creatively when we live it out of solitude, that is, detached from the results of our work. And when we live it with care, that is, crying with those who weep and wail. But it is the expectation of his return which molds our solitude and care into a preparation for the day of great joy. This is what we express when we take bread and wine in thanksgiving. We do not eat bread to still our hunger and drink wine to quench our thirst. We just eat a little bit of bread and drink a little bit of wine, in the realization that God’s presence is the presence of the One who came, but is still to come; who touched our hearts, but has not yet taken all our sadness away. And so when we share some bread and wine together, we do this not as people who have arrived, but as men and women who can support each other in patient expectation until we see him again. And then our hearts will be full of joy that no one can take away from us.

Prayer Lord Jesus, all Christian people are united in their expectation and hope of your return. Grant that we might draw strength in our common celebration of Christmas and that it might bring us a step closer to the complete unity of your followers that you desire.

December 1 Rev. David Seamon, IPC Associate Pastor, Faith Formation

Scripture 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord isn’t slow to keep God’s promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient toward you, not wanting anyone to perish but all to change their hearts and lives."

Devotion There’s waiting and then there’s waiting. Sometimes it's the oh-God-when-will-this-painend kind of waiting. Sometimes it’s just the annoying kind of waiting, like standing in line at the DMV. But there’s another kind of waiting, too, an expectant, body-tingling kind. It’s that kind of waiting I see in my kids every year when we pull out the Advent Calendar. At the end of each day, I watch them as they intently open the little corresponding door on the calendar, an anticipation so much more tangible than the serene lighting of the Advent candles in church. They don’t get excited often about rituals and their longings have far more to do with Christmas Lists to Santa than with the redemption of creation. But as we gather around those little doors each night with hushed expectancy, we all learn a little something about waiting, about longing, about “counting our days” as the Psalmist puts it. Glimpse by glimpse, these Advent calendars slowly dole out the Christmas story in small, seemingly random increments. They don’t tear through it like the frenzy of Christmas morning. They require pauses. They require little bursts of delight. They require patience. Advent is about expecting the coming of Christmas, the remembrance of Jesus’ first coming. But it’s also about expecting Jesus’ second coming. It’s not only about the longing and trepidation of that promise, but also the trust and excitement that it will be fulfilled.

December 1 continued

Since Christ ascended, believers and skeptics alike have been asking “Why isn’t he back yet?” And they’ve wondered whether it might be that he’s not coming back. The author of Second Peter has an answer for them: he’s not back yet, not because he’s slow or uninterested or not coming at all, but because he’s giving you time to pull yourself together before he does.” This advent we have the opportunity to practice seeing him in small ways so we can recognize him when he arrives in big ones. Quinn Caldwell writes: “He’s revealing himself in slow, random-seeming increments, just little glimpses here and there of the story whose end he is. It’s your job to be patient, to pause, to look, to be prepared for little bursts of delight.

Prayer "God, you’ve been gone a long time. The world is ready for you to come back now. But I assume you know what you’re doing, so I guess we can wait till you’re ready. In the meantime, don’t leave us without a little preview now and then, OK? Amen." (Prayer and Devotional adapted from Quinn Caldwell)

December 2 Advent Meditations from the works of Henri J.M. Nouwen - "The Genesee Diary"

Scripture Isaiah 7:14 The Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.

Devotion

We are joyful already now because we know that the Lord will come. Our expectation leads to joy and our joy to a desire to give to others. Real joy always wants to share. It belongs to the nature of joy to communicate itself to others and to invite others to take part in the gifts we have received. Advent is indeed a time of joyful waiting and joyful giving. The period before Christmas has that remarkable quality of joy that seems to touch not only Christians but all who live in our society. When you, as a Westerner, live in another society, such as Japanese society, where Advent and Christmas do not exist as universal events, you realize the lack of this joyful anticipation most painfully. But Advent is not only a period of joy. It is also a time when those who are lonely feel lonelier than during other periods of the year… Surrounded by a loving, supportive community, Advent and Christmas seem pure joy. But let me not forget my lonely moments because it does not take much to make that loneliness reappear. If I am able to remember loneliness during joy, I might be able in the future to remember joy during loneliness and so be stronger to face it and help others face it.

December 3 Paul Simmons, IPC Elder

Scripture John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing has been made that has been made. In him was life and that life was the life of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.

Reflection This passage says it all to me. I’m also reminded of the annual IPC Service of Nine Lessons and Carols when the sanctuary is dark and then lit by all of the candles. That moment creates a feeling for me that brings tears of joy to my eyes. What a moment! The Holy Spirit is present. The light truly shines through the darkness.

December 4 Advent Meditations from the works of Henri J.M. Nouwen - "Lifesigns"

Scripture Psalm 33:2-4 Praise the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.

