Advent Devotional 2014

Second Baptist Church

Second Baptist Church300 E. Kansas St. | Liberty, MO 64068

818.781.2824 | 2bcliberty.org

Special thanks to all those who shared their gift of writing to enhance our Advent experience

this year.

Sue Wright: EditorNeita Geilker: Assistant EditorTerri Soper: Production/Design

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Imagine with me, it’s about 1850, seven years after our church was organized, and we’re John Mason Neale, an Anglican minister, dipping our quill or brand new nib to ink for translating from Latin into English, the first two stanzas of the hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!” Sixty-six years later, we’re Henry Sloane Coffin, an American-born Presbyterian clergyman-- our task fountain pen in hand—translate two more stanzas. Now, it’s October, and we’re one of Second Baptist’s twenty-nine 2014 Advent Booklet writers at work on our computer. As usual, we are depending on scripture and our personal memories and telling experiences to shape what we compose for our assigned day’s meditation. When we find additional inspiration from what poets Neale and Coffin wrote so long ago, we sense the timelessness of our faith and how bound we are, “All peoples in one heart and mind.”

In the next few weeks, because our Pastor has chosen “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” as a theme for our Advent worship, ALL of us will be gathering our hearts and minds around the verses of this song found on page 79 of our hymnal. We’ll sing as one, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” and then, “O Come, Thou Wisdom,” “O Come, Our Dayspring,” and “O Come, Desire of Nations.” We will “Rejoice,” celebrating the birth of Jesus, and “Repeat the Sounding Joy” by way of another of our favorite hymns, the Sunday after Christmas.

I thank each of our writers for taking time to share their stories and insights with us. My thanks also to fellow editors—Terri Soper, our graphic designer, and Neita Geilker, thoughtful compiler of the Bible passages we will study for the next few weeks. Thanks everyone who has had a part in creating this booklet including Reverends Neale, Coffin, and our own Jason Edwards.

Finally, “Until the Son of God appear,” here’s a bit of fiction from yours truly. “Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease; fill all the world with heaven’s peace.”

Sue Wright

*Phrases in quotations borrowed from “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!”

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Moore Clement! by Sue Wright

To a person, the Rickeys scored their Advent 2014, a 10 out of 10. Their Christmas Day? Not so easy to measure!

The Yuletide had begun with a bang. First off, Mrs. Rickey had been asked to write a devotional in the church’s Advent Booklet, her first time ever. When she read her assigned scripture in October, the one to inspire her thoughts, she wanted to cry. It was Old Testament and didn’t have a word about Jesus in it. As a consequence, she did the only thing she knew to do. She began to pray. In fact, she prayed for two full weeks before she wrote a single sentence. Then suddenly, she had a paragraph, two, and then a third to pull her meditation all together. At deadline, she was within the word count by three and what she penned sounded almost divine. Later this would be confirmed to her satisfaction by Mertie O’Neal, one of the brainier people in the congregation, who proclaimed Mrs. Rickey’s devotional worthy of The Guidepost. The Guidepost! Well, it was the ultimate of compliments and made Mrs. Rickey feel, the Ernestine Hemingway of Advent writing.

Ah yes, success had reigned at the Rickeys throughout the first 24 days of December, Mr. Rickey, the second prime example. He, faithful bell-ringer with the Salvation Army he was, had filled the pot so close to over-flowing standing his station outside HyVee, it had to be emptied before his hour of ringing was up. Seemed, just as he suspected, someone had thrown in an overly large coin among the others that was booty from a pirate ship and valued at nearly three thousand dollars. His smiling face as well as the red pot and gold coin made the national news and gave Mr. Rickey, not only fifteen minutes of fame, but a helpful assist to his struggling insurance business.

Not to be out-shown, the Rickey children also basked in the glow of personal triumph. Billy had won first place in the origami-folded reindeer contest sponsored by the PTA—the boy only nine years old—and his sister Julie age seven, first-prize for cutting out from a piece of white paper, the most beautiful snowflake anyone had ever seen. Later, her teacher marveled to Julie’s parents how the girl hadn’t shed a tear when she accidently snipped her middle finger nearly off with the scissors she used to create the winning snowflake and had to take the bloody digit to the nurse’s office for a Band-Aid. Both children were rewarded with a gift certificate to McDonald’s where they found their artwork attached like zits to a life-size statue of Ronald McDonald himself.

Is it any wonder then, the Rickeys were so excited for the dawn of another Christmas morning? Each supposing what lay beneath the tree for them, was the answer to a month of dreaming? They had prepared for this moment through Advent worship AND Advent buying, and now the agonizing wait was over. Time to put expectancy behind them for the rightful earned trophies of amazement and thanksgiving.

Of course, before the first package could be opened on Christmas, or that stuffed-in-their-stockings emptied out, the Rickeys by tradition, had a bit of holiday business yet to complete. That is, placing the Baby Jesus in the manger of their Fontanini Nativity Scene while the four of them—sadly tone-deaf— lip-synched to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s feathery rendition of Away in a Manger. Prior to this moment, Baby Jesus had lain undisturbed on a piece of purple velvet among other Christmas knickknacks in the kitchen. It was high privilege running to fetch the baby, but no great feat, so when the Rickeys heard a shriek coming from the kitchen, they were seriously taken aback.

“What on earth?” exclaimed Mrs. Rickey.

“It’s Baby Jesus. He’s gone!” screamed Julie Rickey.

“He can’t be,” said Mr. Rickey. “He’s been resting in the same spot since we put the decorations out.”

“Well, he isn’t there now. Just the piece of velvet.”

“Okay, what’s the joke?” grumbled Mr. Rickey, tired from putting Billy’s Hot Wheels Race Course together late into the night. “What are you hiding behind your back, Billy?”

“Nothing, Dad.”

“Julie?”

“I don’t know what happened!” The girl’s eyes were filling with tears.

“Well, somebody has to.”

Mrs. Rickey gave a deep sigh. “I think I know. Where’s Santa?” Santa was the family’s new four month old kitten, an early Christmas present from the children’s Uncle Mark.

“Who knows? But if Santa took the Baby, he could be anywhere. We’ll never find him.”

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Indeed, adding Santa to the Rickey’s regular Christmas decor had proven a test. After the cat tipped their blinking Christmas tree over a third time, Mr. Rickey had to set it in an antique play pen saved from Mrs. Rickey’s childhood. And when someone caught Santa eyeing the family’s manger scene nestled in some greenery on the hallway table, Billy at his father’s suggestion, erected a Lincoln Log fort to surround the crèche and protect it from certain invasion. An army of Billy’s Ninja Lego warriors also stood guard.

