Advent 2020 Advent 2020 Nov. 29 Just the Facts Ma’am 6 Dr. Rich Menninger, retired Andrew B. Martin Professor of Religion Nov. 30 Second Planting in Hope 7 Fredrikson Center Team Dec. 1 The Hand of the Lord 8 Rosemary Holzhuter Dec. 2 Miracles 9 Virginia Pine Dec. 3 Where Do I Sit? 10 Kurt Hamilton Dec. 4 Faith in the Lord 11 Eugene Shawano, Jr. Dec. 5 Advent – A Time of Gratitude to God at All Times 12 Rev. Justin Gnanamuthu, C.S.C. Dec. 6 Behind the Scenes 13 Dr. Rich Menninger, retired Andrew B. Martin Professor of Religion Dec. 7 Flexible and Adaptable 14 Community Contributor Dec. 8 Spiritual Medicine 15 Kurt Hamilton Dec. 9 Christ Among Us 16 Jan Lee Dec. 10 Preparing or Passing? 17 Jacob Martin Dec. 11 Deep Ground of the Soul 18 Dr. Paula Artac Dec. 12 An Advent Mash-up 19 Rev. Matt Sturtevant Dec. 13 What’s in a Name? 20 Dr. Rich Menninger, retired Andrew B. Martin Professor of Religion Dec. 14 Song of Joy 21 Trish Dowd Kelne Dec. 15 Trusting God 22 Hailey Gonzalez Dec. 16 The Season...The Struggle 23 Treasa Toland Dec. 17 A United Force 24 Nicole Hamilton Dec. 18 Watched Out and Unready 25 Chaplain John Holzhüter Dec. 19 Be Still and Know 26 Dr. Dorothy L. Smith Dec. 20 Pay It Forward 27 Dr. Rich Menninger, retired Andrew B. Martin Professor of Religion Dec. 21 Deep Peace 28 the Fredrikson Center Team Dec. 22 Gowns and Good Tidings 29 Janice Trigg Dec. 23 Christmas – A Time to Celebrate God’s Merciful Love for Humanity 30 Rev. Justin Gnanamuthu, C.S.C. Dec. 24 Now and Forevermore 31 Dr. Rich Menninger, retired Andrew B. Martin Professor of Religion Dec. 25 Hopeful Waiting 32 Chaplain John Holzhüter O Come O Come Emmanuel 33 Acknowledgements 35 “Expectation” by Dr. Paula Artac Advent from the Latin word adventus, “coming” or “arrival.” The term is associated with the practice of many churches of observing a time of preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ. Traditionally, the Advent season begins four Sundays before Christmas Day and continues through Christmas Eve. An additional thought associated with Advent is that it serves as a reminder that the Messiah who came the first Christmas will someday return at His Second Advent. November Matthew 1:18-25 29– Sunday – Just the Facts Ma’am The title of this devotion is a quote incorrectly attributed to sergeant Joe Friday of the detective series Dragnet, which aired on television in the 1950’s. Nevertheless, it aptly describe the Christmas story as presented in the gospel of Matthew. As a reporter would write about what he or she investigated, Matthew simply jots down the key details he learned. Mary and Joseph were betrothed, a legal arrangement that bound the couple to each other as husband and wife, though the marriage was not to be consummated until a year later. So strong was this contract that sexual relations with another person other than the betrothed was considered adultery. The relationship could only be dissolved through divorce. In this account, Matthew matter-of-factly states that Mary is pregnant by the Holy Spirit. He offers no explanation or embellishments to make it more attractive. Like the writer who penned the opening verse of the Bible, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” Matthew assumes his statement is true. If you want more proof, I am afraid none is forthcoming at this point: you simply must deal with it as is. While the virgin birth is beyond scientific explanation, its necessity is crystal clear. This unique birth teaches us that Jesus is divine, and at the same time, human: he was born like us (Matthew 1:25). Jesus, the eternal Word of God, appeared in human form ( John 1:1, 14). Simply put, God became human: this belief is referred to as the Incarnation. The Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary with such power that Jesus came into this world truly human yet without the inherited sin of Adam; he was born holy, the Son of God (Luke 1:35). As a result, our Lord was able to remain sinless (Hebrews 4:15) and became the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Just stating the facts. by Dr. Rich Menninger Prayer Lord, help us see that we will not come to faith