One thing have I desired of the Lord... that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life...Psalm 27:4
For this Christmas Eve Simply the Sermon, Intern Monica discusses why we still tell this old, old story two thousand years after it happened. Listen along, and maybe you’ll even hear something new! The readings are Luke 2:1-20, John 1:1-5,14,16. Merry Christmas, Bethel family!
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We have a special podcast for the fourth Sunday in Advent! Instead of just a sermon, we have two readings from Luke 1:46-55 and Luke 1:67-80, interspersed with two poems and a special guest. The poems Monica reads are “The Sound of Hope” by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed) and the lyrics of the song “Zechariah and the Least Expected Places” by Ben Thomas. Many thanks to Wendy Hirschman!
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Advent tends to bring with it all sorts of expectations. In our readings for today, Intern Monica points out that expectations can be misleading, and that God calls us to be dreamers open to amazement.Today’s readings are Psalm 126 and Luke 1:57-66.
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The Christmas season is about a lot of things....gift giving, decorations, sumptuous food, overly crowded airports and highways. The Gospel Reading from Luke 1:24-45 is the well-known Annunciation when the Angel Gabriel told Mary she would be the mother of the Son of God. What does Mary do right away after this amazing news? "Mary runs with haste to Elizabeth," no doubt for comfort and encouragement. We find joy in connections. Above all this season, celebrate the connections you have with family and friends.
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The weeks before Christmas can be a busy and boisterous time for us. "Quiet" and "stillness" are not words that usually apply to these weeks. The beautiful Advent Season invites us to reflect on the coming of Jesus. Pastor Russ' message on the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth (Read Luke 1:5-23) reminds us that silence has a valued place in our lives.
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