Methodist Churches often observe the Covenant Service during New Year’s Eve, on New Year’s Day itself, or on the first Sunday of the New Year, in order to renew commitment to Christ at the start of the year. ********** “I am no longer my own, but Yours. Put me to what You will, rank me…
Category: A Faith in Process
Notes from the Journey
Learning Patience
From an email I sent on November 14, 2019: “I woke up this morning to quarrel with God. I’ve been doing that a lot lately. I find myself demanding my health back so I can continue to do all the things I want to do. I hate feeling like I’m letting people down. I hate…
New Year’s Day
“Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go.” – Brooks Atkinson ”For last year’s words belong to last year’s language and next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.” –…
December 31
After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the…
December 30
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king…
Light!
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:3 English Standard Version (ESV) The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. Isaiah 9:2 ESV The sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to…
December 27
In Jerusalem lived a man named Simeon who was a good man and godly. He was waiting for the time when God would take away Israel’s sorrow, and the Holy Spirit was in him. Simeon had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he saw the Christ promised by the…
December 26
When the time came for Mary and Joseph to do what the law of Moses taught about being made pure, they took Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. (It is written in the law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be given to the Lord.”) Mary and Joseph also went to…
Christmas Day
So the shepherds went quickly and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in a feeding trough. When they had seen him, they told what the angels had said about this child. Everyone was amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured these things and continued to think about…
Advent, Week 4: Tuesday
That night, some shepherds were in the fields nearby watching their sheep. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them. The glory of the Lord was shining around them, and they became very frightened. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news that will be a great…