Devotion Gratitude flows from the recognition that all that is, is a divine gift born out of love and freely given to us so that we may offer thanks and share it with others. The more we touch the intimate love of God, which creates, sustains, and guides us, the more we recognize the multitude of fruits that come forth from love. They are fruits of the Spirit, such as: joy, peace, kindness, goodness, and gentleness. When we encounter any of these fruits, we always experience them as gifts. When, for instance, we enjoy a good atmosphere in the family, a peaceful mood among friends, or a spirit of cooperation and mutual support in a community, we intuitively know that we did not produce it. It cannot be made, imitated, or exported. To people who are jealous, and who would like to have our joy and peace, we cannot give a formula to produce it or a method to acquire it. It is always perceived as a gift, to which the only appropriate response is gratitude.

Prayer God, I thank you for all the good gifts you have given me, and I ask for patience and trust when things don’t turn out the way I think they should.

December 5 Advent Meditations from the works of Henri J.M. Nouwen - "Out of Solitude"

Scripture Isaiah 35:10 The ransomed of the Lord shall return, And come to Zion with singing; Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Devotion Joy and sadness are as close to each other as the splendid colored leaves of a New England fall to the soberness of barren trees. When you touch the hand of a returning friend, you already know that he will have to leave you again. When you are moved by the quiet vastness of a sun-colored ocean, you miss the friend who cannot see the same. Joy and sadness are born at the same time, both arising from such deep places in your heart that you can’t find words to capture your complex emotions. But this intimate experience in which every bit of life is touched by a bit of death can point us beyond the limits of our existence. It can do so by making us look forward in expectation to the day when our hearts will be filled with perfect joy, a joy that no one shall take away from us.

Reflection Christians celebrate the human birth of the infant Jesus knowing full well that he grew to be a man, gave himself up to death for our sake, and was raised from the dead to new life. The mystery of death and life is part of the celebration of Christmas, a celebration that proclaims the victory of life over death. We have not been promised a life from sorrow, but one in which joy will have the last word.

December 6 Advent Meditations from the works of Henri J.M. Nouwen - "Lifesigns"

Scripture Isaiah 2:2-3 In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house… 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.”

Devotion As prayer leads us in the house of God and God’s people, so action leads us back into the world to work there for reconciliation, unity, and peace. Once we have come to know the truth we want to act truthfully and reveal to the world its true nature. All Christian action— whether it is visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, or working for a more just and peace society⁠—is a manifestation of the human solidarity revealed to us in the house of God. It is not an anxious human effort to create a better world. It is a confident expression of the truth that in Christ, death, evil, and destruction have been overcome. It is not a fearful attempt to restore a broken order. It is a joyful assertion that in Christ all order has already been restored. It is not a nervous effort to bring divided people together, but a celebration of an already established unity. This action is not activism. An activist wants to heal, restore, redeem, and re-create, but those acting within the house of God point through their action to the healing, restoring, redeeming, and re-creating presence of God.

Reflection We cannot give ourselves generously to the building of a better world unless we trust deeply in God’s providence, for justice, peace, and love are near to God’s own heart.

December 7 Advent Meditations from the works of Henri J.M. Nouwen - "Compassion"

Scripture Matthew 11:28-29 Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Devotion Prayer requires that we stand in God’s presence with open hands, naked, and vulnerable, proclaiming to ourselves and others that without God we can do nothing. This is difficult in a climate where the predominant counsel is “Do your best and God will do the rest.” When life is divided into “our best” and “God’s rest,” we have turned prayer into a last resort to be used when all our resources are depleted. Then even the Lord has become the victim of our impatience. Discipleship does not mean to use God when we can no longer function ourselves. On the contrary, it means to recognize that we can do nothing at all, but that God can do everything through us. As disciples, we find not some but all of our strength, hope, courage, and confidence in God. Therefore, prayer must be our first concern.

Action Allow God to do something through you today. It might be an act of charity for someone who is in need or a visit to someone who is lonely. Or it might be a willingness to forgive an injury or to accept forgiveness. It might even be something God wants you to do for yourself, like accept the rest God is offering to you. Whatever God accomplishes through you, give heartfelt thanks.

December 8 Janet Ort, IPC Elder

Scripture Songs in Rejoicing and Worship of the Incarnation Magnificat (Song of Mary) OT 1 Samuel 2:1-10 Hannah “My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. There is no one holy like the Lord” NT Magnificat Luke 1:46-55 “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his offspring forever.” NT Nunc Dimittis Song of Simeon Luke 2:29–32 “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation; Which thou hast prepared, before the face of all people. To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel!”

