Filling the Void

Daily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Saturday, December 18, Morning

By Sue Isbell

Filling the Void

Read Psalm 46:10

“Be still and know that I am God.” 

I miss Walk Through Bethlehem. For eighteen of the twenty-three years that I worked at Church Street, recreating the village of Bethlehem consumed most of my Advent season. The December of my retirement year I found myself at loose ends: there was no Bethlehem to construct, there was no Family Christmas Eve Service to plan, no Advent Craft Festival or Christmas Pageant to co-coordinate. How in the world would I fill the time with none of those events I had worked so hard to produce for so many years?

Thanksgiving rolled around, and I found myself enjoying the extra time I had to decorate my holiday trees instead of working on church crafts. A calm December now allowed time to make gingerbread houses with my grandchildren instead of baking Bethlehem bread. Instead of hanging lights in Parish Hall, I now had time to figure out exterior illumination for our house and yard. I still missed the activities of years past, but I was quickly finding that celebrating Christmas was really more feeling the spirit than doing the activities.

Christmas will be different this year. We may not get to participate in the church and community activities that we consider personal and family traditions. No Fantasy of Trees, no Nativity Pageant, and no worship the way we have always done it. It might make us sad and it might feel strange, but remember: it is just one year. Instead of lamenting the void, challenge yourself to embrace the difference, to see a part of Christmas that you have never seen before, to slow down and feel in your heart the miracle of Bethlehem and how the birth of that one tiny baby still reminds us that even in the darkest times, there is hope for all the world.

Prayer

God of all the world, help us find a stillness in this season so that we might feel the true joy of Christmas and the hope it brings us every day. Amen.

This devotion was written in honor of the Hospitality Committee. 

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Elizabeth

Daily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Friday, December 18, Evening

By Vivian Kempfer

Elizabeth

Read Luke 1:5

“There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.” (KJV)

The name Elizabeth signifies “The oath of God” or “The daughter of the covenant,” and Elizabeth was a true type of a covenant and a daughter of God. It is written of her, as well as of her husband, that they were “righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” But Elizabeth was barren, and this was no small trial to her, to be so advanced in age and remain childless.

But the day came when her husband Zacharias brought home strange news to Elizabeth. While in the temple, Zacharias had been visited by an angel and was told that Elizabeth would bear him a son, and he was to name him John. Elizabeth’s faithful routine of service, in little things to God, had brought about a wonderful, long-awaited change in her life. Like her sisters around her, she was going to be blessed with a child!

There came a day, in her quiet home in the country of Judea, that Mary, her cousin, came to see her. This visit had a wondrous effect on Elizabeth. She was “filled with the Holy Ghost”. The very first human being of whom such is mentioned is Elizabeth; and she spoke out with a loud voice and said: “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” 

The Spirit of God in one woman recognized the Spirit of God in the other; and it was a message to Mary from On High when Elizabeth recognized her as the Messiah’s mother. With the communion between these two women, and with the intense nearness of God, the mother of the Messiah and the mother of His forerunner, John the Baptist, understood Him and understood one another.

Prayer

I pray when we come together, that the Holy Spirit will draw us together and our Spirits can become one. Amen.

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What a Year!

Daily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Friday, December 18, Morning

By Judy Vest

What a Year!

Read 1 Peter 1:8

“You love him though you have never seen him; though not seeing him, you trust him; and even now you are happy with the inexpressible joy that comes from heaven itself.”

You have a beautiful, healthy baby boy (or girl)! Most new mothers want to see all ten fingers and toes immediately. Oh, the sweet smell of that freshly-bathed baby. Wait! Where did all the discomfort and anxiety of the past nine months go? Ah, it doesn’t matter anymore. 

In our family the blessing to us was a beautiful baby girl, and her mother named her Emilee. She is now ten years old and in the fifth grade doing virtual school at home. What a year we have had in so many ways: school closing in the spring, a pandemic, isolation, uncertainty, and confinement. 

Thinking of the birth of my precious granddaughter and the Advent season has me thinking of another family long ago … Mary, Joseph and their baby Jesus. A heavily pregnant woman being led over rough land by her husband on the back of a donkey to give birth in a manger. This child was a boy, and his mother named him Jesus, our Savior.

Mother and father had to flee with Jesus to a far away country. Although virtual school was not an option in that day and time, Jesus certainly learned exactly the things he needed to know. How difficult those circumstances were for all of them.

Blessings come to each of us in our lives, daily. Change, hardship, illness and broken relationships can visit us, too. Hopefully, laughter, health, and good, wholesome fun come often enough to balance our lives as we move forward through our allotted days.

Prayer

Dear Lord God, help us to hang on! May we keep the faith in things unseen, and avoid confusion over things unknown. Reassure us that You are in control and everything is ultimately going to be just fine. Amen.

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Our Amazing Ragtag Christmas Tree

Daily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Thursday, December 15, Morning

By Dena Wise

Our Amazing Ragtag Christmas Tree

Read 1 Corinthians 12:18-20

“God has placed each part in the body just as he wanted it to be. If all the parts were the same, how could there be a body? As it is, there are many parts. But there is only one body.” (NIRV)

I would probably be embarrassed to have my friends, who mostly have beautiful, store-bought or vintage ornaments, help decorate our Christmas tree. Everything but the proverbial kitchen sink goes on it: stems of glittery plastic gold and platinum leaves, chipped red and gold balls that hung on my parents’ tree for many years, crumbly construction paper bells and reindeer that our girls (now in their 40’s) made in kindergarten and grade school, tiny dolls that my mom tucked in my stocking every year until I had babies of my own, etched gold ornaments from cities I’ve visited for conferences, photo ornaments of all the grandkids, tiny baskets and kitchen utensils, stuffed bears and gingerbread men, and a set of Chinese paper dolls in traditional dress that my daughter found tucked in a cabinet in her first student apartment. No themes, and nothing matches; it’s just a hodgepodge of things we’ve collected through thick and thin, over a lifetime.

Yet incredibly, when it all comes together, it’s beautiful. The glittery leaves and shiny balls reflect the lights and make the tree and the room glow. A few hundred ornaments and odds and ends crowd every inch of the branches, and kids and grandkids spend happy time reminiscing about family trips, craft sessions, and family and friends they represent. Our Christmas tree always reminds me that reflecting the glow of God’s love and grace, rag-tag, imperfect, mismatched, people can bring out the best in each other, and shine with amazing light in a dark world.

Prayer

O Holy Light of the World, fill us with your radiance and love so that our bodies and spirits, our gifts and our efforts, imperfect and ragtag though they be, may build your Church, reflect Your purpose, and glow in Community to light the world’s darkest hours. Amen.

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O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Daily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Wednesday, December 16

By Rev. Catherine Nance

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Read Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22-23

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

It is one of the first “Christmas Carols” I remember learning as a child. Although I could not read many of the hard words in the hymnal, I could sing out on the refrain! Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. I would sing out, REEEE-joice! Reeee-joice! Eeee-manuel …

It was not until I was in youth choir that I learned to sing Rih-jose and Ih-mahn-u-ehl. Even now while singing alone, I try to pay attention to my vowels and my East Tennessee dialect. The words and melody are still meaningful; perhaps even more so with the softer, less twangy, syllable!

There are things we learn about Advent and Christmas as children that are precious to us. As we grow older, some of those childhood assumptions and ‘knowledge’ are replaced with footnotes from the Bible and a little bit of study. I will not tell you how old I was before I grasped that shepherds and wise men never appear together in the gospels. But no harm is done when we put them on the stage together for the children’s pageant. Sorting out traditions with the Biblical story is a good spiritual exercise.

When I studied Isaiah’s text that Matthew borrows, it was difficult not to read ‘little baby Jesus’ where Isaiah writes ‘the child.’ Instead, God is assuring King Ahaz that the threat of world powers warring at his borders will not last forever. Things appear horribly now, Ahaz! But look! There is a young woman about to give birth. Before that child is two or three years old, all this will be over! The child’s name is Immanuel which means God is with us. Matthew borrows those powerful words as a poignant reminder that God has been at work all along. God has always been about seeking peace and justice. I find it so helpful to look at the words our Gospel writers and hymn writers borrow from the Hebrew Scriptures. Emmanuel, Wisdom, Root of Jesse, Dayspring, and others give a depth to ‘little baby Jesus’ that causes me to understand Messiah more fully. Rejoice! Rejoice!

