Sunday, Dec. 1: First Sunday in Advent

Angel Voices:  An Advent Conspiracy.  Angels—messengers from God—speak to many different people in the stories of Advent & Christmas.  We will look at the messages to Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men during this season.  What messages are relevant to us?  How will they lead us to worship this year?

Read Luke 1 (or at least verses 26-56) in preparation for worship.

Saturday, November 30 – Thanksgiving still...

 Bless the LORD, O my soul,

     and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

² Bless the LORD, O my soul,

     and do not forget all his benefits—

³ who forgives all your iniquity,

     who heals all your diseases,

⁴ who redeems your life from the Pit,

     who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

⁵ who satisfies you with good as long as you live

     so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. –Psalm 103:1-5 (NRSV)

Read the psalm and then add to the list of blessings with those of your own.

Friday, November 29 – Thanksgiving continues...

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,

      for his steadfast love endures forever.

² O give thanks to the God of gods,

      for his steadfast love endures forever.

³ O give thanks to the Lord of lords,

      for his steadfast love endures forever;

⁴ who alone does great wonders,

      for his steadfast love endures forever;

⁵ who by understanding made the heavens,

      for his steadfast love endures forever... –Psalm 136:1-5 (NRSV)

Have you got the pattern in the psalm above?  Now spend a few minutes with friends and family coming up with more things God has done for you.  Write more verses by finishing “who...” with your own thanks e.g., “who blesses me with all my family”  When you have a number of them done recite the psalm together letting each person give their thanks with the group responding “for his steadfast love endures forever”

Thursday, November 28 – Thanksgiving “noise”

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth.

² Worship the LORD with gladness;

         come into his presence with singing.

³ Know that the LORD is God.

         It is he that made us, and we are his;

         we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

 ⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

         and his courts with praise.

         Give thanks to him, bless his name.

 ⁵ For the LORD is good;

         his steadfast love endures forever,

         and his faithfulness to all generations. –Psalm 100:1-5 (NRSV)

What kind of noise will you make this Thanksgiving?  Cheers for your favorite football team?  Cheers and glad greetings for members of your family?  Maybe a quieter noise of gratefulness for food on the table and a roof over your head.

Whatever ‘noise’ you make today, include a time of worship and maybe a song or two.  Let the Lord see and hear your joy!

Wednesday, November 27 – Praying for good leadership

So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰ Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.                                     –Colossians 1:9-10 (NLT)

Whether it’s leaders at Joyful Servant, local boards and government, state legislatures, governors, or the President and Congress, we all want good leaders.  Reread the passage above and list below some qualities of good leadership you see there.  Then add more that you think of.  Then pray for good leaders to be raised up (and elected!).

Leadership qualities