Advent Devotions: Monday, Dec. 31, 2018

Hebrews 1:1-4                                      The Reflection of God’s Glory

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

 ****

God is doing a new thing. Since time out of memory, Yahweh has spoken to creation through prophets. Finally, ultimately, once and for all, God sends a son, in the flesh. One who was with God in the very act of creation now dwells among us, walks and eats and sleeps and teaches us about the Way that we are to follow. God, in the person of Jesus, touches us. And we, all creation, are transformed. We live in troubling times. But, as Kathleen Norris writes, “… even in terrible circumstances and calamities, in matters of life and death, if I sense that I am in the shadow of God, I find light, so much light that my vision improves dramatically. I know that holiness is near.” God has spoken to us by a son. Glory shines all around us. Holiness is near.

Prayer: Holy One, source of all being, as the shadows lengthen, we look for light. We give thanks that we have been touched by the presence of one whose glory shines so brightly, whose word sustains us no matter what challenges confront us. Help us to listen for you, and to walk in your ways, in Advent, and every day. Amen.

David Parsons serves as pastor at St. John-St. Matthew-Emanuel Lutheran Church in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood. A native of Michigan, he has lived in New York City since 1979. Following a career in opera and musical theater, he was sponsored as a candidate for ordination by Our Saviour’s Atonement Lutheran Church in Washington Heights. Rev. Parsons received his Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in the Citi of New York in 2001, and has served at “St. JME” since that time.

Advent Devotions: Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018

Matthew 1:1-17                                               God’s Promise Fulfilled

An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

 ****

OK, I get that Matthew was showing that Jesus was a direct descendent through David of Abraham.  He needed this to prove the various prophecies for the Messiah, thereby establishing Jesus as qualified to be the Messiah.  However, being of a mathematical bent, I have to question his counting.  Matthew clearly states that there are 14 generations from Abraham to David, listing 14 names, and 14 generations from David to Jeconiah, listing 14 names and, finally, that there are 14 generations from Jeconiah to Jesus, listing 13 names.  Now, some biblical scholars try to explain this away by counting the listing of Jeconiah twice, once at the end of section two and again at the beginning of section three, but if that is the case, why didn’t Matthew count David twice, since he is also listed at the end of section one and at the beginning of section two.  Logical inconsistency here.  Mathematicians don’t get to count one way from section one to two and a different way from section two to three.  Other scholars assert that it was common to leave out unimportant names or people of dubious character, so there could be other valid explanations.  Am I inflating the importance of counting?  Do you think I am missing the essential meaning that Jesus was a direct decedent of Abraham through David?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are the source of all righteousness.  Save us from dwelling on petty differences when we should instead be focusing on your bigger message of salvation through belief, love and redemption. Amen

Don Icken is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Brewster, NY

Advent Devotions: Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018

Luke 1:39-56                                                                              Mary’s Song

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

****

What do you do when you have good news to share?  I remember going to the grocery store one day to buy food for a family gathering.  It was at a time when money was short in our house and I was torn because I wanted to get special foods to share with the extended family but at the same time I was worried about spending extra money.  I debated with myself as I filled the wagon, calculating in my head how much I was spending and getting more and more anxious.  After the groceries were rung up I handed over my store discount card.  The cashier scanned my card and the register started beeping. For a second the cashier looked surprised and then she said to me - “Wow, your groceries are free today!”  I couldn’t believe it - what a relief and how happy I felt at this stroke of good luck.  All that day and probably for the next week, the first story I told was about how my groceries had been free.  It was good news for me, a blessing I had not expected and I couldn’t keep it to myself. 

Reading Mary’s song today - in which she recalls all the ways that God has blessed the people of Israel and blessed her with the child Jesus within her, reminded me of how it feels to have good news to share.  How has God blessed you in your life?  What are the stories in your history that you could share about God’s presence in your life?  When we repeat our stories, we return to those moments and in the remembering we are brought closer to the one from whom all our blessings flow.  Celebrating Christmas reminds us that Jesus is with us, in every moment of our lives, good news that we are called to share.

