Thoughts for this Week

Notes on Mark 1:29-39 (Prepared for New Vision Class)

29 After leaving the synagogue, Jesus, James, and John went home with Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon's mother-in-law was in bed, sick with a fever, and they told Jesus about her at once. 31 He went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she served them.
32 That evening, at sunset, people brought to Jesus those who were sick or demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered near the door. 34 He healed many who were sick with all kinds of diseases, and he threw out many demons. But he didn't let the demons speak, because they recognized him. 35 Early in the morning, well before sunrise, Jesus rose and went to a deserted place where he could be alone in prayer. 36 Simon and those with him tracked him down. 37 When they found him, they told him, "Everyone's looking for you!" 38 He replied, "Let's head in the other direction, to the nearby villages, so that I can preach there too. That's why I've come." 39 He traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and throwing out demons.

Deserted Places
Written July 10, 2012, as a response to an "Alive Now" online meditation.
Alone with Spirit
Renewed in meditation
Sometimes just alone. 

     A deserted place can be a refuge from the business of the world, a place for gaining sustenance and gathering strength, a place eagerly sought and hard to find. 
     A deserted place can also be where we find ourselves alone, friendless, abandoned, frightened, without the resources we need to live. 
     To intentionally find our deserted places may bring us peace that can help us in the times when the deserted places find us. 

Today, Saturday February 6, 2021:
In today’s passage from Mark, Jesus is described as getting up before sunrise to go out alone to pray. Finding alone time was not easy, but it was important. In one way, I feel like I’ve had plenty of alone time this year.  What about you?  Yet, that intentional time alone to renew Spirit still seems hard to find.  
The other readings this weeks, from Psalms 147 and Isaiah 40, remind me of the grandeur of God as shown in creation. I am blessed to live in a beautiful spot. This week, we have seen the beauty of sun highlighting snow on the mountaintops, the amazing glory of sunrise and sunset, the majesty of a bald eagle on his/her perch not far from home, and the daily delight of the colorful little birds that visit our feeders. 
My prayer for all of us this week is that we are able to find our deserted places to sustain us through the bleak days. 
Some of us will worship in church Sunday morning, some us us will continue to worship at home. Whatever your choice, may you find peace and blessing to sustain you. 

Jane

Week of Love - Monday - Christmas Eve

John 1:12.

But those who did welcome him, those who believed in his name, he authorized to become God's children,

How will you welcome him?

On this day before we celebrate the coming of the Christ child, reflect on what parts of the Advent story sound like GOOD NEWS to you. The good news for some was bad news for others. Isn't life often like that. As I reflect on the hope, peace, joy and love of the gospel message, I wonder how I make it into good news for my daily life.

Reflection Questions for Monday, Week Four
Take time for quiet reflection.  Respond to the questions below by writing in your journal or quietly reflecting.

• When have you experienced good news and bad news as two sides of the same coin?  a move?  a new job?  a marriage or divorce? 

Prayer for Monday, Week Four
Gracious God, we are grateful for those who dare to believe in the incredible story of Jesus' birth and, in believing, have become your children, proclaiming the message of reconciliation, hope, love, and peace with justice throughout the world.  O Lord, may the light of Bethlehem's love and hope continue to shine. 

Week of Love - Sunday

Matthew 1:18 - 25
Birth of Jesus
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. When Mary his mother was engaged to Joseph, before they were married, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband was a righteous man. Because he didn't want to humiliate her, he decided to call off their engagement quietly. As he was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child she carries was conceived by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." Now all of this took place so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled: Look! A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, And they will call him, Emmanuel. (Emmanuel means "God with us.") When Joseph woke up, he did just as an angel from God commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he didn't have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. Joseph called him Jesus.

Luke 2:8-20
Announcement to shepherds
Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night.The Lord's angel stood before them, the Lord's glory shone around them, and they were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. Your savior is born today in David's city. He is Christ the Lord. This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, "Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors." When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go right now to Bethlehem and see what's happened. Let's confirm what the Lord has revealed to us." They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told.