Prayer

O God who is always with us, thank you for making your eternal message accessible to us all of our days. When we dread the days ahead, encourage us to look back and remember how you have been at work in our family, our community, and our world for generations. Amen.

Rev. Catherine Nance is the Senior Pastor at Church Street and wrote this devotion in honor of the Parish Youth Choir at Church Street United Methodist Church.

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Be Still

Daily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Tuesday, December 15, Evening

By Linda Henderson Cox

Be Still

Read Psalm 46:10

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

If ever there was a true statement, “These are the times that try men’s souls,” this period of time is surely it. We’ve lost spouses, siblings, and dear friends and in some cases were not able to participate in their celebration of life. Some have lost homes, income, meaningful employment, and peace of mind. We are having to endure an upheaval in life as we knew it, where it seems, as the saying goes, the inmates are running the insane asylum. Now the country is either burning down or drenched with flood waters. If only we could move the two together.

Is God trying to get our attention? I rather doubt that is the case, but it seems the perfect time for us to evaluate where we stand with Him. Psalms 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

It’s tough to be still and tougher still to attend to exaltation when it seems our world is going mad. But not attending to these things is robbing us of the very thing we seek: peace and calm. The sacrifices Jesus made to come to us as a baby made a way for our redemption, to give us new life, to give us peace surpassing anything we can imagine on our best day. This is what gives me strength: being still and knowing.

Prayer

Lord help us to know you, see you as a baby who grew to be the redemption of a lost world. Help us in our efforts to make the most of our present circumstances, to love one another, and to have before us always the promises that began in Your lowly manger. We pray in Your holy name, Jesus. Amen.

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Is Jesus Still Coming?

Daily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Tuesday, December 15, Morning

By Dona McConnell

Is Jesus Still Coming?

Read Luke 2:10-11

“And the angel said to them,’Be not afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people, for to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'”

Christmas 2020 isn’t the Christmas we expected, or wanted. Everything in our world has changed. In these jarring days, we’re afraid to eat at a restaurant, or go to the movies or the beach. People are saying, “No Christmas this year!”

Every December, followers of Christ re-live the coming of Jesus in much-loved ways. It’s a beautiful story, and we love to hear it over and over again. Yet in this challenging year, we can’t attend a Christmas Eve service, or participate in a live nativity, or cheer on little “wise men” in bathrobes. It seems so far removed from the time when a young couple, blessed by God, welcomed the birth of a baby who would change the world.

But was it really so different in those prophetic days? The year Jesus was born was a hard year, too. There was violence and unrest throughout the land. Political factions were divided and pitted against each other. Leaders were fighting to stay in power or get more. Anything that smelled of new leadership had to be discovered and destroyed. Fear was rampant. Mary and Joseph endured a long trip across a hot land, riding a donkey, and when they arrived at the city they were seeking, they were refused food and shelter.

If we were orchestrating the arrival of Jesus, we might say, as we have with many things, “The timing couldn’t be worse. Let’s wait until next year.” But that was not how God planned it. Jesus came in the midst of all that chaos. He came because the world couldn’t wait any longer for its deliverer. He came because people were in the dark, and desperately needed the light. Jesus was the gift that was promised long before, and God was faithful to that promise. Few even realized that something significant had happened on that night. Yet a world-changing event had taken place right under the noses of people who were much stronger and more powerful.

This year, there probably won’t be any in-person services or holiday parties, but Jesus will still come. Even amid the confusion, even when many do not expect or even know the wonder of His birth, Jesus will come quietly; and if we open our eyes and hearts to his presence, we will realize that Christmas did come, after all. Jesus was God’s promise, and God’s promises never fail.

Prayer

God of wonder and salvation, thank you for sending us Jesus, this year and every year. We need a reminder that Christmas is not a holiday, but a gift that is given to us over and over. Grant us the peace we all desperately need during this special season, and let our celebrations be wrapped around your Holy presence. Amen.

Dona McConnell is the director of the Beacon of Hope. 

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Every Day is a Great Day!

