Advent 2022

Y M C O

Advent Devotional 2022

ADVENT

ADVENT IS A LITURGICAL SEASON

that is all about active waiting and preparation. It's about tidying up and getting ready for "company" to arrive-Emmanuel, God with us. Our current culture would have us believe that our preparation should be stringing up Christmas lights, hanging greenery, and purchasing lots of stuff. Scripture, however, tells a different story.

This year we invite you to join us in an Advent season that is about internal reflection and the preparation of our souls for Christ to enter in. When Jesus comes this Christmas, what will he say to us? What will he ask of us? How does his presence change our lives and the way we act in the world? Through lectionary readings, short meditations, and reflection questions, the staff of Youth Mission Co, along with other friends and colleagues, will discuss all these things and more. We hope you will find this devotion calendar a helpful and meaningful part of your Advent.

Advent Devotion: November 27, 2002

Isaiah 1:1-9

Learning things the hard way

I was about 6 years old when my father and I were standing in the backyard He was preparing to light up our charcoal grill and cook some burgers for dinner. He lit the match and noticed that I was intrigued and mesmerized by the little flame on top of the little stick. He said to me, “Do you want to touch it? I will let you if you want to.”

This surprised me, because I remembered him saying that fire was dangerous and that it could hurt you Looking back on it, part of me questions the judgment of my dad to let his son burn himself But another part of me totally gets it Touching the flame would have at worst caused me a 1st degree burn, but it would have taught me a life lesson…to be really careful when it comes to fire. Sometimes we learn things the easy way. Sometimes we learn them the hard way.

When I became a parent, I found it hard to watch my children learn things the hard way When they were toddlers it was my job to not let them wander into the road or eat something that would make them sick. But as they got older I began to understand that sometimes they wouldn’t truly learn the lesson until they experienced the natural consequences of their actions.

The book of Isaiah opens with the prophet speaking for God, essentially saying, “I raised you better than this!” “Why do you keep having to learn these things the hard way?! The lessons to be learned are about turning their backs on God, doing evil, and dealing corruptly. The consequences would result in being conquered by the Babylonians and exile.

Here at the beginning of Advent, as we prepare for Christ to enter in, we are invited to consider the things we have learned the easy way, and the things we are learning the hard way, both individually and collectively. From the state of the planet to the plight of the most vulnerable among us, we still have lessons to learn, and we have invitations from God to change our ways.

Reflection Questions:

1. What are the lessons you have learned the hard way in your life. What lessons are you learning right now?

2. In what ways do we perpetuate a society that, like Isaiah told ancient Israel, deals corruptly and forsakes God and God’s ways? What is one thing you and I can do differently?

~Bill Buchanan

Advent Devotion: November 28, 2022

Isaiah 1:10-20

Posers, Prophets, and People

One of the gifts of working in youth ministry is having some access to the slang of youth culture. A decade or so ago I heard some young people using the term “poser.” I learned that it referred to someone who presented themselves as if they were a certain way, when they really weren’t. For instance, someone might have acted like they were fans of a band, but when they couldn’t name three songs by that band, they were clearly posers

In our text from Isaiah, God is calling out Israel for being posers. God doesn’t want their sacrifices, their incense, or any of their pageantry. That’s because God knows that they aren’t serious about being a people that really live by God’s ways. How does God know this? Because of the way they treat other people Here in Isaiah chapter 1, just like in Micah 6 among many other places, God makes it very clear: if you really want to honor me, you will show it in the way you care for others, particularly the most vulnerable among you.

In this season of Advent, we have an opportunity to reflect on how our faith is being exhibited (or not) in our daily lives More than the Christmas greenery in the sanctuary, more than the ornaments on the Christmon tree, God delights in our living justly and our acts of compassion for those experiencing hardship. Reflection Questions:

In what ways are we being posers? In what ways do we claim one thing, but really live another?

In Isaiah God tells us to “...cease to do evil and learn to do good, seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, and plead for the widow.” What does it look like for us to do that in our everyday lives?

~Bill Buchanan

Luke 20:9-18

What’s Yours is Mine…

You may have heard the phrase, what’s yours is mine, and what’s mine is yours If so, you’ve probably also heard the other version, what’s yours is mine, and what’s mine is… mine!

This other version seems to be the attitude of the tenants in the parable Jesus tells. Of course, the vineyard was never really theirs, but it seemed to them like it was theirs Likewise, it can sure feel like all this is ours: the earth, our property, our portfolios In reality, it’s all a gift from God The universe, and everything and everyone that inhabits it, is part of the creation of God. As such, it belongs to God and it all has been put into our collective care as tenants.

When I think about how this parable could have gone, it’s quite a pity. Just imagine if the tenants finally said, “What were we thinking?! Here is your portion of the produce of your vineyard In fact, we’d love to hear what else you have in mind for this vineyard so we can enjoy it together!” The owner gives the tenants multiple chances to come to their senses. Likewise our God, who is just but also compassionate, is waiting for us to have a change in our hearts and minds too.

May this time of Advent be an opportunity for us to remember whose vineyard this really is By learning and practicing how to curb our greed may we more fully participate in the harvest of the vineyard… a harvest we all are meant to enjoy! Reflection Questions:

What are things in your life that you have assumed are “yours” when, really, they are gifts to be shared? What would it look like to take those things and give “a portion” of them to God?

Bill Buchanan

Bill Buchanan is the Executive Director of the non-profit ministry Youth Mission Co as well as an ordained pastor of the Presbyterian Church (USA). He lives in Asheville, NC.

