by Jeannette Conver

Advent: The season the church celebrates the coming of Jesus Christ. It has taken me a while to embrace this four-week time of reflection leading up to Christmas.

As a child, it was hard to tear my thoughts away from the anticipation of what gift might be under the tree on Christmas Eve, and toward dedicating time

Tucked into the nativity story found in Luke 2 is a song of praise, uttered in the temple by a man named Simeon. Simeon had been waiting on God’s promise that he would see the Messiah with his own eyes. Here, Katherine Jones concludes this retelling of that magical day:

Once inside the temple courtyard, Simeon lingered in the shadow of the

Tucked into the nativity story found in Luke 2 is a song of praise, uttered in the temple by a man named Simeon. Simeon had been waiting on God’s promise that he would see the Messiah with his own eyes. In this retelling from Katherine Jones,  we are taken back to that day:

From the moment of first awakening, Simeon knew something was

Jesus shouted, “Father, I put myself in your hands!” Then he died.

Why would he choose to speak so close to the end? Why would he muster the last energy he had to cry out? Desperate and dying… but still, with his final breath. --Shouting to the invisible… Jesus entrusts his spirit, his life, and all that has given it ...

He said, “It is finished!”

That’s all folks! Show’s over! Let’s clear the area, please, nothing left to see. Jesus has left the building.

The suffering is ended. The ordeal is finished and nothing remains but blessed peace in the absence of all sensation. But Jesus’ cry is more than just one of welcoming ...

Jesus said, “I am thirsty!” John 19:28
There is a kind of timelessness hanging on a cross. It is not a quiet death, over in an instant in one glorious moment of martyrdom like being torn apart by lions. He hasn’t had anything to drink since the Last Supper. Since then he has lost a lot of fluid as he sweated in the Garden and

Jesus shouted, “My God, my God, why have you deserted me?”                              
Godforsaken: Not a word we use very often. Is there a time and place when even God has had enough ...

Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people! They don’t know what they’re doing.”

Who decided on the order? Which of the soldiers thought Jesus would look best in the middle? Perhaps the two criminals were caught red-handed on their last job and had a falling out with each other. Maybe the only way to shut them up was to put

Taking drugs and being verbally abused took my life apart.  But finding new life at Celebrate Recovery has changed me.  I love God more, and I've found friends.  It's so nice to find love and grace in my life again.
submitted by S.F.

Last Sunday (9/20), when Pastor Jeff asked us to text someone during the wrship service, I sent a "Thinking of you, Love, Mom" message to our estranged daughter.  She responded "thanks" AND came to a family get-together 9/26!
Joyfully submitted by E.P.