“So anybody seen the little Saint recently?” asked Mr. Rickey.

“Last time I saw him he was pushing something under the refrigerator. I figured it was his catnip mouse.”

“Or the Baby Jesus! Heaven forbid! Run get the flashlight, Mother, and I’ll get a yardstick. Billy, go ahead and dismantle the fort. Then everybody head to the kitchen.”

It was a curious sight, all four Rickey heads on the floor, peering best they could under the refrigerator, the flashlight illuminating the work of the yardstick Mrs. Rickey poked beneath it. An effort they would have to confess, proved not totally in vain. For among the dust bunnies roused from their long winter’s nap, was the catnip mouse, two missing ornaments from the miniature tree in the living room, Julie’s favorite barrette, and the lost gift card bought to send in Grandma Rickey’s Christmas card.

Mr. Rickey shook his head regretfully as he stood up. “Sorry, kids. There’ll be no Christmas ‘til we find the Baby Jesus.”

‘Twas then in a twinkling, there arose such a clatter, the Rickeys sprang from the kitchen to see what WAS the matter! They would laugh when they saw him in spite of the danger, for it was SANTA who nuzzled the Babe in the manger.*

The missing Infant miraculously in place—at least temporarily—a giddy awe encircled the room, at which point, Mr. Rickey broke into a rousing, “Joy to the World the Lord has come.” Before he was done, the rest of the family had joined in the singing and with such perfect pitch and glorious harmonies, they seemed a barbershop quartet of God’s own angels. They tried to sing another verse but nobody remembered the words. And so the Rickeys gave up their harking and heralding for the merry old pleasures of opening the presents still lying in the playpen—at peace and swaddled—as their Baby in the Hay.

*A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore 7

O Come Emmanuel!Preface and Christmas Story: Moore Clement! by Sue Wright

Week One— O Come, Thou Wisdomdate scripture range writer pg.Sunday, November 30 1 Corinthians 1:3–9 Jason Edwards 12Monday, December 1 Isaiah 11:1–9 Connie McNeill 13Tuesday, December 2 Mark 13:24–37 Steve Smith 14Wednesday, December 3 Isaiah 64:1–9 Carol Weirich 15Thursday, December 4 Proverbs 1:1–7 Drew Kingery 16Friday, December 5 Psalm 80:1-7; 17–19 Laura Rodgers 17 Saturday, December 6 Colossians 2:2–10 John Shank 18

Week Two— O Come, Our Dayspringdate scripture range writer pg.Sunday, December 7 Isaiah 58:1–11 Eleanor Speaker 20Monday, December 8 2 Peter 3:8–15a Steve Hemphill 21Tuesday, December 9 Isaiah 40:1–11 Cathy Baker 22Wednesday, December 10 Psalm 85:1–2; 8–13 Rich Groves 23Thursday, December 11 Mark 1:1–8 Becky Gossett 24Friday, December 12 Psalm 72:1–7 David Fulk 25Saturday, December 13 Romans 15:4–13 Heather Lewis 26

Week Three—O Come, Desire of Nationsdate scripture range writer pg.Sunday, December 14 Isaiah 9:1–7 Gary Smith 28 Monday, December 15 Luke 1:46b–55 Kim Halfhill 29Tuesday, December 16 Isaiah 61:1–4 Allan Aunspaugh 30Wednesday, December 17 Psalm 126 Luda Teterina 31Thursday, December 18 1 Thessalonians 5:16–24 Wes & Debbie Blanton 32Friday, December 19 John 1:6-8; 19–28 Neita Geilker 33Saturday, December 20 James 5:7–10 Rick Cole 34

Week Four—Rejoice!date scripture range writer pg.Sunday, December 21 Isaiah 7:1–17 Jim Tanner 36Monday, December 22 Luke 1:26–38 Lisa Kopala 37Tuesday, December 23 2 Samuel 7:1–11; 16 Dick Wright 38

Christmas Evedate scripture range writer pg.Wednesday, December 24 Luke 2:1–14 Linda Cain 40

Christmas date scripture range writer pg.Thursday, December 25 Luke 2:15–20 Eric Zahnd 42Friday, December 26 Luke 1:26–38 Abby Bland 43Saturday, December 27 Romans 16:25–27 Lydia Bunch 44

First Sunday After Christmas—Repeat the Sounding Joydate scripture range writer pg.Sunday, December 28 Psalm 148(Galatians 4:4–7) Carroll Makemson 46

O Come, Thou Wisdom

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Sunday, November 301 Corinthians 1:3–9

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:3).

Earlier this month our family celebrated the 6th birthday of my eldest son, Jackson. For him, this was all about the presents and the party. He’d longed for them for months, and then, on November 12th, he unwrapped birthday satisfaction. No surprise there.

It was a different day for me, one filled with nostalgia and hope. My baby turned 6. So we cherished the past that we’d no doubt rushed living, we savored the present because we’ve learned we can’t slow it, and we prayed for his good future. It will come before we know it.

Advent has a similar character. It transports us into the past so we might cherish the gift of Christ’s first coming so many years ago. It invites us to savor the present, keeping our eyes peeled for the Jesus that still lives within it. And it reminds us that God still has plans, that Bethlehem was only the beginning - a foretaste of even better things to come.

T.S Eliot once said “the end is in the beginnings.” True of so many great stories. True of Advent. True of the gospel, especially as it’s lived. We glimpse this in Paul’s letters. They end just as they begin, with grace. We see this whether their middles are shaped by joy or sadness, celebration or suffering. Paul seems to want sinners and saints alike (and they are alike), to live with the unmistakable knowledge that they are loved, no matter what, from beginning to end.

I hope you know that too. And if you don’t, I hope you’ll come to know it deeply in the days ahead. This Advent, may you come to know the holy one who was and will be as Emmanuel, the great and gracious God who still is with you.

Grace and Peace,

Jason Edwards

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Monday, December 1Isaiah 11:1–9

“The life-giving Spirit of God will hover over him, the Spirit that brings wisdom and understanding, The Spirit that gives direction and builds strength, the Spirit that

instills knowledge and Fear-of-God” (Isaiah 11:2, The Message).

