Year C, Christmas 1, 2015 – Merry Christmas and change!

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! And if you are one of the lucky ones who gets to lead worship on the Sunday after Christmas, we wish you would listen to this episode! We have some ideas for you on the lectionary texts du jour. This week’s texts are: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26  – In this passage, Hannah and Elkanah go to Shiloh for the yearly sacrifice and Hannah brings along a little robe she made for her son, Samuel. This detail seems to be a throw away line in the story, but I imagine a great deal of love went into this garment since it was one of the few things Hannah could do for her son after dedicating him to God’s service and leaving him in the care of Eli the priest. Making something for someone you love is a precious thing, and we explore how Molly Weasley’s sweaters – while often rather taxing to the patience of her family – were gifts given with love. Her family accepted and wore them in that spirit. Gifts often have so much more to do with the relationship between the giver and the recipient than the value of the gift itself. What gifts have you given or been given that show this? Eye, body, people, self smarts Our 1 Samuel 2 worksheet Colossians 3:12-17 – The theme of clothing carries over into Paul’s letter to Christians in Colossae. In this passage, Paul lists characteristics of Jesus’ person and ministry and encourages disciples to take these characteristics and clothe themselves with them. We do not have any illustrations to use for this segment, but we have some ideas for using “clothing” as a week long special effect. What items of clothing do your people have at home that would remind them of kindness or humility? What would life be like if they wore that item all week, using it as a physical reminder of that characteristic? Word, body, music, people, self smarts Our Colossians 3 worksheet Luke 2:41-51 – Just like the Old Testament passage, Luke shows us a family making a yearly pilgrimage to another holy city. This time, it is Jerusalem and the family is Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. This is the only story we have in our Scripture of Jesus as a youth. While in the big city, he gets separated from his family and for anyone who is a parent and has experienced this with their own children, memories of the fear and panic are not far behind. We “lost” our son for thirty minutes at a major amusement park when he was three, and it was the worst experience either of us has ever had. I won’t go into it but praise be for the training this particular park gives to their employees. Whoever you are, young man who kept me from losing my mind, God bless you and keep you. Body, people, self smarts Our Luke 2 worksheet   For your consideration… A boy and his chia pet David and his Advent1 chia pet. It’s a cute kitty. Says so on the box. A Hymn from God to You? For the Advent 3 reading from Zephaniah 3, we suggested altering a hymn to fit the image of God exulting over the people with loud singing. Here’s what David came up with. It’s a reverse on “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.” Joyful, joyful, I adore thee, child of God seen from above. All my heart unfolds before thee, pouring out my wealth of love. I’m so happy when you’re with me in eternal holy peace. I exalt in your salvation, and my joy shall never cease!   Interfaith prayer vigil We took part in an interfaith prayer vigil in Leesburg, VA, December 17, 2015. It isn’t really connected to our work here, except that with the candles and public professions of faith it was a way for a couple hundred people to shine some love and peace in the community at large, like some of the Advent texts call forth from God and God’s folk. Here’s a link to an article about the event, just for your personal edification. Molly and David wish you all the blessings of Christmas in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ!