Advent Devotion for December 1

Waiting in Hope

Wait in hope, hope in God, believing that we already possess what we hope for. In this season of sacred quiet amidst profane noise; of sacred, patient calmness amidst profane frantic rushing; of sacred contemplation amidst profane activity; of sacred fasting amidst profane feasting— we who have been baptized into new life experience ourselves as strangers in a strange land. We find ourselves drawn away from the tinsel and and carols of our profane world into the sanctuary of sacred time and space, where we might learn what it means to wait for the coming of what has already come.   (John Westerhoff III, A Pilgrim People)

Advent Devotion for November 30

Today is the first day of Advent. It is a season of expectant waiting - of preparing our hearts to once again receive the gift of Jesus. Between now and Christmas we will post a daily Advent devotion here on the blog. We hope that these prayers, poems, and short meditations will help focus your spiritual preparations for Christmas and serve as a quiet oasis in the busyness of this season.

  

We Wait in Advent

"Waiting is the most trying of godly endeavors because it brings a halt to our own individual nature. Ours is to lunge forth with predetermined notions and solutions. Faith in waiting sits still and expects the fulfillment of God’s promises. One promise is that if we sit still, we shall know."  (Donell Crosby, Alive Now! Nov/Dec 1986)

Looking Toward Advent 2014

Advent Sermon Series:
"Christmas at the Movies"

Our favorite classic Christmas movies may be considered "secular", but they contain timeless theological truths. Join us on Sundays during Advent for our 10:30 worship service as we explore faith-related themes in some of the best-known movies of the season:

o   December 7

Movie: How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12                                       

Sermon: “How Christmas Stole the Grinch”

o   December 14

Movie: It’s a Wonderful Life

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11                                 

Sermon: “A Life That Changed the World”

o   December 21

Movie: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38                        

Sermon: “The Island of Misfits”

See you on Sunday!

"Looking Toward Sunday" for November 9

"Here I Am"

Servant Ministry Sunday

November 9, 2014

This year at Annual Conference, Bishop Devadhar called on every pastor serving in the New England Conference to tell their call story in worship this fall. His hope is that each person in the pews will be invited to listen to the ways that God may be calling them to servant ministry - whether as a layperson or clergy person. So, this week Pastor Arlene and Pastor Jeff will be sharing their stories about how they were called into vocational ministry. 

Our scripture for the day will be the call of the prophet Samuel. (You can read it here.) The call of young Samuel is a reminder that God calls each of us - lay and clergy, young and old, cradle Christians and new believers - to use our gifts in mission and ministry.

In addition to hearing our pastors' call stories, Bishop Devadhar is also inviting congregations to make a special offering to support the Ministerial Education Fund - our Conference fund, administered by the Board of Ordained Ministry, to provide opportunities for ongoing spiritual nurture and continuing education for clergy as well as those on the journey of discernment toward ordination. 

We hope you'll join us as we listen to Arlene and Jeff's stories and consider how God might be calling us to respond, as Samuel did. "Here I Am."

See you on Sunday!