Prayer: Present God, we give you thanks this day for all the stories of our lives.  Open our eyes to recognize your presence in each one, so that we can be daily overwhelmed with excitement and share this good news with everyone we meet.  Amen.

Dawn Morello is a seminary student at Luther Seminary in St. Paul Minnesota.  She is currently serving as an intern at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Mount Kisco, NY.

Advent Devotions: Friday, Dec. 28, 2018

Luke 1:26-38                                                                   Gabriel and Mary

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. 

****

These verses from the Gospel of Luke are referred to as “The Birth of Jesus Foretold”. I can only imagine what this sweet young girl, literally a girl, somewhere between the ages of 10-15 years old, must have felt when the angel Gabriel appeared to her.  I know I would have been extremely afraid and doubtful about what I was being told. Yet, Mary received comfort from Gabriel with the words “God has decided to bless you”. But when he tells her she will conceive a son, she doesn’t understand.  She is a virgin and is not yet married. How can this be she asked Gabriel?  Two thousand years ago, a young girl/woman didn’t become pregnant out of wedlock and survive in her community. What would her family say? What would her fiancé Joseph do? These certainly must have been questions she would have asked herself. They would have been my questions in her place!

However, Gabriel further explains that the Holy Spirit and the power of the Most High will overshadow (come upon) her and she will conceive a holy child and he will be called the Son of God.

Mary’s faith and love for God must have been incredibly strong. She concedes that she is the “Lord’s servant” and willingly accepts “whatever He wants”.

Mary gave birth to our Savior, Jesus, the Son of God. It must have been difficult for her, but her faith and love for God gave her strength, just as our faith during difficult times in our lives gives us the strength to get us

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please be with us during difficult times in our lives and give us the strength and courage to move forward. Help us to be your faithful servants.  Let us always remember that it is “thy will be done” and not “my will be done”. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.

Kathie Ruhs is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Brewster, NY

Advent Devotions: Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018

Luke 1:5-25                                                        Zechariah and Elizabeth

In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.” The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.” Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. When his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, “This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.”

****

Zechariah and Zachariah were common names in my mother’s family - not something most people can say. We even have a portrait of one of them and a jug used in the field as they worked their crops. Today’s Zechariah is an object lesson to me. He listens to the Lord when others are certain they have the answer. Like Mary and Joseph, he questions the Lord and is given assurances that he finds amusing, much like Sarah’s disbelief of her ability to bear Isaac. Yet, Zechariah is given an uncomfortable adjustment: he cannot speak until the promised child is born. When his tongue is loosed, he affirms the name God has instructed him to give the baby. He has learned through his forced silence to forebear and await the salvation of his God.

Impossible births are common object lessons in Scripture. Abraham and Sarah, Hannah, Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary alone, Nicodemus learning how to be reborn. Rebirth and renaming are hallmarks of a redirected life: Saul becomes Paul, Simon becomes Peter, Jacob becomes Israel. Our new life in the Spirit warrants an entirely new identity. We have this opportunity every day, but especially in Advent and Lent. We await the coming of Christ in our hearts. His coming is not only promised. It is fulfilled. Jesus says he stands at the door and knocks. We must be willing to open to Him just as Zechariah and Elizabeth accepted this impossibility. Zechariah’s struggle is not a punishment. It’s an opportunity to grow in faith.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may we be so earnestly willing to receive your Son that our tongues are unloosed that we may sing praises unshackled and set free. Amen.

Franklyn Commisso is Minister of Music at Trinity Lutheran Church, Brewster, NY

Advent Devotions: Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018

Isaiah 9:2-7                                                           A Child Has Been Born

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

****

The setting for Isaiah is the prophet's counsel to the kingdom of Judah against the threatening of the Assyrians. Isaiah believes and warns the people to keep faith in God and that only this trust in God, rather than political or military alliances at that time could protect them from the advances of the Assyrians. This verse signals the promise of a new king, one who will bring light, life, and hope to those suffering.

