Remember not the former things nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing, now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. —Isaiah 43: 18-19
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When Jesus came on the scene, He rocked the world and humanity with His newness. The former things and old things were done. All the people believed about a relationship with God and the law and how it made them right vanished in the wind. This baby in a smelly stable, born to a teenage virgin, from the wrong side of the tracks is the Savior of the world? No one at the time saw this coming, and we still cannot wrap our minds around the humble, scandalous state in which our Savior was born.
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There is nothing easy about birthing something. If we contemplate our walk with Jesus, we can see how He takes us through the birthing process continually in life. He is birthing us to be what He has in mind. I think that He wants new things for us even though we long for the days of old, people to come back into our lives, and to have things be comfortable and easy.
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My family is new to St. John’s United Methodist Church, and there were many transitions before we became members. If we will let God take control and help us in this current birthing process of change, we, the community, and world will be blessed beyond compare. This new “baby” will not look like what we think it should look like, act like we think it should or sound like we think, but how beautiful this can be if we allow the changes to happen and open our hearts to God.
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Father, please help us to remember that You are a God of birth and change. You do not allow us to stay the same and are always transforming us into who You want us to be. As St. John’s continues to go through changes, please help us to lean in to what You are doing to grow us into the “Body of Christ” that impacts the community and world for Your glory, honor and praise. We thank You, Jesus, for coming in such a humble way to a broken people in need of redemption. Let us contemplate Your birth, Jesus, and continue to show us how You have turned the world upside down because of Your love for humanity. May we live lives that honor and bear Your image. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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nShay Chauvin
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Home Worship & Advent Wreath Reading*
nWeek 1
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Welcome Divine Promise
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Read: Isaiah 2:1-5
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Light: We offer the following reading as you light the first candle on your Advent wreath. If you do not have an Advent wreath, we invite you to light a candle, reminding you of the coming Christ Child, the Hope of the world.
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This is the first Sunday in Advent, and today we light the candle of Hope. Advent is a time of waiting and hoping. We wait for the day when we celebrate again the birth of Jesus. We hope that everyone will come to know God and to worship God.
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(Light the first candle)
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When we look at the first candle we remember God’s divine promise. God promised to send a Savior to the people. Our scripture from Isaiah reminds us that God fulfills the promises made to care for us. God is loving and just. God brings peace. This gives us hope. We look forward to the time when everything is fair, when the world is at peace and all people are treated justly.
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Reflect: This Scripture offers us the hope of God’s kingdom where there is peace and has the wonderful sentence, “…let us walk in the light of the Lord!” Who are the people in our world who need hope? What are the hopes you have for our world today? How do we help others know that God gives hope?
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Pray: Eternal God, Thank you for the words of the Prophet Isaiah that remind us that you are the source of our hope. Help us to remember to walk in the light of the Lord. Amen.
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Respond: Is there someone you know who needs to hear words of hope? Make or select a card for that person and mail it today.
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* Adapted from UMC Discipleship Ministries 2017 Advent Home Worship
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