Then Mary said, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord: let it be with me according to your word.” Luke 1:38

As I think about this season of Advent, my thoughts always seems to lean towards journey, being on, having been, or looking forward to. I think of the incredible transformation journey that began with Mary, a young girl who was confronted by an angel to be the carrier of God’s love for the world. Mary had to have known who she was and to whom she belonged to from the very beginning or, I believe she would have questioned the angel Gabriel, but it seems as if she didn’t flinch at her calling and her destiny. Yes, I believe Mary was a humble servant of God; but I also feel strongly that she was an incredibly strong young lady. To be told that you would become pregnant, by God, not of man, and knowingly scorned and humiliated by your community, and probably lose your engagement to the man you are betrothed to, you might as well kiss your future goodbye! But Mary said yes!

I have always admired Mary, a young girl at the tender age of 13 or 14, when confronted with this transformational journey before her, not knowing, and probably not even fully understanding what would be before her, all she could do was to praise God from her tender young heart. Mary fully trusted her God that she worshipped. Mary embodied love, love for God, love for others and love for the world. It was the only plausible way she could fulfill her calling.

I believe we are all on a transforming journey through this year of so much uncertainty, devastation and heartache. We are being called to fulfill our calling of love, love for God, love for others and love for the world. It seems that we have gone down a path that has taken us to a place of seeking what pleases our individual selves. Please understand I am speaking of a collective “we” the world as a whole. And in this year we are confronted to see beyond ourselves, to have a deeper sense of humanity, to seek and acknowledge goodness in others, to stand for love and the dignity of all people.

Mary was a person who lived her life in just such a way, instinctively she knew in her heart and soul we are all connected by threads of love. Her journey of transformation was not for her but for all the world. When she said “yes” she became a woman of great love, strength and persistence in carrying out a difficult journey of transformation. I have been praying for myself and all the world that we may be a continuation of Mary’s journey of transformation for all the world.

God, the One who has brought all things into existence, guide us, lead us on our journey of transformation of seeking your love and becoming a light that disperses the darkness of a hurting world. May we, in this Advent season welcome You in the way of change for the sake of the world. Amen.

Blessings,

Brenda

Dear friends, let’s love each other, because love is from God, and everyone who loves is born from God and knows God. ⁸ The person who doesn’t love does not know God, because God is love.⁹ This is how the love of God is revealed to us: God has sent his only Son into the world so that we can live through him. 1 John 4:7-9

While I was growing up during the season of Advent, we had two traditions that I have fond memories of. The first was the Advent wreath. Every night at dinner we always lit the candles in our Advent wreath. If you were the person who set the table then you got to be the person to light them. The other tradition in our house was the Advent calendar. It was always so much fun to add an item to the calendar. With every item that was added the closer we were to Christmas.  It made the waiting through Advent a little easier. 

The first Advent season after I got married my mom made an Advent calendar for Bobby and me. She wanted Bobby to have a small glimpse into the traditions of my childhood. While I have had to replace a couple of the ornaments that get hung each day on the calendar throughout these 38 years, I still have her handwritten note addressed to Bobby and me explaining this gift to us. My mom hand sewed many of the ornaments as well as the tree shaped calendar that hangs on the wall. She put quite a bit of time and love into this gift she gave us. This Advent calendar comes out every year and it has now become a tradition for my boys. Even as young adults they still hang the ornaments on the calendar when they come to visit.

On Sunday, we lit the second candle, the candle of love, on the Advent wreath. I reflected on how God’s gift of baby Jesus was a true gift of love given to all of us. It made me think about the gift my mom gave to Bobby and me so long ago and how it too was a gift of love from her to us. Love comes from God and is a gift worth sharing. During this second week of Advent be mindful of how you too can share this wonderful gift of love that God has given us.

Marty

Gracious and loving God,
Thank you for your unending love even when we are undeserving. May we find ways to love others even when they are hard to love. Help us to act in ways so that people will recognize that we are born from You and know You. We give thanks for your gift of love.
Amen

“The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
   who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
   “Prepare the way of the Lord,
   make his paths straight” ’,
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”
— Mark 1:1-4

Each of the Gospel writers begins the story of Jesus from a different perspective, and includes different parts of the narrative. Matthew starts with the genealogy of Joseph, to whom the angel speaks, and tells us about the Magi. Luke, wanting to give an “orderly account” focuses on Elizabeth and Mary, and tells us about the simple shepherds and temple sages. John gives us a spiritual explanation of how Jesus comes to be a part of the world, but skips the narrative of Jesus’ birth. Mark focuses on Jesus as the fulfillment of the promise of God, and starts with John the Baptist, fully grown, calling us to get ready for the arrival of the Lord.