At Christmas, when the candles burn brightly it is a witness to God's light that shines in all of the darkness in our world and we are reminded that this is not just for that night but for many years to come.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, there can be overwhelming darkness in this world. Thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Light of the world. Amen.

Joanne Icken is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Brewster, NY

Advent Devotions: Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2018

Luke 2:1-20                                         Jesus: A Promise for All People

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

 ****

This Christmas story is one with which we are all familiar. Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem and Jesus is born. The shepherds are told by the angels of the Savior’s birth and they travel to see Him. Then they spread the word. All the things that Mary is told about how they came to worship the baby are kept in her heart. This part of the story resonates with me. What mother doesn’t remember all the things her children say and do? We also treasure the good things others say about our children. No startling revelations were made to me about my children or grandchildren but I can understand how Mary must have felt and been overwhelmed from the time Gabriel told her she was having a baby until the death of Jesus on the cross. Jesus’ birthday becomes a celebratory day in my family because we are blessed with two more birthdays. Both my grandson Dan and my granddaughter Elizabeth’s husband Howard were born on December 25. Dan has always felt special because he was born on this day. I feel so special to have not one but two grandsons sharing this day.

Prayer: Heavenly Father we give you thanks for sending us your very special Son to save the world. We ask for your blessing on all the people in this world regardless of their color or beliefs. This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Dorothy Kafalas is deacon at Trinity Lutheran Church, Brewster, NY

Advent Devotions: Monday, Dec. 24, 2018

Isaiah 7:10-17                                               The Promise of Immanuel

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.

The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on your ancestral house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria.”

****

In the midst of political turmoil, intrigue, and threats; King Ahaz does not know which way to turn. The prophet steps into this volatile situation and urges Ahaz to turn to the only one who can really help, “the Lord your God”. Ahaz is then offered a gracious gift, “Ask the Lord your God for a sign”, the assurance that despite the present circumstances God is in charge. Ahaz refuses the gift probably because he is already making political deals with the foreign kings to save his throne and his country.

In response, God appears to lose patience and what follows is both threat and promise. “The Lord himself will give you a sign”, “a virgin will conceive”, “a son”, “Immanuel”, “the land of the two kings you dread will be laid to waste”, “he will bring the King of Assyria”.

 When our backs are against the wall, when we don’t know which way to turn, God is present in that still small voice in the depths of our hearts pointing to Immanuel, God with us, through the one born in a manger and crucified on a cross.

Look for the signs in this season of waiting and watching.

Pastor Chuck Schwartz is a retired pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Pastor Chuck and his wife, Mary, reside in Ballston Lake, NY. They have been blessed with five children and seven grandchildren. Pastor Chuck’s last long term call was at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Clifton Park, NY. He has also served as Dean of the Hudson Mohawk Conference, as a member of the Upstate New York Synod Candidacy Committee, and on the staff of the Region 7 Leadership Event as the preaching mentor. 

Advent Devotions: Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018

Matthew 1:18-25                                                        Joseph Trusts God

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

****

Joseph, the elderly figure in the background of the creche, upstaged by the angels, shepherds, magnificent magi, and even the stable animals. Joseph of deep piety and honor, living by the standards of the Jewish law. Joseph, betrothed to Mary, which, according to the law was a legally binding contract, which could only be broken by an act of divorce. Imagine Joseph’s heartache and anguish at the betrayal of trust when he learned that Mary was with child, not his child. “How is it possible? I have not known her?”

By Jewish law, Joseph could accuse Mary of adultery, punishable by death by stoning. A kind man, Joseph decided to put Mary aside quietly to spare her humiliation and a possible death sentence.