Advent Devotion: November 30, 2022

Luke 20:19-26

Motivation

There has been some excellent exegetical work done by New Testament scholars highlighting the finer points of this story and just how clever Jesus is here For instance, the fact that Jesus has his questioners present a Roman coin with Caesar's face on it, implicates them of possessing a graven image of a false God. Besides that, the answer Jesus gives would also remind them that in reality the world and all that is in it belongs to God, not the Roman Empire.

But I want to focus on another facet of this story– the motivation to confront Jesus with this question in the first place The whole point of these spies approaching Jesus publicly is out of the spite and the pride of the scribes and chief priests. They previously had been trying to publicly bring Jesus down a notch, and every single time he always got the best of them. So this time they sent others to try and bring Jesus down with a trapping question that would either get him in trouble with the crowd or with Rome

It’s so striking to me what we will do out of spite and pride… and how it typically backfires on us. Compare this story to the story told in John 3 about Nicodemus, also a Pharisee and Jewish leader, but who comes to Jesus earnestly wanting to talk further and learn from him. When I think about my own social location in this life, as a straight, cis, fully-abled, white male living in America (not to mention an ordained pastor), I find myself having a lot more in common with the scribes, priests, and Pharisees than I do with the poor rural Galileans that Jesus proclaimed were blessed. As such, Jesus has some clear words of caution and critique for people like me. I can choose to let my pride dictate my reactions, or I can choose to come to Jesus earnestly and try to learn and grow. When Christ enters in, and tells us something that is hard to hear, how will we respond?

When was the last time you acted out of a motivation of pride or spite? How did that go? What might have happened if you had acted out of a different motivation?

What are some texts from the gospels that you, in your social location, find hard to hear? How might you approach Jesus for further conversation, like Nicodemus did?

Advent Devotion: December 1, 2022

A Change of perspective

Luke 20:27-40

27Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him 28and asked him a question, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 29Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; 30then the second 31and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. 32Finally the woman also died. 33In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her "

34Jesus said to them, "Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; 35but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage 36Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive." 39Then some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you have spoken well." 40For they no longer dared to ask him another question

Most Gospel stories that start with some people came to Jesus to ask him a question are stories in which powerful folks are trying to trap Jesus or make him look bad in public This story from Luke seems to start out that same way These Sadducees, who don’t believe in resurrection, come to Jesus with this pretty unlikely theoretical scenario about a woman marrying a series of 7 brothers, presumably to point out a problem with believing in the resurrection of the dead Jesus responds by zooming out He basically says, “It doesn’t work like that in the afterlife ” He causes them to see that there is something beyond, something bigger that isn’t bound by the way we understand things right now My favorite part of the story is the response by the Sadducees Instead of them sulking away grumbling and hatching a future plot to take down Jesus, some of the scribes simply answer, “Teacher, you have spoken well ” They recognized his wisdom and authority and made a choice not to take another shot at him

In this season of Advent, when we are preparing for Christ to enter in, I hope that, even in our most skeptic moments, we can open ourselves to Jesus widening the frame of our mind and our heart In this world it is easy to get jaded, to get cynical But Jesus has a larger perspective, and engaging in the teachings of Christ we can get glimpses of that wider understanding When it happens, may we also be able to say, “Teacher, you have spoken well ” But unlike these Sadducees, I hope it will lead us to ask him even more questions!

When is a time when you had your perspective widened or changed? How might God be using you to change or widen the perspectives of others to catch a glimpse of The Kin-dom of God?

Luke 21:1-4

Poverty and abundance

"The following are poems created by participants of the Asheville Poverty Initiative, a non-profit ministry where many of our visiting AYM groups serve. To read all of the poems, visit the December 2 link on the Advent page.

She’s alone most of the time since she lost her husband. It’s quiet where she lives, how she lives, and the days are long. Her work is solitary. So it’s good to get out. Truth is, she’s not thinking of the money at all, of the two small coins she rubs together, hidden in her pocket. She’s thinking of the company, the people she’s about to see, who all know her by name. The young man who gives her a hug. The boy and his mother who play in the garden, the smart chess players, dogs scuffing and rough housing under the table. She drops her coins in the offering without a second thought and heads over to see her friends and catch up on the news. Truth is, she’s not foolish, or a martyr like people like to think. She just knows there is enough to go around. There is more than enough when they all come together. The birds visit the feeder and drop food on her head and she laughs. A woman hands her a warm cup of coffee. She joins everyone at the table. The thinness of her life grows and glows in the wake of such abundance.

-Leslee

Reflection

“No one gives more than the one who leaves with nothing.” -Steve

Widow with all she has to give *clink’’* clanque* Two copper coins. It’s just what that is. perhaps to His notion, “All I have to give.”

Yet when I reflect back.

I can’t help but ignore the lack. You see, there is much richness in my life. Those two copper coins, are no sacrifice

I’ll look around; a congregation of people, food, art, LIFE: LOVE And know I have found the fortune that I dove.

-Melenn

When have you given your all without giving it a second thought?

What seems the simplest gift may be the largest possible for the giver. A gift can look like, or be a sacrifice of someone's well-being:

I give something of myself with these coins. I still have breath, and am glad to have something to share. I hope this gift will be used for the good of someone who needs it or the community, yet this may or may not happen. I honor my husband with this, as he would probably want. I forgive those who may take advantage of my poverty for their benefit. God wants me and all I have learned. Jesus, I want to follow you.