December 8 continued

Devotion Advent is a time of waiting, of preparation for celebration of the Incarnation. Anticipation of spiritual rejoicing and fulfillment rings through our preparation, songs, and reflections. In the early church, it was also preparation for Baptism at Epiphany, another form of incarnation. In those days Advent mirrored the forty days of Lent, not just four weeks. Mary responds not only to the joy of her part in the Incarnation and joy in the Lord her God, but deeply influenced by the Jewish traditions of Hannah in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 and to Elizabeth’s acknowledgment a few verses earlier in Luke. The words of Luke illuminates the joy that should burst forth in song from our hearts and souls in praise. The verses of the “Magnificat” are sung and spoken often through Christian worship. It is a set of verses that manifest the joy of Communion. It is often followed in Evensong and prayer services by the Song of Simeon, the Nunc Dimittis, after he first saw the infant Jesus in the Temple. Simeon responds "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace" and “to be a light to lighten the gentiles!” These are two of the three infancy canticles (praise and thanksgiving songs) and two of four canticles that Luke uses to connect ancient Jewish and early Christian theological themes. As we move through the Season of Advent, think about the power of Magnifying the Lord, Rejoicing in Our Savoir, Filling the Hungry with Good Things, and Being a Light to Enlighten all around us. An Unknown Author offers this Epiphany Blessing that is an echo of the Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis. God has called you out of darkness, into his wonderful light. May you experience his kindness and blessings, and be strong in faith, in hope, and in love. Because you are followers of Christ, who appeared on this day as a light shining in darkness, may he make you a light to all your sisters and brothers. The wise men followed the star and found Christ who is light from light. May you too find the Lord when your pilgrimage is ended.

December 9 Advent Meditations from the works of Henri J.M. Nouwen - "With Burning Hearts"

Scripture Matthew 11:11 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.

Devotion The whole long history of God’s relationship with us human beings is a history of everdeepening communion. It is not simply a history of unities, separations, and restored unities, but a history in which God searches for ever-new ways to commune intimately with those created in God’s own image. Augustine said: “My soul is restless until it rests in you, O God,” but when I examine the tortuous story of our own salvation, I see not only that we are yearning to belong to God, but that God also is yearning to belong to us. It seems as if God is crying out to us: “My heart is restless until I may rest in you, my beloved creation.” From Adam and Eve to Abraham and Sarah, from Abraham and Sarah to David and Bathsheba, and from David and Bathsheba to Jesus and ever since, God cries out to be received by his own. “I created you, I gave you all my love, I guided you, offered you my support, promised you the fulfillment of your hearts’ desires: where are you, where is your response, where is your love? What else must I do to make you love me? I won’t give up, I will keep trying. One day you will discover how I long for your love!”

Prayer Lord Jesus, help us to become more and more aware this Advent of how much you love us and how much you gave to show us that love. When life does not go exactly the way we would want it to, help us to remember that your love can be found in all circumstances. Help us to accept the surprises that always come with our Advent preparations and Christmas celebrations.

December 10

Advent Meditations from the works of Henri J.M. Nouwen - "Gracias: A Latin American Journal"

Scripture Mark 13:35-37 You do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.

Devotion Be alert, be alert, so that you will be able to recognize your Lord in your husband, your wife, your parents, your children, your friends, your teachers, but also in all that you read in the daily newspapers. The Lord is coming, always coming. Be alert to his coming. When you have ears to hear and eyes to see, you will recognize him at any moment of your life. Life is Advent; Life is recognizing the coming of the Lord… Still, I keep making my mistakes. Tonight I went to The Stuntmen, a movie about the making of a film. The movie was so filled with images of greed and lust, manipulation and exploitation, fearful and painful sensations, that it filled all the empty spaces that could have been blessed by the spirit of Advent... why do we keep missing the most obvious signs of God's coming and allow our hearts to be filled with all those things that keep suggesting, not that the Lord is coming, but that nothing will happen unless we make it happen? I hope and pray that Advent will not be filled with stuntmen, but with the spirit of him who invites us to listen carefully to the sounds of the new earth that are manifesting themselves in the midst of the old.

Prayer Good and gracious God, you know how much clutter fills my mind and heart these days. Help me to pay attention to your presence in my life. Help me to look for and find opportunities this Advent to become more aware of how you touch my life each day. May I become ever more a sign of your love in the world. Amen.

