Friday, December 20, 2024

Liturgy: Advent IV, Selections from 2 Samuel 11 & 12 (December 22, 2024)

 This liturgy is based on our Advent Theme this year, "The Gifts of Women", based on the women in Matthew's account of Jesus' genealogy. 

          *You are welcome to use or adapt any of my resources for free, but I ask that you provide proper citation AND comment on this post to let me know.*


Hymns

Hymn GTG #93, “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates” 
Hymn GTG #324, “For All the Faithful Women" [v. 1 + New Verse:]
Remembering Bathsheba, we offer up a prayer,
For those whose lives and stories are neither good nor fair.
Although she was exploited, abused in every way,
Her strength and her resilience inspire our faith today.
Hymn GTG #87, “Comfort, Comfort Now My People” 


Sunday, December 15, 2024

Sermon: "Rahab's Gift", Joshua 2:1-16 (December 15, 2024)


This time of year, we tend to put a lot of emphasis on faithfulness – with good reason. The story of Christmas would not exist as we know it without many people’s willingness to do as God asks: Mary and her willingness to bear the son of God, Joseph and his willingness to raise a son that isn’t his, the shepherds and magi and their willingness to worship an infant from a poor family – all these figures are considered righteous specifically because of their faithfulness. We wouldn’t have Jesus without it. But for all the emphasis that we place on faithfulness as a path to righteousness, it’s far from the ONLY one. In fact, since God is the one to determine what IS righteous, God can assign that designation however God sees fit – even to someone who’s decidedly UNfaithful. Rahab is the perfect example of this.

Saturday, December 14, 2024

Liturgy: Advent III, Ruth 1:1-17 (December 15, 2024)

This liturgy is based on our Advent Theme this year, "The Gifts of Women", based on the women in Matthew's account of Jesus' genealogy. (Due to a family emergency, we wound up switching weeks 2 and 3.)

          *You are welcome to use or adapt any of my resources for free, but I ask that you provide proper citation AND comment on this post to let me know.*


Hymns

Hymn GTG #106, “Prepare the Way, O Zion” 
Hymn GTG #324, “For All the Faithful Women" [v. 1 + New Verse:]
For Ruth, we lift our voices in gratitude and praise;
Naomi’s true companion, a friend through all her days.
Although the way was rocky, they each were not alone – 
Ruth’s loyalty a path to Christ Jesus on his throne.
Hymn GTG #100, “My Soul Cries Out With a Joyful Shout” 


Monday, December 2, 2024

Liturgy: Advent II, Joshua 2:1-16 (December 8, 2024)

 This liturgy is based on our Advent Theme this year, "The Gifts of Women", based on the women in Matthew's account of Jesus' genealogy.

          *You are welcome to use or adapt any of my resources for free, but I ask that you provide proper citation AND comment on this post to let me know.*


Hymns

Hymn GTG #82, “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” 
Hymn GTG #324, “For All the Faithful Women" [v. 1 + New Verse:]
For Rahab’s keen perception, we give you thanks, O Lord;
She sensed your righteous purpose, the plans you had in store.
In rescuing the soldiers who came to her for aid,
Lord Jesus Christ was born from this debt that was repaid.
Hymn GTG #86, “The People Who Walked in Darkness” 


Sunday, December 1, 2024

Sermon: “Tamar’s Gift”, Genesis 38:6-7, 11-20, 24-26 (December 1, 2024 - Advent 1)


It’s Advent-tide once more, my friends, and once again we’ll be spending the next four weeks preparing our hearts to receive the coming Messiah. But while many churches use this time to recall the events immediately preceding Jesus’ birth, it’s important for us to remember that Jesus’ story doesn’t begin in the gospels. In fact, the impact of the incarnation is severely diminished without understanding everything that came before it. So while we’ll definitely still spend Christmas Eve with the beloved stories of the angels, the shepherds, the manger, and the magi, these next four weeks will be devoted to things that came long before all that.