The Hovering SpiritIn one of my favorite movies, the climactic moment comes when the angry father fights his daughter’s noble love and a lantern ignites the very dry vineyard. The fire races through the vineyard destroying every plant. These vines have been in this family for several generations so metaphorically the fire destroys much more than the vines. Suddenly, the younger man remembers that the original root brought to California from Mexico is buried deep in the ground and is feet in diameter, not inches. He races to it and of course, the root is still alive and we know that all will be resolved.

The writer of Isaiah uses the hopeful image of a root and a new branch to encour-age the people that a succession in the Davidic line of kings will be restored. It was intended as a message of hope to the scattered nation and for the monarchy. This king would not just have the throne but he would have the Spirit of God bringing wisdom and understanding, providing direction and strength that would instill knowl-edge and a reverence for God. This king is perfect. Whether the writer intended this to be a partial description of Christ or not--it is.

It is a message of hope beyond an earthly king. It is a message of hope of the com-ing Messiah. It is also a message of hope for Christ’s disciples whom he leaves in the care of the Spirit--the hovering Spirit. Hovering in our lives to provide us wisdom and understanding that is beyond our education. Hovering in our lives to provide us direction and strength that cannot possibly come from any just-feel-good self help or it’s-all-happy religion. This Spirit hovers in our lives to instill knowledge and acknowledgement of God who desires our most heartfelt reverence.

Connie McNeill

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Tuesday, December 2, 2014Mark 13:24–37

“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when

the rooster crows, or at dawn” (Mark 13:35).

As I was growing up I played both in the Little League and Babe Ruth League of or-ganized baseball. I started out as an infielder and then moved to the outfield. I was taught early on there is a “ready” stance for both infielders and outfielders. You had to watch when the pitcher made his pitch to react to where the batter hit the ball. I had to have my glove ready and my feet firmly planted and ready to move to my left or to my right to move toward the direction the batted ball was hit. If I did not watch, I was in big trouble if the ball was hit toward me.

Later, I became an ASA certified Softball umpire. I umpired for local sports organi-zations as well as the Missouri State High School Activities Association and also for a semi-pro women’s softball team. As an umpire, I not only had to be ready for the pitch but I needed to watch the batter, the base runner, the flight of the ball, and also the fielders and to how they interacted with the base runners and the ball itself. I had to be ready and anticipate what was going to happen and to “watch” what actually was happening. In addition to this I had to know the number of balls and strikes, the number of outs and whether or not this was an infield fly possibility. I had to watch as runners were on base, and if they left too early.

This is how I interpret our scripture for today. We need to watch and be ready for the coming of the Messiah. We need to take into account all things that have hap-pened before, anticipate what might happen, and be ready to respond to whatever actually occurs. This is one purpose of Christmas-- to watch and be ready-- for we know not what may come.

Steve Smith

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Wednesday, December 3Isaiah 64:1–9

“For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you” (Isaiah 64:3).

When I was five years old, a new baby boy came into my life—my brother Johnny. When Johnny was five years old, he was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy, a devastating disease that would gradually rob him of his ability to care for himself and eventually take his life at the age of twenty-one. He was such a positive person that at times it was easy to forget his illness.

As I grew older I began to worry about having to face up to the day my brother would die. I thought it would be easier for me if when I got the news, he was already gone. Instead, I received a call from my Aunt Betty that Johnny had gone into a coma and Mom needed me. After hanging up I told God, “I cannot go.” His answer is one I will always remember. It was as if God was in the room and said to me, “Yes you can!” I went, stayed with Mom in Johnny’s room, and held her afterward—all with God’s strength.

God can and does do awesome things in our lives. So many times we forget to stop and listen for God’s voice. We forget that God can supply all our needs. We just need to ask and believe.

This year as we celebrate Jesus coming to earth in human form, let us not forget to celebrate his constant presence in our everyday life. As we give and receive gifts from friends and family, let us remember God’s greatest gift to each of us—His Love! Carol Weirich

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Thursday, December 4Proverbs 1:1–7

“Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1: 7).

Charlie Sharp. I remember he was 6 feet tall and suntanned from working outside. He had large calloused hands with a firm grip from years of carpentry work. He had blue eyes that were hard, but kind at the same time. And to me the most striking feature was his huge moustache.

My first recollection of Charlie was when I briefly sang in the choir and I sat next to him. He used to tell me, “Everyone can see you, so don’t fall asleep!” I also recall when he was teaching Sunday school at Tryst Falls Baptist Church. He had a big Bible that had bookmarks throughout. I thought this man knows his stuff. Charlie could ask questions that would make you squirm in your seat. He would do this not to make you uncomfortable. It was to make you think about how you were living your life the way God wants us to live.

The first part of verse seven says, “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” This is not the kind of fear I have of spiders, but the kind of fear that induces re-spect, awe and adoration. I think this was how I felt about Charlie. The knowledge we get from God, is not just knowing the chapter or verse, but it is knowledge that helps us realign our life to be centered around God’s will. So this Advent season let us be in awe of the plan God is laying out for us, and work to realign our lives around God and his plan for us. Drew Kingery

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Friday, December 5Psalm 80:1-7; 17–19

“Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved” (Psalms 80:7, 19).

Restore us. Save us.

As I’m writing on this sunny autumn day after a tough Royals loss in Game 7, I can lift my face to the sky and feel the warmth of the sun and its power to refresh and renew. Oh, how we need refreshment and renewal after the long hours spent watching and coming just so close!

Restore us. Save us.

Shifting my focus to the holidays ahead, I’m already looking forward to time with family at my mom and dad’s house at Christmas because it’s there I can always turn for restoration, renewal, saving. The glow of gathering around the dinner table, even now with six active and anything but peaceful little ones as part of the crew, brings me back to center, to belonging.

The comfort in traditions--decorating sugar cookies, making a holiday craft together, playing cards, watching football, hearing the Christmas story read before we open gifts, baking and eating traditional casseroles and desserts, going sledding when there’s snow, cuddling up in front of the fire for a movie together as the sleeping bags, pillows and kids in Christmas jammies pile into the center of the room–is restoring and points me back to center.

Being with these dear ones who know me longest and best is a gift. Home is a place to be authentic, be myself, and not worry if they will invite me back next time. Restore us. Save us.

Lord, slow us down in this busy season. Allow us to tilt our heads upward and see your face shine so we may be restored, we may be saved. Amen.

Laura Rodgers

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Saturday, December 6Colossians 2:2–10

“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9).

My happiest moment as an adult was the day that my son was born. At the moment of his birth he possessed, for better or worse, the combined characteristics of both his mother and father. I remember everything about that day!

