Luke 3: 7-18 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same. “ Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher” they asked, “what should we do?” “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. Then some soldiers asked “What should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely-be content with your pay.” The people were waiting expectantly and were wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am unworthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.n
nWhat to do? What to do? What to do? It is the question that comes from those who have come to be baptized by John. It continues to be the cry of all who claim Christianity and seek to live out their faith. Three times this question is posed to John and in all three responses, he calls us to a better relationship with our neighbor. Share what you have, treat people the way you want to be treated and use your words for justice not slander. Words that echo Micah 6: 8 “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” This Advent season we too wait as John did for the arrival of the Messiah, and we continue to ask ‘what are we to do?’. The answer is now as it was then to love God, and our neighbor as ourselves.
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nPrayer: Gracious and loving God, we come this Advent season asking yet again ‘what are we to do?’. Open our hearts to hear the cry of the needy, open our minds to know how to minister to others, and use us to bring your light and love to all those we call our neighbors. Fill us with your Holy Spirit that we too may proclaim the good news to all the world. Amen.
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nDeirdre’ Halliburton
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Lighting of the Advent Wreath for the Home – Week 3
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JOY
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On the hills outside Bethlehem, shepherds guard their masters’ flocks. Their world is quiet now but it will soon be shaken. Angel voices will bring them the good news that their people have been waiting for so long. A savior will be born. Christ the Lord is coming. They will walk down from the hillside with hearts full of joy to see that newborn baby, the long expected Messiah.
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This morning we light again the purple candles of HOPE and PREPARATION and light as well the pink candle of JOY.
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With hearts full of joy, we walk on toward Bethlehem following in the steps of the shepherds.n
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