December 11 Judy Matthews, IPC Elder

Scripture Philippians 4: 4-7 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Devotion - "Oh God, I Need Thee" I Need Thy Sense of Time Always I have an underlying anxiety about things. Sometimes I am in a hurry to achieve my ends And am completely without patience. It is hard for me to realize that some growth is slow, that all processes are not swift. I cannot always discriminate between what takes time to develop and what can be rushed, because my sense of time is dulled. I measure things in terms of happenings. O to understand the meaning of perspective that I may do all things with a profound sense of leisure—of time. I Need Thy Sense of Order The confusion of the details of living Is sometimes overwhelming. The little things keep getting in my way providing ready-made excuses for failure to do and be what I know I ought to do and be. Much time is spent on things that are not very important while significant things are put into an insignificant place in my scheme of order. I must unscramble my affairs so that my life will become order. O God, I need Thy sense of order. I Need Thy Sense of the Future Teach me to know that life is ever on the side of the future. Keep alive in me the forward look, the high hope, the onward surge. Let me not be frozen either by the past or the present. Grant me, O patient Father, Thy sense of the future without which all life would sicken and die. — Howard Thurman in "Conversations with God: Two Centuries of Prayers by African Americans" 18

December 12 Rev. Melissa Self Patrick, IPC Director of Community Ministries and Outreach

Scripture Zephaniah 3:14-20 A Song of Joy 14 Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! 15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more. 16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. 17 The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you[a] in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing 18 as on a day of festival.[b] I will remove disaster from you,[c] so that you will not bear reproach for it. 19 I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. 20 At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the Lord.

Isaiah 12:2-6 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God[a] is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation. 3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted. 5 Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be known[b] in all the earth. 6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal[c] Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

December 12 continued

Devotion This praise-filled text from Isaiah always brings joy, as I recall assisting my godmother in teaching it to children’s choirs in a Birmingham church long ago. “Surely it is God who saves me! I will trust in him and not be afraid, for the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, and he will be my Savior….” The psalmist-prophet speaks of joy, of strength, of thanksgiving and singing praises to God, even as the anonymous prophet referred to as “Second Isaiah” served God in Babylon during the Israelites’ lonely exile there. Imagine the prophet taking the literary elements of Israel’s songs of thanksgiving, such as we find in Psalm 27 and 138, and infusing into the scroll of Isaiah words of hope and joy to remind God’s people who they were, whom they could trust, and who would redeem them. We are in the midst of a season of singing carols. It is a most joyous time of year and simultaneously a difficult time of year for many of us, and for a myriad of reasons. Grief and loss, ongoing struggles with physical and mental health of ourselves, our family members, friends, and neighbors, plus the ongoing effects of the pandemic weigh us down and blur our focus of God-with-us, Emmanuel. This season can also be one of the best times for us to sing ourselves into believing again the faith we have long proclaimed: Surely it is God who saves me! I will trust in him and not be afraid, for the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, and he will be— and he IS— my Savior! Our Advent hymns of hope and longing will indeed become shouts of joy to the world, and joy within our very being. Try it! And if you would like a large dose of hope and joy, plan to worship with us this morning and return this afternoon, where the IPC Choir will lead us into shouts of joyful thanksgiving.

Prayer

O loving and holy God, thank you for the gifts of song and thanksgiving, especially when we are struggling to even speak the words we believe in our hearts. May what we believe in our hearts, of our belovedness, of our redemption through your Son Jesus Christ, and of our lasting hope and joy through your Holy Spirit, join with the hearts of all we encounter, so that we might be transformed and share your love with everyone we encounter. Amen.

December 13 Advent Meditations from the works of Henri J.M. Nouwen - "Out of Solitude"

Scripture Isaiah 40:9 Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah: “Here is your God!”

Devotion A few years ago I met an old professor at the University of Notre Dame. Looking back on his long life of teaching, he said with a funny twinkle in his eyes; “I have always been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted until I slowly discovered that my interruptions were my work.” That is the great conversation in our life: to recognize and believe that the many unexpected events are not just disturbing interruptions of our projects, but the way in which God molds our hearts and prepares us for his return. Our great temptations are boredom and bitterness. When our good plans are interrupted by poor weather, our peace of mind by inner turmoil, our hope for peace by a new war, our desire for a stable government by a constant changing of the guards, and our desire for immortality by real death, we are tempted to give into a paralyzing boredom or to strike back in destructive bitterness. But when we believe that patience can make our expectations grow, then fate can be converted into a vocation, wounds into a call for deeper understanding, and sadness into a birthplace of joy.

Prayer Dear Lord, this Advent mold my heart in preparation for your return. Amen.

December 14 Advent Meditations from the works of Henri J.M. Nouwen - "The Genesee Diary"

Scripture Isaiah 25:7-8 He will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces…

Devotion The expectation of Advent is anchored in the event of God's incarnation. The more I come in touch with what happened in the past, the more I come in touch with what is to come. The Gospel not only reminds me of what took place but also of what will take place. In the contemplation of Christ's first coming, I can discover the signs of his second coming. By looking back in meditation, I can look forward in expectation. By reflection, I can project; By conserving the memory of Christ's birth, I can progress to the fulfillment of his kingdom. I am struck by the fact that the prophets speaking about the future of Israel always kept reminding their people of God's great works in the past. They could look forward with confidence because they could look backward with awe to Yahweh's great deeds. All this seems extremely important in a time in which our sense of history is so weak… without anchors in its early promises and aspirations, a nation is in danger of drifting and losing direction. And not only a nation but the Church as well. It seems that progress is always connecting with a refreshing of our collective memory. I pray that Advent will offer me the opportunity to deepen my memory of God’s great deeds in time and will set me free to look forward with courage to the fulfillment of time by him who came and is still to come.