God’s angelic messenger appeared to Joseph in a dream, instructing him to accept Mary as his spouse, because the child had been conceived by the Holy Spirit. He was instructed to name the child “Jesus.” By naming the child, Joseph becomes the legal father according to Jewish law, thereby fulfilling the prophecy that Jesus will come from the house of David - a lineage derived from Joseph.

Joseph not only accepts guardianship of Jesus, the savior of man, he accepts God’s revelation of the conception by the Holy Spirit and the virgin birth. He trusts without questioning the concept which he will never fully understand. Joseph was promised neither fame and power, nor riches as reward for his obedience. He was motivated solely by his trust in God. Joseph, the obedient, devout servant of God, raised Jesus as own according to the Law. Joseph’s deep trust in God is a stellar example for us all.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father grant us the deep faith that you instilled in your obedient servant, Joseph. Support us when what you ask of us seems too difficult and exceeds our understanding. May we follow the example of Joseph, obedient to the task given to him, trusting in God. We pray in Jesus’s name. Amen

Joan Bradley is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Brewster, NY

Advent Devotions: Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018

Isaiah 55:6-13                                                                        Seek the Lord

Seek the Lord while he may be found,
   call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake their way,
   and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
   and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
   nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
   so are my ways higher than your ways
   and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
   and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
   giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
   it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
   and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

For you shall go out in joy,
   and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
   shall burst into song,
   and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
   instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial,
   for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

****

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” This verse should have a heading of “Urgent! Do not waste any time repenting and drawing near to God!”   For waiting another moment may be too late.  We may be removed to a world where mercy is unknown.  Yes, God promises to be there when we call but we should NOT take advantage of this promise by delaying, lest we lose the opportunity. 

The remainder of the passages are like a love poem from God to his people, comparing the salvation of God to the resplendence of nature.  God’s words never return empty but are transformative in life with God as water to a garden.  

We are the vehicle for God’s words, living in them and obedience to them. God’s words through us will accomplish what God desires and achieve the purpose for which they were sent, now and forever more.  

Let us pray:  God of Heaven and Earth, fill us with a humble heart to seek you and live in your Word right now.  And in our moments of weakness and doubt, may your Holy Spirit descend upon us like doves and move us to repent.

Lynn Byrnes is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Brewster, NY

Advent Devotions: Friday, Dec. 21, 2018

Isaiah 55:1-5                                                             Come to the Waters

Ho, everyone who thirsts,
   come to the waters;
and you that have no money,
   come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
   without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
   and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
   and delight yourselves in rich food.
Incline your ear, and come to me;
   listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
   my steadfast, sure love for David.
See, I made him a witness to the peoples,
   a leader and commander for the peoples.
See, you shall call nations that you do not know,
   and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,
   for he has glorified you.

****

God speaks to the people through the prophet Isaiah and invites them to come to Him. He is speaking to the Jews who are in exile in Babylon. They are suffering and God is telling them that the covenant He made will keep them and bring them back to prosperity and happiness. We have received the promise of forgiveness of sins through the birth of Jesus. We rejoice in the fact that God has given us His son so that we might come to Him by believing that He will give us what we need to sustain life and be happy. This is not a handout. We must be faithful and pray for those who are our friends and enemies. We must help others and care for those who are in need no matter what they believe in. We here at Trinity reach out to others who need help through our social ministry. Everyone can contribute through their prayers and service.

Heavenly Father, we ask that You give us our daily bread and forgive us our sins. Give us the means to serve You by reaching out to others so that they can feel Your love and praise You. We ask your blessings on those we love and those who have special needs. Bless our enemies that they may be compassionate and loving. This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Dorothy Kafalas is a Deacon at Trinity Lutheran Church, Brewster, NY

Advent Devotions: Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018

Isaiah 53:1-12                                                 The Lord’s Servant, Part 2

Who has believed what we have heard?
   And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For he grew up before him like a young plant,
   and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
   nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by others;
   a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity;
and as one from whom others hide their faces
   he was despised, and we held him of no account.