The birth that we celebrate at Christmas has even more meaning: For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). At His birth, the characteristics Jesus possessed were not of an earthly mother and father, but the characteristics of His Heavenly Father.

Simple words in the Bible are often the most meaningful. Meditate on the meaning of “all the fullness of Deity.” The baby Jesus was literally God incarnate. All of God’s character was placed in baby Jesus. God’s love motivated Him to allow His Deity to be replicated in Jesus. His wisdom was made manifest for all to see and know.

One day at the grocery store when my son was 2-3 years old, an unknown lady stopped me and told me that my son looked so much like me that I would never be able to deny him as my son. We celebrate the birth of Jesus knowing that God will never deny His children.

What a glorious birth!

John Shank

O Come, Our Dayspring

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Sunday, December 7, 2014Isaiah 58:1–11

“You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high” (Isaiah 58:4b).

I have lived in my house now for more than twenty years. The carpet is worn in spots and the draperies droop more than they drape. But I don’t see those things. I only see the objects that remind me of my family and my travels.

Sometimes I receive promotional material that offers me something I want at hardly any cost to me but I remind myself to read the fine print. It’s so easy to see only what we want to see.

The verse I want to see most in the scripture passage for today is verse 11: “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs . . .” But the fine print says to me in verse 4, “You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.”

Read in the light of Jesus’ teachings, I don’t take “fast” as meaning a ritual or a day of rejecting food. It is really calling me to a lifetime of service to others—of putting others first. God offers suggestions such as the following for a fast (a life) that is acceptable to Him:

“Loose the chains of injustice, untie cords of the yoke”—maybe teach someone to read“Set the oppressed free, break every yoke”—maybe give a helping hand even before someone is destitute“Share food with the hungry”—maybe donate to In As Much or share your garden produce“Provide the wanderer with shelter”—maybe be a foster parent“Clothe the naked”—maybe bring warm coats for Comfort Drive for South Dakota“Not turn away from your own flesh and blood”—keep relationships healthy“Do away with malicious talk”—listen to myself—Do I sound Christ-like?

Such a fast will turn to feasting in the presence of God.

Eleanor Speaker

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Monday, December 82 Peter 3:8–15a

“Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience

of our Lord as salvation” (2 Peter 3:14–15a).

When I was in law school, one day often seemed like a 1,000 years! But now that I am nearly 1,000 years old . . . well, it seems only yesterday I was a full-time student. Clearly, the passage of time is relative.

The followers of Jesus’ time, obviously thought he would return any day soon. I’m sure when the time passed and there was no “Day of Judgment” yet, some thought it was a painfully slow wait for their reward. They missed the whole point. The reward is in the waiting.

That sounds a little crazy, doesn’t it? The waiting room at the hospital or doctor’s office is never fun. Waiting for Christmas or your birthday (especially when you are under 10 years old) is never fun. Why then would waiting for Jesus be the reward?

According to verse 14, we are to strive for peace while we are waiting for Jesus’ return and the patience our Lord shows in verse 15 while awaiting his own return is indeed our salvation...so enjoy it! Enjoy the time we have here on earth because it is but a fleeting moment in our eternal history. Let’s not be like the pious showoffs who seem to exist in their own world ignoring the rest of us who are trying to enjoy the wait.

Steve Hemphill

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Tuesday, December 9Isaiah 40:1–11

“Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God” (Isaiah 40:1).

The waiting of Advent. The expectant joy of what’s to come. The anticipation, the excitement, the wonder. The hope for a better tomorrow. All centered around a tiny child. A great blessing from God. The early years of our marriage were like that. We’d wait. Wonder. Anticipate. Year after year. Holding out hope for our blessing.

The Advent Season doesn’t always bring the same joy and happiness to everyone. For some, their daily loneliness becomes overwhelming. For others, the unbearable grief of missing a loved one is magnified. Tight finances bring added stress as some struggle with the consumerism of the holiday. The absences of the wonder and awe, the innocence and joy that only a child can express, brings an emptiness all its own to the “unblessed.”

That’s how I would feel. Unblessed. Every Advent season, the focus was on the Blessed Mother Mary. There would always be a new mother glowing with sheer joy as she held her little blessing. Or a first time expectant mother oozing with excitement and wonder in the anticipation of the arrival of her little blessing. Sometimes my pain and sadness would overwhelm me. I would sit in church with all the decorations, the music, the joy and laughter and ask myself, “Is it right to grieve so for something I never even had?” Especially at this time of year?

But then the hymns and the scriptures would echo in my head and in my heart. “Comfort, comfort my people.” In the same place that I felt so much pain, I would feel so much comfort. For I knew that my God still loved me, the Unblessed.

I know there are others that share my feelings. For a variety of reasons, sometimes circumstances beyond our control, or life choices we’ve made for ourselves, we find ourselves once again at this time of year feeling as misfits among the blessed. But take heart, my friends, for I know as we look beyond ourselves and focus on the needs of others, especially during this time of year, our God of comfort, our God of love, looks upon us with special favor. And we too, are truly blessed.

Cathy Baker

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Wednesday, December 10Psalm 85:1–2; 8–13

“Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts” (Psalm 85:8).

In this verse there is a yearning: Let me hear what God the Lord will speak!There is also the expectation that God the Lord will speak of peace.

Isn’t peace something that nearly everyone yearns for? Yet we read about and see on TV occurrences every day the opposite of peace. Sometimes this “non-peace” seems to just be random when someone with personal issues “loses it” and innocent bystanders become victims. Too often it happens in domestic situations with families that have become emotionally or violently dysfunctional. Or in the work place. Or at a school. Or in a gang-related or drug-related situation. On a global scale there are larger and larger pockets where peace seems almost impossible to attain. Examples include between Israel and its neighbors as well as the countries in the Middle East threatened by ISIS. Perhaps we can see some hope when ethno-national conflicts like “The Troubles” that plagued Northern Ireland for decades were apparently resolved.

What a glorious promise to know that God the Lord speaks of peace, if only we will be faithful and turn to him in our hearts. Is our responsibility in this just to listen? To hear? What more should follow “hearing?” I think we realize we need to “sow peace.” To be “peacemakers.” But that is sometimes difficult when life gets complicated or we feel others have wronged us. This scripture passage, Psalm 85 offers a good base to get our bearings about how God intends peace to be central in our being. What a wonderful outcome when individuals in conflict can come back to the base of understanding that God offers to find peace.

Rich Groves

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Thursday, December 11Mark 1:1–8

“Prepare the way!” (Mark 1:2).