December 15 Rev. Susan Clayton, IPC Associate Pastor, Congregational Care and Adult Faith Formation

Scripture Isaiah 9:2,6 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived a land of deep darkness, on them light has shined…For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulders; and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”

Devotion Advent takes place in a season of growing darkness. Each day, the hours of light diminish as the darkness increases. We move toward the longest night of the year, and when it passes, we will start climbing toward the light once again. The music of Advent seems to understand this reality. The Advent hymns are so frequently in a minor key, their tunes plaintive and filled with longing, their lyrics straining toward the coming light, the hope that is about to be born, but is as yet unborn, waiting to burst forth from darkness and mystery. I am grateful for the liturgical season of Advent, for the fact that the Church forces us to pause in Advent, to linger here awhile, because it provides space to those for whom this season is a difficult one, and there are many who struggle during these days of darkness, of minor chords, of waiting and the ache of longing. The culture around us is loud and bright and busy. It has jumped past Advent and arrived squarely at Christmas. People are bustling about, shopping and partying, and decorating. There are lights and wreaths, trees and garland, and brightly-wrapped presents all around. The culture is telling us it is a season of merry-making and parties, of food and drink, of friends and family, of gifts and laughter, of abundance and plenty, and all of us should be filled with good cheer. And so what do we do if what you feel is not so much good cheer, but that ache of longing, a pervasive sadness, a mood that often matches the darkness of the days? Well, the first thing to do is to know you are not alone. For this season can be a particularly poignant one. For so many, this season is one in which grief is ever-present. Whether the void inside of you is for one long-missed or the mourning is fresh and sharp, the empty chair at the table, the empty place in the heart feels even emptier in this season of family gatherings.

December 15 continued

Those who live their lives with the reality of daily loneliness feel even lonelier when all the world is gathering around festive tables of companionship and love and their own table continues to be a table for one. Those who are faced with an illness in their own body or the body of a loved one may struggle to find the energy or the joy of the season. Those who struggle to put food on their family table each day live with the guilt of not being able to provide the televised Christmas morning of an excess of food and gift-giving to their children. Those whose families are broken by divorce so that children are shuttled between homes on Christmas; or whose families are disrupted by addiction or some other turmoil struggle with the lack of the picture-perfect family tableau at this time of year. You see, for many people, this season is a painful one, as they wait in the darkness, longing for the light. I know some of that darkness as well—the darkness of a life that is not exactly as you hoped it would be, prepared for it to be, wish it could be, dreamed it would be. I know what it is to feel the ache of longing in this season, when the soul strains toward the light, when the minor chords seem the only appropriate tune to accompany these days. But I also know this: centuries ago, into the darkness of a cold Bethlehem night, a baby was born who was the purity of all we long for, all we are straining toward, all we hope to find in this life: love, joy, hope, peace, power, justice, truth, grace, mercy, life, light. And because of Jesus, all the darkness we may know in our individual lives and in the life of our broken world has been and will be redeemed. Because of him, every death we experience has met the power of life eternal; every grief we know, every loss that leaves deep wounds in us will find its eternal healing in the promised place of glad reunion; every illness—even those that are unto death—will receive their ultimate healing in the gentle beauty of his wings. Because of him, every aching moment of loneliness is met with his constant companionship. Because of him, every minor chord hymn will end in its own descant of “Alleluia.” Because of him, this season of darkness will always give way to light, because he is the Light of the World and he shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not and will not overcome him. In him is this joy, deeper than any earthly sadness, stronger than any human weakness, this joy the world cannot destroy; in him is this love and this life that never end. So even in the midst of the darkness, we can sing our alleluias to the Giver of this endless, perfect, loving, shining Gift. Gloria in excelsis Deo!

December 16 Advent Meditations from the works of Henri J.M. Nouwen - "Lifesigns"

Scripture Zephaniah 3:12-13 I will leave in the midst of you a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lordthe remnant of Israel; they shall do no wrong and utter no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths.

Devotion For many, Christmas is no longer the day to celebrate the mystery of the birth of God among us, the God hidden in the wounds of humanity. It is no longer the day of the child, awaited with prayer and repentance, contemplated with watchful attentiveness, and remembered in liturgical solemnity, joyful song, and peaceful family meals. Instead, Christmas has become a time when companies send elaborate gifts to their clients to thank them for their business, when post offices work overtime to process an overload of greeting cards, with immense amounts of money are spent on food and drink, and socializing becomes a full-time activity. There are trees, decorated streets, sweet tunes in the supermarkets, and children saying to their parents: “I want this and I want that.” The shallow happiness of busy people often fills the place meant to experience the deep, lasting joy of Emmanuel, God-with-us.”

