Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25 Birth stories can be powerful experiences to tell others about, and the writer of Matthew begins the story of God’s in-breaking into our world by setting the scene for a humble birth story. This passage tells us what the reality of Joseph and Mary’s situation was before Jesus was born. Many children […]
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Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25 What is a barrier? When I looked up dictionary definitions of “barrier”, I found: A law, rule, problem, etc., that makes something difficult or impossible. Something that makes it difficult for people to understand each other. An obstacle that prevents movement or access. I think of Jesus as the opposite of a […]
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Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25 The foundations of Christianity are Love, Joy, Faith and Peace, which consolidate with the Birth of Christ. We need faith more than ever. Faith is stronger than Hope, and while it burns less brightly than Passion, it is the underpinnings of our beliefs. It is our own little spiritual pilot light, always […]
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Welcome to the fourth week of the 2019 Advent Devotional! The scripture around which our devotional writers centered their reflections this week is Matthew 1:18-25: 18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah[a] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found […]
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Scripture: Luke 1:46-55 This particular passage is called the Magnificat, a song sung by Mary praising God. She sings this as a response to God choosing her to be the mother of Jesus. She is awed and humbled, she feels blessed, and she is thanking God for the great things God has done for her […]
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Scripture: Luke 1:46-55 I am writing this reflection on Veteran’s Day. It is an appropriate time to reflect on seeking peace as we celebrate those persons who have given their service for the defense of our country. There are numerous conflicts going on in our world today, both armed and political, many created by barriers […]
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Scripture: Luke 1:46-55 The scripture, whether it is Mary’s Song of Praise or Elizabeth’s, is beautiful and uplifting. Personally, I gave birth to my children in a foreign country with doctors who did not speak English, which was rather hard. How difficult it must have been for the mother of Jesus, far away from home […]
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Be part of the 11th Hour Bell Ringing for Climate Change! Join members of the Green Faith Alliance and FUMC’s Green Team to ring our church bell each month for focused action on climate change. The plan is to do this every 11th day at the 11th hour for 11 minutes (we began in January […]
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Scripture: Luke 1:46-55 Luke 1:46-55 is also known as Mary’s Song. In the Christmas story, Mary’s Song comes shortly after Mary had learned that she would be giving birth to Jesus, and that her cousin Elizabeth would be giving birth to John the Baptist. After leaving the angel Gabriel, Mary visits her cousin to share […]
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Scripture: Luke 1:46-55 I interpret Luke 1:46-55 the following way: my actions on earth should reflect on and expand the goodness of God. God receives an equal amount of happiness from all his children – no matter how unimportant we might feel – and as such we are all equally blessed. Knowing him and loving […]
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