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Keeping Watch ! a Devotional Guide for Advent 2014

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Keeping Watch ! a Devotional Guide for Advent 2014 Keeping Watch ! A Devotional Guide For Advent 2014 Trinity Presbyterian Church Atlanta, Georgia 2014 Advent Season Calendar Sunday, November 30—First Sunday of Advent 8:45 am Worship & Communion, Dobbs Chapel 9:45 am Advent Festival, Gym 11:00 am Worship & Communion, Sanctuary The Rev. Pam Driesell preaching at both services. 5:00 pm Service of Comfort and Prayer, Dobbs Chapel (casual attire welcome) A worship service based on scriptures giving full expression to both sorrow and the longing for hope, designed as a moment of comfort and rest for those who have experienced loss and for those under stress during the holiday season. Sunday, December 7—Second Sunday of Advent 8:45 am Worship, Dobbs Chapel 11:00 am Worship, Sanctuary The Rev. Pam Driesell preaching at both services. 12:00 pm First Sunday Congregational Lunch, Williams Hall 10:00 am-2:00 pm Trinity Christmas Market, Gym Honor friends, family and loved ones by purchasing tangible and virtual gifts that help to support Trinity’s global mission efforts in Cuba, Haiti, Kenya, Zambia and the Middle East, as well as refugees here in metro Atlanta. 5:30 pm Christmas Pageant - Elementary Children (K-5th Grade), Sanctuary Cookie Party Reception to follow in Williams Hall Tuesday, December 9 6:30 pm Christmas Banquet, Williams Hall Featuring the Trinity Caroling Quartet Saturday, December 13 9 age Hunter, Claire 9:00 am-12:00 pm Secrets Workshop (5 years and under), Gym 9:00 am-2:00 pm Secrets Workshop (K-5th Grade), Williams Hall Secrets Workshop is an opportunity for children to create gifts for family and friends. It will include lunch and Kids’ Morning Out activities led by the staff of the Calvin Center, our local Presbyterian church camp. (Make reservations at the church office by December 1.) Sunday, December 14—Third Sunday of Advent 8:45 am Worship, Dobbs Chapel 9:45 am Christmas Pageant for Preschoolers (ages 2-5), Dobbs Chapel 11:00 am Worship, Sanctuary The Rev. Barbara Brown Taylor preaching at both services. An Episcopal priest, professor, and theologian, she teaches at Piedmont College and Columbia Theological Seminary. 10:00 am-2:00 pm Trinity Christmas Market, Gym Honor friends, family and loved ones by purchasing tangible and virtual gifts that help to support Trinity’s global mission efforts in Cuba, Haiti, Kenya, Zambia and the Middle East, as well as refugees here in metro Atlanta. 12:00 pm Assemble Lunch Bags for St. Luke’s Community Kitchen, Gym Sunday, December 21—Fourth Sunday of Advent 8:45 am Worship, Dobbs Chapel 9:45 am All Church School, Williams Hall 11:00 am Worship, Sanctuary; Cherub Choir Sings The Rev. Pam Driesell preaching at both services. 7:00 pm Congregational Carol Sing, Williams Hall A Christmas celebration with Norman Mackenzie. Wednesday, December 24—Christmas Eve 4:00 pm Christmas Eve Worship for Families, Sanctuary The service will accommodate families with young children and will feature the Primary and Junior Choirs and the Hosanna Ringers. 6:00 pm Family Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols, Sanctuary The service will feature music by the Youth Choir and Brass Quartet. 9:00 pm Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols, Sanctuary Featuring the Chancel Choir and Brass Quartet and congregational carols. 11:00 pm Christmas Eve Communion Service, Dobbs Chapel A traditional late Christmas Eve candlelight service with Communion. The Rev. Pam Driesell preaching. Sunday, December 28—First Sunday after Christmas 11:00 am Worship, Sanctuary The Rev. Matthew Ruffner preaching. Miranda Borland, age 10 Introduction In every corner of the world, in the weeks before the 25th of December, people gather to hear a story that has been told, and retold. That story is of a baby named Jesus, who later became known as Jesus Christ. At first his followers included only his parents, a few shepherds and three wise men. Now his followers span the globe and are known as Christians. The Advent season culminates in our celebration of his birth. This 18th edition of Trinity Presbyterian Church Advent Devotional Guide is brought to you by many talented writers, proofreaders, editors and artists. As you read through this guide, please note the names of all those who contributed, and be sure to thank them for helping make this edition so wonderful. We want to especially thank our contributors of devotions for opening their hearts and minds and