John the Baptist had a job to do; he was a man who believed in his purpose. His lifestyle was unique, his skills were specific, and his objective was clear. This man intended to “prepare the way” for the teachings of Jesus, whom he knew to be the Christ. The prophet Isaiah’s words led to John’s destiny—straighten, prepare, make smooth—tell of the powerful one who is to come next. John then used baptism to make the point that something BIG and life changing would happen. John the Baptist’s intentionality and resolve made a difference in the lives of those in the crowds he encountered. He set the stage. People were ready to hear the message from Jesus about redemption and forgiveness.

Now here we are, ready to celebrate the birthday of that same Jesus a few thousand years later. Many of us have an emotional response to that baby in the stable, a spiritual connection to Him, and an intellectual understanding of His purpose. Is it possible that we could also have a bit of John’s resolve and intent to “prepare the way” so that others might have the same reactions to the baby Jesus this season, and gain a love for the message of the grown-up Jesus?

John the Baptist—the desert-dwelling, locust-eating, leather-wearing cousin to our Lord made it clear that Jesus’ message is for everyone. That baby in the stable and all that His picture invokes for you and me…that is for everyone. Peace, love, forgiveness, and redemption…those are for everyone, too.

Becky Gossett

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Friday, December 12Psalm 72:1–7

“May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor” (Psalm 72:4).

This passage is the psalmist’s prayer about King Solomon, the son of King David. Many believe it is also the desired traits of a coming Son of a King.

There was a lot of talk in 2014 about justice for the poor. The national debate raised the interest of many Christians who increasingly see care of the disadvantaged as a matter of faith, not a political issue. They are in good company. Jesus’s teachings focused greatly on care of the poor and those who are disadvantaged.

I was fortunate this year to work with people of faith who believe our churches should not remain silent when political issues trap “the least of these.” And there are many issues…access to healthcare, predatory lending, livable wages, human trafficking, fair trade, and more.

So what’s the relevance of this during Advent? In this season’s abundance of spending, giving, eating, and merry-making we are often reminded of those less fortunate. We give a little something so they can have a holiday, too. But is this really enough?

This prayer doesn’t ask for a handout. It seeks permanent deliverance from poverty. None of us can bring this about on our own, but surely we are called to do our part. During this season, consider your family’s consuming habits, participate in the 2BC Christmas Store and Fair Trade Shop, be good stewards of resources, give gifts with meaning, adopt a family beyond the holidays.

Ignoring our obligation to justice and deliverance brings us to the crushing reality of being on the side of the oppressor.

Now re-read today’s passage. Make it a prayer of hope and justice for yourself and all those in need.

David M. Fulk

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Saturday, December 13Romans 15:4–13

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

I have a Christmas confession.

Each year, in early November, I turn into a Grinch. It never fails; I get overwhelmed with Christmas, specifically buying presents. As a result, I miss out on enjoying the Advent season because I am grumbling about the gifts I have to buy and complaining that no one needs more stuff.

Add to this “grinch-i-ness” the day, each fall, that I receive the Christmas catalog from Compassion International. When I first received it three years ago, I had never seen anything like it. Instead of toys, it featured items like mosquito nets or a water filtration system for a village. I remember sitting at the kitchen table looking at the catalog, a sense of hopelessness settling over me. Hopelessness for the people, specifically the children, who so desperately need our help.

When faced with these two realities, the extreme wealth we have here in America and the extreme poverty around the world, I tend to dive into a tailspin when it comes to Christmas. I don’t know how to make these two realities co-exist or how to understand that my children have so, so much and other kids don’t have nearly enough.

I pondered this dilemma yet again today. As I asked God how to ease this tension in my heart, He graciously and gently reminded me, “You need me just as much as they do. I came for you too.”

This Advent I am holding that truth close. I need Jesus, just like the children who will receive our Operation Christmas Child boxes. I need Jesus, just like Michael and Albert, our precious sponsored children in Tanzania. This Advent, may the Holy Spirit fill me with hope, joy and peace as I celebrate the birth of Jesus, the one I so desperately need.

Heather Lewis

O Come, Desire of Nations

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Sunday, December 14Isaiah 9:1–7

“Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way

of the sea beyond the Jordan” (Isaiah 9:1).

Galilee? Have you been to Galilee? Galilee? You’re certain it’s Galilee? Galilee, really? Isn’t Galilee like Polo? Yeah, there’s a “sea” if you want to call it that and it’s nice and all but . . .

Galilee, in the day of Isaiah was not really a place you expect a “Messiah” to come from. The reference to Zebulun and Naphtali is intended to remind the reader of how the Assyrians tormented and raided the northern frontier. The residents of Galilee ultimately were the first to be carried off into slavery. The Assyrians used the road that passed on the western shore of the small sea to raid and pillage Israel. This region has been known as Galilee since Joshua’s time and was the northern extent of the earlier Phoenician empire. Traditionally, the region was always inhabited by “Gentiles” or better put, by all manner of peoples from numerous regions. Perhaps it was the so called “sea,” perhaps it was the physical distance from the seats of power, perhaps it was the road that connected north to south, Galilee was a crossroads, a melting pot. Galilee was the hinterland, the outermost, the “oh, you’re from Galilee?” (Then you washed your hands).

Verses one through seven are full of hope, relief and peace but they are also loaded with the unlikely. From the reference to the region of origin to the deliverer being a child, Isaiah sets the tone of this chapter with an air of improbability. Apparently, God prefers the unlikely. Therefore it is incumbent upon us to cultivate this spirit of “unlikelihood,” and a dare to dream the implausible.

It is safe to say that the “desire of nations” in any era of human existence is peace. We seem particularly disposed to mayhem, violence and death. One cannot study human history and deny this proclivity. Yet, we are possessed of the facility to dream of peace, to imagine something different. God fulfilled our longing, our dreams, by putting Jesus in our world and showing us THE way. All that remains is for us to dare to follow. Merry Unlikelihood!

Gary Smith

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Monday, December 15Luke 1:46b–55

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant” (Luke 1:46b-48).

I love the fall and winter months. They are filled with a sense of expectancy and great hope for things to come. Cooler days give way to brisk nights and the first snow. Pumpkins and an array of fiery orange and red leaves give way to holiday lights and the simple beauty of barren trees. Then comes the season of Advent—a special time to prepare our hearts and minds for the celebration of God’s love made incarnate. In The Song of Mary we find the story of waiting. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors (Luke 1:54-55).

Time after time God showed that God’s own timing was perfect to fulfill the needs of the Israelites, even in their darkest hours.

