ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 16, 2019 Prayer for the Week: We often sing: I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy Down in my heart! (Where?) Down in my heart! (Where?) Down in my heart! …down in my heart to stay. O Emmanuel, the Holy One who chose to dwell among us, I come singing your joy. May it reside in my heart, but only as the starting place. Bring
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 15, 2019 Scripture: Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. Thought for the Day: This is the opening verse of our scripture this Third Sunday of Advent at Cypress Creek. First, the repetitive nature of the verse should be noted. It is a restatement of
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 14, 2019 Guest Writer: Rev. Sheila Gillette Scripture: Isaiah 2:5 “Come, house of Jacob, let us walk by the light of the Lord” Thought for the Day: Many years ago, my husband and I began helping friends or relatively strangers who needed help. Usually Greg or I felt a call upon our heart to help this person in what we considered a “divine
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 13, 2019 Scripture: Luke 1:52-53 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. Thought for the Day: “He has…” is in the past. The Lord has brought down the powerful and sent away the rich empty. The Lord has lifted up the lowly and filled
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 12, 2019 Scripture: Luke 1:49-50 …for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. Thought for the Day: I will spent only a few moments on my soapbox, but while I’m here, I wish to reinforce something I’ve shared many times. These words are found in Mary’s
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 11, 2019 Scripture: Luke 1:48 …for the Lord has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; Thought for the Day: Lowliness is not a word I use often, except in the Christmas Season. It is one of the go-to words for describing Mary. The Greek word we translate as lowliness has as its
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 10, 2019 Scripture: Luke 1:46-47 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…” Thought for the Day: The soul of Mary Megaluno the Lord. This is the word we translate as magnify, and it appears a few other places in the New Testament. Paul uses it in his letter to the Philippians where he writes: It is
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 9, 2019 Prayer for the Week: In the shadows of the valley, where light is eclipsed by the height of walls that feel insurmountable, give me peace. In the shadows of the valley, where hopelessness lingers, provide me a vision of the possible announced by the prophets. In the shadows of the valley, where the weight of despair pulls me deeper, bestow a hint of
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 8, 2019 Scripture: Isaiah 2:4 God will judge between the nations, and settle disputes of mighty nations. Then they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation; they will no longer learn how to make war. Thought for the Day: In my sermon today, I will reference the late Rev. Dr. William Sloane
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 7, 2019 Guest Writer: Bob Aghamalian Scripture: Isaiah 2:5 Come, house of Jacob, let us walk by the light of the Lord. Did you know there is no such thing as a “dark detector”? Photocells and other such devices look for the presence of light and if they don’t sense some threshold of “light”, they conclude it must be “dark”. You might ask : “What’s