John 1:1 - 18
Story of the Word
 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The Word was with God in the beginning. Everything came into being through the Word, and without the Word nothing came into being. What came into being hrough the Word was life, and the life was the light for all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn't extinguish the light. A man named John was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him everyone would believe in the light. He himself wasn't the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light. The true light that shines on all people was coming into the world. The light was in the world, and the world came into being through the light, but the world didn't recognize the light. The light came to his own people, and his own people didn't welcome him. But those who did welcome him, those who believed in his name, he authorized to become God's children, born not from blood nor from human desire or passion, but born from God. he Word became flesh and made his home among us. We have seen his glory, glory like that of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. John testified about him, crying out, "This is the one of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than me because he existed before me.'" From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace; as the Law was given through Moses, so grace and truth came into being through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. God the only Son, who is at the Father's side, has made God known.

For many who have heard the Advent story over and over again, there is a danger that the story will become familiar and lose its freshness.  Ask God's Spirit today to give you eyes to see and ears to hear the Advent story in new ways, ways that lead to vitality and life. 

Today I was one of the narrators in our Christmas Cantata. (I do not sing!) The story is so familiar and I don't imagine that much of it is literally true. The truth lies in its message and meaning. With Jesus birth, the world order was overturned, but not as expected. The meaning of Jesus birth, life and death is that Love is the ascendant power. Love has the power to bring change, hope and transformation to every human life. Violence will not be overcome with violence. Only Love can overcome violence and hatred. Only Love can overcome suffering and despair. We sing for Joy because of the power of Love


Reflection Questions for Sunday, Week Four
Take time for quiet reflection.  Respond to the questions below by writing in your journal or quietly reflecting.

• Where do you see wonder in your world?  How can you recover the awe and mystery and beauty of the Advent story?
• Imagine telling the story of Jesus' birth to someone outside the church.  What strikes you as amazing, fantastical, or wondrous?
• Consider people you know.  Who needs to have this wonder and hope injected into their lives?  How can you participate?

Prayer for Sunday, Week Four

• Wondrous God, this Advent lead us to seek new discoveries and to go where we have never gone before.  Help us, O Lord, to allow for the singing of angels.  Amen.  

Week of Joy - Saturday

I John 3:18.
 Little children, let's not love with words or speech but with action and truth. 


I end this week as I began it: asking how I can possibly make a difference in a world of violence, war, and suffering. Where is the joy? The online post today reminds me that its all about love. "Jesus' birth is all about the love of God 'radiating through human flesh and blood' (page 73,Singing Mary's Song)."   I ask God to allow me to taste, feel, see, smell, and hear that love today.

I spent an hour ringing a Salvation Army Bell today. Such a small thing to do. I am always heartened by the generosity of the people in my small town. I love to see the little children dropping their coins in the buckets. I have learned that I can't tell by a person's appearance whether they will give. I receive a joyful blessing in the faces of all those folks coming and going about their Christmas shopping today.

Reflection Time for Saturday, Week Three

• What difference does the birth of Jesus make to the world?
• What circumstances can be different?  How?

Prayer for Saturday, Week Three
Thank you, O God, for those humble servants who have dedicated their lives to be Christ's servants in service to others.  Help us to discover the joy that such service can bring.  May this be the Advent that we hear the call of Christ to a new level of discipleship.  Amen.  

Week of Joy - Friday

Luke 2:41 - 42.
Jesus in the temple at Passover
Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to their custom.

Jesus grew up within a family who participated in the rituals of worship, within a religious community. We can imagine that their religious observances were more than just obeying laws and following rules. We can imagine that their faith was rooted in the love of God and neighbor.

In our families, in our culture, many of us don't take time for daily family rituals of prayer and devotion.  For some of some, church participation is spotty or so routine that it has lost its meaning. Advent can be a time to recover some of the spirit of Love that infusing the Christmas season and the whole of life with meaning.

In "Singing Mary's Song" John Stroman puts it this way:

"Christmas Eve services have grown in popularity, and in some churches more

people attend worship on Christmas Eve than on Easter. Since Christmas is a

time for families to gather, many attend Christmas Eve services as a group. Many

of these services blend a celebration of the Eucharist and traditional Christmas

music with the high energy of contemporary worship. When we celebrate

Communion, we participate as a part of the covenant community, expressing

sacramental love."

Reflection Questions for Friday, Week Three
Take time for quiet reflection.  Respond to the questions below by writing in your journal or quietly reflecting.