Surely he has borne our infirmities
   and carried our diseases;
yet we accounted him stricken,
   struck down by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions,
   crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
   and by his bruises we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
   we have all turned to our own way,
and the Lord has laid on him
   the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
   yet he did not open his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
   and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
   so he did not open his mouth.
By a perversion of justice he was taken away.
   Who could have imagined his future?
For he was cut off from the land of the living,
   stricken for the transgression of my people.
They made his grave with the wicked
   and his tomb with the rich,
although he had done no violence,
   and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain.
When you make his life an offering for sin,
   he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days;
through him the will of the Lord shall prosper.
   Out of his anguish he shall see light;
he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge.
   The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous,
   and he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great,
   and he shall divide the spoil with the strong;
because he poured out himself to death,
   and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
   and made intercession for the transgressors.

****

“The Silence of the Lamb”

 I am not a big fan of psychological thrillers. I guess they have the intended effect of giving me the creeps! Nonetheless, a couple with whom my wife and I are friends enjoy that type of movie so, a number of years ago when we were together, we watched “Silence of the Lambs.” It worked! I kept thinking about that movie, getting chills every time. Obviously I think about it still.

 One of the mysteries of the book of Isaiah is the identity of the servant about whom he writes in chapter 53. Is it a particular person known to Isaiah? Is it the prophet himself? Is it the nation of Israel collectively? There is no definitive answer. But it became apparent to the early Christians that Jesus, in his life and death, matched the description. And one of the things that is remarkable to me, both about the servant in this passage and about Jesus, especially in his crucifixion, is the silence of the one being oppressed!  Well, not silence exactly, at least in the case of Jesus. “Father, forgive them. Woman, behold your son. Today you will be with me in Paradise.”  Words of grace in the midst of a cruel and unjust death. I know that I totally lose my patience when someone drives “unjustly.” How gracious, then, that Jesus speaks words of love and forgiveness and is otherwise silent, not calling for revenge.

 It’s a little creepy. I know I don’t deserve such grace and love. None of us do.  But there it is. Advent incites us to consider again the powerful way in which God's love enters again and again into our world and our lives and our struggles. And to not stay silent but to tell of this life-giving Lamb.

Pastor Paul Egensteiner has been pastor at Emanuel in Pleasantville since 1997, before that serving a congregation on Staten Island for 12+ years. He says, “I am blessed in more ways than I could possible hope to count, but I will single out my beautiful wife Marianne Dietrich and my sons Will and Luke and their lovely wives Tori and Jenna, respectively. I am also blessed with wonderful, supportive colleagues in the Tappan Zee Conference of the ELCA.”

Advent Devotions: Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Isaiah 52:13-15                                              The Lord’s Servant, Part 1

See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. Just as there were many who were astonished at him—so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of mortals— so he shall startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which had not been told them they shall see, and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate.  

****

This passage – commonly known as the Suffering Servant passage – is most often heard during Lent and Holy Week.  It seems out of place as we prepare for Christmas.  Most of the images of this season are of barns filled with animals or fields with shepherds as angels hover overhead (some even include snow!)

Yet, just as both the angels as well as the star pointed the way to baby Jesus – so too does this passage from Isaiah.  It points to the reason that Jesus was born – marred in his appearance on the cross to reveal how steadfast and great is God’s love is for us. 

This was not the Messiah that we were expecting.  This is not the kind of king that provides what we think we need.  This Messiah startles us all – born in a feeding bin, in a small backwoods town (albeit the birthplace of David), waited on by dirty shepherds as well as foreign kings.  This is the Messiah who did not come into our world of expectations, but turned them upside down.

Advent reminds us – as does this passage – that God turns our expectations upside down.  It is not about what we think we want or need, but it is about what God provides through the gift of his every self, born as a baby in Bethlehem.

Reflect on your own expectations for this day as well as this time of year.  Re-examine them.  How do they reflect your faith and trust in the One who turned this world upside down?  How do they point to the One whose love was born in a manger and died on the cross?