-Jody

They’re all laughing

But all my old gods come here with me: reflection and fertility and warmth and war to greet, welcome the newcomer I don’t bring them out often

I’m not supposed to Shame runs so rampant here, cackling around the room assuming assessing condemning the tall men dressed in finery ruffling their feathers standing in their circles hungry eyes scouring the crowd every tithe bearer they are their own, I hope, but their slick black judgment fills and corrodes these old stone halls

That’s why I’m here, really with my old friends, guides of generations, they are plenty familiar with this newcomer’s ways faith, acceptance, cooperation they know the only true shame is when your neighbors go cold and hungry The only true pride held in knowing we are all well fed I place my coppers on the altar they slide to the side of the growing pile the newcomer smiles, the old ones dance

All our eyes, meeting, feel the same truth to give, receive, release to let the world flow around and through the realm of connection, love. heaven on earth it’s always been here when we let ourselves see it.

-David

Goinwithallyourheart

ThisistheDivineart

Anysoulthatissmart Maketheleapandstart Whatisthefruitofgivingall? Thetreesinthefall.

Itmayseemscarytoleave myselfbare, whatwillIhave whenthere’snothingtospare? aflamelingersthere.

-Nathan

Togive theweightoftwocoppercoins comparesnottothecourage ofthegiverwhowith emptypocketspoursfaith unendinggracethegivergivesgoodness amonopolyoverthe madwithatossthat changestime thesoundsubtlyechoes againsttheothershinycoins towanderwithouttheweight ofthings tobe,togive istolive.

-Kristalyn

Ihaveheardthingsaboutthismiracleteacher, amazingrabbiforawhile. Sincemyhusbandpassed,leavingmewithourtwo youngchildren,ashelterwithbarewalls.,Ihave beenlivingindespair.What’sthepointoflivingifallI feelisdesperation,brokennessandpain?

AneighborknockedonmydoorwhileIwas kneadingdoughfordinnerlastnight.“Jesus willbehangingoutonthemountjustoutsideof town,we’regoingtocatchhim,maybehecanbless usandgiveussomegoodpreachings.”

“Iamnotsureaboutthat,Ihaveacleaningjobinthe morning.Ineedthatmoney.”

AsIlayonthefloorwithmysons,thewordsfrom thatteacherJesuscametomymind.Allofasudden Ifeltmybodylighten,myheadclearer.Idon;tknow why,butIdecidedtogoseeitformyselftomorrow.

-AJ

12 Baskets Writing Collective

The following is a poem created by the 12 Baskets Writing Collective, aka Cheese Alliance, on November 4th We all come from faith different traditions, not all of them Christian Seeking common ground, mining the liturgy for today, we noticed themes of lament, sorrow, exile, travel and newness Taking a line from the Psalm, we each began our writing with the line, “Sing a new song ” After we wrote our pieces, we passed around a paper in which we each contributed a line, and folded the paper so that only the last line written was visible This is the poem we made together:

November 4, 2022“Sing a New Song” first line and write, the collaborative passing of the paper and writing a line based (only) on the last line written

New Song. New Life.

Sing a new song for in this time we celebrate the virtues of love seeking, seeking - for what I know not - now Know yourself - see yourselfOld songs are cool. Your chest filled with roots, grounded and strong A voice trembling, travelling, long and long harsh, discordant

You’ve left behind a home - nest. Soon you will find peace. Where will you be when you’re finally free? Plunging deep to bedrock like an old oak tree, leaves brilliant in their dying, beauty abundant in the falling. . .

I’m letting go and I’m grieving in the slow destruction of the trees and the flowers.

So I’ll set the flow and be breathing, the construction of the freedom in the hours

I’ll set sight hard and be healing, the mother, the cups, the towers the towers will crumble while the people will rise God sighs, everyone dies, until love crucifies every cell roots and composts and dies, and the new life arrives.

Meditation: Try this. Get a piece of paper and write: “Sing a new song.” as your first line. Set a timer for 7-10 minutes. See where it takes you.

Isaiah 5:1-7 Do Better

I don’t know much about the wine making process. I know it involves growing grapes, pressing grapes, fermentation, corking, and that’s about it What I do know is how to enjoy the outcome of all that hard work!

Today’s scripture from Isaiah is titled the Song of the Vineyard. It is a parable describing a little bit of the wine making process. Of course the true meaning of the story has nothing at all to do with grapes or wine. It’s more about how God has given us everything we need to lead fruitful lives And instead of living those lives as God intended, we return thanks by living lives of violence, injustice, and oppression.

God knows that we can’t live perfect lives. This scripture reminds us that what is asked of us is that we strive to do the very best we can with the blessings that God has provided So basically, do better Live better Be better

Challenge:

Take a close look at your corner of the world and see if you can identify one area where you can do better to make a difference. It’s ok to start small. Remember, this is a process We just need to start

Prayer:

God of mercy, Thank you for giving us everything we need to live justice filled lives. Help us do better with the gifts you have given us. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen ~Janie Bruce

Advent Devotion: December 5, 2022

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Thrill of the Unknown

Do you know that feeling you get on a roller coaster ride? It’s such a mix of emotions The anticipation as you see the ride for the first time The anxiety that builds as you wait in line The comfort you get as you buckle in and the attendant completes a safety check. And finally the slow ascensions followed by the rush of the ups and downs. It’s thrilling.

Today’s text from 1 Thessalonians is a reminder that many parts of our lives often feel like different parts of that thrilling roller coaster ride Sure there are the obvious ups and downs, but it's more than that There are emotions, often big emotions that accompany every stage of our lives. Excitement, curiosity, anxiety, hope, fear, and comfort are all part of everyday life. It’s ok to have all of those emotions.