Many of us have read, or at least heard about Gary Chapman’s book, The Five Love Languages. We understand that we show love in different ways, and have different ways that we experience being loved. Relationship difficulties when my way of showing I love you doesn’t match the way you need to experience love.  The five “love languages” are

• Words of affirmation,
• Quality time,
• Giving and Receiving gifts,
• Acts of service,
• Physical touch.

Isn’t it amazing how each of these five expressions are found in different measure in the stories of Jesus coming into the world?! The Magi with their gifts, Elizabeth and Mary spending time of comfort and excitement with each other, the Gentle touch of Joseph the wood-worker, the Word-made-flesh-ness in John’s explanation, Mary’s affirmation in the Magnificat… these are all direct examples. But beyond the literal expressions of the “love languages,” there is something more.
Through this variety of perspectives and focus, each of us can find someone like ourselves in the story. Each of us can learn about how God comes to us in our particular situation, with our individual needs and priorities. It is the same story of love, told in differing ways.
And it is an affirmation that we can show the love of God in our own ways, using our own unique gifts.

Holy God, we open ourselves to the arrival of your love into our world and into our lives. We await Emmanuel: God’s love with us. God’s love in us. God’s love through us. Amen.
 
So, your questions for worship this Sunday are:
1. How do you show love?
2. What do you need to know that you are loved?
3. What part of the Christmas story speaks of God’s love to you?
4. How, then, can you best show God’s love?

Pastor George

Let’s hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, because the one who made the promises is reliable. Hebrews 10:23

Last week I received some disappointing news.  Ashley, our commUNITY yoga leader, let me know that after months of struggling through the pandemic, she and her husband, Gilbert, were going to have to give up their Yoga Studio.  This was sad news on many levels.  First, it was sad to see the impact the closing was having on my friends…two people who’ve put so much time, love and energy into their 11 year old business.  It was also sad to think about the impact this news would have on the community.  Ashley and Gilbert support the local and global community through many service and mission projects and impact the lives of their student community through their constant commitment to whole body wellness.  Lastly, I was sad on a personal level.  When we are able to gather again, I’m really going to miss classes at the studio.

This is where my heart and head were at as we entered this first week of advent where the focus is on the gift of hope.  During our commUNITY yoga meditation, Ashley asked “Where do you see hope?” and in Pastor George’s sermon on Sunday, we were asked “What brings you hope in these times?” and I have a couple of answers to these questions…but most surprisingly to me, is that I can say this disappointing news is one place that I see hope and it is also giving me hope in these times. 

I find hope in the attitudes of Ashley and Gilbert who are giving up a dream they’ve been very successful at.  They haven’t focused on what they can’t do anymore but instead are looking to what they might still be able to do in new ways.  They aren’t viewing this as an ending, but a beginning.  The challenges they’ve faced this year have been overwhelming, but they aren’t bitter and they haven’t just thrown up their hands and walked away. Instead, they are continuing to connect with and serve their community and are using their creativity to explore how they might still help others find wholeness and wellness. In the face of some very hard times and decisions, their trust that they were led to this decision, that everything will work out and their desire to continue to make this world a better place every day is inspiring to me.      

While this chapter of their lives, and for all of us who practice with them, is coming to a close, it doesn’t feel like the end or as hopeless as it did initially. God’s light of hope reflecting in them has inspired hope in others and has inspired hope in me.  In many ways, there are similarities to the hope I find in our church community.  We’ve learned during this pandemic that there are many new possibilities open to us even in the face of all that this year has brought us and taken from us.  We are continuing to meet challenges in creative ways and we are adapting.  We’ve learned, more than ever, that it’s not the building that makes us a church. It’s the relationships, the connection and the community.  It’s about loving, serving and taking care of others.  It’s about trusting and being the people God calls us to be everyday. 

We often say at Messy Church that God is with us in the mess – this year has been messy…we don’t know what the future will hold but we do know that God is with us, always, and together we will move through it.

So, may we be grateful for God’s gift of hope and be inspired to continue doing God’s work in all the ways we can in all the places we can…and in doing so, hopefully we might even inspire hope in others.

Dear God, thank you for the words of the Prophet Isaiah that remind us that you are the source of our hope.  We give thanks knowing that you will meet us even in the mess of our world.  We find peace knowing that you are working beside us as we face challenges. Help us to share your light with others and live each day as hopeful people.  Amen. 

Leyla