 Pastor Jen Boyd is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Brewster, NY

Advent Devotions: Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Isaiah 44:21-28                                             Jerusalem Will Be Rebuilt

Remember these things, O Jacob,
   and Israel, for you are my servant;
I formed you, you are my servant;
   O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.
I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud,
   and your sins like mist;
return to me, for I have redeemed you.

Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it;
   shout, O depths of the earth;
break forth into singing, O mountains,
   O forest, and every tree in it!
For the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
   and will be glorified in Israel.

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,
   who formed you in the womb:
I am the Lord, who made all things,
   who alone stretched out the heavens,
   who by myself spread out the earth;
who frustrates the omens of liars,
   and makes fools of diviners;
who turns back the wise,
   and makes their knowledge foolish;
who confirms the word of his servant,
   and fulfils the prediction of his messengers;
who says of Jerusalem, ‘It shall be inhabited’,
   and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt,
   and I will raise up their ruins’;
who says to the deep, ‘Be dry—
   I will dry up your rivers’;
who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,
   and he shall carry out all my purpose’;
and who says of Jerusalem, ‘It shall be rebuilt’,
   and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’

****

This autumn has seen more than its share of disasters… some of them of human action, many involving multiple deaths.  But, there have also been floods and fires.  All of these events have wreaked havoc on many lives and communities.  Our hearts and voices cry out asking in frustration, fear and fury:  “ How long, O God… help us make sense of all the devastation and unkindness.” 

Then our emotional responses take second place to the need for order from the chaos.  We give hugs; offer prayers; we bring food and water; we offer money, time and personal skills.  And most of all in the name of our God who promises never to forget, we offer our presence and our hope to those whose lives are personally affected. 

Prayer: Merciful God, you promise to never forget us. May our hearts and lives be open to accept your gift of gracious love by loving others every day.  Amen.

Pastor Elaine Berg is a retired ELCA pastor living in Cypress,Texas.  She is a member of Bethany Lutheran Church, Central Bridge, New York and Messiah Lutheran Church, Cypress, Texas (She's also Pastor Jen's mom)

Advent Devotions: Monday, December 17, 2018

Isaiah 43:1-7                                                                                   Fear Not!

But now thus says the Lord,
   he who created you, O Jacob,
   he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
   I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
   and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
   and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
   the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
   Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you.
Because you are precious in my sight,
   and honored, and I love you,
I give people in return for you,
   nations in exchange for your life.
Do not fear, for I am with you;
   I will bring your offspring from the east,
   and from the west I will gather you;
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up’,
   and to the south, ‘Do not withhold;
bring my sons from far away
   and my daughters from the end of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name,
   whom I created for my glory,
   whom I formed and made.’

****

“Do not fear.”  How many times do we read these words of God in the Bible?  It and similar passages were written over 300 times.  This prevalent sentence makes me stop and think about life without fear.  For me, FEAR IS PRESENT when FAITH ISN’T PRESENT.  As soon as I catch myself being fearful, if I can remember to place my faith in God in that situation, miraculously, fear immediately melts away and peace arrives, then an answer or solution is often revealed. 

God, through the prophet Isaiah, makes a strong case as to why we should not fear in verses 1-7:  You can count on me to help you when deep waters and raging fire threaten to destroy you. “I am the Lord your God, your Savior.”  “You are precious and honored in my sight.” “Do not be afraid...I am with you!”  “You are called by my name, whom I created, whom I formed and made.” 

God, our creator, calls us by His name, claiming us to be part of God’s family.  We are created and formed by God for His glory.  These are hefty promises and proclamations that we can lean into.  Every time we put our faith in God in fearful situations we are giving God glory.  We are redeemed by God who protects as as a beloved family member.

Let us pray.  Most divine, powerful and gracious God, Thank You: For loving us, for redeeming us, for showing us not to be afraid, but to live our lives abundantly and in your glory.

Lynn Byrnes is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Brewster, NY.