This powerful promise reminds me of a story told to me as a teenager. A young boy was preparing to go on his first train trip with his father. When they arrived at the train station, the father purchased the tickets and placed them in his pocket. The boy, excited and impatient for the trip to begin, insistently begged to hold his own ticket. His father gently refused and reassured his son that he would give him the ticket at just the moment he needed it.

Isn’t this true in our lives? We earnestly pray and wait, sometimes impatiently, for God’s blessings in our lives. Just when we are so desperate for an answer that we fear God has forgotten us, God’s providence shows through with a blessing usually bigger than we could have dreamed. The peace we have longed for or the provi-sions we needed all in God’s timing, reminding us that just as in the days of Mary —God is in control.

Most Holy God—For every blessing made perfect in your own timing, we praise you. Our souls glorify you, for we know that you have been mindful of us. During this Advent season, help us to remember that you are in control. Amen.

Kim Halfhill

Tuesday, December 16Isaiah 61:1–4

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners” (Isaiah 61:1).

O Highest Wisdom, comeand lead us in Your way.

Your counsel and Your might is sure,return us when we stray.

O Lord of Israel, comeand judge with righteousness.

In need and want we seek Your throne;our joy, Your faithfulness.

O Root of Jesse, comea branch that will grow strong.

To You all nations will bow down,for You will right all wrong.

O Key of David, comefling open wide the door.

With justice and with righteousnessrule us forevermore.

O Splendid Dayspring, comeshine light upon our day.

In darkness we have missed the path,bring brightness to our way.

O King of nations, comeYou are our cornerstone.

Your word is our foundation sure,our heart is now Your throne.

O God among us, comeYour name, Emmanuel.

Your promise is revealed in usO come with us to dwell.

Allan Aunspaugh 30

Wednesday, December 17Psalm 126

“So those who planted their crops in despair will shout hurrahs at the harvest, so those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads

of blessing” (Psalm 126:5–6, The Message).

I grew up with two older brothers. Those of you who are the youngest in the family know what I am talking about. Growing up as the baby in the family has its own mo-ments of despair and armloads of blessings.

One of the fondest Christmas memories of my childhood is the Christmas tree. I love Christmas trees! I love the mesmerizing glow of lights, the graceful flow of rib-bons and tinsel, and the individualized character of the ornaments. You can tell a lot about the family by the way they decorate their Christmas tree. I can literally spend hours looking at the trees in friends’ homes during the holidays. As one of Christ-mas traditions cherished in my home, my parents hung real candies among the ornaments. My mother would spend weeks if not months searching in the stores for the perfect treats. Of course, it couldn’t have been plain caramels and hard candies, you know. It had to have been the most delicious, rich, chocolate blend of nuts and wafers, with crème filling, truffles and nougat. You get the picture. Even the candy wrappers were glistening and colorful, well fitting among the shiny ornaments. But the greatest challenge wasn’t even to find the candy. The challenge was to hide them from my brothers and me, so that there would be something to hang on the tree – my brothers had a nose for finding anything sweet anywhere in the house… Once the candy was hung, we were not allowed to eat them until the tree was taken down after the holidays. Given that the Russian Orthodox Church celebrated Christ-mas on January 7, this could have been anytime in the middle of January. My broth-ers, not wanting to wait, would find an especially tempting candy on the tree, eat it, and then put the empty wrapper back on the tree! By the time the tree was taken down, you had to be very careful while the candy was divided among the three of us not to end up with a pile of empty wrappers!

Sometimes, that’s how we wait for God’s blessings. We get impatient. We hurry God up. We don’t want to wait. We think that by choosing our own plan of action and with our own timing, we speed up the deliverance of God’s blessings to us in a shiny, inviting package. Yet, there is merit in waiting, and the Advent season is the best reminder of that, because God’s plan of action for our lives is better than any-thing we can taste or imagine. God’s timing is the best no matter how “slow” it might seem to us. This Advent, may you savor the waiting rather than rushing through it. Trust God to bring the joy out of despair, so that your armload of blessings doesn’t turn into a load of empty candy wrappers. Luda Teterina 31

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Thursday, December 181 Thessalonians 5:16–24

“Rejoice always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16).

Life often happens in cycles. We can all look back to periods in our lives when everything was going very well. We remember the joy of raising our children and seeing them grow and discover their passions and gifts. We rejoiced when they ac-cepted Christ and began their journey with Him.

There are also periods of life when we were struggling with multiple challenges or hardships. One of the challenging times for us was when our moms’ health began to decline. In both cases their physical and mental well-being suffered. We found it difficult to rejoice in those moments. While this was a trying time, we were able to reflect on their lives and the positive impact they each had on those around them. Ultimately we rejoiced in knowing they each found peace and we will always be thankful for their love, generosity and faithfulness.

Throughout our lives we will all have ups and downs. In the midst of life’s seasons, God calls upon us to “rejoice always,” to “pray constantly,” and “give thanks in all circumstances.” The scripture also calls us to “rejoice in our sufferings knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us.” We can all find hope in Christ Jesus and the peace and encouragement He provides.

As we celebrate this Advent season and the blessings of Christ, we can rejoice in His faithfulness. He offers this to each of us as we experience the ups and downs that life presents. “He who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.”

Wes and Debbie Blanton

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Friday, December19John 1:6-8; 19–28

“God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to

everyone, was coming into the world” (John 1:6–8).

In the dark, light shines brightly—even reflected light! My Uncle George preached at a little abandoned school house on a dirt road in the Ozark mountains. Two miles father down that dirt road was the farmhouse where, as young children, my sister and I spent the summers with an aunt and uncle after our mother became ill. And, while restoring the little “church,” he stayed with them as well.

Prayer Meeting was part of the weekly services, and Uncle George saw to it that we accompanied him every Wednesday evening. On the long walk home one very black night, we sisters were terrified much of the way. The moon, mostly hidden by clouds, shown through only occasionally. Without it, there was nothing but blackness—and too many scary sounds in the woods.

Fortunately, we were walking close behind Uncle George, whose crisp white shirt, reflecting the moonlight for brief minutes, encouraged us. So, moonlight reflected from the sun, and white-shirt light reflected from the moon led us home to the kero-sene lamp burning in the window.

As others travel dark paths, I pray that each of us can be a source of reflected light and a witness to the true light.

Neita Geilker

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Saturday, December 20 James 5:7–10

“Be patient . . .” (James 5:7).