When thinking about Advent and the anticipation of the coming of Christ, I feel all of these emotions I’m excited to see how it happens I’m curious to know when it will happen. I have anxiety about doing enough before it happens. I have hope that God’s will will be final. I have fear of these unkowns. But most of all, I have comfort in knowing God’s grace will be complete in the coming of Jesus Christ.

Challenge: Where are you emotionally this season? Take time today to recognize and feel the emotion of the day. Acknowledge and accept the emotions of the season.

Prayer: God of comfort, Thank you for the security you provide in a world full of ups and downs Forgive us for when we try to make our own way. And help us to find peace in the unknown. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

~Janie Bruce

Luke 21:29-38 Signs of Hope

Those who know me know that I have whatever the opposite of a green thumb is. I have tried countless times to have green things around Inside, outside, lots of water needed, no water needed, it doesn’t matter I just can’t do it

Five years ago when we moved into the house where my family currently lives we could tell that the landscaping had once been very meticulously cared for. It needed lots of attention to be restored to its former glory. I knew immediately that it was more than I could handle We brought in a professional for help His suggestion “tear it all out and start over!” However, he did suggest keeping what looked to me to be something from a haunted fairytale illustration. It looked like a mess of twisted sticks sprouting from the middle of the yard. But his advice was to “Leave it alone, wait, and watch. You’ll be thrilled soon enough.” So that’s what we did. The next Spring, sure enough, green sprouts started to form. The leaves grew larger and green buds appeared By the middle of summer we had a tree full of figs More figs than we could eat! Neighbors and family came and harvested and there were still plenty of figs for the birds and the bugs! This process has repeated itself each year. I leave it alone and the figs reappear.

Today’s scripture from Luke uses a parable of a fig tree to remind us that there is certainty in the ripening of the fig tree each year and there is certainty in the coming of God’s Kingdom Hope comes around again and again just like the figs in my front yard. Neither have anything to do with my ability to be a good person, a good farmer, or anything other than a child of God.

Challenge: What signs of God’s hope do you see around you?

Prayer: God of hope, Thank you for reminders of your faithfulness Help us recognize your work and be led to incorporate those practices into our own lives In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. ~Janie Bruce

Isaiah 6:1-13 The Main Thing

In my life and in my career I have spent many, many hours listening to children tell stories Stories that sometimes are short, simple and quick to the point But more often than not stories that are full of imaginative descriptions that could fill a bucket and have no real bearing on the story itself. I have to admit that I often get lost in the details of the story and have to take a step back to find the main objective of the story. Sometimes I just really want to know why “the dragon swooped in with cotton candy in its hand and landed in the sandbox” instead of focusing on the point of the story

This passage from Isaiah is so full of imagery and information that it’s a little difficult to take it all in. And it’s certainly easy to get lost in all of the details rather than focusing on the main objective: when you recognize God in your life, your life changes.

I truly believe that when a person fully understands the grace of God, there is no turning back. You are changed. This is when you have to answer the call. This is when you become a disciple. There are more speculations and questions than we will ever be able to ask, answer or understand. But as Stephen Covey said, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”

Challenge: Are you lost in the details? How can you stay focused on the main thing?

Prayer: God of light, Thank you for making a way for us in this world Forgive us for not opening ourselves to fully understand your gifts. Help us live our lives as an answered call. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

~Janie Bruce

Advent Devotion: December 8, 2022

Psalm 126

For the Glory of God

I believe that this is a moment where I can be completely honest thanks to the anonymity of a computer screen I am an anxious person I don't think I'll be alone when I say more often than not, I catastrophize situations My failures more than my successes keep me awake at night. I spend more analyzing a situation for how I could have been better or done better. I bring this up because a moment from a pastoral care unit really changed my negative perception of my own personal failures.

They had the privilege of working as a chaplain intern at the RMR Core Center in the medical district Chicago, IL for my field site during seminary. This facility's primary function was to provide dignified medical care to people living with HIV/ AIDs. I was there for three months before anyone show up to one of the events, I organized for community engagement. That one person did stay, and we talked, shared stories, laughed so hard I ended up crying and then they left

There was no thank you, no promise that they will come again. Just a good oldfashioned Midwestern ‘welp’ plus knee slap and they were out of the door. After they left and I had my debrief I honestly told my site coordinator I felt like a failure. I know what you're thinking, and I promise you I was devastated when I recovered a response after what felt like forever They asked if I wanted them to listen to me or respond I asked them to respond I was surprised at first because my site coordinator did not try to console me, in fact they told me it was good I felt like a failure. They said because I already felt like a failure the benchmark for success has been set to a manageable level. That meant from here on out I could rejoice in the little things.

One person was more than none That was one person reached which was more than yesterday so why not rejoice in the little things God has given you?

What are the small victories that go without rejoicing?

In what ways can God use what we deem as “failures” as means for reflection and thanksgiving?

Advent Devotion: December 9, 2022

Luke 22:14-30

Let us break bread and eat full stop

In 2014, I was 22 years old going on 23 living full time on my own in a foreign country drastically different than my place of origin. I had recently graduated from college and went out on a limb and followed what I believed to be my call to ministry I participated in a year-long service program called the YAV (Young Adult Volunteer program) through the PC(USA) in partnership with World Mission.

