“I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!”
Ephesians 1: 15 – 19 from Eugene Peterson’s Message
I’m sending you this Thanksgiving blessing with a sincere heart that you will know how grateful I am to be following Jesus alongside you. I see your faith and how God is moving in your lives and it inspires me. I see you checking in on one another. I see you giving from a place of faith and not wealth. I see you choosing community over isolation. I see you letting the healthy tension that sometimes arises from “doing life” in the church alongside folks from different backgrounds being a source of strength, not bitterness. I see you offering your gifts and time to build our little church. I see you praying and worshiping and I am grateful.
I chose this scripture for this week because I think it’s a good one to bridge the gap between Thanksgiving, and Advent, the season of Christ’s coming, which begins tomorrow.
Prayerfully I ask, as the writer of this passage does, that God would make all of us, young and old, rich and poor, intelligent and discerning in knowing Jesus personally. I ask that the Holy Spirit would empower us to focus on the coming King this advent, and to hear his voice calling us. I ask that we would bear the fruit of trust, strength, hope and faith in the goodness of God for ourselves and the world. I hope you will join me in these prayer.
I encourage to plan today for how you will mark Advent in your spiritual practices. Would you take my challenge to:
- WORSHIP & PRAY: Listen to or pray the words of David Ruis’ song, “Good Shepherd” as a prayer for our church. Listen to the song
- REFLECT on SCRIPTURE: Pray and be still with God everyday. Alone or with your family or friends. I’ve included a daily Advent Calendar from Bible Project as a suggestion for how to do this.
- GIVE: Pray about how you can keep the biblical value of giving your first fruits to the work of God’s kingdom. Plan now to protect this value and resist the cultural demands of consumption and materialism this Christmas.
- BLESS OTHERS: If you are able, help provide a gift to a child this year via St. Stephen’s Angel Tree. (see the attached flier) Or give to a food pantry, or some other way to bless those around you who are in need of support.
- CHOOSE COMMUNITY: Protect your calendar. Look at it now, and make time to connect with others in worship of God. If you’re local join Gathering Delco regularly this month.
Here’s what’s coming up:
ADVENT week 1: Church in the Living Room, Sunday, Nov 30, 10:30am at the Ross’
ADVENT week 2: Saturday, Dec. 6, 5:30pm Christmas Potluck Dinner at St. Stephens
Sunday, Dec. 7, Church in the Living Room, 10:30am at the Ross’
ADVENT week 3: Sunday, Dec 14, 10:30am at the Ross’
ADVENT week 4: Saturday, Dec. 20, 5:00pm Songs & Scriptures Worship at St. Stephens.
Tuesday, 12/23, 7:00 Christmas Eve’s Eve. Zoom with The Ross’ family from “up north” to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Show up in your ugliest Christmas sweater, or best Xmas pjs if that’s your thing
FYI, Youth Group look for updates for our plans in GroupMe. You’re all encouraged to come to the Christmas Potluck on Dec 6, and we’ll also plan one more gathering before the end of the year.
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