Another guest post from Carol on this last week of Advent Each year when Advent is drawing near, we begin to realize Christmas is approaching–in fact for many, it approached a while ago. There’s a radio station that has been playing Christmas music since October 1st…decorations have been mixed in with Halloween and Thanksgiving too.… Read More Advent Essay

Second Sunday of Advent Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, so that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the… Read More Thursday Collect – Week 2

Now there was a man in Jerusalem who hears…. That is my translation of Luke 2:25 which introduces Simeon. Simeon literally means the one who hears. The fifth person in Luke’s gospel filled with the Holy Spirit is listening! The message Simeon receives is that prior to death he will see the Messiah. And so,… Read More An Advent Essay – The One Who Hears

A collect is a brief prayer for the people of God. While it is not common in the Methodist tradition, collects are a regular part of prayer in the Episcopal Church as well as the Catholic Church. They offer a way to join our hearts together in a “collective” praise and request. A collect follows… Read More Collect for Thursday

Anna is described with greater detail in Luke 2 than her actual experience might indicate deems necessary. For she spent a fleeting few minutes with the infant Jesus, without ever holding him or speaking directly to him or his parents, and yet we know a great deal about her. The name Anna means grace. And… Read More Prophesy of Heroic Patience