Through this program myself and three other young adults would live and learn alongside a culture and a people that invited us to experience God through a different lens I had the privilege of working and living in Daejeon, South Korea One aspect of our year long program was to have a homestay over Seollal which is a festival and national holiday commemorating the first day of the Korean calendar. Seollal is one of the more important traditional holidays in Korea and it's a specific time for families to come together and to offer blessings for good fortune in the year to come. One thing about Korean society that I think should be known is that guests take a place of honor and if you have a foreign guest, they have a higher level of honor and require more respect even if they are younger than you.

Of course, this is an oversimplification of an entire country and culture yet this speaks slightly to the anxiety I felt being a foreigner intruding into a family home during a family holiday There were parts of me that thought that my presence would disrupt the flow of the ceremony and rituals that take place during Seollal When it came time for dinner Koreans tend to eat in a very communal style where there will be a place of honor and importance for the elder most person or the guest. There was a split moment where my basic understanding of the Korean language revealed there was a moments argument when I was sat with the other children and my friend My friend’s father and the patriarch of the family clearly stated I was his child that has finally come home thus there was no reason to argue just eat.

It did not matter that I was a guest or that I was a foreigner all that mattered was that we could sit break bread and eat together as one family without care or concern for who was more important Reflection Questions:

How often do we let ourselves completely stop and give thanks without passing moral judgment?

In what ways can you live out the action of “Let us break bread and eating full stop?”

Advent Devotion: December 11, 2022

Psalm

150:3-5

Joy in abundance

In my first week of seminary, my theology professor told us the greatest risk of life with God is that we might accidentally find joy. It caught me totally off guard. Joy? In grad school?? This was not what I thought I was getting myself into. So, joy is always on my mind these days, and I was delighted when I realized that today begins a week of Joy in the Christian Advent tradition

In today’s Psalm reading, the Psalmist reminds us that praise is an essential part of joy. When our joy is abundant, overflowing, never ending, we must acknowledge that our joy comes from God, and in turn we offer this joy back to God through our expressions of praise Praise looks different for all of us Maybe you praise God through music like the Psalmist suggests Maybe you best praise God in your traditional church service. Or maybe you like to praise God by sitting outside and listening to the birds sing, thanking God for the beauty of the earth all the while. As we get ready for Christ to enter into the world, we want to welcome him with great joy, and we can begin to do so by praising God as our source of joy.

Challenge: Find something to do today that brings you great joy. As you find it, offer some thanks and praise to the God who delights in our joy.

Prayer: Gracious God, We thank you for the gifts of our lives Help us to continue to find joy each day, and remind us that all our joys are wonderful gifts from you. Amen.

~Jackson Ringley

Luke 22:39-53

Even in the Last Days

It’s perhaps a bit unconventional to talk about the last days of Jesus’ life before he’s even born. After all, Advent is a time to prepare for the birth of the Christ child. Still, the daily lectionary does something peculiar today, and it asks us to think about the days before the crucifixion in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Today’s passage takes us to the night that Jesus was arrested, having been betrayed by one of his own disciples When the people around Jesus learn of the betrayal and arrest, one of them turns and commits an act of violence! Jesus responds with the line “No more of this!” No more of this. Even in the last days of Jesus’ life, his followers struggle to grasp the message of love he has been teaching. They have walked alongside Jesus, witnessed his miracles and acts of radical love, and helped to spread the good news, but when it comes time to put all these teachings into practice, they still don’t get it

Jesus knows that we’re not always going to get everything right, but he always wants us to strive to be the most loving people we can be. As we prepare for the coming of the Christ child, let’s do everything we can to lean into the life of love Jesus calls us to. We’ll make mistakes, but being followers of Christ means that we must try to live in love anyway And the world will be made better for it

Challenge: Find a moment to journal today about a time you may not have been as Christ-like as you could’ve been. What could you have done differently to model the love and grace of Jesus? What would it look like to live out the love of Christ in the future?

Prayer: God of grace, Forgive us when we fail to live up to your example of radical love. Help us to care for the people of your world endlessly, and lead us toward a life of abundant love. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen ~Jackson Ringley

Isaiah 9:2-7 Looking for the light

When I was in high school, I attended Montreat Youth Conference every summer, and one of my favorite parts of the week was singing “Prince of Peace.” This typically happened during a night of worship, and we would all clap along and sing the lyrics we had basically memorized year after year. When I first read Isaiah 9, however, I realized I had never paid close attention to the lyrics of “Prince of Peace” before Singing this song every year with youth from across the country was fun, sure, but I wasn’t really focused on what we were saying

Isaiah 9:2-7 is part of where the “Prince of Peace” song comes from. The scripture passage tells us that the people of Judah are in darkness, a metaphor that lets us know the people are suffering. In verse 4, Isaiah clarifies that they are oppressed, but he doesn’t stop there Isaiah gives his people great hope, for he speaks of a day when there will be endless peace They will be led by a child who will grow into the “Prince of Peace,” who is God incarnate. This child is Jesus Christ! See, the people don’t need a “Prince of Peace” because everything is alright. They need a savior because something is wrong in the world. Jesus enters in because the world is deeply in need. There are systems of oppression that keep people in deep suffering They are in darkness, and Jesus enters in to be their light I don’t think I’ll ever hear the song “Prince of Peace” the same way again, for it means so much more to me to sing about the image of Jesus who comes to pull the world out of despair, oppression, and suffering. Jesus is the Prince of Peace who brings us hope.