sharing with us their thoughts and stories. ppreciate your family and friends, and tell them I love you; A edicate yourself to serving God; D olunteer at the Trinity Christmas Market; V nter into worship with open hearts and minds; E urture yourself by reading this Devotional Guide; N T hank the Lord God for His gift to us of his only Son, Jesus Christ; With blessings to you all, Nancy Parker Parson and Heather Heinz Szyperski Co-Chairs, Advent Devotional Guide Committee Sunday, November 30, 2014 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:13-14 (NRSV) aiting does not come easily to us. Waiting is W annoying, inefficient, and frustrating, especially when we have grown accustomed to convenience, immediacy, and self-gratification. Whatever else it may be, Advent is a season of waiting – waiting on Messiah. In his novel The Source, James Michener pictures a devout rabbi who lived during the inter- testamental period, waiting expectantly for the promised Messiah. Every Sabbath the rabbi was the first to arrive at the synagogue for worship. He wanted to get the choice seat where he could be the first one to see the Messiah coming down the road. He approached every Sabbath with almost breathless anticipation. He waited all day long. And at the end of every Sabbath he was always deeply disappointed. Yet, early on the next Sabbath, he could be found in his seat waiting again with expectant hope. Advent is the Christian season of waiting – focusing our eyes and hearts and minds on the One who is coming. In a culture that begins to sing Christmas carols (and a variety of other holiday music) even before we get through Thanksgiving, it is very difficult to wait in anticipation. The Bible contains numerous stories of people who had to wait, and it was only in the waiting that they could see and understand the full meaning of the gift that came to them. Waiting is not doing nothing. Waiting is allowing oneself to be open to the possibilities of God’s abundance. Waiting is not speaking too soon, not jumping to conclusions, not creating a Messiah in our own image. Waiting is listening, pondering, wondering, and being ready to receive the gift of God’s amazing love. Teach us, O Lord, to wait for you, To yearn for you, to hope for you, Until the breaking of the day. Amen. Tom Farmer Pastoral Associate for Senior Adult Ministries Ella Anne Williams, age 7 Monday, December 1, 2014 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them and departed thence. Matthew 19:14-15 (KJV) frequently welcome children and parents as they enter the gym building for class on Sunday mornings. I do this wearing an Ask Me button, trying to be a welcoming face I for those with questions. The children never ask questions, they rush in, print their name badges, stick them on, and run to class. They are excited and expect good stories. The stories are those their parents and grandparents heard years before. The stories tell of Jesus who said, “I am The Way.” The stories will be remembered and repeated until they become part of the life of these children’s reality, the kingdom of heaven. They will be guided by an inner light that they know to be The Way, He having laid his hands on them, and all of us, through the generations. These children will grow, and one day they will have children of their own to whom they will tell the same stories of their Christian faith. I am privileged to see all this, to wonder at it, and to have it continually reaffirm my own faith. Lord, may I continue to tell your story. Paul Marston Tuesday, December 2, 2014 But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 (ESV) ne experience that has been really important to me is my yearly summer vacation to Winshape Camps on the campus of Berry College. It is a two-week camp O where kids get to play awesome games like paintball, meet new people and learn about God. Every night we have a devotional and conversation about the service from the morning and what we thought about it. A few years back a boy in my cabin whose mom was very sick asked about waiting for God. My counselor said something very thoughtful: “God has three answers to us: yes, no and wait for me.” During the Christmas season we are focused on shopping and getting ready for Christmas meals or parties. We get so caught up in our busy lives — with school, work, lessons, tests, events and responsibilities — that we forgot to wait for God in our daily lives. Waiting and listening for God can open our minds and hearts to ourselves, each other and a deeper relationship with Christ.
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