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HILLSBORO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
2012 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL
ADVENT
IN
THE
PSALMS
In Advent we enter a season These daily devotions We hope you enjoy this
of waiting as we anticipate include three parts: collection from our elders
the Messiah’s coming. This Scripture, Reflection, and and ministry staff. And this
devotional is a tool for our Prayer. Further lectionary Advent, we pray you’re led
Advent journey together. reading is also included. to the Christ child.
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION PRAYER
December 2, 2012
The First Sunday of Advent
It’s Worth the Wait!
RE F LEC TI ON
Chris Adams
SCR I P T UR E
Christmas is big in my family.
My parents worked hard not to
spoil us at other times of the
year. However, when Christmas
came they went all out. I good at waiting. We want what
remember being surprised even we want, and we want it now.
MAKE ME TO KNOW as a child at how extravagant my However, I wonder if in our
YOUR WAYS, O mom and dad were with gifts for rush, we strip away the
L O RD; TE ACH ME my sister and brother and me. possibility of the kind of
YO U R PATHS . L EA D Christmas morning was filled excitement that can only come
ME IN YOUR TRUTH, with the kind of excitement that after a long season of
AND TE ACH ME , F O R can only come after a long anticipation. The anticipation in
YO U ARE T HE G O D season of anticipation. In fact, my Advent is not about denying
O F MY S A LVATI O N; folks never even had to hide gifts ourselves or being pious by
F O R YO U I WA I T A L L
because they knew we would hiding our joy. It is simply
DAY LONG.
never have tried to find them. preparing our hearts and minds
PSALM 25:4-5
We didn’t want to know since again for the absolute joy of
that would spoil the surprise of receiving Jesus Christ again on
Christmas morning. Christmas morning.
The season of Advent is a
season of anticipation too. Our
fast-paced culture is not very
Lord, grant us the PRAYER
FURTHER LECTIONARY
hopeful serenity of
READING:
ISAIAH 1:1-9; waiting for you and
2 PETER 3:1-10; your joy. Amen.
MATTHEW 25:1-13
December 3, 2012
Monday, The First Week of Advent
When I’m Not Looking...
RE F LEC TI ON
Marla Albert
SCR I P T UR E
I am great at establishing
systems for organizing things.
Unfortunately, I’m not as
proficient at maintaining those
systems. For months my laundry repaired. Someone had sewn up
sorter was torn at the handle. the fabric with a golden colored
I WAITED PAT IENT LY Clothes spilled onto the floor thread. I remembered Michael’s
F O R THE L O RD ; H E and the ones that stayed in the time in the laundry room and
INCL INED TO ME bag were difficult to retrieve as it asked him about it. In his words,
AND HE A RD MY collapsed. My attempt to have “It was ripped, so I sewed it up
CRY. HE DR EW ME the boys sort their own laundry for you.” God works patiently
UP F RO M T H E was not very effective. As I was and constantly in my life, often
DE SO L AT E PIT, O U T working in the kitchen one day, answering prayers that I could
O F TH E MI RY my eight-year-old son Michael not articulate. As I reflect, I can
BO G , AND SE T MY
was supposed to be taking care see the many ways that he has
F EET UPO N A
of his chores. But I realized he’d been at work in my life and in
RO C K, MA KI NG MY
taken nearly thirty minutes to our world. He has repaired
S TEPS SE CU RE . HE
sort his laundry. Why can’t young relationships, healed wounds, and
PUT A NEW SONG
boys just get the work done and comforted fears. There is a
IN MY MO UTH , A
move on? Later that evening golden thread beautifully weaving
SON G OF P RA I S E TO
when I finally had time to put in through time, knitting together
O U R G O D.
a load of clothes, I was surprised what was once broken.
PSALM 40:1-3A
to see that the handle had been
God, open our eyes to PRAYER
FURTHER LECTIONARY
the work you are
READING:
ISAIAH 1:10-20; doing in our midst. Fill
1 THESSALONIANS 1:1-10; our hearts with a song
LUKE 20:1-8 of praise. Amen.
December 4, 2012
Tuesday, The First Week of Advent
God Is...
RE F LEC TI ON
Ron Arildsen
SCR I P T UR E
If you are like me, the beautiful
music of Christmas has
significance on several levels:
spiritual, aesthetic, and
emotional. Each Christmas I Creator/Savior. God knew what
enjoy this special music, and I we needed for a full life, and he
HAPPY A R E T H O SE have happy memories, as I recall sent Christ as the embodiment
WHO S E HEL P IS T HE enjoying it in years past, of his divinity. “The Word became
GOD OF particularly with those I love. flesh and dwelt among us...” and
J ACO B, W HO S E One of these pieces that has Christ tells us, “He who has seen
HO PE IS I N T HE special significance for me is me has seen the Father.” Even
LORD THEIR GOD… Handel’s Messiah. Recall with me so, God in Christ not only shows
PSALM 146:5 the moving passage: “His Name us the way, he is the Way. He not
shall be called Wonderful, only reveals to us the truth, he is
Counselor, the mighty God, the the Truth. He doesn’t just show
everlasting Father, the Prince of us how to live, he is the Life. He
Peace.” God speaking to us doesn’t just show us where to
through the scriptures hide from life’s storms, he is our
apparently puts great significance Refuge. Likewise, God doesn’t
on these names that give us a just hand us a self-help manual,
glimpse into his nature, the the psalmist claims that God is
nature of our awe-inspiring our Help.