Action Take a quiet walk today in the presence of Emmanuel, God-with-us. If you can't do that, just close your eyes and breathe steadily and slowly for at least 10 minutes. God is there, sustaining you just as you are breathing keeps you alive, whether you pay attention to it or not. God is always there, but we have to take the time to notice.

December 17 Bill Horton, IPC Elder

Scripture Psalm 130 1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. 2 Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! 3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered. 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6 my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem. 8 It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

Devotion Waiting is hard work, these days. We watch the Amazon van roll past our house without stopping, and headlines about “supply chain disruptions” flash before our eyes. We think, “That package was supposed to be here today! What if it doesn’t get here before Christmas?” and we check the tracking number again and again. We think about the deadlines we have to meet, and how much more there is to do, and we hit “refresh” over and over on our email because we can’t move forward until we have that missing piece of information and the end of the workday is drawing near.

December 17 continued

We wait at the airport gate, heading home on the last flight out. The plane is ready, but the crew hasn’t arrived yet; bad weather in Chicago, you know. We scroll through our phones, looking and looking for another flight even though we know there isn’t one, and we grow anxious thinking of all the things we’ll have to reschedule. It’s hard work to be in the present, waiting. We look back at the things we might have done earlier, so we wouldn’t have to be waiting now. We focus on all the things we still have to do tomorrow, to make up for the time wasted on waiting today. And if someone says, kindly, “You know, there’s nothing you can do about it now; you just need to have a little patience and wait,” well, that might just push us over the edge. Advent, though, is all about waiting. More than that, it’s about waiting in the present moment—not rushing, not regretting, not fretting about the past or what we still have to do. It’s about waiting with hope, waiting in the very present awareness that what we are waiting on is the Lord Himself, the Lord who comes with forgiveness, the Lord who comes with steadfast love, the Lord who sends His Son to us with great power to redeem. And when we are in that present moment, when our focus is not on what we haven’t done and what we still need to do, but rather on the gift of grace that comes to us completely out of God’s love— that is, perhaps, when we realize that the waiting itself is a blessing in this season of Advent. Because that waiting gives us time to hope, to hope for that gift of redeeming grace, and hope, we are assured, does not disappoint us.

Prayer Our Father, we pray that You will sanctify our waiting to us during this Advent season, that You will slow us down and fill us with a very present awareness of the gift that we are waiting for, the gift that you have promised us. For as our souls wait, we hope in Your word, with confidence that we do not wait or hope in vain. In Christ’s name, amen.

December 18 Advent Meditations from the works of Henri J.M. Nouwen - "Lifesigns"

Scripture Matthew 1:20-21 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.

Devotion Is it possible in the midst of this fear-provoking world to live in the house of love and listen to the questions raised by the Lord of love? Or are we so accustomed to living in fear that we have become deaf to the voice that says: “Do not be afraid”? This reassuring voice, which repeats over and over again: “Do not be afraid, have no fear” is the voice we most need to hear. This voice was heard by Zechariah when Gabriel, the angel of the Lord, appeared to him in the temple and told him that his wife Elizabeth would bear a son; this voice was heard by Mary when the same angel entered her house in Nazareth and announced that she would conceive, bear a child, and name him Jesus; this voice was also heard by the woman who came to the tomb and saw that the stone was rolled away. “Do not be afraid, do not be afraid, do not be afraid.” The voice uttering these words sounds all through history as the voice of God's holy messengers, be they angels or saints. It is the voice that announces a whole new way of being, a being in the house of love, the house of the Lord.

Prayer Dear Jesus, I long to be free of fear. I know that you have the power to cast out my fear if you wish. If it be your will, help me to hear the voice of your angel saying, “Do not be afraid.”

December 19

Catherine Goudreau, IPC Director of Children & Youth Ministries

Scripture Matthew 22:36-40 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Devotion Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent, the day we light the candle of love—love that lived for the sake of others. As we wait for the birth of our Savior, we are reminded that Jesus came to show us a more excellent way, the way of love. Jesus showed the world what true love looks like without restrictions or barriers, without conditions or exclusions. Jesus showed us love for all people. Today we are reminded that God loved us so much that God sent this perfect gift so that we might know what love looks like with skin on. EmmanuelGod with us, love with us. The Work of the People says it this way: The only way we can live is through love. Once we reconcile the fact that love is difficult, but it’s the only thing of value in life, at that point, we love, period. A period is a dot at the end of a sentence that lets the reader know that there is nothing you can do beyond that dot except what was stated right before the dot occurred.” Jesus was love, period. Many of us know these Advent scriptures well. We know, trust, and believe that God is going to do this incredible thing again. God invites us to not miss the point this year. If we believe these stories, we are called to live them. We need to be as Jesus was, love, period. What does love, period look like in your life? If you’re not sure where to begin just look at the stories of Jesus who was Emmanuel, God with us. Love with us. Love that included, welcomed, and extended the table. Love that healed the sick and fed the hungry. Love that emptied itself for the sake of others.

