SCRIPTUREISAIAH 12:2-6 Surely God is my salvation;I will trust and will not be afraid,for the LORD is my strength and my might;he has become my salvation.With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. ISAIAH 12:2-3, 6 (NRSVUE) Joy seems to be much more a Christmas thing than an Advent thing. We...  Read More

Look back at the readings from this week. Which scripture, idea, or story stands out to you as most meaningful or most challenging? Take time to revisit it and listen for the Spirit’s invitation to go deeper. QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION, DISCUSSION, AND PRAYERWhat have you learned about yourself and/or about God this week?How have you responded to the invitation to let yourself be loved?What practice...  Read More

SCRIPTUREJOHN 21:1-14When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coalsthere with fish on it, and some bread.Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have justcaught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat anddragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but evenwith so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them,“Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples daredask him,...  Read More

SCRIPTUREJOHN 13:1-17 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that thehour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.Having loved his own who were in the world,he loved them to the end. So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, andwrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured waterinto a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying themw...  Read More

SCRIPTUREPSALM 23The LORD is my shepherd: I shall not want.He makes me lie down in green pastures:he leads me beside still waters;he restores my soul.He leads me in right pathsfor his name's sake.Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I fear no evil;for you are with me;your rod and your staff,they comfort me.You prepare a table before mein the presence of my enemies;you anoint my head with ...  Read More

SCRIPTUREPsalm 107Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good:his love endures forever.Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,those he gathered from the lands,from east and west, from north and south.Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing loveand his wonderful deeds for mankind,for he satisfies the thirstyand fills the hungry with good thin...  Read More

SCRIPTURELUKE 1:68-79Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,because he has come to his people and redeemed them.He has raised up a horn of salvation for usin the house of his servant David(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),salvation from our enemiesand from the hand of all who hate us—to show mercy to our ancestorsand to remember his holy covenant,the oath he swore to our father ...  Read More

Look back at the readings from this week. Which scripture, idea, or story stands out to you as most meaningful or most challenging? Take time to revisit it and listen for the Spirit’s invitation to go deeper. QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION, DISCUSSION, AND PRAYERWhat have you learned about yourself and/or about God as you’ve practiced lament this week?How has hope taken shape within you this week?What p...  Read More

SCRIPTURELUKE 13:31-35Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killer of prophets, abuser of themessengers of God! How often I’ve longed to gather yourchildren, gather your children like a hen, her brood safe underher wings—but you refused and turned away! —LUKE 13:34 (MSG) We might not be accustomed to thinking of God as lamenting, but Jesus teaches us that God can and does lament. Near the end of his ministry, Jes...  Read More

SCRIPTUREROMANS 12:9-21Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.Practice hospitality. Rejoice with those who rejoice;mourn with those who mourn. —ROMANS 12:12-13, 15 The journey of waiting, hoping, and lamenting is not merely an individual enterprise. As people who embody the hope and love of Christ, we are united with all Christians...  Read More

SCRIPTUREMATTHEW 5:1-12Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are those who mourn,for they will be comforted. —MATTHEW 5:3-4 In my experience there are few things more painful or disempowering than smiley platitudes in the midst of a long season of waiting. I have been through several of these seasons myself, but the most painful to date were the years of infert...  Read More

SCRIPTUREPSALM 130I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits,and in his word I put my hope.I wait for the LORDmore than watchmen wait for the morning,more than watchmen wait for the morning. Israel, put your hope in the LORD,for with the LORD is unfailing loveand with him is full redemption.He himself will redeem Israelfrom all their sins. —PSALM 130:5-8 Because you can’t really hope for something ...  Read More