Christmas
January 1, 2019

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 52:7-10
How beautiful upon the mountains
   are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
who brings good news,
   who announces salvation,
   who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’
Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices,
   together they sing for joy;
for in plain sight they see
   the return of the Lord to Zion.
Break forth together into singing,
   you ruins of Jerusalem;
for the Lord has comforted his people,
   he has redeemed Jerusalem.
The Lord has bared his holy arm
   before the eyes of all the nations;
and all the ends of the earth shall see
   the salvation of our God.

Put away the tinsel, recycle the wrapping paper, carefully store the nativity pieces, God Incarnate has come and we have much to learn and much to do. Over the next several weeks we will revisit the lessons of Jesus’ life lived in love and hear again the sermons and parables, see the crowds throng about him, watch as he heals the sick and even raises the dead. Take it all in, seek new insights, grow in spirit and in truth as the baby Jesus grew in favor with God and people. But most of all let us all dedicate ourselves to be our part of helping all see the salvation of our God.

Prayer: Lord, empower use as your servants to show mercy, do justice, and walk humbly with God as you did in your season on earth. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.