December 19 continued

I was talking with a friend recently about the line from O Holy Night: “a thrill of hope. The weary world rejoices.” In unison, we both said, “I cry every time.” In the midst of Advent joy, many are weary. Some people are living this Advent season with unbearable grief. Others do not know where their next meal will come from. Some are lonely. Some are paralyzed by the need to be perfect and have everything just right. The weary world is longing for a reason to rejoice, for a thrill of hope. We know the reason to rejoice is coming. We wait with eager longing for Christmas morning when we can declare that the one who is love is born into the world once again. But as we wait, may we prepare our hearts to be love as well—to take that love and pour it out for the whole world. Take that story, and shout it out for the world to hear. A thrill of hope. The weary world rejoices. Love, period.

Prayer Holy God, as we wait with eager longing for the birth of your son, help us to embody love the way that Jesus did. Love, period. Amen.

December 20 John Burton, IPC Elder

Scripture Luke 1:26-38 26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." 34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God." 38 Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

Devotion The angel Gabriel sent by God came near To Mary in a town in Galilee. In greeting her the angel calmed her fear And gave her news of glory soon to be.

“Fear not!” he said, “As God has favored you, You will conceive— a King! To reign for all.” She knew not what she was supposed to do, But listened, listened to his puzzling call.

Then Mary, resolute at last, did see That she would be the one to bear a son: “So here I am. God’s servant let me be To mother Jesus Christ; it has begun.”

Though we perhaps may doubt, or find it odd Yes! Nothing is impossible with God.

Prayer O God, lead us forward in this Advent season to surprise and mystery, as we prepare for the arrival of the King. Help us to know that nothing is impossible through You. Amen.

December 21 Margaret Cobbs, IPC Elder

We are in the season of Advent. Advent is a time of waiting, waiting for the birth of Jesus. Many people in the Bible have also waited and watched. Can you remember anyone who waited? The prophets waited and listened to God with their whole heart. They also shared God’s promises with other people. Today’s scripture from the book of Luke describes a young woman who waited and watched, named Mary.

Scripture Luke 1:26-38 The Birth of Jesus Foretold 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”[a] 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom, there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”[b] 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[c] will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Devotion Did you hear what happened at the beginning? Was Mary prepared to say yes as soon as Gabriel spoke to her? Actually, we read: “But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God”. Sometimes we are not ready to say "Yes" right away to what God is calling us to do, but with time and prayer, we can become willing.

December 21 continued

Did you hear any names? We read, “you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David.” Can you imagine how Mary must have felt? An angel has told her that not only will she bear a Son, but “of his kingdom there will be no end” Instead of peppering the angel with questions, as most of us are inclined to do when something difficult is asked of us, Mary replies, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” We may not always feel that we are ready with an immediate “Yes” to God’s plan, or to life’s unexpected challenges and events, but in this time of waiting and preparation, we can pray for the willingness to accept His plan for us over time.

Prayer Dear God, Help us to take a moment today to put ourselves in Mary’s shoes and to imagine her surprise and initial disbelief at Gabriel’s greeting. Helps us also to strive for Mary’s spirit of willingness and devotion, for as we read in the book of Luke, “nothing will be impossible with God.” Amen

December 22 Advent Meditations from the works of Henri J.M. Nouwen - "The Genesee Diary"

Scripture Luke 1:38 Then Mary said, "Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

Devotion In Mary we see all the beauty of Advent concentrated. She is the one in whom the waiting of Israel is most fully and most purely manifested; she is the last of the remnant of Israel for whom God shows his mercy and fulfills his promises; she is the faithful one who believed that the promise made to her by the Lord would be fulfilled; she is the lowly handmaid, the obedient servant, the quiet contemplative. She indeed is the most prepared to receive the Lord… The Abbot of Genesee monastery said that we should desire not on the first coming of Christ in his lowly human gentleness but also his second coming as the judge of our lives. I sensed that the desire for Christ’s judgment is a real aspect of holiness and realized how little that desire was mine… Now I see better how part of Christian maturation is the slow but persistent deepening of fear to the point where it becomes desire. The fear of God is not in contrast with his mercy. Therefore, words such as fear and desire, justice, and mercy have to be relearned and reunderstood when we use them in our intimate relationship with the Lord.

December 23 Advent Meditations from the works of Henri J.M. Nouwen - "Out of Solitude"

Scripture Luke 1:68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.

