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New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world. Stir up in us desire to serve you, to live peacefully with our neighbors and all your creation, and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

"A Liturgy for Morning Prayer," Upper Room Worshipbook

Used by permission from the Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved. This prayer appears in “A Liturgy for Morning Prayer” in Upper Room Worshipbook.

 

Today’s Reflection

Advent is a strange mixture of the already and the not yet. There is a remembrance of the first coming of Christ at Christmas, the already. There is also an anticipation of the day when we will be fully present with Christ, the future coming of Christ into our midst, the not yet. But Advent also invites us to the surprising discovery of Christ among us now, a revelation that sometimes takes intense focus.

—Max O. Vincent, Good News of Great Joy: Advent Reflections on the Songs of Luke (Upper Room Books, 2021)

Today’s Question

How does contemplating Christ’s first coming and anticipating Christ’s return deepen your celebration of Advent? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

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?”
—Luke 1:39-43 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord, Emmanuel. Amen.
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Something More

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Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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5 Comments

  • Julie Posted December 1, 2021 8:18 am

    Anticipating…that is what I see in both of these and how they define our spiritual lives. We anticipate the celebration of Christ’s first coming while also anticipating his future return. And ultimately we anticipatte our union with our Lord God in heaven where we will dwell in his love forever.
    The surgeon removed the stitches and said all was going well and I will have another appointment in 2 months. I am going to reach out to the person from church who said that she may be able to help me get a job where she works. It would be working from home as a customer service rep for a crdit union. Please pray that this works in my favor as I am a jumble of nerves regarding the future and in particular a job and health insurance.
    Prayers for Ally and David and his PSA value and for kitty Jeremy and his urinary tract blockage, may the vet be able to successfully treat the blockage and infection. Prayers for Jill and Roger, may his vet be able to find the correct dosage of insulin to treat his diabetes successfully. Prayers for Larry and Becky and David as they embark on their new living arragements. Prayers for Robert as he deals with Erich’s uncertainty regarding his future. Prayers for Marti and her staff.
    Thank you for your prayers and may God bless all who visit here.

  • Ally Posted December 1, 2021 10:23 am

    Mary’s waiting on Messiah in the form of her little baby inspires me to wait and hope for the Now And The Not Yet (old song by Amy Grant from the80’s.) . Love is coming. Hallelujah.
    David’s follow-up appointment is Friday. We are trying to trust God and not fear. God will never leave or forsake us. We saw little Jeremy for a few minutes yesterday. He was very glad to see his people. We won’t get an update today, as the clinic is closed on Wednesdays. Vet has promised to call if something changes. Please pray for full recovery for his little body.
    Julie, I pray you have been able to get some rest. Praise God for a good report from doctor. Will be much in prayer for your job opportunity.
    Jill, prayers continue for little Roger, that his numbers come down and he is restored to health soon. Praying for Larry and Becky and their new living situation. Sounds like a positive thing.
    Robert, my study group did Incarnation by Adam Hamilton last year. We truly enjoyed it and hope you do as well. Prayers to Erich and his anxiety about the future. Glad he is opening up about his feelings. Prayers continue for your church.
    Praying we all stay safe in light of Omicron variant. Praying for peace in our world. Blessings to all.

  • Ally Posted December 1, 2021 10:24 am

    The music of the season is a blessing. O Come, O Come Emmanuel is my favorite.

  • Jill Posted December 1, 2021 11:07 am

    I don’t know why this two-part thinking about Advent is new to me, but in the past I never considered the future coming, the anticipation – as part of Advent. To me, in the past, it was always about preparing my heart for consideration of His initial coming and what that meant. Obviously this was the year to awaken the thought of His future coming, as part of Advent, as this was addressed this morning in one of the resources I am using for Advent. I welcome this and it seems most appropriate.
    The vet called last evening – and I truly appreciate the time she takes with me. Roger started out at 2 units of insulin, was increased to 3 and now is up to 4. There was also a misunderstanding on my part as to when specifically I was to administer the insulin, with respect to when he eats. I will try to manage this better and hope to get him regulated.
    The concerns amongst are group are immediate and wide ranging. Father God – in Your sovereignty and mercy and perfect timing – continue to companion us amidst our concerns. We know what the quick answer is which would satisfy us, but remind us to pray according to Your Will. I am so guilty of not doing this. Please forgive me.

  • robert moeller Posted December 2, 2021 8:53 am

    Great news about Julie’s healing, (stitches out) and a possible job. Sure hope the legal proceedings go well and you are more settled. Glad to hear about Becky and Larry although I think I don’t know the details. Getting Roger adjusted to the right insulin dose and time to give
    is on my as soon as possible hope list. Prayers that David’s appointment tomorrow goes well. Am sure Jeremy enjoyed the short family visit. I once picked up my daughter’s cat from the vetm Tiger leaped from the vet across the counter and onto me, he was a happy camper then. There’s progress on the plan, some things to thunk about yet as Erich and I move forward. SNOW HERE TODAY 12/2/21. I’m late posting but get to see some news from you. INCARNATION is a great read thus far, but doesn’t surpass ALMOST THERE that I read last Advent. That was Wesleyan and very powerful. The finishing touches are going in on the model. Prep for the next one and article writing.. Watching from Jesus to Christ, have mixed feelings about the presentation,
    Thank You, Lord for being before we came, while we are here, and in what comes next.

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