Challenge: Listen to one of your favorite Christmas hymns What image of Jesus does it offer for us? Is it consistent with how Isaiah imagines the savior? How can you imagine Jesus in a way that echoes scripture’s message of liberation, hope, and peace?

Prayer: God of peace, We thank you for the hope you give us, the hope that one day we will walk together in the light We thank you for the words of your people and your prophets who show us how to imagine you and your world of peace. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

~Jackson Ringley

Mark 1:1-8 With the holy spirit!

You might think four weeks is an awfully long time to prepare for the birth of Christ. Every year, we spend four whole weeks reflecting and waiting and imagining and hoping that Christ will enter into the world, even though we know it already happened. But we do it every year anyway. Today’s scripture passage hints at why we spend so much time in preparation. In this text, John the Baptist is proclaiming the good news of forgiveness, but he tells his followers that something better is about to happen The person who is getting ready to enter the world will unite people with the Holy Spirit!

The Holy Spirit is part of God; it is specifically the part of God that gets close to us, that actively moves and stirs in the world. When Jesus enters the world, he helps people connect with the Spirit, bringing God even closer to God’s own people We spend a lot of time preparing for the birth of Christ because something so remarkable is happening: God is getting even closer to us!

Challenge:

What is something you can do that helps you draw near to God? How can you incorporate this into your life as a reminder that God is with us?

Prayer:

Loving God, We delight in knowing that you draw close to us. Remind us that the time we spend waiting and preparing for the birth of Christ is an opportunity for us to acknowledge that you, God, desire relationship with us In your holy name we pray, Amen.

Jackson Ringley is the Director of Social Media for YMCo and a graduate student at Yale Divinity School. You can probably find him watching “Abbot Elementary,” listening to Taylor Swift, or enjoying a good cup of coffee. Jackson is also a former Asheville Youth Mission intern (2021).

~Jackson Ringley

matthew 3:1-12

what happens when christ enters in

During this Advent season, our daily devotion is inviting the reader to consider “what happens when Christ enters in”. This scripture passage could lead the reader to imagine what it might mean to “prepare the way of the Lord” or to “bear fruit worthy of repentance”. However, the depiction of John the baptizer leads me to ponder how we value the presentation of the one that reminds us that Christ enters in

Our scripture lesson provides the introduction to John the baptizer for the readers of Matthew’s Gospel. John is seen as the one that comes in advance of Jesus in the gospels to prepare, announce, or even to give warning that Christ is coming. Both the appearance of John and the location of John’s ministry pose challenges to the hearers of the day His dress is odd He has set up shop in a vast, “out of the way” place described vaguely as wilderness And his demeanor is anything but cordial Nevertheless, it is this gruff, oddly dressed character, with a harsh message, working in the sticks who brings the message of hope and assurance that the promise is coming in Christ.

Would his message have been more readily accepted if he were more presentable?

We might be more receptive to a chorus of angels singing “peace on earth ” We might even be more receptive to the version of John the baptizer as presented in the Gospel According to John. This presentation of the baptizer seems tame until he sees Jesus walk by and declares with excitement, ““Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”. And there’s something sweet about the invitation of the eighty year old prophet Anna who “began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem”

It’s not hard to imagine the message of any of these presenters would be easily received. We are often told that presentation matters. We’re told that how we present ourselves matters. This leads some of us to hide our truest selves and attempt to make ourselves presentable even for the sake of sharing the gospel

Yet, I believe our scripture passage might warn us to not be so quick to ignore messages that come to us because we take issue with the presenter And if we are the presenter, this scripture may invite us to share the Gospel as we are John does not seem to be mainstream for his times. He had a strange dress and an unusual diet. His ministry site was not ideal. He had a quirky personality. The passage gives no indication that this was a buttoned-up or toned down version of himself. Yet, this strange character yelling in the wilderness shared good news of the one willing to enter into our messy lives

Will we ignore good news of Christ because we have issues with the presenter, the sight of the presenter (gender, race, age, sexual orientation, preferred pronouns)? What must we do to better discern God’s call with open our ears, minds, hearts?

Reflection

Do we feel the need to change ourselves or make ourselves more presentable for the sake of the audience? Can we be as free as John to share the Good News in ways that are most comfortable to the presenter?

Prayer

Let us pray O Lord, we give thanks for the various voices you invite to share the Good News of your steadfast love Help us to accept those you have called Help us to accept that you call upon us. Amen.

Rev. Lowry is the General Presbyter and Stated Clerk for the Presbytery of Coastal Carolina. He lives in Wilmington, NC.

Psalm 130 assurance

During this Advent season, our daily devotion is inviting the reader to consider “what happens when Christ enters in”. I believe today’s scripture passage reminds us of the assurance that our sins are forgiven.

I’ve been a pastor for nearly 20 years. Over the years I have heard countless complaints about almost every aspect and element included in the worship service People have complained about the music or the style of music People have complained because they loved the (insert color) hymnal or hated the (insert color) hymnal. People have complained about saying a corporate prayer of confession. People have complained about the length of worship, the size of flowers on the communion table, whether communion is served with juice or wine. The only element of the worship service that I’ve never heard anyone complain about is the Assurance of Pardon Even those that complained that the language in the corporate confession doesn’t address their personal shortcomings, they never complained about the corporate Declaration of Forgiveness.

The writer of this Psalm seems certain that God can and will forgive all unrighteousness During this season may we also be assured that we can freely and even publicly confess our sins before God who hears and forgives May we even trust that we can confess our sins to siblings in Christ and hear in response the promise of God’s redeeming love. We do so boldly assured that in Christ sins are forgiven.

