campaigns : Campaign Archive

3rd Week of Advent Devotions: Tuesday, 12/19/06

During the time when Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife's name was Elizabeth; she also belonged to a priestly family. They both lived good lives in God's sight and obeyed fully all the Lord's laws and commands. They had no children because Elizabeth could not have any, and she and Zechariah were both very old.

One day Zechariah was doing his work as a priest in the Temple, taking his turn in the daily service. According to the custom followed by the priests, he was chosen by lot to burn incense on the altar. So he went into the Temple of the Lord, while the crowd of people outside prayed during the hour when the incense was burned. An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar where the incense was burned. When Zechariah saw him, he was alarmed and felt afraid. But the angel said to him, “Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. You are to name him John. How glad and happy you will be, and how happy many others will be when he is born! John will be great in the Lord's sight. He must not drink any wine or strong drink. From his very birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, and he will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go ahead of the Lord, strong and mighty like the prophet Elijah. He will bring fathers and children together again; he will turn disobedient people back to the way of thinking of the righteous; he will get the Lord's people ready for him.”

Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know if this is so? I am an old man, and my wife is old also.” “I am Gabriel,” the angel answered. “I stand in the presence of God, who sent me to speak to you and tell you this good news. But you have not believed my message, which will come true at the right time. Because you have not believed, you will be unable to speak; you will remain silent until the day my promise to you comes true.”

In the meantime the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he was spending such a long time in the Temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them, and so they knew that he had seen a vision in the Temple. Unable to say a word, he made signs to them with his hands. When his period of service in the Temple was over, Zechariah went back home. Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and did not leave the house for five months. “Now at last the Lord has helped me,” she said. “He has taken away my public disgrace!” (Luke 1:5-25 TEV)

There are only a few days left until Christmas. Have you found it yet? I hope you find it soon! You’ve been surrounded by Christmas decorations for a while now, listening to carols, buying gifts, planning parties, writing lists, thinking about or setting up a tree…But have you found Christmas? Have you received? Christmas is about giving. But God gives too, so be prepared to receive. God’s gift? His Beloved Son.

Every year, God is looking for a way to bring the reality of Christmas into your heart—to fill you with warmth and joy and a sure feeling that the Holy Spirit is within you. Be ready. Keep your heart open. Take time to receive or the Christmas season will have ended, Epiphany will be here and you will still feel empty and wondering what happened.

Ann Calandro

Heavenly Father, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts,

to direct and rule us according to your will,

to comfort us in all our afflictions,

to defend us from all error,

and to lead us into all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Christmas Schedule

Church of the Beloved’s 5^th Birthday Celebration will begin on Christmas Eve and will continue through the Twelve Days of Christmas ending with the Epiphany Pageant on January 7^th. Special birthday party favors will be an added treat. You are invited to be a part of any or all of these festive celebrations:

7pm, Christmas Eve “Christ Mass” (December 24: seasonal music begins 30 minutes before worship and hot cider and Christmas cookies will be served afterwards)

5:30-9pm, 5^th Day of Christmas Open House (Friday, December 29^th, Harbin home)

9:30am, 7^th Day of Christmas New Year Blessing (December 31: bring your calendars, planners or PDAs to be blessed)

9:30am, Epiphany Pageant followed by a birthday party for Jesus (January 7)

Please note: This year, December 24^th is both the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve. Though Sunday morning’s worship will not be a Christmas celebration, please join us for worship and for the “Greening of the Church” (decorating) afterwards!