Our family is much more familiar with impatience than patience. Each of our four children quickly became adept at expressing impatience. At first, crying became the standard tool for conveying impatience about gaining food, clean clothes or just a change of scenery. Soon, crying was upgraded to more expressive forms of communication including flailing limbs, intense screaming, object hurling, or simple uncontrolled sobbing. All of these unpleasant expressions were intended to spur us (new parents in training) into action. This training process was especially effective.

When our middle son once left his bicycle unattended in a friend’s driveway, for its protection, they stored his bike in their locked garage before leaving on a weekend trip. He was extremely frustrated about being separated for an entire weekend from his bike. Though we assured him he would have the bike back soon, the next day he used his best karate kick to break into the side door of their garage. He enjoyed riding his bike until the neighbors returned home.

Often when circumstances test our patience we tend to focus on the loss of control or gratification. Like children, we let our desires affect our behavior as if they were needs. We may even wonder if God is too busy with others to react, or worse, that He turned His head from our despair, so we must take action on our own.

Jesus promised us that His Father is preparing a place for us. He did not promise endless bliss on earth but rather that all of our needs would be met. During the advent season let us pray that our faith in His promises will be exemplified by our patience to wait confidently on His fulfillment of our needs, per His will and timing not ours.

Rick Cole

Rejoice!

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Sunday, December 21Isaiah 7:1–17

“. . . Call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14b).

If you have been paying close attention to the scripture passages through this little booklet, you may have noticed that seven of the twenty-five passages are from Isa-iah. This is an accurate representation of the importance of Isaiah to the New Testa-ment writers who tell us about the Son whose name will be Immanuel, “God is with us.”

The historical background of this particular passage appears in the description of the reign of King Ahaz in 2 Kings 16. Assyria is on the march westward. The kings of Syria and Israel have gone to war with Judah in order to try to force Judah into their alliance against Assyria. Though King Ahaz was one of Judah’s worst kings, he is a descendant of Kind David, and so Isaiah takes this teachable moment to tell Ahaz “it shall not come to pass”(v. 7). Even if Ahaz does not desire a sign from God, God will send one anyhow: “a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (v. 14).

At a time when things seem to fall apart, when ISIS is on the march, when Ebola threatens to take hold in this country as well as in Africa, when more companies seem to be laying off workers than hiring new ones, when the unemployed cannot find full-time jobs with benefits even after years of searching, then perhaps we may want to dream with Joseph of a son whose ‘”name shall be called Emmanuel’ (which means, God with us.).” (Matthew 1:23) Perhaps “the Lord be with you as you go” is more than pious wish. Perhaps it should be a truth we live by. Come, Emmanuel, be with us today!

Perhaps, then, we can rejoice!

J.E. Tanner

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Monday, December 22Luke 1:26–38

“Do not be afraid . . .” (Luke 1:30).

“Don’t be a scared-y cat!” Just hearing those words coming from my two older brothers put a fear in me that started my heart to thumping when I was six years old. However, I was not going to give them the satisfaction of knowing I was terrified all the time they pulled me toward the new toboggan we had received for Christ-mas. I stepped onto the sled gingerly, the boys seated behind me, and off we went careening down a steep snow-covered hill. Suddenly realizing we were headed for trouble, the boys rolled off, leaving me to plunge headlong into a grove of evergreen bushes. Fortunately I was not hurt. Their payback came when we arrived home and I recounted the ordeal to my parents.

Fear comes in many forms. Although Mary must have expressed some surprise and perhaps apprehension when the angel Gabriel appeared to her, she was put at ease as the angel said “Do not be afraid.” Even as she questioned how the events would occur, she trusted God in her heart and accepted the role she was to play as the mother of the Messiah. “Do not be afraid” is spoken 70 times throughout the Bible and in a variety of cir-cumstances, but the phrase always shares one thing in common. People needed to hear those reassuring words of the Lord at that moment, just as surely as we need to hear them now. When difficulties arise and fear overtakes our thoughts, how do we respond? Instead of worrying we must remember that we have a Heavenly Father that did not create us to be afraid. The Apostle Paul reminds us, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV)

Lisa Kopala

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Tuesday, December 232 Samuel 7:1–11; 16

“I have been with you wherever you have gone . . .” (2 Samuel 7:9).

When I was a boy, I lived for a while with my two elderly aunts in an old house in downtown Kansas City. They kept it neat and clean but even so, it seemed a little creepy. The floors creaked, the rooms were dark, and the clock in the hall never stopped beating like the sound of a giant heart. Even now I can hear it ticking away in my head, night and day, night and day.

I was expected to be a gentleman, as quiet as a mouse, around my aunts. No small challenge for the kind of active young lad I was. Celebrating Christmas with them was equally as difficult. Each year I knew Aunt Etta and Aunt Bessie would be giv-ing me the same three things under the tree: a bar of soap, a wash cloth, and a pair of old men’s nylon socks (nylon!).

Not only was it disappointing to receive such adult presents, it was embarrassing. If my friends asked me what I got for Christmas, I acted like I didn’t hear the ques-tion. Or I’d say something smarty like, “Same old, same old,” and make a joke out of what I considered my aunts’ “joke” of a present. My aunts weren’t poor but their Christmas presents definitely were!

How interesting it is for the nearly eighty year old man I am now, that all these years later, I like nothing better than the same old things for Christmas. The same old story set in Bethlehem—the same old sigh of satisfaction when the Season is unwrapped and what is left to each of us, is the Gift is God’s Abiding Love. I’ve learned it’s the only gift that “keeps on giving” and wherever we may go.

Dick Wright

Christmas Eve

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Wednesday, December 24Luke 2:1–14

“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12).

The Christmas season is the favorite time of the year for the Cain family. Love is mingled with sounds of music, the beauty of the decorations, the taste of great food and the giving and receiving of gifts! How wonder-filled the Christmas season is!

Lights, red bows, berries and boughs of evergreen adorn both the inside and outside of our bungalow, but my favorite decorations are nativity sets that we have acquired over the years. Each one holds a special meaning for me, and I am constantly reminded of the Christmas story of love as I enjoy them throughout the house. I fondly remember my young granddaughter asking me, “Nana, how many ‘Ativities’ do you have?”

Coming to our house in Illinois for Christmas involved a long car ride for our two little granddaughters, Madeline and Rebecca. Though I never caught her in the act, a few moments after arriving at our home one year, Madeline found a nativity set and turned all the animals and characters nose-in surrounding the baby in the manger. Quietly and unseen, she made the baby Jesus the center of attention not only for Mary and Joseph, but for the angel, shepherds, wise men and even the donkey, cattle, sheep and camels!

