And for this week: Scripture Readings: Isaiah 63:7-9 and Luke 2:8-20 Call to Worship: Glory to God in the highest! And hope to every discouraged heart. Glory to God in the highest! And peace to every conflicted soul. Glory to God in the highest! And joy to every downcast spirit. Glory to God in the…
This past Sunday we focused on the song of Mary and practiced group lectio divina together. (The children had been invited to draw a picture as a way to reflect on the scripture readings. I nearly lost it when one boy handed me his drawing to share with the congregation. It pictured the annunciation with…
As I read through Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 this week, I couldn’t help but notice that parallelism is everywhere: “My heart exults in the Lord; / my strength is exalted in my God.” “Talk no more so very proudly, / let not arrogance come from your mouth;” “The bows of the mighty are…
Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror. I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. My eyes waste away because of grief. ~from Psalm 6 We are…
At Peace Mennonite this year, we will begin Advent with a service of prayer and anointing. This is similar to what other churches do for “Blue Christmas” or “Longest Night.” The order of our service is below. Blessings to all as you begin the Advent season. Welcome/Intro Welcome, each of you, to this service of…
This year for Advent we are looking at four different songs from scripture: Psalm 147, Hannah’s Song in 1 Samuel 2, Mary’s Song in Luke 1, and the Song of the Angels in Luke 2. Secondary readings for each week are chosen from the Lectionary options. This week we will read Romans 13:8-12. The call…
Yes, it’s true. This coming Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. Ready or not . . . Some of the Rev. Gals are helping each other out by sharing Advent resources today, and I thought I would join the party. Yesterday I posted this piece over at Practicing Families about Advent practices at home.…
I took a picture of our lit Advent candles for my blog post a few days ago. My 14-year-old daughter saw the picture and said, “Wow. Our house looks pretty in that picture.” Not to say that our house in reality is not also pretty–in it’s own messy, disorganized way. It’s just to say that,…
Here is our candle-lighting call to worship for this coming Sunday. The Advent Conspiracy theme is “Love All.” One: This morning, two days before Christmas, we light the four candles of Advent: the candles of hope, peace, joy, and love. All: We gather to worship our God, whose love reaches to the heavens. One: We…
As a pastor, I know that Advent is a time of preparation, a time of pondering, a time of patient waiting. It is a season to contemplate the growing darkness of our days and appreciate the promise held in the darkness of Mary’s womb. It is a time pregnant with the possibility of recognizing and…
Spacious Faith 