by Thomas Ryden | Dec 21, 2016 | Advent/Christmas 2016
Gift of Love by Michelle Bickers Isaiah 7:10-17 God’s word to Ahaz, “Ask for a sign from your God. Ask anything. Be extravagant. Ask for the moon!” But Ahaz said, “I’d never do that. I’d never make demands like that on God!” Isaiah 7:10-12 When my brothers and I were...
by Thomas Ryden | Dec 17, 2016 | Advent/Christmas 2016
O Antiphons by John A. Roop The Lord be with you. And with your spirit. Let us pray. The Collect for the Third Sunday in Advent (Thomas Cranmer) Lord, we beseech thee, give ear to our prayers, and by thy gracious visitation lighten the darkness of our heart, by our...
by Thomas Ryden | Dec 16, 2016 | Advent/Christmas 2016
Patience: What is It? by Susan Ridgell, PhD. What does it mean to be patient? This question kept ringing in my head when I first looked at the Epistle reading for Advent III (James 5.7-10). James advises us: “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the...
by Thomas Ryden | Dec 16, 2016 | Advent/Christmas 2016
Three Doors and the First Ember Day of Advent by Rev. David R. Sincerbox Isaiah 44:24-35:13; Mark 8:11-9:1; Revelation 20 Ember days are special days set apart for fasting and prayer. They occur on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday four times a year: between the third...
by Thomas Ryden | Dec 14, 2016 | Advent/Christmas 2016
Awaiting our Love, our Joy, our Jesus by Beverly Caudell As I sit down to write this, it is raining again. Thank you Lord! Our area has been so very dry and brittle for so long we have kind of gotten used to it- even though we needed the rain, all we could do was...
by Thomas Ryden | Dec 13, 2016 | Advent/Christmas 2016
Advent 3A 2016 Rev. Doug Floyd We are watching and waiting for the coming of the Lord. “Advent is really the great freedom of God.” Alfred Delp proclaimed these words in an Advent sermon in 1942 in the middle of Nazi Germany. His sermon of hope was an act of...
