ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS January 1, 2020 Prayer for the New Year: Your Holy Name is honored and hallowed, for in you we find life and value and purpose. Today, as a new year greets us, we acknowledge our past that has not always served your prime mission of love. Forgive us when we excuse or conceal certain aspects of the past. Too often we paint a picture of history
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 31, 2019 Scripture: Matthew 2:1-2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” Thought for the Day: When we first brought Zach home
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 30, 2019 By Rev. Paula Gembala Prayer for the Week: Loving and merciful God, you have taught us you are the Light of the World. All throughout the bible, in the old and new testaments, we hear of your light. We want your light to shine from within us, that others may want what we have. Allow us to be your beacon of light so
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 29, 2019 Scripture: Matthew 2:8-9 Then Herod sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 28, 2019 Scripture: John 1:16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. Thought for the Day: What is grace upon grace? According to William Barclay, the wonderful scholar from the last century, this phrase is referring to how grace comes to us as we need it. Grace is not one-dimensional, with only one means of expressing itself. Grace is multifaceted, with an
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 27, 2019 Scripture: Luke 2:21-24 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 26, 2019 Scripture: Luke 2:8-9 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. Thought for the Day: Have you ever been minding your own business, doing what you were expected to do, and the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 25, 2019 Scripture: Luke 2:4-7 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 24, 2019 Scripture: Luke 2:1-3 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Thought for the Day: I have referenced this so many times, but I think it deserves repeating. The Gospel Writer
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 23, 2019 Prayer for the Week: Holy God, you have no beginning, no starting place, no birth, yet you chose to enter this world through a nativity, through a woman’s womb. The fullness of your love took on flesh and bone and blood. The completeness of your mercy became one of us to reveal a vision of a life no longer ruled by guilt and