Dear God, you are our PRAYER
FURTHER LECTIONARY
help in this world and
READING:
ISAIAH 1:21-31; the next. In this Advent
1 THESSALONIANS 2:1-12; season, increase our
LUKE 20:9-18 trust in you. Amen.
December 5, 2012
Wednesday, The First Week of Advent
Wow! What a Beautifully
Created World by an RE F LEC TI ON
SCR I P T UR E All-Powerful Maker!
Scott Brunette
With my human mind, I
wonder how God can know us
and everyone in the world and
everyone who has ever lived--in
THE M IG H TY ON E ,
our entirety, inside and out. I
G O D T H E L O R D,
turn on the television to the
SPEAKS A ND
science and history channels and
S UMMO NS TH E
see the handiwork of a creator
EARTH F RO M T HE
who has made the solar system;
RIS ING O F T H E SUN
the human, animal, and plant
TO I T S S E T T I N G .
bodies; and the world with such
O UT O F ZI O N, T HE
intricacies and order.
PERFECTION OF
BEAUT Y, G O D Our great God can do
S HIN ES F ORT H. anything. He has done
PSALM 50:1-2 everything. With him nothing is
impossible! God, who knows us
absolutely, shines forth on
everything he has made.
Dear God, thank you PRAYER
FURTHER LECTIONARY
for loving us so much
READING:
ISAIAH 2:1-4; that you’ve given us
1 THESSALONIANS 2:13-20; such a gorgeous world
LUKE 20:19-26 in which to live.
December 6, 2012
Thursday, The First Week of Advent
He Delights in Us!
RE F LEC TI ON
Ben Cannon
SCR I P T UR E
It was the same every year
when my family would turn the
bend on Route 128 and see
Blue Hill in the distance. This
meant that my grandparents and engulfing squeeze. They
were just minutes away. The car almost had the gate of the trailer
I LOVE YO U, O was loaded with Christmas gifts shut and locked when Gramps
L O R D, MY and, after a long day and a half on saw us running. Taking no time to
S TRENG T H . T HE the road, the energy level was at double check the bolt, Gramps
L O R D I S M Y RO C K , a maximum. My brothers and I turned to greet us with open
MY F O RTR ES S, A ND argued over whose turn it was arms. “Take it from here fellas,
MY DEL IV ER ER , MY to sit in dad’s lap and steer down my boys are coming!”
G O D, M Y RO C K I N the winding farm road to meet
WHO M I TA KE Those poor farmhands spent
Gramps who was working in the
REFU GE , M Y SH IE L D, the rest of the afternoon
dell. This particular day, Gramps
AN D T HE H ORN OF rounding the cows back into the
and his crew of five men had
MY SALVATI O N, MY trailer. Looking back on it now, I
spent the entire morning
S TRO NG HO L D. I don’t remember any gifts that I
wrestling cows into a trailer to
C AL L U PO N THE received that Christmas, but I do
transport them to another
L O RD, W HO I S remember that moment--when
pasture on the farm. As soon as
WO RTH Y TO B E my grandfather showed me and
our car rolled to a stop, it was a my brothers what unconditional
PRAISED, SO I SHALL
race between the three brothers
BE SAVED F RO M MY and uninterrupted love looks
to be greeted by his strong arms
EN EM IES . like.
PSALM 18:1-3
Lord, you are the
FURTHER LECTIONARY strength of our life. PRAYER
READING: Thank you for showing
ISAIAH 2:5-22; us your unconditional
1 THESSALONIANS 3:1-13;
LUKE 20:27-40 love through your son,
Jesus Christ.
December 7, 2012
Friday, The First Week of Advent
HELP!
RE F LEC TI ON
Shawn Cothran
SCR I P T UR E
Sometimes I fool myself into
thinking that I am immune to
doing this sin or that sin. I think
sometimes when King David
cries for help, it is for rescue that I am. Jesus came to be my
from himself, his own sinful advocate, my savior, my
HEA R MY PR AYE R, O nature. The man prone to redeemer, not just for fun, but
L O RD ; L E T MY CRY adultery, as with Bathsheba, was because without him I really am
C OM E TO YO U. DO the very “man after God’s own lost. Thank God for the
NOT HI DE YO UR heart.” I think part of the reason scriptures, filled with broken
FAC E F RO M ME I N is David’s self-awareness; he people just like us, crying out for
THE DAY O F MY wasn’t perfect, but he was help.
D IS TRESS. INC L I NE absolutely aware of his
YOUR EAR TO shortcomings.
