Advent Devotional

"But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2:19 (NRSV) Each year, we as a church take a journey through Advent, a journey of expectantly waiting for the birth of Jesus. And each year, we wonder and worry about how we are going to get there, letting other priorities and demands take over. Our Family Ministry Team has developed this gift for you and your loved ones to help you take time in the journey - wondering, expecting, and waiting. Each day, from December 1st to December 25th, you and your loved ones are encouraged to take some time to stop and focus on a different name of Jesus. A devotional has been written each day for you to read and open up the name and person of Jesus in a new way. There are also additional tools each day for you to use - to wonder, ponder, and assist you in your understanding. These tools are for adults, teenagers, preteens and children. Use them and allow the Holy Spirit to grow your love of Jesus through discussion, secret gifts, laughter, coloring, and experiencing this season in a whole new way. Our Family Team prays that this year your journey to Bethlehem to meet Jesus is more awe inspiring than it has ever been, and that you, like Mary, will take these things into your heart as treasures to grow in your love of Jesus Christ. - Family Pastor, Rev. Sarah Marsalis-Luginbill - 1 Jesus Rev. Kay Eck "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21 (NIV) My daughter is now one and a half years old, and before she was born, before I even had confirmation that she was a girl, my husband and I knew that her name was Ellie. I can’t tell you why, but something in my spirit just knew. And the name has been perfect for her and her personality. Mary and Joseph knew the name of their son too, before they ever even met him. The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and told him that Mary, his fiancé, would give birth to a baby through the Holy Spirit and that the baby was to be named Jesus. This wasn’t just any little baby boy; it was the Creator of the Universe, God in and of Godself, who came to earth in the form of a baby. God became like us, with flesh and blood and feelings and emotions, and went on to die, like we all do as humans. He was born to die. However, this baby was not simply a human, he was also fully God and fully the Savior of the world. Jesus was resurrected from the dead and because of Jesus; we are able to experience resurrection too. What is really cool, is that the name given to this baby – Jesus – tells us who he is and what he does for us. See, the name Jesus is actually derived from the Hebrew name, Yeshua, which means “to deliver or to save.” Yeshua is connected to the name Joshua and is also often connected to God’s original name – YHWH or Yahweh. God came to earth in the form of God’s son, Jesus, who was sent to deliver us and save us. The name Jesus was no accident and Jesus continues to deliver and save us today. Decorate a stocking just for you! Be sure to put your name on it! What does your name mean? Why was this name chosen for you? Go on a walk or to a plant nursery to look at gardens in your neighborhood. What do you think they do to take care of these plants? How can you tell they care about them? 2 The Vine Denise Startz "I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5 (NRSV) My grandparents were corn farmers. My husband, Leroy, grew up on a sorghum farm. On a grain farm, time is measured by the growing of crops. Each spring is marked with the turning of the soil, followed by the planting of seeds. The earth is tended carefully - removing weeds, applying nutrients - all to help the plants grow strong. Once mature, the grain is harvested and what remains of the plant (the stalk and leaves) will be cut down and tilled or turned over into the earth to enrich the soil for the next year’s crop. And the cycle begins again - a new start from brand new seeds each season. But there are other kinds of crops that need a different type of care to thrive. Plants that grow on vines, like grapes or blackberries, are planted once and regrow from the same, original stalk each year. These stalks live for many years, producing fruit each season. Because the central stalk of the vine plant must be preserved each year, the farmer takes extra care of the plants. Watering it. Nourishing it. Protecting it from hot and cold. Trimming the branches that have grown too long. The branches draw strength from the vine to grow and produce an abundance of fruit. But if a branch is damaged or broken from the central stock, it will not be able to survive or bear fruit. Christ tells us in John 15:1-5 that we are like the branches of the vine, and he is the stalk. We are not enough on our own to thrive, we must stay connected to the stalk in order to thrive. The farmer who tends to us is the Father. God treats us like the grape farmer, not the grain farmer -- he believes in us, year after year. He does not tear us down at the end of a season to start over. It is the connection that exists with God, the gardener, Christ, the vine, and us, the branches, that leads us to a life of joy and bounty when tended and cared for in the presence of God’s guiding hands. 3 Redeemer Dr. Sheryl Sebo "Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who by myself spread out the earth." Isaiah 44:24 (NRSV) As we approach the coming of our Savior this Advent, we acknowledge loss and uncertainty: loss of job or income security, loss of health or of the lives of loved ones, loss of ability to live our lives in relative safety. We feel for those suffering and in need. In the midst of a world of shifting sand, how do we recover, or discover for the first time, the Solid Rock who brings the kind of hope, faith, peace and love, symbolized by our Advent candles? To face challenges and embrace the future in hope, we need to listen and follow God’s guidance. In the midst of conflicting voices in our lives, we need the steady, loving presence of a compassionate Heavenly Parent who cares deeply for each and every living being, in all of our wide diversity. We need a Redeemer who brings order out of chaos, who rescues us from the pit of fear, anger, illness, or failure - One who restores our soul. Jesus was sent by God to be that Redeemer, the one who forgives our sins and returns us to wholeness within God’s eternal love. This Redeemer promises us salvation, offering us a way to shed our old self and be re- formed into God’s image. When we accept Jesus as our Redeemer, we are forgiven and made new in God’s love, our hearts are filled with the fullness of joy, gratitude, and love! Prayer: Dear God, help me look more deeply for ways I have not listened to or followed Your guidance. Help me to become like new, embracing Jesus as my Redeemer, and to be a conduit of your love in the world. Help us to better understand Your gift of salvation this Advent, as we await the coming of your Anointed One, Emmanuel! Amen. 4 Mighty God Rev. Ngoni Mukarakate "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." Isaiah 9:6 (NRSV) “So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere” - Luke 9:6 (NIV) Mighty God depicts bravery, courage and action, meaning that as children of the Mighty God we are enabled to fly like eagles because of the identity from our father. When the power of our Mighty God is imparted to us, we are able to do great things like: Doing missions, through visiting people in various walks of life in different places Preaching the good news of Jesus Christ Healing the sick When we recognize Jesus as our Mighty God, it means that He has power to transform lives, and God will do those acts through you and me, who are called by His name. The Mighty acts of God are made possible when we deliberately participate through our: Presence Gifts Resources Prayers Readiness to lead in various capacities in His church. As children of God, it is our obligation to spread the good news of the Kingdom of God, and to communicate to all people the unconditional love of Christ Jesus.

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