God continually offers the choice to thrive or to wither; to walk in the way of the Lord or to stumble on our own pathway

READING

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Moses said, “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

MUSIC

Oh Freedom, Roger McGuinn

Go Down Moses, Texas Cowpatti

Jesus On A Greyhound, Mark Fosson

Whether salt or light, the people of Jesus are meant to make a difference in this life

READING

Matthew 5:13-20

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

MUSIC

Honey In the Rock, Nick Page

Shine On Me, Evie Sands

This Little Light of Mine, Sam Cooke

The stories of Simeon and Anna in the temple with the newborn Jesus reveal to us the power of faith in daily life and the wisdom of the overlooked

LINK

"Expecting God to act" essay from the Anglican Journal

READING

Luke 2:22-40

When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord"), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

"Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,

according to your word;

for my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles

and for glory to your people Israel."

And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed-- and a sword will pierce your own soul too."

There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

MUSIC

Come My Way, My Truth, My Life, Blackfriar Music

Be Though My Vision, Jaimie Jorge

Celtic Hymn, Aural Axiom

Everyone has a role in the kingdom of God, what's yours?

READING

Matthew 4:12-23

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,

and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.”

From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

MUSIC

Ye Sons and Daughters, Christendom College Choir and Schola Gregoriana

We Walk by Faith, St John's LA Choir

Yesu A Lobaki, Jose Konda

We look at the joy of beloved-ness in psalm 40, reflecting on our own experiences of God's presence

READING

Psalm 40: 1-12

I waited patiently for you, O God; *

you stooped to me and heard my cry.

You lifted me out of the desolate pit, out of the mire and clay; *

you set my feet upon a high cliff and made my footing sure.

You put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; *

many shall see, and stand in awe, and put their trust in you.

Happy are they who trust in you; *

they do not resort to evil spirits or turn to false gods.

Great things are they that you have done, O God,

how great your wonders and your plans for us; *

there is none who can be compared with you.

Oh, that I could make them known and tell them, *

but they are more than I can count.

In sacrifice and offering you take no pleasure *

(you have given me ears to hear you);

Burnt-offering and sin-offering you have not required, *

and so I said, “Behold, I come.

In the roll of the book it is written concerning me: *

‘I love to do your will, O my God; your law is deep in my heart.’ ”

I proclaimed righteousness in the great congregation; *

behold, I did not restrain my lips, and that, O God, you know.

Your righteousness have I not hidden in my heart;

I have spoken of your faithfulness and your deliverance; *

I have not concealed your love and faithfulness from the great congregation.

You are the Holy One; do not withhold your compassion from me; *

let your love and your faithfulness keep me safe for ever.

MUSIC

Amazing Grace, Jimmy Cousins

Here is Love Vast as the Ocean, Abby Scott and Chris Eaton

Gabriel’s Message, Good Shepherd Band

The Holy Spirit continues to invite us into deeper relationship and deeper understanding of God's vision for us individually and for God's people

READING

Acts 10:34-43

Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

MUSIC

Ol’ St. Peter, Digital Primitives

Every Time I Feel the Spirit, Roger McGuinn

Jesus' fragility at his birth reminds us that hope is something to be protected and cared for, not something to take for granted.

READING

Matthew 2:13-15,19-23

After the wise men had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son."

When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He will be called a Nazorean."

MUSIC

I Saw Three Ships, Ben Devries

We Thee Kings, RTists for Christmas

The King Shall Come, Trevor Thompson

The Incarnation speaks as much about what human life means as it does God's power

READING

Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7

Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian.

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

MUSIC

Jesus Loves Me, Jeremy Camp feat. Bobbie Lancaster

Star in the East, Rose Ensemble

Ho, Ho, So Merrily, Some Serious Folk and Pernicious Pennywhistle

Where do we find hope when we look around and feel its absence?

READING

Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18

Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; *

shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.

In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, *

stir up your strength and come to help us.

Restore us, O God of hosts; *

show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

O Lord God of hosts, *

how long will you be angered despite the prayers of your people?

You have fed them with the bread of tears; *

you have given them bowls of tears to drink.

You have made us the derision of our neighbors, *

and our enemies laugh us to scorn.

Restore us, O God of hosts; *

show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, *

the son of man you have made so strong for yourself.

And so will we never turn away from you; *

give us life, that we may call upon your Name.

Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; *

show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved

MUSIC

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, Donald McCullough & Master Chorale of Washington

Christmas Eve, Borrtex

Bring A Torch, Jeanette Isabella, Aaron Devries

It's third Advent and we're all about Mary

READING

The Song of Mary Magnificat

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; * 
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.

MUSIC

What Child is This, Alison Crowe

In the Bleak Midwinter, Lily & Madeline

Go Tell It On the Mountain, Roger McGuinn