ME; ANS W ER ME
THAT is what God wants from
S PEEDILY I N T HE
me, from us! To acknowledge
DAY WHEN I C ALL.
that we are flawed, broken
PSALM 102:1-2
people in need of a savior. In this
Christmas season, remember
why God sent Jesus--because we
NEED him. I am in desperate
need of salvation, wretched man
God, be that help now! PRAYER
FURTHER LECTIONARY
Thank you for being
READING:
ISAIAH 3:1-4:1; my ever-present help
1 THESSALONIANS 4:1-12; in time of need. Amen.
LUKE 20:41-21:4
December 8, 2012
Saturday, The First Week of Advent
Our God Is
an Awesome God! RE F LEC TI ON
SCR I P T UR E
Linda Diguette
A new wardrobe! Browns and
grays are in, shorter lengths (of
days), and stark accessories!
How easily we grow accustomed Lingering to admire its beauty, I
to our surroundings and dulled was reminded of the creativity of
L O RD, YO U H AV E
to things that are familiar. God. Of his everlasting nature
BE EN O U R
Although God’s glory is clearly compared to the brevity of my
DW E L L I N G P L AC E I N
displayed all around us, own and the flowers. Of his
ALL GE NER ATI ON S.
sometimes the busyness of ever-new ways to commune
BE F O RE THE
everyday life blocks our view. We intimately with those created in
MO UNTA INS W E RE
take for granted his amazing his own image.
BRO UG H T
work in our lives. We forget the If created things are so utterly
F O RTH, O R EV ER
privilege of being his child. We lovely, how gloriously beautiful must
YO U HAD F O R MED
neglect the pleasure of his be he who made them!
THE EART H A ND
presence and miss the beauty of -Anthony of Padua
THE WO RLD, FROM
his creation.
E VE RL AS T IN G TO
E VE RL AST ING YO U On a cold, rainy day recently, I
ARE GO D. received a vase of fresh flowers.
PSALM 90:1-2 It was bursting with color,
perfectly arranged and its
fragrance filled the house.
Lord, open my eyes PRAYER
FURTHER LECTIONARY
that I may respond
READING:
ISAIAH 4:2-6; joyfully and
1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-18; wholeheartedly to your
LUKE 21:5-19 creation and calling.
December 9, 2012
The Second Sunday of Advent
A Baby’s Promise
RE F LEC TI ON
Amy Dillon
SCR I P T UR E
Five years ago, I became a
mother and lost my grandfather
both within the space of a
week. My family struggled with
conflicting emotions associated How beautiful, then, that God
with life passing and beginning. A comes to us at Christmas as a
THE EARTH I S TH E newborn’s presence at family baby. We are reminded that
LORD'S AND ALL gatherings after Papaw’s passing despite the losses or
THAT IS I N IT, T H E somehow relieved the sense of disappointments we experience,
WO RL D, A ND TH O S E loss we could not escape, even in him new life is always possible.
WHO L I VE IN I T; though we knew that his
FOR HE HAS suffering had ended and he was
FOUNDED IT ON with God. It is difficult for most
THE S EA S , A ND of us to contain feelings of joy
ES TABLIS HE D I T O N
and delight in the presence of a
THE R I VE RS .
small child for he or she
PSALM 24:1-2
embodies all the hope and
expectation of life at its
beginning--a human being full of
potential for all the things that
God has created us to be.
God, may we PRAYER
FURTHER LECTIONARY
remember this Advent
READING:
ISAIAH 5:1-7; season and always
2 PETER 3:11-18; that you are the giver
LUKE 7:28-35 of life. Amen.
December 10, 2012
Monday, The Second Week of Advent
Life at Christmas Is Not
Always Currier & Ives, RE F LEC TI ON
SCR I P T UR E Holly & Mistletoe
David Dingler
During this pre-Christmas
week in 1967, my Hero Dad
died suddenly of a heart attack. search for and find that truer
This same week in 2003, as our center. We are called to praise
G R E AT I S T H E L O R D,
daughter Mollie Anne was God’s mighty acts. On this day,
AND G REATLY TO B E
excitedly preparing to study in let us praise God for his mighty
PRAISE D ; HI S
Spain, my business world was act, his greatest gift--the birth of
G RE AT NE SS IS
shattered. I was knocked to my Jesus Christ.
U N SEAR C HA B LE .
knees when a betrayal and legal Jesus certainly faced many
O N E G E N E R AT I O N
mess began on exactly the same challenges in his life--he’s our
S HAL L L AUD YO U R
day as my dad’s passing. I still role model, after we are knocked
WO R K S TO
often feel a sense of loss and down, he helps us Get Back Up
ANOTHE R, A ND
emptiness during the Christmas and Push On!!
SHAL L D ECL A R E
season. I suspect I am not alone.
YOUR MIGHTY ACTS.
PSALM 145:3-4 I think these experiences also
make me less susceptible to the
commercial and marketing hype
during the holiday season. So I
look for a different “center.”
