Reflections
Take Notice, by Patrick DeLoughry: Advent Day 21
I’ve always felt like Christmas was a magical time of year. The family, the friends, the food. But there’s always been something else that made this time of year feel special. During any other time of year, we tend to think of nighttime as a time of darkness. But during Christmas, even when the days […]
Posted on December 21, 2019 | Posted by Mary Stoneback
Share the Light, by Judy Heeren: Advent Day 20
“Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” But, before I could read, as a Kindergarten student, smaller than the other children and painfully shy, I experienced God’s love wrapped in a gentle, loving woman, my Sunday school teacher. The first day I stepped into her classroom, Mrs. Emzee made me […]
Posted on December 20, 2019 | Posted by Mary Stoneback
Darkness, by Phil Erlander: Advent Day 19
“A light shines in the darkness.” John 1:5 This verse reminds me of how we celebrated Christmas when I was a child in Moline Illinois. We followed the Swedish tradition of celebrating on Christmas Eve with a Swedish meal including lutefisk. We went to worship in the dark and then we opened our gifts that […]
Posted on December 19, 2019 | Posted by Mary Stoneback
Well Enough, by Arlayne McKee: Advent Day 18
Even the small flame of a candle can light up an entire room, enabling one to walk from one side to the other and not stub your toe on a sofa leg or trip on a shoe lying on the floor. Darkness cannot overcome any source of light. My faith in Jesus is my light […]
Posted on December 18, 2019 | Posted by Mary Stoneback
In the Everyday, by Donene Dillow: Advent Day 17
How do you see God in everyday life? Many Christians go to what I term the majestic answer; the overwhelming splendor of the mountains, the innocent gurgle of a stream or the colorful exhibition of aspens in fall. All great answers, but for me not the way I see God in my life. Yes, I […]
Posted on December 17, 2019 | Posted by Mary Stoneback
Golden Blue Hour, by Gabrielle Brown: Advent Day 16
Twice daily, my calendar buzzes me right around sunrise and sunset, when Blue Hour and Golden Hour appear. Golden Hour occurs just after sunrise and just before sunset and features soft reddish light. Blue Hour is the other side of twilight – just before sunrise or after sunset, and light is defused and tranquil. Photographers […]
Posted on December 16, 2019 | Posted by Mary Stoneback
St. Lucy by Ingrid Daniel: Advent Day 13
Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota, December 13, 1985, 5 am I was lying in bed, half-awake, when I started to hear music – what was going on in my hallway? I peeked out, and got my first view of a traditional Santa Lucia processional. Legend has it that Saint Lucy (Santa Lucia in Swedish), […]
Posted on December 13, 2019 | Posted by Mary Stoneback
Hope by Sharla Saunders: Advent Day 11
“You are only as happy as your saddest child.” (Or friend. Or loved one.) This has resonated with me in 2019. Maybe it does with you, too. This year, we experienced an unusual number of heartaches and challenges as a family: job losses, 4 moves in 5 weeks, and serious re-consideration of career paths. We […]
Posted on December 11, 2019 | Posted by Mary Stoneback
Advent Devotional by Deacon Mary Stonback: Saturday December 7, 2019
As a child, I used to avoid going into our home’s basement, especially alone. It was dark, damp and unfinished. Unfortunately, the washer and dryer were in the basement so I would often end up making the trek alone, if a sister or parent was preoccupied. Although I still don’t prefer dark and damp basements, […]
Posted on December 7, 2019 | Posted by Mary Stoneback
Advent Devotional by John Hayes: Friday December 6, 2019
When I think about this year’s Advent theme of a light shining in the darkness, I am immediately drawn to our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. Besides the outstanding sermons from our Pastors, I love the act of lighting up our sanctuary by sharing the flame from candle to candle, member to member. We start with […]
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