One Little Word

Lessons:
Micah 5:2-5a
St. Luke 1:46b-55 (52) or Psalm 80:1-7 (7)
Hebrews 10:5-10
St. Luke 1:39-45 [46-55]

Lessons:
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Isaiah 12:2-6 (6)
Philippians 4:4-7
St. Luke 3:7-18

Lessons:
Malachi 3:1-4 or Baruch 5:1-9
St. Luke 1:68-79 (78)
Philippians 1:3-11
St. Luke 3:1-6

Lessons:
Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalm 25:1-10 (1)
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
St. Luke 21:25-36

The “Great” Reversal

Lessons:
    Micah 5:2-5a
    Luke 1:46b-55 (52) or Psalm 80:1-7 (7)
    Hebrews 10:5-10
    Luke 1:39-45 [46-55]

Prayer of the Day
    Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. With your abundant grace and might, free us from the sin that binds us, that we may receive you in joy and serve you always, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Text

^39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, ^40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. ^41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit ^42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. ^43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? ^44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. ^45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be^e a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

[^46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
^47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
^48for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
^49for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
^50His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
^51He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
^52He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
^53he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
^54He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
^55according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”]

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St. Luke 1:39-45 [46-55] New Revised Version Bible (C)1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. 

My soul proclaims your greatness, O God,
and my spirit rejoices in you,
You have looked with love on your servant here,
and blessed me all my life through.
—————
Marty Haugen: “Holden Evening Prayer”
(©1990; G.I.A. Publications, Inc.)

As is the case with many congregations, the people of Saint Peter Lutheran Church have fallen in love with Marty Haugen’s “Holden Evening Prayer.” It is a lovely and moving rendition of one of the oldest worship settings in our church’s tradition: Vespers. This gathering for word and prayer was already well established as one of the daily offices by the Sixth Century (it is described in the Rule of St. Benedict; written about 530-43), and has its roots in even older rites. Haugen’s gentle, melodic treatment has renewed interest in this ancient service, which at one time had been all but abandoned by most Christian churches, except for occasional mid-week gatherings in Advent and Lent.

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Comforting, but not Comfortable

Lessons:
    Zephaniah 3:14-20
    Isaiah 12:2-6 (6)
    Philippians 4:4-7
    St. Luke 3:7-18

Prayer of the Day
    Stir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the preaching of John, that, rejoicing in your salvation, we may bring forth the fruits of repentanc; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 ^{   3:7} John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ^8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ^9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
    ^10 And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” ^11 In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” ^12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” ^13 He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” ^14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”
    ^15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, ^16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ^17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
    ^18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

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St. Luke 3:7-18 New Revised Version Bible (C)1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

There I was, sitting in my office, enjoying the new Christmas CD from Allison Brown and Newgrange (A Christmas Heritage), when a thundering voice burst into my ears:

You rotten snake! Who warned you to flee from God’s anger? Don’t be so impressed with yourself. Every tree that doesn’t bear fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Share with those in need. Practice honesty in business. Don’t take advantage of your authority. Jesus is coming and he will separate the good from the bad. Get ready!

I had felt so calm and relaxed – even a bit joyful – but the voice changed all of that. Why would such a harsh and troubling message impose itself on my quiet afternoon? It just didn’t seem right. It just didn’t seem fair.

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Justified, Saved, Reconciled

Lessons:
    Malachi 3:1-4 or Baruch 5:1-9
    St. Luke 1:68-79 (78)
    Philippians 1:3-11
    St. Luke 3:1-6

Prayer of the Day
    Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming give to all the people of the world knowledge of your salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Text from “The Bible in 90 Days”

^5:1 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ^2 through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. ^3 And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ^4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ^5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

^6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ^7 Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. ^8 But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. ^9 Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. ^10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. ^11 But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

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Romans 5:1-11 New Revised Version Bible (C)1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

Today our “Bible in 90 Days” readers find themselves in Romans 5 – on the 80^th day of this 88-day project (there are actually 2 “grace days” built into the schedule). In some respects, this section of the Apostle Paul’s letter gets to the heart of the matter that has been central to our reading for these past 80 days.

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Metanoia — Turning in a New Direction

Lessons:
    Malachi 3:1-4 or Baruch 5:1-9
    St. Luke 1:68-79 (78)
    Philippians 1:3-11
    St. Luke 3:1-6

Prayer of the Day
    Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming give to all the people of the world knowledge of your salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

^3:1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler^ of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler^ of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, ² during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. ³ He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, ⁴ as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.  ⁵ Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; ⁶ and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”

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St. Luke 3:1-6 New Revised Version Bible (C)1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

A Sunday School teacher once asked the class what was meant by the word “repentance.” A little boy put up his hand and said, “It is being sorry for your sins.” A little girl also raised her hand and said, “It is being sorry enough to quit.”

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The Purpose of the Gospel

Lessons:
    November 29, 2009
    Jeremiah 33:14-16
    Psalm 25:1-10 (1)
    1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
    St. Luke 21:25-36 

Prayer of the Day
    Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection alert us to the threatening dangers of our sins, and redeem us for your life of justice, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Text from “The Bible in 90 Days”

^20:19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ^20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. ^21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” ^22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ^23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
     ^24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ^25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
     ^26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ^27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” ^28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” ^29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
     ^30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. ^31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

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John 20:19-31 New Revised Version Bible (C)1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

Finally! We made it! After 67 days of reading our way through the Old Testament, our “Bible in 90 Days” readers finally made it to the New Testament! Even though it was very interesting, and very enlightening, to be immersed into the world-view of those who waited so long for the arrival of the Messiah, there was a collective sigh of relief when we finished up Malachi and read, “An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” (St. Matthew 1:1)

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The Season of Advent

Lessons:
    November 29, 2009
    Jeremiah 33:14-16
    Psalm 25:1-10 (1)
    1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
    St. Luke 21:25-36 

Prayer of the Day
    Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection alert us to the threatening dangers of our sins, and redeem us for your life of justice, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 ^21:25 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. ²⁶ People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷ Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. ²⁸ Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”  ²⁹ Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; ³⁰ as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. ³¹ So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. ³² Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. ³⁴ “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, ³⁵ like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place,

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St. Luke 21:25-36 New Revised Version Bible (C)1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.and to stand before the Son of Man.”

The season of Advent is upon us: Four weeks of preparation, designed to make us ready for the celebration of Christ’s birth towards the end of this month. Traditionally, the church has considered this as a time to slow down and to nurture spiritual growth. Advent is often marked by additional weekly opportunities for worship, personal times of devotion and prayer, and attempts to reach out to the community in acts of service.

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