Here the psalmist can help us all
Lord, help us all PRAYER
FURTHER LECTIONARY
remember that Jesus is
READING:
ISAIAH 5:8-17; the real reason for the
1 THESSALONIANS 5:1-11; season.
LUKE 21:20-28
December 11, 2012
Tuesday, The Second Week of Advent
In the Gray Area
RE F LEC TI ON
Juliana Ericson
SCR I P T UR E
It’s easy to see who is the
good guy and who’s the bad guy
in a movie. The story is set up
to make it easy for us to judge
them: black or white, good or supportive love may be beyond
bad. my comprehension but
IF THE L O RD HA D
It is trickier when the story is nevertheless I am confident it is
NOT BEEN MY HELP,
us and we’re in the gray area-- there. I can’t even imagine a
MY SO UL WO UL D
not necessarily when we’ve been world, a hell, where I could no
S O O N HAVE L I VE D
obviously good or bad, but when longer hear the voice of God--
IN TH E LA N D OF
we’ve been foolish, silent when such an unbelievably sad thought.
SIL E NCE. W HE N I
witnessing an injustice, or any
T HO UG H T, " MY
other invisible obstruction to
F O OT IS SL IPPING , "
our innocence. These are times
YO U R S TEA D FA ST
when God’s unfailing grace
L OVE, O L O RD, HE L D
shines on us unconditionally,
ME UP.
without our request, maybe even
PSALM 94:17-18
without our gratitude.
Sometimes I can hear these
whispers, although I can’t make
out the words, but he never
gives up. This unrelenting
Sweet Father, thank PRAYER
FURTHER LECTIONARY
you for your steadfast
READING:
ISAIAH 5:18-25; love even in my
1 THESSALONIANS 5:12-28; ignorance. Amen.
LUKE 21:29-38
December 12, 2012
Wednesday, The Second Week of Advent
The Joy of Giving
RE F LEC TI ON
Don Fiete
SCR I P T UR E
When I was a child, I looked
forward with great excitement
to Christmas and the presents
that came with the occasion. In
fact, at my youngest age, we anonymously so the receiver
would write letters to Santa could truly feel blessed without
HE D ETER MINES TH E Claus and advise him what gifts having to acknowledge
NUMBER O F TH E we expected for Christmas--and someone’s generosity.
S TARS; HE GIV ES TO I admit I was seldom
This is the true meaning of
AL L O F TH EM T H EI R disappointed. But as I grew Christmas: God gave us his son
NAMES . G RE AT IS older, I became aware that a as a great gift for all mankind.
O UR L O RD, A ND greater joy was experienced in
A BUN DA NT IN And we have the opportunity to
the giving of gifts and the
POWER ; H IS keep the spirit of this gift by
happiness that came to both
U NDERSTA ND I NG I S living a life that his son models.
persons receiving the gift as well
BE YON D M EA S U RE . That is the reason we so truly
as myself as the giver. And even
PSALM 147:4-5 love Hillsboro church, as it
greater happiness when I became
personifies the gift-giving
involved in giving to those
associated with this spirit.
individuals who, because of
whatever circumstances, were in
need of help. I enhanced my joy
of giving by making such gifts
Lord, grant us the
FURTHER LECTIONARY ability to see the true PRAYER
READING: meaning of the
ISAIAH 6:1-13;
2 THESSALONIANS 1:1-12;
Christmas spirit by
JOHN 7:53-8:11 giving to those who
are in need.
December 13, 2012
Thursday, The Second Week of Advent
Firm Foundation
RE F LEC TI ON
Jody Grantham
SCR I P T UR E
When I was school age,
waiting for Christmas to come
sometimes meant big
excitement for me as I looked
forward to traveling from dad’s aunts and uncles are gone now.
Army assignments in Virginia to That school-age experience
F O R G O D A L O NE Maryville, Tennessee so that we ended long ago, and I don’t go to
MY SOUL WAITS IN could spend Christmas in our Maryville much now. Yet I still
S ILENC E; F ROM HI M hometown with all the family. feel like that foundation under
C O MES MY Christmas in Maryville was me is as strong as ever and
SALVATIO N. H E always the best because it made sometimes wonder at the
ALON E IS M Y ROCK me feel extra special. My mysteries of how that can be. As
AND MY grandparents, aunts, and uncles I wait for Christmas now, I think
SALVATIO N, MY loved me and treated me as if I of my Aunt Dorothy who, among
F O RT R E S S ; I S H A L L
were their own. So much love all my elders was always and to
NEVER BE SHAKEN.
from so many people built a this day is, the rock of our family.
PSALM 62:1-2
foundation under me. As I grew I see now that the foundation
up through the many uprootings Aunt Dorothy built for me is her
of military life, I always knew I quiet trust in the Lord. I shall
had a place, a home, in Maryville. never be shaken.
All my grandparents, my parents
Jack and Sara, and some of those
Lord, you are my rock PRAYER
FURTHER LECTIONARY
and my salvation.
READING:
ISAIAH 7:1-9; Thank you for being
2 THESSALONIANS 2:1-12; my firm foundation.
LUKE 22:1-13
December 14, 2012
Friday, The Second Week of Advent
Hallelujah!
RE F LEC TI ON
David Gregory
SCR I P T UR E
Psalm 148 invites all creation
to join in praise of the Creator.
This psalm is one of a group
known as the Hallelujah Psalms.
