St. John the Evangelist Day - December 27

Hi guys! Because of the lovely weather we're having, I'm afraid I won't be at the church this evening for the Compline service at 7. Please do celebrate at home - if you don't have a prayer book, you can find it online at http://www.bcponline.org/, just go to Daily Offices, and Compline. In the alternative, you can find a variety of daily office services from Nashotah House (they sing better than I do!) here: https://www.nashotah.edu/daily-offices. Take care, and I'll see you Saturday!

Advent 23

Today's advice is to watch the sunrise, but since I'm a bit late posting today's blog, I'll suggest doing it tomorrow morning - we're getting closest to the shortest day of the year - it's not too much of a hardship to get up in time to watch the sunrise.  For people in Montana, that's about 8:30 a.m.

The Biblical guidance for today doesn't actually exist, so, while listening/watching the attached, take your Bible out, open it to any page and read the first four verses that catch your eye.  What's the message?

Advent 22

The Birth of Jesus the Messiah  (Matthew 1:18-25)

18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
    and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

This is the fourth Sunday in Advent.  Hope, Peace, Love and Joy are the candles lit today.  Let that be your filter in how you look at things today.

Advent 21

28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
    and strengthens the powerless.
30 Even youths will faint and be weary,
    and the young will fall exhausted;
31 but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
    they shall walk and not faint.

Today's message:  Feel energy!

Advent 20

From John 1:35-42:  "The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter)."

Interestingly here, Simon Peter recognizes Jesus as the Messiah, but it will not be for another three chapters before Jesus confirms that that is, indeed who He is, to the Samaritan woman at the well.

The advice from the Advent calendar today says to contact an old friend.  Do it before it's too late.  So while this plays, contemplate who you're going to contact, how, and what you'll say:

Advent 19

A little over a week ago, we were asked to make a happy (or joyful) noise.  Today, we're asked to sing a new song.  Psalm 98 says:

Praise the Judge of the World
A Psalm.

1 O sing to the Lord a new song,
    for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
    have gotten him victory.
2 The Lord has made known his victory;
    he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
    to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
    the victory of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
    break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
    with the lyre and the sound of melody.
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
    make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
    the world and those who live in it.
8 Let the floods clap their hands;
    let the hills sing together for joy
9 at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming
    to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
    and the peoples with equity.

Advent 18

The advice for today is, "Do something new!"

"From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once regarded Christ from a human point of view, we regard him thus no longer.  Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come."  (2 Cor. 5:16-17)

So there's your challenge - do something new, something different.  We are being renewed in Christ - show the world!