Ready or not, a child has been born!

A child came into the world today,
and I was found ill-prepared.

I am not unlike many who have gone before me.

Those expecting the arrival of a child are often caught by surprise.

Of course, the expectant prepare the room, get the house in order, and have parties in anticipation of the glorious event.  But all of the preparation, reading, and consultation can never truly make one ready for the manner in which the arrival of a child changes things.

The arrival of a child has a way of changing
everything.

However, I really thought I was ready,
this time.

But how can one be truly ready for the change that is brought about by the arrival of a child?

And this child,
this child brought with him change that no one could ever imagine.
This child ushered in a transformation that continues to impact the entire world.
This child engendered a revolution that wreaks havoc on not only the world but also on individual lives.
This child generates conversion of all things.

I long for this kind of change.
And yet,
I confess that I am not ready for what it may mean.

For these frighteningly beautiful words float along on the fierce winds of change and are heard in the breath of a babies cry,
"Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11)

" 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
   because he has anointed me
     to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
   and recovery of sight to the blind,
     to let the oppressed go free,
     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.'
...'Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.' " (Luke 4:18, 19 and 21)

We are all called, you and I, to live into this metamorphosis brought about by this child that has been born, yet again, on this day.

"For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this." (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Ready or not, a child has been born!
Let the earth rejoice!

Advent - Week 4 - Love

Week 4

This week we light the fourth candle of Advent Wreath. 

We light this candle to symbolize the gift of God’s love in Jesus Christ. 

Questions:

What is love?

When you think of love, what is the first thing or person that comes to mind?

What does it mean to love?

Scripture:

John 3:16-17

"For God so loved the world that God gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."

Discussion:

What do hear in this passage about love?

Who in your life is an example of love?

What does it mean to you that God loves you this much?

Activity:

Write a note or card to someone who has shown you what it means to be a person of love or who you think is an example of God's love.  This would be an incredible Christmas to give to someone.

May the power of Christ’s love transform our lives.

Advent - Week 3 - Joy

Week 3 

This week we light the third candle on the Advent wreath.
“We light this candle in great joy; Jesus is our joy!”

Questions:
What is joy?
What do you think of when you consider what it might mean to be full of joy?
What are some of the characteristics of joy?

Scripture:

Isaiah 12:2-6

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the LORD GOD is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Discussion:
Is there joy in expectation?
What goes through your own head and heart when you are anticipating something?
Consider these two lines…
“Shout aloud and sing for joy.”
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.”
When do you find it most difficult to sing for joy and rejoice?
For what in your life can you sing for joy or rejoice now?

Activity:
Sometime before Sunday, consider the things that bring you joy. 

Why do those things bring you joy? 

Think about some ways in which you might be an agent of joy in your house, your school, your place of employment.

Find a service project you can participate in that will bring joy into the lives of others.

Sign up to participate in Christmas Benevolence.  It is still not too late.

Advent - Week 2 - Peace

Week 2 
This week we light the second purple (or blue) candle on the Advent wreath.
“We light this candle in peace; Jesus is our peace.”

Questions:
What is peace?
What does peace look like?
What would it mean for you to have peace?

Scripture:
Luke 1:68-79
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, 
for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. 
He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, 
as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 
that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. 
Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, 
and has remembered his holy covenant, 
the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, 
to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, 
might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; 
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 
to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.
By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Discussion:
What does this passage say about peace?
Luke writes that Zechariah, father of John the Baptist said at John's birth, “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
What might these words mean?
What would it be like to be a messenger of God's peace?
How can you bring this comfort to those around you?

Activity:
Sometime this week, make a list of those in your life who need comfort and peace.  
Consider how you might be someone who brings comfort and peace to these people.  
How can we work together toward peace? 
Find a service project to participate in that brings comfort and peace to those in need.

Christmas Benevolence:
Christmas Benevolence needs a lot of help! If you are in town this weekend, check out the opportunities to serve. Check the church website www.secondchurch.org for a full list of opportunities.

Advent - Week 1 - Hope

Throughout the season of Advent there will be one post each week with one of the Advent passages and a short devotional on the text.  It is our hope that Advent would be a season of preparation for the birth of the Messiah.

Week 1 - This week we light the first purple (or the blue) candle in the Advent wreath.
“We light this candle in hope, the bright hope of Jesus, the Christ.”

Questions:
What do you think of when you think of hope?
Who would be an example of hope?
Where do you find hope?
For what do you hope?

Scripture:
Jeremiah 33:14-16
"The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.' "

Discussion:
What does this passage have to do with hope?
Jeremiah writes, ”The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.”
What do you think these words mean?  
Does this relate to hope?  
What do you wish God would do?

Activity:
Sometime this week, write down a list of your hopes for yourself, for your family, for our world.  
Share these with someone else.  
Consider ways that you might work toward these purposes.

Christmas Benevolence:
Click here to find ways to volunteer for this year's Christmas Benevolence.