December 11: Isaiah 12.2-6
Pat Dunlop
“Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things;
Let this be known to all the world.
Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,
For great is the Holy One of Israel among you “
Lord, as we walk with you through this Advent season, may we have [...]
December 10: Zephaniah 3.14-20
Ann Wolverton
Zephaniah?!? As a product of Disciples’ church schools, my old testament knowledge is lacking. According to the HarperCollins Study Bible, Zephaniah was one of the minor prophets, early in the reign of Josiah—642-611 BC—and probably at the same time as Jeremiah. Zephaniah developed the “day of the Lord” traditions and [...]
December 9: Luke 3.1-6
Max Hurlocker
Our God’s salvation is the great equalizer of all. There are powerful kings, rulers, and governors; and then there is John the Baptizer who brings to us, through the sign of baptism, a message of the coming Messiah and life-changing forgiveness. What an incredibly joyous message! New life! [...]
December 8: Philippians 1.3-11
Mary M. Hurlocker
In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he thanks them for their support not only while he is in prison, but for holding him in their hearts. He prays for them—that their love might overflow. I remember growing up in a church in a small town where my [...]
December 7: Luke 1.68-79
Martha Harris
These verses from Luke 1 are known as “The Canticle [song] of Zechariah” and are recited daily by Christians the world over. Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Anglican prayer books all include this ancient canticle in the morning prayer liturgy, in part because it speaks of the dawn of light coming [...]
December 6: Luke 2.1-7 Dennis Sanders
The writer of Luke presents this groundbreaking event with all the excitement of reading the details of last month’s church board meeting. And maybe that’s the point: God enters our lives in such ordinary ways. We expect [...]
December 5: Malachi .1-4 Bobbie Hall
Preparation for Christmas, Christ’s birth, for thirty-eight years in our home began with the erection of a live Christmas tree, usually hand cut by [...]
December 4: Luke 21.25-36 Deb Murphy
My first thought on reading this passage was “This is for Advent?” When I think of Advent, I return to childhood – Advent calendars, decorations, the tree, my brother waking me up at 6 am to tell me I’d gotten a rat [...]
December 3: 1st Thessalonians 3.9 -13 Valerie Dunham
With a sigh of satisfaction, I lean against my favorite rake and view the multicolored heap that earlier dressed our trees in summer green. Suddenly my tidy pile is assailed by a capricious gust. My toil is undone by a force I [...]
December 2: Psalm 25.1-10 Karen Kandik
Advent is a time of holding our breath while waiting for the miraculous arrival of the baby Jesus; it is also a time of breathing deeply while we go to God with prayers for salvation and mercy. We ask for [...]