by understanding everything, but we can come to a clear understanding of truth by coming in faith. In the Name of the One whose miraculous birth leads us to faith that is embraced by our reason, amen. 6 Advent 2020 November Psalm 33: 20-22 30– Monday – Second Planting in Hope “We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.” A deluge of spring rain fell in the few days after our pumpkin seeds were planted. They seemed swept away, the ground flooded. We replanted, with the remaining seeds: some pumpkin, some winter squash, some just the last ones without label. The second planting was unplanned and rushed, yet hopeful that something would come up. We discovered, in about 10 days, where the flood waters flowed. A bundle of little sprouts came up, all tangled together. The plot was a bit of a mess, mingled types and all vines once the summer took hold. We did some transplanting, but mostly just went with it. Vines were growing everywhere, some even wrapped round a Rose of Sharon bush nearby. By harvest time, the bush looked like a Christmas tree with small pumpkin ornaments-an unexpected delight! The hopes of our world turn up in places unexpected and in variations unplanned, yet food for the table and gifts from God’s earth. As we begin this Advent, we may not know what has been planted, or where, nor what weather holds; yet “we wait in hope for the Lord,” and in that hope- our help, our shield and unfailing love. by the Fredrikson Center Team Prayer God of the Unknown, gift us with hope, planted in our hearts, felt in our moments of flooded and barren ground, keep our eyes turned to you Lord and the hope of your Son. May we tend the fields of our hearts, replanting and transplanting, and setting roots in you toward a bountiful harvest through Christ. In you we hope, Amen www.ottawa.edu/advent 7 December Job 12:7-10 –1 Tuesday – The Hand of the Lord “But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:7-10 One of my students mentioned her family raised and tended horses on their farm. After talking with the family, we arranged for a field trip, and all the students joyfully loaded the bus and off we went for a day at the farm and a chance to see the horses. It was nearing the end of our trip and the owner of the farm had given a tour and then allowed the students to take their lunch sacks and sit outdoors to enjoy before the bus ride back to school. We happened to be standing near the corral where their prize white stallion stood – tall and regal. I took the apple from my lunch and offered it but was rejected. The stallion neighed and sauntered away, uninterested. It was then that the rest of the horses in the corral began to head to pasture, following the stallion. But there lingered a young filly, she was the color of a new penny, glimmering in the sunlight, beautiful beyond my imagining. She took my breath away and I leaned into the fence, but the owner just smiled and said, “Oh you’ll never get near that one.” Undeterred and awestruck by her radiance, I slipped through the fence and walked toward her. She shook her mane and paused. I spoke to her as if to a heavenly creature, “You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.” Perhaps she understood, she knew the gifts of God’s creation. She stepped toward me; I stood motionless as she came closer and finally, she placed her head upon my shoulder and rested there for a long moment before turning and galloping off toward the open pasture. It was a gift, that remains in my heart, her beauty such a reflection of God’s creation and grace. by Rosemary Holzhuter Prayer May we wait, in this Advent season, undeterred by those that might discourage or lead astray. Let us look to God’s creation for beauty, for purpose, for the glory of God in our midst. May we find rest in in the hand of the Lord. Amen. 8 Advent 2020 December Psalm 77:14, John 4:48 – Wednesday2 – Miracles “You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.” Psalm 77:14 “So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe”. John 4:48 The Bible is full of miracles. Miracles from creation in Genesis to the promise of a new heaven and a new earth in Revelations.