Each begins and ends with the in the process. When Jennens
exclamation, “Praise the saw the music, he wrote to a
PRAISE HIM, SUN Lord!” (or Hallelujah). In our friend that Handel had “done not
AND MO O N; PR A IS E own time the most common so good as he might and ought
HIM, A L L YO U expression of hallelujah comes to have done.” Nevertheless,
SHIN IN G from the beloved oratorio by Jennens urged Handel to
STA RS! PR A IS E HI M , George F. Handel. In 1741 a perform the oratorio in London
YO U HI G HE S T wealthy London groupie, Charles and to pocket the proceeds.
HE AVENS , A ND YO U Jennens, assembled an anthology Instead, Handel went to Dublin
WATE RS AB OV E T H E of scriptures he called Messiah, for the winter and debuted the
HE AV EN S !
and pressured Handel, who at Messiah at Eastertime. Rather
PSALM 148:3-4
the time was ill and out of favor than retain the profits, Handel
with London audiences, to set donated the money to the
the scripture to music. Handel Society for Relieving Prisoners
secluded himself in his study and and to the charity hospital. The
emerged three weeks later with Messiah has become the most
the finished manuscript. Handel frequently performed choral
said, with tears, that he had music ever written. Nobody
experienced a divine encounter knows Charles Jennens.
God, the creator, grant
us the gift to praise PRAYER
FURTHER LECTIONARY
you with devotion, and
READING:
ISAIAH 7:10-25; the grace to give
2 THESSALONIANS 2:13-3:5; ourselves unselfishly to
LUKE 22:14-30 the betterment of your
creation. Hallelujah.
December 15, 2012
Saturday, The Second Week of Advent
Best Intentions
RE F LEC TI ON
Ben Hall
SCR I P T UR E
Sometimes our best intentions
can lead us astray. We strive for
perfection, but don't define
perfection in biblical or even
attainable terms. be thankful. I won’t do those
I saw this in my parents and things as part of some “to do”
BL ES SED B E T H E
now I see it in myself--especially list, but I will make them the
L O R D, T H E G O D O F
at Christmas. Have you ever core of the season.
ISRA EL , W H O
vowed, “I am going to make this In Isaiah 8:14, we learn “God is
AL O NE DO ES
holiday perfect”? That seemingly our Sanctuary.” God does not
WO NDRO US
noble goal can turn this season expect perfection. He knows
THING S . B L ESS ED B E
into a series of empty tasks. how flawed we are. He promises
HIS G L O R IO US
NAME This magical season is what we comfort, strength, and peace.
F O RE VER ; MAY HI S make it. We can buy into the What could be more perfect?
G L O RY F IL L THE commercialized, frantic, and
WHOLE E A RT H. ultimately unattainable version of
A M EN A N D A ME N . what Christmas should be, or we
PSALM 72:18-19 can turn to scripture.
My promise to myself this
Christmas is to focus on
scripture, to pray, to reflect and
Lord, show us the way.
FURTHER LECTIONARY Grant us comfort, PRAYER
READING: peace, and strength.
ISAIAH 8:1-15; Help us focus on your
2 THESSALONIANS 3:6-18;
LUKE 22:31-38 word this holiday
season. Amen.
December 16, 2012
The Third Sunday of Advent
The Sounds of Christmas
RE F LEC TI ON
Lisanne Hitt
SCR I P T UR E
I love Christmas. The weekend
after Thanksgiving, I go to the
attic and take down the large
tubs of decorations that I will
slowly begin to unwrap and place favorite. To me, it encompasses
around our home. The first box I not only the emotion of the
PRAISE HI M W IT H open is the box containing the season, but the blueprint for how
TAMBO U RI NE A ND ornaments, each one a story and things should be all year long.
DANCE; PRAISE HIM a memory. In that box also rests Truly he taught us to love one another,
WITH S TRI NG S A ND my vast collection of Christmas His law is love and his gospel is peace.
PIPE! PRAISE HIM CDs. Hearing the music of Chains he shall break, for the slave is
WITH C LA N GIN G Christmas always puts me in the our brother. And in his name all
C YMB AL S ; PRA I S E moment of the season. It is oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of
HIM WI T H L O UD something so comforting and joy in grateful chorus raise we,With all
CL AS HI N G our hearts we praise his holy name.
joyous, just like Christmas. I play
C YMB A L S! L ET After Christmas, I put my CDs
the music around the house and
EVERYTHI NG TH AT back in their box and into the
in my car. I sing aloud in the
B RE ATHE S PR A IS E attic. It’s not that I am tired of
grocery store, the church, the
THE L O R D! PRA I SE the music, it’s just that I want to
department store, anywhere I
THE LO RD ! keep them special. I want to feel
hear the familiar sounds of
PSALM 150:4-6
Christmas. My favorite Christmas that same way next year when I
open that box and repeat the
song is “O Holy Night.” The
same ritual.
lesser-known third stanza is my
Lord, help me to sing PRAYER
FURTHER LECTIONARY
of your joy at
READING:
ISAIAH 13:1-13; Christmas and
HEBREWS 12:18-19; throughout the year.