Devotion Expectation brings joy to the center of our sadness and the loved one to the heart of our longings. The one who stayed with us in the past and will return to us in the future becomes present to us in that precious moment in which memory and hope touch each other. At that moment we can realize that we can only expect someone because he has already touched us… Is God present or is God absent? Maybe we can say now that in the center of our sadness for his absence we can find the first signs of his presence. And that in the middle of our longings we discover the footprints of the One who created them. It is in the faithful waiting for the loved one that we know how much he has filled our lives already. Just as the love of a mother for her son can grow while she is waiting for his return, and just as lovers can rediscover each other during long periods of absence, so also our intimate relationship with God can become deeper and more intimate while we wait patiently in expectation for his return.

Prayer Lord Jesus, during this season of preparation, we have tried to look for true satisfaction in your Kingdom, not the kings of this world. As we began to celebrate your coming into the world, help us to cherish the good things of life as we look forward to your coming among us again.

December 24 JD Tyler, IPC Director of Youth Faith Formation

Scripture Matthew 1:18-25 ESV 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Devotion Generations of silence have been broken as this angel brings a new word to Joseph. A sudden message comes from Israel’s God in the midst of the personal uncertainty, fear, and scandal overshadowing Joseph and Mary’s betrothal. But this message from Jehovah is not one of condemnation but hope. To Joseph, the angel says, “do not fear.” What is happening now is by design, God is working in ways you can’t imagine. The child being formed in Mary’s womb is none other than the long-awaited savior of Israel. You shall call his name Jesus for he will bring salvation to the world, breaking the ancient chains which bind all hearts. This message to Joseph is the same to us today. Beloved of Independent Presbyterian Church, do not fear. Though all may be spiraling out of control around you, Immanuel is not far off. God is still in our midst, working and weaving redemption through all things. In this time of Advent, don’t set your eyes on what is seen. Fix them on what is unseen and anchor your hope in the promise that just as Jesus came to Joseph and Mary 2000 years ago, so too he will come again. Christ’s second advent is just on the horizon and he will finish his work of making all things new.

December 24 continued

Prayer Lord, In the demands and distractions and disappointments of life in this world, it can be easy for us to lose sight of our purposes. The messages of the world and the doubts of our hearts can speak so loudly, and it can be so easy to look for pragmatic solutions to the challenges we face. We can put our functional trust in our own effort or find comfort in fleeting things. But in the midst of all these things - good, bad, or otherwise - you have spoken an eternal Word, and that Word pronounces good news for weary souls, hope for despairing hearts, and forgiveness for guilty sinners. You declare to us in Jesus that salvation has come, and is coming. That our pardon is secured, and our hope is found. So forgive us and give us fresh ears to hear the good news of your salvation and renewed eyes to see the goodness and greatness of our Savior. Restore our hearts, enliven them. Warm them where they have grown cold and reawaken those eternal longings for your will to be done, fully and completely, on earth as it is in heaven. During this Advent season, we ask, with fear and trembling, that our hunger for your presence would deepen so that our hope in your promises will abound. Help us to long to gaze upon our Savior, and help us to yearn for the salvation he offers and the deliverance he will bring. Amen.

December 25 Rev. Kevin J. Long, IPC Senior Pastor

Scripture John 1:1-5,14 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. 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.

Devotion When our kids were younger, one of my favorite parts of Christmas morning was watching their faces when they walked into our family room and saw all their presents. It was a look of wonder and excitement, of joy and amazement. Sometimes they danced with glee. Sometimes they just started whooping and squealing with delight. It is the reaction of people who have discovered something almost too wonderful to be true. I suspect that most of us adults have lost the wonder of Christmas. We get so caught up in all the parties and the decorations and the shopping. Oh, the shopping. It seems that’s what Christmas has become all about: getting the best sale price for our most coveted items. Has the miracle of the Incarnation really been reduced to that?

December 25 continued

Certainly, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is a wonder that we can scarcely wrap our heads around. But sometimes I think we have lost the wonder of the Word actually becoming flesh in the first place, of God himself coming down among us as a little baby. God became one of us! And in Jesus Christ, God is with us, to the end of the age. And if we really believed that, then maybe Christmas should be less about shopping and more about whooping and dancing, about celebrating good news that is almost too wonderful to be true. But it is true! And maybe we should let the rest of the world in on the secret. After all, God wants to see all of His children’s faces light up in wonder at the good news of the Word becoming flesh. “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 1:14) Thanks be to God! Now, let’s celebrate!

Prayer Gracious Lord God, Jesus said that whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it. As we celebrate the birth of your Son, make us all like little children, that we might rediscover the wonder of Christmas. Fill us with the joy and hope of knowing that in Christ, you are always with us. Thank you for this greatest of gifts. Through Christ Jesus, the Prince of Peace, we pray. Amen.