Daily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Monday, December 14

By Ken Bodie

Every Day is a Great Day!

Read Psalm 118:24

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

This was my fraternal grandfather’s favorite bible verse. I can only imagine that some of us do not feel this way during 2020 with the Covid-19 pandemic and the effect it has had on our lives, our jobs, our country, our worship and our general outlook on the uncertainty of life.

I can tell you that even though this terrible pandemic has not affected my job or my family, there are many days that I feel anxious or guilty, that others may be suffering. My heart hurts for them.

My grandfather joined God in heaven in 1975. He was the most God-loving man I have ever known. Unfortunately, he suffered multiple heart attacks and then had a stroke. He was bedridden at home for several weeks, unable to walk and could barely talk. However, the first thing he did upon waking every morning was to recite Psalm 118:24 “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Even though his voice was affected by his stroke, he still fought to recite this verse every day until he passed on to heaven’s gate.

This memory of him made me think, that even when things like Covid-19 are affecting our lives, maybe we can be like him and rejoice that we have another day on this earth and will all meet God to end any earthly suffering.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for today. Help us to understand that even on our worst days, we should be rejoicing that we will all end up in your arms of love and protection. Amen.

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Making Room for God

Daily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Sunday, December 13, Evening

By Janet Edwards

Making Room for God

Read Psalm 51:10-12

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Working as a hospital chaplain has taught me to listen for God speaking to me through the patients I serve. Recently, a patient, struggling with a life-threatening illness, shared something her mother had taught her when she was young: “It’s not enough to invite God in, you have to make room for God. If you let anger and fear fill your heart, there is no room for God there.”

I wanted to offer reassurance: “It’s okay to feel angry and scared; you are grieving. God will not abandon you in your suffering, God is with you!” But I knew that was not what she needed; and so, I listened … with my heart.

Before this visit, my getting-ready-for-work ritual was to listen to the news on NPR. By the time I arrived at work, having listened for the entire commute, I was anything but the ‘non-anxious presence’ a chaplain is supposed to be.

Clearly, I needed help making room for God. So now, I begin my day by praying Psalm 51.

Advent is a time to make room for the One for whom there was no room at the inn. Immanuel comes to make a home in us, to abide with us. And so, I pray to be a hospitable home for God, with ample room for peace and love to dwell:

Prayer

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. Amen.

Janet Edwards serves as the Chaplain with Trident Health Systems in North Charleston, South Carolina. 

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Shepherds Heard and Responded – Will We?

Daily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC

Sunday, December 13, Morning

By Bishop Richard C. Looney

Shepherds Heard and Responded – Will We?

Read Luke 2:8-20

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

The account of angels appearing to the shepherds is one of my favorite Advent events. They brought incredibly good news to shepherds in the fields, and they were heard. Have we ever been in greater need for good news? “Great joy for all people.” “Glory to God in highest heaven, and on earth peace.”

And surely the news should have first come to the high priests, bishops, pastors, and leaders. Yet the lowly shepherds, common laborers, heard first. And still that is true today. Some of the most unlikely persons are most open to God’s truth and filled with God’s Spirit. So may I not dream also of receiving some heavenly truth?

But they were not in the temple or other sacred place. They were in the fields with the sheep, and there they heard the joyful sound. Is that not like our loving God? We love our magnificent sanctuary, but we have heard the angels sing through virtual worship. Through TV I have been able to worship with you these last several months, and have experienced God through the magnificent organ, soloists, choirs, ensembles, drone pictures, mission announcements, prayers, and sermons. The angels still sing.

Even stranger was the word of instruction. The Messiah will be found in a manger, not a palace, nor resort hotel, but a stable. And in the strangest places we find Him today. Will I be willing to see? “In as much as you have done it to one of the least of these, you have done it to me.”

The shepherds then returned, glorifying and praising God. May that be our theme through the entire season. Don’t be afraid; you have received good news of great joy.

Prayer

O God of the angels and God of the Shepherds, open our eyes and our hearts that we may be willing to see you and receive your good news to all people. Amen!

Bishop Richard C. Looney served as interim pastor from 2016-2017 and Senior Pastor 1987-88 before election to the episcopacy. 

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