• What are your family rituals?  How can you invite God into the midst of these rituals?
• Imagine the Advent story in a world of cell phones, Internet, and text messages.  How can we recover the intimacy of a family traveling together, earthy shepherds kneeling in the stable, the beauty of a bright star?
• Pray for those in your covenant community, the group (large or small) that celebrates with you, prays with you, and loves you unconditionally.

Prayer for Friday, Week Three
Lord, as we leave your table, grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit to give ourselves for others.  Amen.  

Week of Joy - Thursday

John 2:1 - 12.

Wedding at Cana

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. When the wine ran out, Jesus' mother said to him, "They don't have any wine." Jesus replied, "Woman, what does that have to do with me? My time hasn't come yet." His mother told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Nearby were six stone water jars used for the Jewish cleansing ritual, each able to hold about twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water," and they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some from them and take it to the headwaiter," and they did. The headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine. He didn't know where it came from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. The headwaiter called the groom and said, "Everyone serves the good wine first. They bring out the second-rate wine only when the guests are drinking freely. You kept the good wine until now." This was the first miraculous sign that Jesus did in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him. After this, Jesus and his mother, his brothers, and his disciples went down to Capernaum and stayed there for a few days.  

 

John the Baptist has been described as the last of the Old Testatment prophets as he preached about repentance and coming judgement. Jesus message and ministry was 180 degrees different. As his ministry began and increased, the old thinking represented by John the Baptist decreased. Advent is a time for the old to decrease in order to make room for the new.The first public miracle of Jesus, at the wedding feast, has always presented a puzzle. But in the story it is clear that while Mary may not have fully understood her son, she trusted him to do the right thing. His way was going to be different.

In "Singing Mary's Song" John Stoman repeats Walter Brueggemann's instructions to us as we desire to grow in faith:

• Decrease what is greedy, what is frantic consumerism, for the increase of simple, life-giving sharing.
• Decrease what is fearful and defensive, for the increase of life-giving compassion and generosity.
• Decrease what is fraudulent and pretentious, for the increase of life-giving truth telling in your life, truth telling about you and your neighbor, about the sickness of our society and our enmeshment in that sickness.
• Decrease what is hateful and alienating, for the increase of healing and forgiveness, which finally are the only source of life. 

Reflection Questions for Thursday, Week Three
Take time for quiet reflection.  Respond to the questions below by writing in your journal or quietly reflecting.

• In the list of "decreases" above, which one sounds the most difficult for you?  Which on feels most relevant to your life now?
• "New life in Christ means little unless we commit every aspect of our lives to that truth." Do you believe this statement?  Why or why not?  If yes, do you believe it enough to commit to a new plan of action this Advent?

Prayer for Thursday, Week Three
God of abundance, help us to take mystery, disappointment, suspense, and danger and use them to gain assurance, patience, perseverance, and courage. Create in us, O Lord, clean hearts and right spirits.  Amen.  

Week of Joy - Wednesday

Luke 2:41 - 52.
Jesus in the temple at Passover

"Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to their custom. After the festival was over, they were returning home, but the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn't know it. Supposing that he was among their band of travelers, they journeyed on for a full day while looking for him among their family and friends. When they didn't find Jesus, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple. He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them and putting questions to them. Everyone who heard him was amazed by his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother said, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Listen! Your father and I have been worried. We've been looking for you!" Jesus replied, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father's house?" But they didn't understand what he said to them. Jesus went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. His mother cherished every word in her heart. Jesus matured in wisdom and years, and in favor with God and with people."

Jesus knew who he was, even as a boy. While Mary and Joseph may have wondered whether he would live up to their early expectations, he was on track. This is the only account we have of Jesus between his dedication in the Temple and the beginning of his ministry. Mary was there throughout, supporting him. The story reminds us to ask ourselves who we think Jesus was and is.

Reflection Questions for Wednesday, Week Three
Take time for quiet reflection.  Respond to the questions below by writing in your journal or quietly reflecting.

• What about Jesus mystifies you?  What about Jesus cause you to wonder?  What about Jesus brings you confidence and assurance? Joy?
• Mary's story reminds us that God's delays are not our denials.  What denial in your life requires transforming?  Does it help you to think of it as a delay?  What hope or fresh vision does this new perspective give you? 

Prayer for Wednesday, Week Three
Gracious God, in our Advent journey may our hearts be so open to you that no corner of our lives will be unillumined by the light of your presence.  Let there be nothing within us to darken that light.  Amen.