May we boldly confess what we know we’ve done wrong May we boldly confess that we know we have not done enough May we confess and change our ways knowing that in Christ sins are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Amen!

Let us pray:

“Merciful God, 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 have not loved you with our whole heart and soul and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. In your mercy, forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name.” (PCUSA Book of Common Worship

Isaiah 10:20-27 the

remnant

During this Advent season, our daily devotion is inviting the reader to consider “what happens when Christ enters in”. As we read today’s scripture passage, I invite you to consider the blessings of God upon “the remnant”. Could Christ care to enter in, bless, walk with the faithful gathered in small and even declining numbers?

The prophets talk a great deal about the promises of God for the remnant. The language in the 22nd verse seems particularly poignant as I work with churches that lament their small and shrinking worship participation.

“We closed the church during the pandemic and now we wonder if they will ever come back”, the remnant will say. We even speculate that those not returning have just grown complacent and accuse them of wanting to worship from their couch in their pajamas. We lament (as we have since the 1960’s) that our churches are small and membership numbers are shrinking. Even before the pandemic congregations complained of their inability to woo new members, members leaving church, members going to different denominations, neighbors not seeing church as a priority for their lives. We long for a return of the days when the number of church participants was like “the sand of the sea”. We lament feeling like we are the remnant.

Yet the prophet assures us that the promises of God are true and the activity of God will be seen even if there is only a remnant left. In this text the prophet even conveys that it is due to the activity of God that there is even a remnant left. Considering all that threatens the faithful, to be among the remnant is not something to lament but something to be celebrated. We are still here. We are still called. We still have work to do.

Surely, it would be nice to see abundance, but I think it more important that we denounce the idea that larger numbers are proof of God’s blessings. Numerical growth is not a sign of spiritual growth just like declining numbers are not a sign that God’s love is in decline. There is still a ministry entrusted into the hands of the remnant - a ministry that we have already been equipped to do! Small congregations with shrinking numbers that are willing to discern today’s mission and ministry will see the promises of God. May the message of God’s promises upon the remnant be a reminder to those of us left.

Challenge:

How might we change our focus from what we “used to do” to ask what we are called to do now? How might we change from lamenting who is not a member to celebrating those that make the commitment to membership?

Let us pray. O Lord, direct us from a focus on what we once were and towards who you are calling us to be May we be willing to follow your Spirit’s lead into strange ways of being church and into even scary ways of being your faithful disciples in the world Amen

Romans 1:1-7 called to belong

Today's text opens a letter written to the church in Rome. It was sent to them at a time when they were deeply divided. There were both Jews and Gentiles in this church and they were struggling to get along. Honestly, it’s a problem the church still struggles with today. We sometimes become so preoccupied with who is right and who is wrong, or who is good and who is bad, that we forget that God calls all of us to belong. When Christ enters in, he gathers all of us up, in all our diversity, and welcomes all of us in. He pieces us together like a mosaic, using our differences to teach us more about the One in whose image we are made. When we are different we sometimes feel like we don’t belong, but God celebrates the unique qualities of every person she has made. God’s call to belong is a call to truly see one another, and to see the goodness of God in the unfamiliar. As we continue our journey through Advent, and prepare to welcome the birth of Christ, remember that one of the ways we welcome Christi is by welcoming one another.

Challenge:

Take a look around your sanctuary this morning. Who is here? Who isn’t? Who might God be calling you to welcome in an intentional way?

Prayer:

God of welcome, We give thanks that we belong to you, Help us to welcome all your children, Especially those who have been told they don’t belong. Amen.

Isiaih11:11-12

Godofoutcasts

Ilovemusicaltheater,Ilovethesongs,andIlovethewaymusicisusedtotell importantstories.ThemostrecentshowIwasabletogoseewasDearEvanHansen. AlongwiththegreatsongwritingIthinkoneofthethingsthathasdrawnsomany peopleintothisstoryisourabilitytoseeourselvesintheoutcast.Inhisopening number,Evansings:

Ontheoutsidealwayslookingin WillIeverbemorethanI'vealwaysbeen? 'causeI'mtap,tap,tappingontheglass I'mwavingthroughawindow Itrytospeak,butnobodycanhear SoIwaitaroundforananswertoappear WhileI'mwatch,watch,watchingpeoplepass I'mwavingthroughawindow Oh,cananybodysee,isanybodywaving Backatme?

Evanfeelslikeanoutsiderandsensesdisconnectionbetweenhimselfandtherestof theworld ButasthefirstactclosesEvangivesaspeechthatgoesviralandbecomesa sourceofconnectionforthousandsofpeoplewhofeelthesame.Inpartofhisspeech hesings:

There’saplacewherewedon’thavetobealone Everytimethatyoucallout You’realittlelessalone Ifyouonlysaytheword Acrossthesilence Yourvoiceisheard

Today'stextisapromisethateventhoughIsraelisbrokenandscatteredthroughout anempire,Godwillrestorethem.EventhoughIsraelhaslosttheirwayandforgotten whotheyare,GodneverforgetsthecovenantthatGodmadewiththem Theoutcasts anddispersedwillbegatheredandrestored.Godrememberstheforgottenandbrings thoseonthemarginsintoGod’slove.

Challenge: Istheresomeoneyouknowwhoishavingahardtime?Someonewhomightfeel alone?Howcanyouremindthemthattheyareseenandheard?Howcanyoushow compassiontothosewhoneeditmost?

