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Showing posts from December, 2020

Accept but Not Agree: Luke 2:1-20

  Christmas Eve In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists.  2  This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria.  3  Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled.  4  Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea.  5  He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant.  6  While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby.  7  She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom. 8  Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night.  9  The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified. 10  The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news f

For the Love of: Matthew 1:18-25

  Advent IV 18  Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.  19  Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.  20  But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  21  She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  22  All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23  “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,     and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”  24  When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife,  25  but

Defiant Joy: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

  Advent III 1 The Lord God’s spirit is upon me,     because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me     to bring good news to the poor,     to bind up the brokenhearted,     to proclaim release for captives,         and liberation for prisoners, 2      to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor         and a day of vindication for our God,     to comfort all who mourn, 3      to provide for Zion’s mourners,     to give them a crown in place of ashes,     oil of joy in place of mourning,     a mantle of praise in place of discouragement. They will be called Oaks of Righteousness,     planted by the Lord to glorify himself. 4  They will rebuild the ancient ruins;     they will restore formerly deserted places;     they will renew ruined cities,     places deserted in generations past.   8  I, the Lord, love justice;     I hate robbery and dishonesty. I will faithfully give them their wage,     and make with them an enduring covenant. 9  Their offspring will be

Speaking Tenderly: Isaiah 40:1-11

  Advent II 1  Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.  2  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.  3  A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.  4  Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.  5  And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." 6  A voice says, "Cry!" And I said, "What shall I cry?" All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.  7  The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass.  8  The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.   9  Get you up to a