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Christmas prayer

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God of fresh starts, past provision and timeless loving kindness, today brings the birth of our Savior and the fulfillment of ancient promises. No longer do we stumble through the dark valley of death. No longer do we fear evil. No longer do we languish in despair. The Incarnation of Emmanuel, God with us, illumines the remote corners of our souls and the deepest caves of the world’s suffering. Sin crumbles in defeat with the coming of the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Today redemption reigns. Reconciliation refuses to relent. Good news reverberates throughout creation. In gratitude and awe we sing with joy that grace upon grace has bursts the bounds of heaven and come to earth, to us, for us, for all peoples, every nation, the entirety of God’s beloved world. Amen. … [Read more...]

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Hymns for Advent and Christmas – Year C

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The Presbyterian Outlook commissioned Presbyterian hymn writer, Carolyn Winfrey Gillette to compose Advent hymns set to familiar Christmas tunes and other well-loved hymns. Your hymn purchase includes downloads of  a PDF of the lyrics scored with the music for a half-page regular sheet of paper, a second PDF of the lyrics scored with music for a half-page of legal-sized paper (large print) and a document with lyrics only. You have permission to print as many copies as needed for your use. Advent wreath hymn “The Candle of Hope”  is a new hymn that is not geared to the lectionary passages. This new hymn follows the themes of each of the Sundays in Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. If you light Advent candles as part of your worship during the season, then this hymn is ideal! The words are set to the familiar tune of “O Worship the King, All Glorious Above.” The Candle of Hope (preview of full hymn text) “The candle of hope we light in this hour, proclaims that the Lord is … [Read more...]

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Christmas prayer

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God of star and stable, we wonder at your creation, the vastness of the universe, our small place in history and time, and yet your concern for every creature and every corner. As we look up and see the heavenly host and hear their chorus of good news of great joy for all people, we join with the angels singing praises at the birth of the Messiah. Make us as eager as the shepherds to leave our familiar fields to go and see the One who has come to save the world. May we not only bow down and worship, but get up and go tell. Emmanuel, God with us, transform us into a royal priesthood, ready to show others that God is with and for them, too. We rejoice, give thanks and marvel at the gift of Jesus Christ, the One who has come to redeem the world. We ponder in our hearts all that he is and who we are in light of his incarnation. We prepare to follow where he leads, from star to stable, cross to grave, empty tomb to Galilee and the ends of the earth. Amen.   … [Read more...]

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#realfamilychristmas

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Sappy sentiments about “home” pervade this season no less than cheesy Christmas music and relentless advertisements telling us to buy things. The classic “Home for Christmas” competes for airtime with Justin Bieber’s “Home This Christmas.” Don’t forget the movies from “Home Alone” to the “Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” where being embraced by family and friends, chestnuts roasting on the open fire, trees laden with gifts, everyone reunited, happy and, well, home, marks the Norman Rockwell image of Christmas. But I ask you, is this what your home is like? Moments of such greeting card bliss and annual holiday letter verbiage exist, but only in fleeting glimpses. That selfie is taken just before the smoke alarm goes off and the turkey gets hurriedly pulled from the flames. The social media post crops out the loved one who’s had too much punch and subsequently not enough filter. Rarely do we hear about the strained dinner conversation about politics, or the new girlfriend no one likes, … [Read more...]

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No room in the what?

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I confess: Learning that the New Testament never uses the word stable or barn to describe where Jesus was born was borderline scandalous to me.  Well, then where was he born? Especially if there was “no room in the inn.”  And does it make any difference?  The late New Testament scholar, Ken Bailey, helped deepen my understanding. Remember Joseph was going to Bethlehem, which would be like me going to Napa, California – where I was born and raised, and where much of my family still lives.  That means I’d have plenty of places to stay.  This is what family does – especially in the Middle East: They offer hospitality. And if for some reason Joseph’s people couldn’t accommodate them, then Mary’s certainly would.  (Her people were in Bethlehem of Judea. She had already stayed with Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, several months before.) In other words, it doesn’t matter if there was “no room in the inn.” Joseph and Mary would never stay in Motel 6. Custom would demand they … [Read more...]

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God’s best for us

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I have found the Christmas Eve sermon the hardest one to prepare. The biblical story has little to do with where listeners and our larger culture are in late December. I remember one year when I worked extra hard to prepare a message that took the Luke account seriously and took my people seriously. I knew they were struggling. Whatever its status as an actual historical event, the infancy narrative in Luke touches on critical themes: a messianic moment, affecting all of humanity, happening among the lowly, shepherds as witnesses, at the center a young couple of nobodies whose gift wasn’t wealth or status, but a willingness to say “yes.” It was a redoing of Creation itself. That’s how much God loves us: willing to try again after ages upon ages of human sinfulness. I stepped into the pulpit to share this message of hope and immediately saw reality. Extended families were pausing at church between this party and that party. Parents were focused on shushing children. Most people … [Read more...]

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