Prayer: Godoftheoutcast, Wegivethanksthatyouofferhopewhenwehavenohope, Helpusholdontoyourpromiseofrestoration Andshowushowwecancareforoneanotheraswewait Amen

LinziAnderson

Advent Devotion: December 20, 2022

Psalm 146 flip the script

We live in a world that often does its best to forget the oppressed, the poor and the hungry. There are laws and systems in our society designed to keep certain people at the bottom. America has an abundance of food and shelter, but those resources are hoarded by some, leaving others without access. As a society we don’t prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable amongst us, but over and over Scripture tells us that God is on the side of the poor God flips the script of empire, and lifts up those who are on the bottom Those in prison are set free The hungry are given food to eat. The poor and the weak are lifted up. The world God dreams of stands in contrast to the world we have created. In this advent season we are preparing for Christmas, when God takes on flesh and stands in solidarity with us. Perhaps we can prepare to welcome Christ by participating in God’s dream that flips the script

Challenge: Take some time to find out more about people at the “bottom” in your community/city/country (The Poor People’s campaign is a good place to start)

Prayer:

God of abundance, We give thanks for all that you have created, Show us how we can help create a world where everyone has what they need. And help us to live lives of generosity Amen

~Linzi Anderson

Linzi (she/they) is the Mission Immersion Director at Asheville Youth Mission. Linzi grew up in Northern Ireland and served as a Youth Minister in Ireland and Tennessee before joining the YMCo staff. She is a graduate of the Center for Youth Ministry Training and Memphis Theological Seminary. In their free time Linzi enjoys dabbling in photography, listening to music on vinyl, cheering on the Irish rugby team, and making soup to share with friends.

Advent Devotion: December 21, 2022 luke 1:26-28

who does christ enter through?

The majority of pastors in America are men, and the average age of a pastor is somewhere between 50 and 60 Given that the majority of Americans see an older white man in the pulpit each Sunday, it can be easy for many of us to assume that what young people, and women, and people of color have to say about God isn’t as important or as trustworthy. Advent is a season that makes us reconsider those assumptions. When God shows up in the flesh God is birthed by Mary, a brown skinned teenage girl Christ enters into the world through the labor of Mary In many ways Mary is someone who is the opposite of those who have power, both in her own culture as well as in our churches and our country. The Advent story is about God being birthed in unexpected places through unexpected people. Every person is called to birth Christ into the world in new ways. This is not a call for only the few or the powerful, this is a call to all of us.

At YMCo, we believe that young people are called and gifted to follow in the footsteps of Mary. God continues to show up in the world through the labors of young people. God is present and ready to be encountered in places and though people we least expect. Are we ready to pay attention?

Challenge:

Take time to consider how God may be working through people our culture doesn’t expect. How might God be calling you to be someone through whom Christ enters in?

Prayer: You are the One who cannot be contained, Forgive us for the ways we try to make you smaller than you are. Help us to see the ways you are being birthed in unexpected places, even within ourselves. We give thanks for Mary, and we ask that you help us to follow in her footsteps Amen.

~Linzi Anderson

Advent Devotion: December 22, 2022 luke 1:39-56

In the home of her cousin Elizabeth, Mary sings of her rejoicing spirit, of a Mighty God who has done great things for her and for the generations, and of a God who has flipped every script to elevate the lowly and feed the hungry while the powerful and rich are brought down and sent away She sings of this world which does not yet exist, while in her immediate environment the Jewish people are subjugated under the Roman Empire. She sings of a promise of help and mercy that she is sure must come to fruition.

And then she waits, but not idly. She spends three month of her pregnancy, as Jesus grows and forms in her womb, with Elizabeth, herself pregnant with a boy who will be called John She waits, as she allows God’s will to be done through her She waits, and she anticipates that God’s promises will be fulfilled. She waits for a world where God’s justice is evident and where human-made structures of dominance have fallen away to reveal a new Kin-dom. God will do it, and she will be part of it, and so shall we all.

Questions:

What are you waiting for? What can you do in the meantime?

As we wait for Christmas Eve, do you notice the Spirit of God in a different way? How can you respond, individually and with your community?

~Adrian White

Adrian White is a writer, Texan, and recent Vanderbilt Divinity graduate serving at Woodland Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN. Adrian enjoys playing board games with their spouse, Wynn, and taking long walks with their dog, Bex.

Advent Devotion: December 23, 2022 luke 1:57-66

John is already the talk of the town before he is born First there is the matter of his name, which does not come from his family lineage and which seems to the townspeople, suspiciously, to have been his mother’s idea. Then there is the whole business with Zechariah being struck dumb and miraculously regaining his speech once he approves of the unusual name choice. All of that combines with the fact that Elizabeth was way past childbearing years as she stood proudly pregnant to create absolutely perfect gossip fuel What then will this child become? they whisper, a mix of curiosity and pure awe

In a year where people’s right to make their own determinations about pregnancy and childbearing has come under attack, it feels especially powerful to consider Elizabeth’s stoicism and conviction as she carried this much wanted baby under the most unusual of circumstances As in the Judean hill country, fear and judgment can still be powerful weapons when it comes to people’s choices about whether to have children and how to raise them. As we immerse ourselves in two stories about pregnant women, may we bring compassionate hearts to the people in our own lives who are pregnant, who have experienced the loss of pregnancy through miscarriage, and who have received or are seeking abortions.

Questions:

How has gossip impacted your life, negatively or positively? How can you create a culture of acceptance and compassion toward pregnant people and the diverse choices and circumstances they may face?

~Adrian White