JOHN 3:22-30 Amen.
December 17, 2012
Monday, The Third Week of Advent
The Greatest Gift
RE F LEC TI ON
Jen James
SCR I P T UR E
A colleague’s wife recently
gave birth to their first child,
and the profound change we
see in him has touched many of
us. This formerly sarcastic and changed the world for the rest
occasionally negative man is of time!
MAY G O D B E flabbergasted by his joy in and
My friend intends to do
G RACI O US TO U S love for his tiny daughter. As we
everything he possibly can for his
AND BL ES S US A ND spoke of this new paradigm shift
new child. What will we do with
MAKE HIS FACE TO in his life, Paul had tears in his the gift of Jesus?
SHINE U P ON U S … eyes and a grin that stretched
PSALM 67:1 from ear to ear as he said, “I’ll
take a bullet for her!” Truly, there
is no greater sign of God’s love
than the gift of a precious new
life.
Mary and Joseph must have felt
this same awe and joy at the
birth of Jesus. While all children
are gifts from God, and every
child impacts the world in
different ways, the gift of Jesus
Heavenly Father, thank
you for your greatest PRAYER
FURTHER LECTIONARY
gift of Jesus Christ,
READING:
ISAIAH 8:16-9:1; who entered the world
2 PETER 1:1-11; as a tiny infant and
LUKE 22:39-53 taught us how to live,
love, and serve.
December 18, 2012
Tuesday, The Third Week of Advent
Patience Is a Virtue,
REALLY? RE F LEC TI ON
SCR I P T UR E
Lee Limbird
“Our soul waits for the Lord.”
REALLY? WAITS? I am not a
patient person--I find it hard to
wait for anything. In fact, I am not his recent autobiography, Across
certain patience is always That Bridge, his confidence in
O UR SO UL WA I TS
appropriate, given the needs of crossing that bridge came not
F O R THE L O RD ; H E
our society and lingering from personal courage, but from
IS O U R H EL P A ND
injustices in our world. But his faith that God had put all that
SHI EL D. O UR HE A RT
perhaps “waiting for the Lord” is would happen in place, and that
I S GLA D I N
not a passive exercise of he was in God’s hands if he
HIM, BEC AUS E W E
patience, but rather a trust in the survived, and--equally so--if he
TRUST IN H IS HO LY
Lord that brings us hope. I was didn’t. Said another way, with
NAME. L ET YO UR
struck, for example, at the God in charge, it is only for us to
STEADFAS T LOV E, O
response of John Lewis, civil do our part in faithfulness. What
L O R D, B E U P O N
rights leader and Georgia better example of faithfulness
U S , EVEN A S W E
Congressman, to those who than Mary, carrying God’s son to
HO PE I N YOU.
extol his courage in walking birth, and Joseph, choosing to
PSALM 33:20-22
across that bridge in Selma accept the tidings of angels
seeking social justice for people rather than fleeing? May our
of color while staring down the hearts find this kind of trust in
barrel of guns and enduring God, even in the face of our
verbal assaults. As he shares in faithful impatience.
Dear God, give me a PRAYER
FURTHER LECTIONARY
sense of “wait-fullness”
READING:
ISAIAH 11:1-9; and ears to listen for
EPHESIANS 6:10-20; your call. Amen.
JOHN 3:16-21
December 19, 2012
Wednesday, The Third Week of Advent
God Is Always with You
RE F LEC TI ON
Carol Nations
SCR I P T UR E
Some people view the
Christmas season as the most
exciting time of the year. For
others, the holidays may be
lonely, filled with grief, or love, and enrich our lives. He
reminiscent of unpleasant embraces us and protects us
WO NDRO U SLY memories. Whether you every day, kissing our cheeks
SHOW YO UR celebrate with gusto, or you with the gentle breeze, and
STEADFAS T LOV E, O prefer a simpler approach, God is watching over us as we sleep,
SAVI O R O F TH O SE always with you. Amidst the unaware of his protection.
WHO SE E K R EF UG E laughter and the hustle and Spend time enjoying God our
F RO M T HE IR bustle, or the quiet glow of
ADVERS A RI ES AT divine almighty creator. Know he
candlelight, he is with
YOUR RIGHT HAND. specially created you individually
you...loving, embracing, and
G UARD ME A S TH E with unique talents and gifts. He
protecting.
APPL E O F THE EY E ; loves you immeasurably as his
God wondrously shows His child. Be humbled knowing that
HI DE ME IN TH E
love every day in the splendor you are special in his sight, and
S HADOW O F YO U R
and beauty of his magnificent he is always with you. Believe in
WIN G S…
creation. He loved us so deeply the wonder of his love, mercy,
PSALM 17:7-8
he gave us the gift of our Lord goodness, and grace every day.
and Savior Jesus Christ. He gives Know that he is always with you.
us family and friends to enjoy,
Dear God, let us savor PRAYER
FURTHER LECTIONARY
your love and presence
READING:
ISAIAH 11:10-16; with honor, praise, and
REVELATION 20:1-10; glory. Amen.