In Luke 2:12, the angel told the shepherds, “This will be a sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Madeline, like the shepherds, found a baby in a manger and helped our family to have a nose-in focus on Jesus.

In 2014, the manger continues to be a sign of great joy to all people, and I invite everyone to follow this child-like example of gathering around the manger to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Savior of the world!

Linda Cain

Christmas

Thursday, December 25Luke 2:15–20

“But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart “(Luke 2:19).

In my childhood home, the stockings could not be hung by the chimney with care. We had no fireplace.

However, because it was the 1970s, we did have a spiral staircase. And so that’s where we hung our stockings—on the railing of that spiral staircase—with care.

I remember it well. Racing up those spinning stairs on Christmas morning, digging feverishly into my stocking. Hunting for the Life Savers, the PEZ candy dispenser, and deep in the toe, always an orange.

I can see it now. Sitting on the floor next to my brother and sister, tearing into the loot in those stockings while my Mom and Dad looked on.

It’s been decades since I made that trip up those stairs on Christmas morning, but it comes alive in my mind like it was yesterday.

What is it I treasure about those memories? It’s not really the Life Savers. Don’t misunderstand me: I love Life Savers (except for the Butter Rum ones I always tried to trade for another roll of Wild Cherry). But I could—and did—buy Life Savers year ’round.

It’s not the PEZ dispenser. Sure, they were neat—especially when the Star Wars ones hit the market. But, to be perfectly honest, PEZ candies always tasted a bit like chalk.

And the orange? I don’t think I ever actually ate one of those oranges stuffed at the bottom of my stocking.

Yet to this day, the mere thought of those events stirs something deep in my heart. It has very little to do with those stockings and what was in them. Instead, it’s about what they represent: a childhood in a home with loving parents, good siblings, and a safe and caring place to grow up.

A bit like Mary—who treasured not only the birth of her son, but also the visit from shepherds who hurried to see the Christ child—I treasure the memories of the people with whom I shared those childhood Christmas mornings.

What about Christmas do you treasure? What do you ponder in your heart? And with whom do you want to share the gift that is Christmas?

Eric Zahnd 42

Friday December 26Luke 1:26–38

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34, NIV).

Mother Mary

You continue to astound,Turning expectation upside down.You made a virgin’s wombHoly ground.

Gabriel greets her, favored one,“The Lord is with you!”Hear this news of a Savior, a SonThe house Jacob,The throne of DavidWhose kingdom will reign forever and on,and on and on ...And it all begins with you.

Perplexing.

She asks “How will this be?”How can you choose me?

Young, virginal, Most of all mortal.And as she lives and breathesAnd someday will die,Salvation through her humanityWhy?

Who knows.

But what can she sayto what the Lord has ordained,“Let it be,”And from her mouth will come songs of praise,From her womb the One who saves.

Abby Bland

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Saturday, December 27Romans 16:25–27

… according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed… (Romans 16:25).

For children, Christmas is all about anticipation and expectation. The season builds to a climax of celebration, gifts, and great food. I can remember waiting for the chance to open presents and celebrate baby Jesus’ birth each year. In my young eyes, everything led up to that one day, and then it was all over and we moved on to the next holiday.

Now, as an adult, I still enjoy the excitement that builds throughout the Christmas season. I love searching and planning for just the right gift. I am terrible at keeping secrets, though, so I find much more joy AFTER I am done keeping the secret and the gift is safely in the hands of its recipient.

Similarly, as a church, in the days after Christmas we are secure in the knowledge that the promise of Christ’s coming has been fulfilled again. So this year, as you are relaxing and recovering after all of your holiday celebrations, be joyful in the secrets that were well kept. Don’t limit Christmas to just one day. Rejoice that the promise of the greatest gift of all has been revealed. REJOICE!

Lydia Bunch

Repeat the Sounding Joy

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Sunday, December 28Psalm 148(Galatians 4:4–7)

“So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God” (Galatians 4:7).

Second Christmas! The other grandparents had already visited, eaten, opened, played, and now it was our turn. We repeated the process and tucked two tired, Christmas-weary toddlers in bed. Then down came the tree with its sagging branch-es leaving a trail of dry needles. In the morning, the children wailed with dismay that the tree was gone. For them, Christmas was done, packed up and put away!

Now, I truly love Christmas, but I must confess a feeling of relief, instead of dismay, when the season is over, and the house is restored to post holiday order. When Christmas is done, packed up and put away, I am no longer a slave to the demands of culture, tradition and my self-imposed expectations about cards, gifts, decora-tions, meals, activities and whatever!

In Galatians, Paul reminds us that we are not slaves, but heiresses and heirs to a great love, a love that came to earth at Christmas and can never be packed up and put away. This inheritance of eternal, unconditional, merciful love is a life-changing gift.

Hanging over the door in our kitchen is a plaque reading “Peace on Earth” placed there following a sermon years ago by “Dub” Steincross, former pastor at our church. Imploring us to keep Christmas in our hearts ALL year, he suggested that we leave one decoration out in our homes. Maybe a subtle reminder like this can help us remember that Christmas is never done and cannot be packed up and put away.

Unlike the dismayed toddlers, we know that Christmas is not an event. I repeat; Christmas is not an event. The celebration of Christmas will in all likelihood come again, but the words from Paul (and “Dub”) tell us that every day is Christmas, and heir/esses have both privileges and responsibilities to “Repeat the Sounding Joy” throughout the year.

Merry Christmas to you every day!

Carroll Moore Makemson

November 30 | First Sunday of AdventO Come, Thou Wisdom

Isaiah 11:1–9Worship 8:30 p.m. & 11:00 a.m.

December 7 | Second Sunday of AdventO Come, Our Dayspring

Isaiah 58:1–11Worship 8:30 p.m. & 11:00 a.m.

December 14 | Third Sunday of AdventO Come, Desire of Nations

Isaiah 9:1–7Worship 8:30 p.m. & 11:00 a.m.

December 21 | Fourth Sunday of AdventO Come, Emmanuel

Isaiah 7:1–17Special presentation by 2BC Sanctuary Choir:

“Gloria” by John Rutter Worship 11:00 a.m.

December 24 | Christmas EveDecoding Advent

Luke 2 Worship 5:00 p.m. & 9:00 p.m.

Second Baptist Church300 E. Kansas St. | Liberty, MO 64068816.781.2824 | 2bcliberty.org