JOHN 5:30-47
December 20, 2012
Thursday, The Third Week of Advent
Remember Who You Are
RE F LEC TI ON
Hudson Neely
SCR I P T UR E
“See you in the funny papers!”
Growing up my grandmother
often used this lighthearted
goodbye. But when I went off to
college, she started using a past. For Israel, then, there is a
different farewell. Whenever I grounded hope that restoration
WHEN T H E L O R D came home for a visit, I’d make will come again in the future.
RESTO R ED TH E sure to see her before heading
Christmas is a time of
F O RT U N E S O F back to school. And as I was
remembering, remembering and
Z IO N, WE W ER E L I KE getting in my car, she would reenacting traditions from years
THOS E W HO always say, “Remember who you or even generations past that
DREAM. TH EN O U R are!” In this section from Psalm
MO U TH WA S F IL L E D remind us who we are. But at
126, the Psalmist is recalling days
WI TH L AU G HT ER A ND Christmas we also remember
past. If you go on to read the
O U R TO NG UE W I T H who God is and the great things
remainder of the Psalm, you see God has done for us, the
SHO U TS OF JOY; THE N
that times are hard for Israel. The greatest being the gift of Jesus
IT WAS SA ID A MO N G
Psalmist is praying for God to
THE NATIO NS, “T H E that first Christmas morning.
again “restore the fortunes” (v.4)
L O RD H A S DO NE Christmas is the perfect
of Israel. So perhaps it’s not
G REAT TH ING S F O R opportunity for all of us to
surprising that this Psalm begins remember who we are: beloved
T HEM.” THE L O R D H A S
with remembering, remembering children of a loving God who
D O NE G RE AT T H ING S
that the Lord has brought
F O R US, A ND W E came to and for us in the birth
restoration and rejoicing in the
REJOI CED. of Emmanuel, God With Us.
PSALM 126:1-3
Today and every day, PRAYER
FURTHER LECTIONARY help us to remember
READING: who you are, loving
ISAIAH 28:9-22;
REVELATION 20:11-21:8; God, and who we are,
LUKE 1:5-25 your beloved children.
December 21, 2012
Friday, The Third Week of Advent
The Gift of Forgiveness
RE F LEC TI ON
Stephen Nix
SCR I P T UR E
I was music director/pianist
for a music artist on a
Christmas tour some years ago
and he spoke rather boldly in a
concert, “The holidays would be conversation clearly paints this
much more peaceful if we didn’t awareness.
IF YO U, O L OR D, have to visit family and could
Maybe this holiday season is a
SHOU L D M A R K choose the friends for the invite
time to let go of all of the
IN IQU ITIES , LO RD, list.” At first, I was surprised at
grudges or a grievance you’ve
WHO C O UL D what he said, but years later I held with a family member or
STAND? B UT T HE RE began to realize his statement friend. Give the gift of
IS F O RG IV ENE S S holds truth.
WITH YO U, S O TH AT forgiveness and build a bridge of
With all of the seasonal love to that individual or even
YO U MAY B E
gatherings of family and friends yourself.
RE VER ED.
and projected expectations at
PSALM 130:3-4 In forgiveness, you will find joy
these events, it’s very easy to in the celebration and sense an
experience a bit of anxiety.
ineffable peace. It’s how we
Sometimes, you can almost taste
understand how much God loves
the feelings in the atmosphere of
us. Don’t be surprised if you find
those who get along and those yourself singing, “Joy to the
who don’t. In my family, body world...” with a new energy.
language among those involved in
God of mercy and PRAYER
FURTHER LECTIONARY
grace, this Christmas
READING:
ISAIAH 29:9-24; season may we give
REVELATION 21:9-24; the gift of forgiveness.
LUKE 1:26-38
December 22, 2012
Saturday, The Third Week of Advent
Praise as Part of Daily Life
RE F LEC TI ON
Rich Shiavi
SCR I P T UR E
Many of the Psalms are
prayers asking for God’s help or
thanking him for help. The last
several, such as Psalm 149, are
psalms of praise. As in the two Let us make time every day to
verses for today, the people of thank God for the goodness that
PRAIS E T H E Israel are being encouraged to we find in our lives.
L O RD! SING TO T HE praise God, their maker and
L O RD A NE W king. Other verses encourage
S O NG , H IS PR A IS E people to praise God with song,
I N THE A SS E MB LY OF music, and musical instrument.
THE FAI THF UL . L E T
So we also should be praising
ISRAEL BE GL A D I N
God joyfully with song and music
ITS MAKER ; L E T TH E
during parts of the worship
C HILDREN O F Z IO N
service and even in our daily life.
RE JO ICE I N T HE IR
During worship, many of us have
KING.
to “shake-off” the tendency to
PSALM 149:1-2
always be solemn and serious. As
is written in the Book of
Ecclesiastes, there is a time for
joy and a time for solemnness.
Let everything that has PRAYER
FURTHER LECTIONARY
breath praise the
READING:
ISAIAH 31:1-9; Lord. Amen.
REVELATION 21:22-22:5;
LUKE 1:39-56
December 23, 2012
The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Jesus Is Here for Us
RE F LEC TI ON
Linda Smith
SCR I P T UR E
About a year ago, I was
teaching art to a class of 2nd
graders. When the students
finished their projects, if they
had extra time, they were uncertainty as to Mr.
allowed to “draw for fun” or Melchizedek’s identity or
THE L O RD HA S draw whatever the wished on history. He was some sort of
S WORN A N D W I LL extra paper. One little girl began great king and priest who gave
NOT C H A NG E HI S her drawing and then asked me, wine to Abram. However, like the
MI ND, “YO U A RE A “Ms. Smith, what color is God?” little girl in my class, we don’t
PRIEST F O RE VE R Not wanting to be pinned down have to worry and ponder over
ACC OR DIN G TO TH E on the skin color of the this fellow and his history. We
ORDER OF almighty, I told her that I wasn’t know who Jesus is and that he is
MELCHIZEDEK.” sure. She continued to wrestle here for us. He is our connection
PSALM 110:4
with the concept for a while to God. He is the Son of God.
until I heard her say, “ Well, I’ll
just draw Jesus instead. I KNOW
he is brown!”
Our Bible passage today affirms
that Jesus will forever be a high
priest, just like “Melchizedek.”
There is apparently some
FURTHER LECTIONARY
Lord, you are always PRAYER
READING: there for us. Help us
ISAIAH 33:17-22; to rely on you for
REVELATION 22:6-11, 18-20; whatever you need.
LUKE 1:57-66
December 24, 2012
Christmas Eve
Taking Time to Focus
RE F LEC TI ON
Rebecca Swan
SCR I P T UR E
Growing up, my family always
went to the Christmas Eve
Candlelight Service. Our old
stone church was beautiful
everyday but, when filled with families. But on that night, the
the laughter and love of focus was exactly where is
F O R THE L O R D HA S extended families and friends, it should be--on celebrating the
C HO SE N ZI O N; H E seemed magical. As “Silent Night” birth of Jesus, the love of God,
HAS DESI RE D I T F O R filled the air, the lights went off and the bountiful blessings that
HIS HA B I TAT ION : and the candles slowly began to we have. And I felt that I was in
"THIS I S M Y RE ST IN G glow, I truly felt God’s presence. I the safest, most perfect place in
PL ACE was reminded of the amazing gift the world.
F O RE VE R; HE RE I that he gave us on that first
WIL L RES IDE , F O R I As I reflect on Christmas Eve as
Christmas Eve so many years ago
HAVE D ES I RE D IT.” an adult, I hope that we slow
and the many, many blessings in
PSALM 132:13-14 down a bit, to remember why we
my life. My childhood was celebrate this season. Because
peppered with the usual tension
God loved us so much that he
about homework or grades or
gave us his son. I cannot imagine
popularity or last-minute holiday
a better gift ever.
errands and the million other
things that children find to
disagree about with their
Dear Lord, in this busy
season of life, may we PRAYER
FURTHER LECTIONARY
be reminded daily of
READING:
ISAIAH 35:1-10; your promises to us
REVELATION 22:12-17, 21; and be ever grateful
LUKE 1:67-80 for the gift of your
son, Jesus. Amen.
December 25, 2012
Christmas Day
Perfect Gifts
RE F LEC TI ON
Lisa Taylor
SCR I P T UR E
Be still and listen! So simple,
yet so difficult! Especially during
the Christmas season, I can be
easily caught up in busyness, and
the desire to get "it" all just our hearts and reflect for all to
right, that I forget where the real see throughout every day of the
SAY AMO NG TH E beauty lies...where the real gifts year. We have a new beginning!
NATIO NS , “T HE are. When I open my heart and Jesus Christ is born! We can live
L O RD IS KI NG ! T H E listen for God's love, I can truly... each day with the hope that God
WO RL D I S F I RMLY
Rejoice! God's love for us is gives in knowing our lives are
ESTABL IS HE D; I T
vast, larger than words can begin truly in his hands.
SHAL L NE VE R BE
to describe. His gifts to us are Rejoice! Live each day with the
MOVED. HE WILL
more "wondermous” (as my wonder of today.
JUD G E THE PE O PL E S
husband likes to say) than we can
WITH EQ UIT Y.” L E T Go out into the world and fear
begin to comprehend! God
THE HEAVE NS B E nothing!
knows us better than we know
G L AD, AND L E T TH E
ourselves. He knows our needs
EARTH RE JO IC E; L E T
and blesses us with all the
THE S EA ROA R, A ND
"perfect" gifts...the gifts that
A LL THAT F ILL S I T…
PSALM 96:10-11 nurture our hearts and souls.
The wonder of this Christmas
Day is meant for us to carry in
God, fill us with the PRAYER
FURTHER LECTIONARY
wonder of Jesus
READING:
ZECHARIAH 2:10-13; Christ. Help us to
1 JOHN 4:7-16; carry your love in our
JOHN 3:31-36 hearts always. Amen.
HILLSBORO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
5820 Hillsboro Pike Nashville, TN 37215
hpcnashville.org
